HISTORY 

k 

OF 

NORTHEAST  INDIANA 

Lagrange,  steuben,  noble  and 

DtKALB  COUNTIES 


Under  the  Editorial  Supervision  of 

IRA  FORD 

LaGrange  County 

ORVILLE  STEVENS 

Steuben  County 

WILLIAM  H.  McEWEN 

Noble  County 

WILLIAM  H.  McINTOSH 

DeKalb  County 


ILLUSTRATED 


VOLUME  II 


THE  LEWIS  PUBLISHING  COMPANY 
Chicago  and  New  York 
1920 


9 7 


7. 


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(9  V 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2015 


https://archive.org/details/historyofnorthea21ford 


'ala 


History  of  Northeast  Indiana 


Lewis  Oscar  Bullock  is  one  of  the  oldest  resi- 
dents of  Milford  Township  in  LaGrange.  County, 
having  been  in  this  locality  over  sixty-six  years, 
and  is  proprietor  of  a fine  farm  2)4  miles  north  and 
two  miles  west  of  South  Milford. 

Mr.  Bullock  is  a lineal  descendant  of  the  Pilgrims 
that  landed  at  Plymouth  Rock  December  20,  1620. 
He  was  born  in  the  Town  of  Middleport,  Western 
New  York,  August  16,  1842,  a son  of  Israel  Lewis 
and  Thalia  Eunice  (Bullock)  Bullock.  His  maternal 
grandfather,  William  Bullock,  was  born  in  Vermont 
in  I755>  and  was  a Green  Mountain  volunteer  of 
1777  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  was  with  Wash- 
ington at  Valley  Forge  during  the  winter  season, 
and  suffered  all  the  terrible  hardships  of  that  period. 
The  paternal  grandfather  of  Lewis  O.  Bullock,  Israel 
Bullock,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  and  grew  to  man- 
hood, raised  his  family  of  six  children  and  died  there 
in  1812.  Israel  L.  Bullock  was  a native  of  Connecti- 
cut, born  in  1802,  the  youngest  of  his  parents’  chil- 
dren, and  was  ten  years  old  when  his  father  died. 
As  the  family  were  in  poor  circumstances  he  was 
bound  out  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  His 
wife  was  a native  of  Otsego  County,  New  York, 
born  in  1804.  They  were  married  in  1831,  and  lived 
at  Middleport,  New  York,  until  they  came  West  in 
1844,  settling  thirty  miles  north  of  Detroit,  in  Oak- 
land Township,  Oakland  County,  Michigan.  From 
there  they  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in 
1853,  making  the  journey  by  wagon,  and  located  on 
land  in  Milford  Township  which  Israel  L.  had  ac- 
quired previously.  He  made  that  his  home  for  fif- 
teen years,  and  then  sold  his  farm  and  again  located 
on  a fruit  farm  along  the  lake  in  Allegan  County, 
Michigan,  where  he  died.  The  widowed  mother 
afterward  came  back  to  LaGrange  County,  and  died 
at  LaGrange  in  1881.  Israel  L.  Bullock  was  an  active 
whig  in  politics,  and  in  1856  became  identified  with 
the  republican  party.  He  was  one  of  the  early  trus- 
tees of  Milford  Township.  In  his  family  were  four 
children : Margaret,  who  died  in  infancy  at  Mid- 

dleport, Now  York;  William  M.,  Lewis  O.,  and 
Myron  O.  William  died  in  1915,  and  the  only  one 
living  today  is  Lewis  O.  Bullock. 

He  was  ten  years  old  when  brought  to  Indiana, 
and  has  acquired  the  most  of  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  LaGrange  County.  On  October 
6,  1865,  he  married  Carrie  M.  Eastlick,  who  was 
born  in  Johnson  Township,  LaGrange  County,  In- 
diana, October  8,  1844,  a daughter  of  William  and 
Jane  (McDonald)  Eastlick,  formerly  of  Mercer 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Their  happy  union  was  con- 
tinued for  more  than  half  a century.  In  1915  they 
celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary  and 
on  February  24,  1917,  the  wife  and  mother  passed 
away.  Both  were  active  members  of  the  Church  of 


God  and  Mr.  Bullock  is  a charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Pythian  Sisters  and 
has  held  offices  in  this  fraternity.  Through  long 
years  of  industry  he  has  accumulated  an  estate  of 
133  acres  of  good  farming  land.  In  the  family  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bullock  were  five  children,  of  whom 
Warren  Oscar  died  in  1869;  John  Ai  died  in  1877, 
aged  eight  years ; C.  Dale  died  in  1902,  aged  twenty 
years ; and  two  are  living,  Lewis  E.,  a farmer  in 
Milford  Township,  and  Ray  E.,  who  is  unmarried 
and  lives  at  home. 

Lewis  E.  Bullock,  who  lives  on  his  farm  two  and 
a half  miles  north  and  a mile  and  three-quarters 
west  of  Milford,  was  born  in  Milford  Township 
January  21,  1878.  He  attended  the  district  schools, 
and  after  leaving  school  worked  for  a time  in  a 
sawmill  in  Northern  Michigan.  He  came  back  to 
Indiana,  worked  out  by  the  month,  and  then  mar- 
ried Grace  Latta,  a native  of  LaGrange  County  and 
a daughter  of  William  Latta.  She  is  a graduate 
of  high  school,  and  before  her  marriage  was  a suc- 
cessful teacher.  Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Bullock 
has  farmed  his  father’s  place,  and  in  1918  he  bought 
the  eighty  acres  where  he  now  lives  and  which 
joins  his  father’s  place.  He  is  a breeder  of  good 
grades  of  live  stock,  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners.  He  and 
his  wife  have  one  son,  Dean  O.,  born  September  4, 
1911. 

John  B.  Parsell  has  a record  as  a farmer,  public 
official  and  banker,  and  that  record  is  in  keeping 
with  the  high  standing  of  the  Parsell  family,  which 
became  identified  with  Steuben  County  in  pioneer 
times  and  has  furnished  many  worthy  citizens  of  the 
community. 

John  B.  Parsell  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  October  25,  1857,  and  is  a son  of 
Thomas  B.  and  Caroline  (Klink)  Parsell. 

His  grandfather  was  Moses  S.  Parsell,  who  was 
born  February  12,  1797,  near  Newark,  New  Jersey. 
He  was  reared  in  that  state,  learned  the  trade  of 
shoemaker,  and  in  1817  married  Mary  Campbell,  who 
died  in  1824.  Moses  Parsell  was  again  married, 
March  17,  1825,  to  Hannah  D.  Crilley,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  five  children:  Aaron  G.,  Abijah 
D.,  Thomas  B.,  Sarah  W.  and  Elizabeth  S. 

In  1838  Moses  Parsell  came  West  with  his  family 
and  bought  a tract  of  unimproved  land  in  section  35 
of.  Jackson  Township,  Steuben  County,  and  went 
to  work  to  improve  it.  After  paying  for  the  land 
and  building  a small  frame  house,  his  plans  were 
interrupted  by  his  death  in  November,  1839.  He  left 
a widow  and  five  children,  the  oldest  less  than  fifteen 
years  old.  The  mother  played  the  good  part  of  a 
pioneer,  and  kept  the  children  together  until  she 


Vol.  II— 1 


2 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


died  in  1846.  The  old  eighty-acre  homestead  of 
Moses  Parsed  is  now  owned  by  his  grandsons, 
Austin  and  Ichabod  Parsed,  Austin  still  occupying 
the  land.  Of  the  children,  Aaron  G.  was  for  many 
years  a successful  physician  in  Steuben  County  and 
died  in  1904,  aged  seventy-eight.  Abijah  D.  died 
in  April,  1882,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five.  Thomas 
B.  is  mentioned  below.  Sarah  W.,  after  a life  of 
service  for  others,  died  unmarried,  April  19,  1905, 
aged  seventy-five.  The  daughter  Elizabeth  became 
the  wife  of  Avery  Emerson  and  died  April  11,  1915, 
aged  eighty-two. 

Thomas  B.  Parsed  was  born  near  Newark,  New 
Jersey,  January  12,  1829,  and  was  nine  years  old 
when  brought  to  Steuben  County.  He  had  limited 
advantages  in  the  public  schools,  and  early  went  to 
farming  to  assist  his  mother.  Later  he  acquired  a 
good  farm  of  his  own  comprising  160  acres  in  sec- 
tion 35,  Jackson  Township,  and  that  farm  is  now 
owned  by  his  son,  George  T.  Parsed.  He  died 
March  10,  1872.  He  was  a republican  in  politics, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  both  active  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 

February  6,  1853,  Thomas  B.  Parsed  married 
Caroline  Klink,  who  was  born  near  Tiffin,  Ohio, 
December  5,  1830.  Her  parents  were  Christian  and 
Mary  (Failor)  Klink.  Christian  Klink  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1794  and  was  a soldier  in  the  famous 
army  of  Blucher  and  fought  in  the  battle  of  Water- 
loo. He  spent  five  years  in  the  army,  then  came  to 
America  and  married,  and  in  1846  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  Steuben  County,  settling  in  Salem  Township, 
where  he  acquired  a farm  of  200  acres  in  sections  1 
and  2.  He  died  there  in  1872.  The  Klink  children 
were:  Louisa,  the  oldest,  became  the  wife  of  Wil- 

liam Brugh,  and  died  in  Fulton  County,  Indiana, 
May  29,  19x9,  aged  ninety-two ; John,  who  died  in 
1870;  Caroline,  Mrs.  Thomas  B.  Parsed,  living  on 
the  farm,  aged  eighty-nine;  Catherine,  wife  of 
Morris  Brown,  of  Steuben  County,  aged  eighty-five; 
Christina,  who  married  E.  H.  Wilson  and  died  in 
1907 ; Michael,  who  died  in  1903 ; Mary,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Newell  Wilson  and  died  in  1914;  Eliza- 
beth, widow  of  W.  W.  Parsed  and  living  at  Ashley; 
and  Eli  Klink,  who  died  at  Angola  in  1909. 

Thomas  B.  Parsed  and  wife  had  three  children : 
John  B. ; Mary  Elizabeth,  widow  of  Hiram 
M.  Crain,  and  living  in  Angola,  Mr.  Crain  having 
died  at  the  farm  home  near  Angola  August  14,  1918; 
and  George  T.,  owner  of  the  old  homestead. 

John  B.  Parsed  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Jack- 
son  Township,  attended  the  public  schools  and  later 
Angola  Academy,  and  for  several  years  was  em- 
ployed in  teaching  winter  terms  of  school.  In  1886 
he  bought  the  Henry  Butler  farm  of  200  acres  in 
sections  5 and  8,  Salem  Township,  and  was  busily 
engaged  in  improving  and  making  a living  from 
that  property  until  1895.  In  that  year  he  moved  to 
Angola  to  take  up  his  duties  as  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court,  to  which  position  he  was  elected  in  1894.  He 
was  the  incumbent  of  that  office  four  years,  retiring 
November  1,  1899,  after  which  he  spent  a summer 
on  the  farm  and  then  returned  to  Angola  and  in 
February,  1901,  entered  the  Angola  Bank.  In  Oc- 
tober, 1903,  he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
First  National  Bank,  the  first  bank  of  Steuben 
County  to  receive  a national  charter.  He  was  as- 
sistant cashier  for  six  years  and  since  then  has  been 
cashier  and  director  and  has  had  much  to  do  with 
the  successful  management  of  the  institution.  Mr. 
Parsed  is  a republican,  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Angola  and  with  both  branches  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

January  1,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Carrie  J.  Abbey, 
a daughter  of  Giles  T.  and  Martha  A.  Long  Abbey. 


Her  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Steuben 
County  and  is  now  living  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parsed 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two.  Mrs.  Parsed  is 
a member  of  Pleasant  Lodge,  Daughters  of  Rebekah 
and  of  Angola  Chapter  of  the  Order  of  Eastern 
Star.  Mrs.  Parsed’s  mother  died  in  1864.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Parsed  have  two  children.  Florence  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Angola  High  School  and  from  the 
musical  department  of  Tri-State  College,  and  re- 
ceived a diploma  from  the  Chicago  Art  Institute  in 
June,  1918.  The  son,  Lewis,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Angola  High  School  and  of  the  electrical  engineer- 
ing. courses  of  Tri-State  College  and  of  Purdue 
University. 

. Giles  T.  Abbey  is  one  of  the  few  surviving  early 
citizens  of  Steuben  County.  He  is  now  in  his 
ninety-second  year  and  his  memory  of  events  in  this 
section  of  Northeast  Indiana  runs  back  fully  eighty 
years. 

He  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 24,  1827,  son  of  Alanson  and  Lucy  (Daggett) 
Abbey.  Alanson  Abbey  was  born  in  Ontario  County, 
New  York,  January.  16,  1792,  and  was  a soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.  His  father,  Joshua  Abbey,  fought 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  Lucy  Daggett,  daughter 
of  a Revolutionary  soldier,  was  born  in  Ontario 
County,  New  York,  in  1793.  In  1819  they  moved  to 
Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fad  of  1838  came 
to  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  Two  years  before 
Alanson  Abbey  had  entered,  land  in  section  22  of 
Steuben  Township,  and  he  improved  it  with  a log 
house  and  set  out  an  orchard.  Later  he  sold  this 
and  lived  on  the  shores  of  Pleasant  Lake.  He  was 
a carpenter  by  trade  and  built  many  of  the  early 
barns  in  his  neighborhood.  Alanson  Abbey  was  a 
whig  and  republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church  but  later  he 
joined  the  Christian  Church.  He  died  at  Pleasant 
Lake  in  February,  1877,  and  his  first  wife  died  in 
1840.  His  children  were:  Henrietta,  Lucy,  Jacob 

D„  Nancy,  Giles  T.,  George  J„  and  Minerva  and 
Harvey,  twins.  The  sons  Jacob  and  George  were 
both  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war.  Alanson  Abbey  was 
twice  married. 

Giles  T.  Abbey  was  eleven  years  old  when  brought 
to  Steuben  County.  He  first  attended  school  at 
Clyde,  Ohio,  and  his  teacher  was  Lydia  Chase, 
grandmother  of  Gen.  James  McPherson,  one  of  the 
most  gallant  Union  leaders  in  the  Civil  war.  It 
was  three  years  after  the  family  settled  in  Steuben 
County  before  a school  was  established  convenient 
to  the  home.  Giles  T.  Abbey  then  completed  his 
education,  and  one  of  his  teachers  was  George 
Emerson,  an  uncle  of  Fred  Emerson,  the  present 
postmaster  of  Angola.  He  also  attended  a school 
kept  by  Dr.  Aaron  Parsed,  an  uncle  of  John  B. 
Parsed.  Mr.  Abbey  taught  school  for  six  terms 
when  a young  man.  He  first  began  farming  by  en- 
tering forty  acres  of  Government  land  when  nine- 
teen years  old.  Later  he  bought  102  acres  in  Steu- 
ben Township,  selling  this  after  two  years  and  buy- 
ing 240  acres  near  Flint.  There  being  no  improve- 
ments, he  rented  the  John  Thompson  farm  and  soon 
sold  the  land  to  Daniel  Benninghoof.  He  left  the 
farm  and  rented  and  operated  for  three  years  the 
Union  Mills,  and  then  bought  eighty  acres  in  Steu- 
ben Township  adjoining  forty  acres  he  previously 
owned,  and  lived  on  it  four  years. 

While  on  that  farm  his  first  wife  died.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Martha  A.  Long.  They  were 
married  in  1850.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren: Ella  J.,  wife  of  Wellington  H.  Hollister,  of 

Waterloo ; and  Carrie  J.,  wife  of  John  B.  Parsed, 
of  Angola.  In  1867  Mr.  Abbey  married  Martha 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


3 


Davis.  There  were  two  children  of  that  marriage, 
Edith  L.,  wife  of  Albert  F.  Theiss,  of  Memphis, 
Tennessee,  and  Earl  G.,  of  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 

In  1864,  the  year  his  first  wife  died,  Mr.  Abbey 
moved  to  Waterloo,  Indiana,  and  was  employed  in 
a grist  mill  there  three  years.  He  was  also  the  first 
agent  for  the  Fort  Wayne,  Jackson  and  Saginaw 
Railroad.  For  twenty-seven  years  he  served  as 
cashier  of  the  DeKalb  Bank  at  Waterloo.  He 
finally  retired  to  a small  farm  adjoining  that  town, 
and  at  present  makes  his  home  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  John  B.  Parsell.  Mr.  Abbey  has  been  a life- 
long republican  and  has  been  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Order  about  fifty-four  years.  His  second 
wife  died  in  1884,  and  he  then  married  Sophia  Mc- 
Entarffer,  who  died  February  17,  1909. 

Leon  Rose.  While  the  City  of  LaGrange  regarded 
the  removal  of  Leon  Rose  to  another  and  larger 
city  in  the  summer  of  1919  as  a distinctive- loss  to  its 
citizenship  and  prestige,  there  remained  the  satisfac- 
tion that  the  constructive  work  he  had  performed  as 
a banker  and  business  man  is  a permanent  asset  of 
the  community,  and  also  that  Mr.  Rose,  though  far 
removed  from  his  birthplace,  retains  many  inter- 
ests in  his  home  city  and  county. 

Mr.  Leon  Rose  was  born  at  LaGrange  March  17, 
1869.  His  family  have  been  prominent  as  merchants 
and  bankers  of  LaGrange  for  over  sixty  years.  His 
father  was  the  late  Solomon  Rose,  who  was  born 
at  Naumburg,  Germany,  November  2,  1834.  a son  of 
Isaac  and  Eliza  (Blum)  Rose.  Solomon  Rose  came 
to  America  in  1850.  For  three  years  he  worked  as  a 
bookkeeper  at  Little  Falls  and  Plattsburg,  New 
York,  and  Worcester,  Massachusetts.  Coming  to 
Indiana  in  1853,  he  lived  three  years  at  LaPorte, 
then  identified  himself  with  the  community  of  La- 
Grange, which  he  was  proud  to  consider  his  home 
the  rest  of  his  life.  When  he  came  he  had  only  a 
few  hundred  dollars,  and  with  this  opened  a small 
stock  of  clothing  in  the  north  room  of  the  old  Betts 
Block.  Later  he  moved  to  another  frame  building, 
occupying  the  site  of  the  present  Eisner  store.  In 
1865  his  brother  Silas  Rose  joined  him  as  a partner 
at  LaGrange,  another  brother,  Elias,  was  a clerk  in 
their  store,  and  still  another  brother,  Lazarus,  was  a 
grocery  merchant  in  the  town.  Soon  after  the  Grand 
Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  was  built  through  the 
county  in  the  early  ’70s  Mr.  Rose  erected  the  first 
elevator  on  the  right  of  way  and  for  many  years 
did  an  extensive  grain  and  wool  business.  His  mer- 
cantile interests  rapidly  increased,  demanded  larger 
quarters,  and  he  built  for  their  accommodation  the 
brick  block  now  occupied  by  C.  B.  Hinkley.  He  and 
his  brother  Silas  and  later  his  son  Isaac  conducted 
a store,  carrying  the  largest  stock  of  dry  goods  and 
clothing  in  LaGrange,  until  1889,  in  which  year  Mr. 
Solomon  Rose  retired  from  merchandising  and 
thereafter  gave  his  entire  time  to  banking. 

The  First  National  Bank  of  LaGrange  was  or- 
ganized in  September,  1874,  with  John  S.  Merritt, 
president,  Solomon  Rose,  vice  president,  and  R.  S. 
Hibbard,  cashier.  Three  years  later  Mr.  Rose  be- 
came president  of  the  First  National  Bank.  When 
it  was  reorganized  as  the  National  Bank  of  La- 
Grange he  continued  in  the  same  office,  and  was  the 
real  as  well  as  the  titular  head  of  this  splendid  finan- 
cial institution  until  the  day  of  his  death. 

On  April  10,  1861,  Solomon  Rose  married  Caroline 
Myer,  of  New  York  City,  but  a native  of  Wuerz- 
burg, Bavaria.  Most  of  their  married  life  was  spent 
in  the  pleasant  old  Rose  home  located  in  a grove 
on  Hawpath  Avenue.  In  this  old  homestead  their 
eight  children  were  born.  Later  Solomon  Rose  built 
and  furnished  a beautiful  home  on  Michigan  Street. 


In  that  environment  he  spent  his  last  days,  and  death 
came  to  him  November  10,  1906.  He  was  a member 
of  the  Hebrew  faith  and  was  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Order. 

Leon  Rose  as  a boy  in  LaGrange  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  also  was  a student  in  Notre  Dame 
University  at  South  Bend.  For  a few  years'  he  was 
in  the  mercantile  business  at  New  York  City  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Jacob  David.  On  returning  to 
LaGrange  he  became  a merchant,  his  store  occupying 
the  site  of  the  present  building  of  the  National  Bank 
of  LaGrange.  After  five  years  he  sold  out  and  en- 
tered the  mercantile  business  with  the  Sol  Mier 
Company  of  Ligonier. 

At  his  father’s  death  he  became  manager  of  the 
National  Bank  of  LaGrange,  and  was  soon  made  its 
vice  president  and  in  January,  1919,  he  was  elected 
president,  and  resigned  this  office  six  months  later 
to  accept  an  opportunity  to  associate  himself  with 
his  brother  Samuel  Rose  at  Kansas  City,  Missouri. 
He  is  still  one  of  the  stockholders  in  the  National 
Bank  and  one  of  the  directors  and  owns  four  large 
farms  in  LaGrange  County.  When  he  succeeded  his 
father  as  manager  of  the  bank  its  resources  were 
about  $33,000,  with  capital,  surplus  and  undivided 
profits  of  $80,000.  In  a dozen  years  the  bank  has 
grown  to  aggregate  resources  of  $1,000,000,  with 
its  capital,  surplus  and  undivided  profit  approximat- 
ing $125,000.  Mr.  Rose  had  three  purposes  in  re- 
taining the  management  of  the  bank  after  his 
father's  death.  They  were  to  make  the  National 
Bank  of  LaGrange  one  of  the  strongest  institutions 
in  Northern  Indiana,  also  the  largest  financial  insti- 
tution in  LaGrange  County,  and  to  build  for  its 
accommodation  one  of  the  most  beautiful  banking 
homes  in  the  Middle  West.  All  these  three  purposes 
were  accomplished  before  he  resigned  his  major  re- 
sponsibilities. 

Leon  Rose  was  chairman  of  the  four  Liberty  Loan 
organizations  of  LaGrange  County  and  of  the  Vic- 
tory Loan  Committee.  The  response  of  the  county 
to  the  Liberty  Loan  campaigns  was  the  outstanding 
feature  of  the  war  activities  in  this  section.  Under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Rose,  with  the  assistance  of 
local  banks  and  loyal  people  generally,  nearly 
$2,000,000  were  raised  and  turned  over  to  the  uses  of 
the  Government.  Mr.  Rose  has  for  several  years 
been  vice  president  of  the  LaGrange  Corn  School 
Show.  Each  year  he  has  given  $150  for  prizes  on 
yellow  corn  and  in  1919  he  gave  $175,  the  largest 
contribution  for  that  specific  purpose  made  to  any 
institution  in  the  State  of  Indiana. 

Burdette  B.  Goodale,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Angola,  is  a son  of  the  late 
Dr.  Charles  W.  Goodale  and  member  of  one  of  the 
old  and  well  known  families  of  Steuben  County. 

Lie  was  named  for  his  grandfather,  Burdette  B. 
Goodale,  who  with  his  wife,  Mary  Ann  Goodale, 
came  from  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Steuben 
County  in  1842.  They  were  among  the  pioneers  of 
York  Township,  where  the  grandfather  died  June  15,. 
1855,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-eight.  His  widow 
survived  him  many  years.  There  were  four  chil- 
dren : Albert  N.  was  a soldier  in  the  Forty-Second 
Illinois  Infantry,  and  died  of  wounds  received  at 
Chickamauga  in  October,  1863.  Orville  F.  Goodale 
served  at  one  time  as  clerk  of  the  County  Court- 
The  daughter,  Amelia,  married  Abraham  Stevens. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Goodale,  who  died  January  5, 
1905,  was  born  in  York  Township  of  Steuben 
County  May  n,  1844.  He  lived  on  the  home  farm, 
attended  district  schools,  the  Angola  High  School 
and  Hillsdale  College.  While  a student  at  Hillsdale 
he  enlisted  in  the  Thirtieth  Michigan  Infantry  and 


4 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


served  about  six  months.  He  began  the  study  of 
medicine  under  Dr.  Hugh  D.  Wood  at  Metz,  and 
finished  his  preparation  in  Rush  Medical  College  of 
Chicago,  where  he  was  graduated  in  1868.  He  re- 
turned to  Metz  and  took  up  practice.  From  1871  to 
1874  his  home  was  in  Reed  City,  Michigan,  and  the 
next  four  years  he  devoted  to  merchandising  at 
Metz.  In  1878  he  located  as  a physician  at  St.  Joe 
in  DeKalb  County,  but  returned  to  Steuben  County 
in  1880,  and  for  several  years  was  again  in  business 
as  a merchant.  He  resumed  his  practice  in  1884  and 
continued  in  his  profession  the  rest  of  his  life.  He 
was  for  many  years  a republican,  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  active  in  the  Christian 
Church.  September  5,  1869,  he  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet A.  Parrott,  who  was  born  January  9,  1842, 
and  is  still  living.  Her  parents  were  Sylvester  and 
Henrietta  (Ogden)  Parrott,  who  were  early  set- 
tlers in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben  County. 
Doctor  and  Mrs.  Goodale  had  six  children : Bur- 

dette B.;  Alice,  wife  of  E.  F.  Rose,  of  York  Town- 
ship; Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years; 
Paul,  of  Huntington,  Indiana;  Mildred,  wife  of  S. 
C.  Huffman,  superintendent  of  schools  at  Waseca, 
Minnesota ; and  Ford,  a resident  of  Indianapolis. 

Burdette  B.  Goodale  grew  up  at  Metz,  attended 
public  schools  there,  also  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  and  spent  one  year  in  Purdue  University. 
For  several  years  he  taught  school  and  then  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  at  Metz. 

In  1904  he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  and  filled 
that  office  four  years,  two  terms.  He  then  pur- 
chased from  his  uncle,  Francis  Macartney,  an  in- 
terest in  the  Goodale  Abstract  Company,  and  in 
August,  1914,  assumed  his  present  duties  with  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Angola.  Mr.  Goodale  is  a 
republican  and  for  many  years  has  been  a leader  in 
his  party  in  the  county.  Both  he  and  his  father 
were  charter  members  in  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  at  Metz.  He  and  all  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

January  6,  1897,  Mr.  Goodale  married  Miss  Mar- 
garet Allman,  daughter  of  Barnabas  Allman,  a well 
known  farmer  in  Richland  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Goodale  have  two  children.  Dorothy,  born  January 
21,  1898,  is  a graduate  of  the  Angola  High  School, 
took  further  courses  in  the  Tri-State  College  and 
is  now  a successful  teacher.  Charles  D.,  born  January 
18,  1900,  is  also  a high  school  graduate  and  is  now 
attending  the  Tri-State  College.  Mr.  Goodale  is 
interested  in  farming  and  owns  a farm  in  Pleasant 
Township. 

U.  C.  Brouse,  present  mayor  of  Kendallville,  has 
been  a resident  of  Noble  County  all  his  life,  was  a 
practical  and  progressive  farmer  in  Allen  Township 
for  a number  of  years,  and  has  been  identified  with 
business  affairs  at  Kendallville  as  a merchant  and  in 
other  relations. 

His  father,  Curtis  Brouse,  who  is  now  living  re- 
tired at  Kendallville,  was  born  in  Medina  County, 
Ohio,  October  20,  1840.  He  was  fourteen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  Noble  County,  and  he  lived  in 
Allen  Township  until  he  retired  from  his  farm.  He 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools,  and  in  August, 
1861,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  enlisted  in  Company 
F of  the  Thirtieth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  saw  active 
service  for  twenty-one  months.  At  the  battle  of 
Stone  River  he  was  shot  through  the  left  lung,  and 
lay  on  the  field  of  battle  until  the  night  of  the 
second  day  before  he  was  discovered  and  taken  to  a 
hospital.  On  account  of  this  wound  he  received  his 
honorable  discharge  May  11,  1863,  and  then  returned 
to  Noble  County.  For  practically  a half  century  he 
was  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  has 


also  been  active  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  trustee 
of  Allen  Township  and  two  terms  as  a county  com- 
missioner. He  is  a republican  and  a member  of 
Nelson  Post  No.  69,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
July  1,  1864,  Curtis  Brouse  married  Elvira  E.  Mat- 
thews. She  was  born  in  Grant  County,  Indiana, 
May  7,  1846. 

U.  C.  Brouse,  only  child  of  his  parents,  was  born 
on  the  farm  in  Allen  Township,  June  1,  1865.  While 
a boy  he ' attended  the  local  schools  and  also  the 
public  schools  at  Kendallville.  Being  an  only  child 
he  saw  his  duty  on  the  home  farm,  and  for  many 
years  conducted  the  place  of  140  acres,  doing  a suc- 
cessful diversified  farming  business,  raising  regis- 
tered hogs  of  the  Chester  White  strain,  and  some 
fine  wool  sheep.  On  retiring  from  the  farm  he  was 
in  the  grocery  business  at  Kendallville  for  five 
years.  For  the  past  ten  years  he  has  been  secretary 
of  the  Fair  Association  at  Kendallville,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  leaders  in  that  organization  from  the 
first.  In  the  fall  of  1917  Mr.  Brouse  was  elected 
mayor,  and  has  given  Kendallville  a very  progres- 
sive municipal  administration.  He  is  a republican 
and  has  served  as  a member  of  the  Central  Commit- 
tee of  Noble  County.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture.  Fraternally  his  affil- 
iations are  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

Mr.  Brouse  married  Miss  Jennie  Tyler,  also  a 
native  of  Allen  Township,  and  they  grew  up  in  the 
same  community.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brouse  have  one 
son,  of  whom  they  are  justly  proud.  This  son,  Don 
Brouse,  born  August  19,  1895,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Kendallville  High  School  and  had  two  years  in 
Purdue  University.  He  is  now  with  the  American 
Army  in  France,  as  second  lieutenant  in  Company 
H of  the  335th  Infantry,  Eighty-Fourth  Division. 

William  F.  Baughman  has  been  an  enterprising 
factor  in  the  commercial  life  of  Ashley  for  a number 
of  years  and  is  proprietor  of  a general  store  and  of 
a large  business  with  that  community. 

He  was  born  in  Smithfield  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  May  17,  1871,  a son  of  B.  R.  and  Margaret 
(DeVore)  Baughman,  both  natives  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio.  His  father  was  born  July  16,  1842, 
and  is  still  living.  As  a youth  he  served  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  has  long  been  an  active  member  of 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  is  a democrat. 
He  and  his  wife  were  married  in  Ohio  and  came  to 
Indiana  in  1865,  locating  in  DeKalb  County.  The 
mother  died  here  April  6,  1880.  She  had  four  chil- 
dren, three  of  whom  reached  mature  years,  W.  F., 
D.  I.,  of  Steuben  County,  and  J.  A.,  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio. 

William  F.  Baughman  grew  up  on  a farm  south  of 
Ashley,  and  besides  the  advantages  of  the  district 
schools  attended  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola. 
He  has  followed  several  different  occupations  and 
for  a time  was  an  employe  of  the  Wabash  Railroad. 
Later  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business,  also  was 
a druggist,  and  today  has  a stock  of  general  mer- 
chandise. 

Mr.  Baughman  married  Elba  Lyle,  formerly  a 
resident  of  Iowa  and  a native  of  New  York  State. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Ashley  Lodge  No.  614,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  with  Ashley  Chapter  No.  152, 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  is  a member  of  the  Scot- 
tish Rite  Consistory  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  has  served 
as  worshipful  master  and  high  priest  in  the  Masonic 
Order  and  is  a past  chancellor  of  Ashley  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias.  Politically  he  is  independent. 

John  W.  Priest.  A business  man  of  thirty  years 
experience,  John  W.  Priest  has  become  the  central 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


o 


figure  in  several  of  the  important  businesses  lo- 
cated at  Topeka,  where  he  is  proprietor  of  the  lum- 
ber yards  and  vice  president  of  the  Farmers  State 
Bank. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  June  20, 
1868,  a son  of  Joel  and  Catherine  (Schwartz) 
Priest.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Holmes 

County,  Ohio,  in  1837,  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
moved  to  Bryan,  Ohio,  where  for  several  years  he 
was  active  in  the  saw  mill  and  lumber  business. 
About  1886  he  bought  a farm  in  Williams  County, 
'and  later  sold  that  and  moved  to  Topeka,  Indiana. 
He  finally  went  to  Michigan.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  is  a past  grand  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  a democrat 
in  politics.  His  wife  died  in  1916.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children,  three  of  whom  are  still 
living:  John  W. ; George,  of  Camden,  Michigan; 

and  James,  of  Reading,  Michigan. 

John  W.  Priest  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm.  He 
acquired  a good  education,  the  advantages  of  the 
district  schools  being  supplemented  by  work  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola.  For  three 
years  he  taught  school  and  since  then  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  lumber  business. 

He  married  Miss  Gertrude  Grose.  Their  son, 
Leroy,  is  a graduate  of  high  school,  spent  some 
time  in  college,  and  is  now  associated  with  his 
father  in  business.  John  W.  Priest  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason,  also  a member 
of  the  Chapter  and  Council  in  the  York  Rite. 

Major  Guy  J.  Shaughniss,  assistant  postmaster 
at  Angola,  was  one  of  the  local  citizens  of  Northeast 
Indiana  whose  qualifications  and  abilities  as  a soldier 
were  brought  out  and  developed  with  the  stress  of 
the  great  war  recently  brought  to  a successful 
conclusion. 

Major  Shaughniss  was  born  in  Otsego  Township 
of  Steuben  County  July  13,  1874,  grew  up  on  a 
farm,  attended  district  schools,  also  the  high  school 
at  Angola,  and  in  1900  graduated  from  Hillsdale 
College  in  Michigan.  He  has  since  been  a well 
known  and  prominent  young  citizen  of  Angola. 
He  has  filled  the  office  of  assistant  postmaster  since 
1909. 

Major  Shaughniss  became  interested  in  military 
affairs  in  1902  when  he  enlisted  in  the  National 
Guard.  He  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant  in 
1903,  to  captain  in  1907,  and  in  1915  to  major.  He 
saw  six  months  of  duty  on  the  Mexican  border  and 
on  August  5,  1917,  was  mustered  into  the  Federal 
service  of  the  National  army,  becoming  major  of 
the  First  Battalion  of  the  Third  Indiana.  On  Octo- 
ber i-,  1917,  he  was  transferred  to  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-Seventh  Field  Artillery. 

Maior  Shaughniss  is  a republican  in  politics,  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order  and  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  lodges  at  Angola.  He  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Lydia  Jane  Pence  December 
18,  1918.  • 

He  is  a son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Clark) 
Shaughniss,  the  former  born  near  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan',  and  the  mother  in  Otsego,  Steuben 
County,  New  York.  Her  father,  James  Clark,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  Johnson,  came  to  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  in  1840,  settling  on  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township.  Later  James  Clark  moved  to  Branch 
County,  Michigan,  and  spent  his  last  days  there. 

William  Shaughniss  came  to  Steuben  County, 
was  married  there,  and  spent  his  active  life  as  a 
farmer.  He  was  a democrat  and  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Order. 

Besides  Major  Shaughniss,  who  was  his  youngest 


child,  there  were  three  other  sons,  Wilson  J.,  James 
A.  and  John.  John  died  in  infancy. 

James  A.  Shaughniss,  who  was  born  August  5, 
1867,  attended  public  schools,  the  high  school  at 
Quincy,  Michigan,  and  Hillsdale  College,  and  for 
twenty-two  years  has  been  engaged  in  the  carriage 
business  at  Angola.  A republican,  he  was  elected 
county  auditor  in  1908  and  gave  a very  successful 
administration  of  the  office  for  four  years.  He  has 
also  been  a member  of  the  City  Council,  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masons  and  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  December  24,  1918,  he  married 
Mrs.  Laura  (Deller)  Deal,  of  Angola. 

Charles  L.  Smith  has  been  a factor  in  business 
and  local  affairs  at  Albion  for  over  forty  years, 
and  out  of  his  work,  good  management  and  judg- 
ment acquired  the  competence  which  enables  him 
to  spend  his  declining  years  in  comfort  and  peace. 

He  was  born  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  April  30,  1847,  an<I 
has  now  passed  the  age  of  three  score  and  ten. 
His  parents,  Lewis  C.  A.  and  Anna  M.  (Reif) 
Smith,  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  his  father 
born  April  29,  1816,  and  his  mother  December  11, 
1820.  They  grew  up  in  their  native  country,  but 
were  married  after  they  came  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  July 
7,  1846.  Lewis  Smith  was  a gunsmith  and  locksmith 
and  followed  that  occupation  in  Tiffin  until  1859. 
He  then  located  on  a farm  a mile  and  a half  south 
of  Tiffin,  but  about  1872  retired  to  the  town  and 
died  at  Tiffin  in  1907.  His  wife  passed  away  in  the 
same  city  January  15,  1908.  They  were  members 
of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  the  father  was 
very  active  and  liberal  in  its  support.  As  an  Amer- 
ican citizen  he  voted  the  republican  ticket.  There 
were  seven  children,  and  five  are  still  living:  Charles 
L. ; Mary,  wife  of  Jacob  Marquart;  Amelia,  wife  of 
John  Wisher;  Emma,  wife  of  Fred  Bender;  and 
Albert,  who  lives  at  Tiffin. 

Charles  L.  Smith  grew  up  in  Tiffin  or  on  the 
farm  nearby,  and  acquired  his  education  in  both 
the  district  and  the  city  schools.  He  lived  at  home 
till  the  age  of  twenty-two.  He  was  in  the  butcher 
business  at  Tiffin  until  1876,  when  he  removed  to 
Albion  and  started  his  shop.  Four  year  later,  in 
1880,  he  bought  out  his  partner,  and  continued  active 
in  that  business,  supplying  many  of  the  best  people 
of  the  town  and  surrounding  country  with  good 
meats  until  1900.  It  was  through  steady  application 
to  this  business  that  he  made  his  competence.  In 
1878  a fire  destroyed  his  shop,  but  in  a few  years 
he  had  recovered  all  his  lost  ground.  Mr.  Smith 
has  invested  in  real  estate,  and  now  owns  two 
good  farms,  one  of  230  acres  and  another  of  a 
1 13  acres. 

December  18,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Melissa 
Beck.  She  was  born  at  Albion  November  4,  1856, 
and  her  father,  Michael  Beck,  a pioneer  of  Noble 
County,  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have 
three  daughters.  Leona,  a graduate  of  high  school, 
is  the  wife  of  Edwin  Hicks,  of  Auburn,  Indiana ; 
Kate,  also  a high  school  graduate,  married  Ray  C. 
Dilgard ; May,  a high  school  graduate,  married 
Walter  Bonham.  Mrs.  Smith  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  he  votes 
as  a republican.  He  has  never  sought  official  honors 
and  has  been  content  to  perform  his  community 
service  as  a business  man.  He  is  a director  in  the 
Farmers  Bank  at  Albion. 

J.  E.  Jellison  is  the  man  chiefly  responsible  for 
giving  Auburn  one  of  its  thriving  industries,  the 
Auburn  Broom  Company,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the 
proprietors.  Mr.  Jellison  is  a broom  maker  of  wide 


6 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


experience,  and  is  a man  of  affairs  generally.  He 
is  well  known  as  a public  speaker,  having  gained 
his  early  reputation  as  a schoolboy  orator,  and  is 
frequently  heard  in  democratic  party  campaigns,  his 
services  in  that  line  being  much  in  demand. 

Mr.  Jellison  was  born  in  Randolph  County,  Indi- 
ana, May  17,  1879,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Cullen)  Jellison.  His  father  was  also  a native  of 
Randolph  County,  and  when  eight  years  old  ran 
away  from  home  to  join  the  army  in  the  Civil  war. 
While  he  was  much  too  young  for  active  service 
the  company  managed  to  keep  him  as  a sort  of 
mascot  until  the  close  of  the  war.  His  wife,  Mary 
Cullen,  was  born  on  Kelly’s  Island  near  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Indiana  when  nineteen  years  of 
age,  her  father  being  a man  of  wealth  at  Union  City, 
Indiana.  After  the  war  Joseph  Jellison  entered 
the  railroad  service,  helped  grade  the  Panhandle 
Railroad,  was  a brakeman  for  some  years  and  later 
a conductor  of  the  Big  Four.  He  was  a Catholic 
and  a democrat.  There  were  five  children  in  the 
family:  Florence,  deceased;  J.  E. ; Alice,  wife  of 

O.  C.  McLaughlin,  of  Dayton,  Ohio;  Leo,  who  is 
married  and  lives  at  Dayton ; and  Marie,  unmarried 
and  living  at  Portland,  Indiana.  The  father  of  these 
children  died  March  7,  1907. 

. J.  E.  Jellison  spent  three  years  of  his  early  life  at 
Indianapolis,  but  secured  his  education  chiefly  at 
Portland  and  Union  City,  graduating  from  the 
Portland  High  School  in  1898.  While  in  high  school 
he  represented  the  Town  of  Portland  in  an  oratorical 
contest  held  at  Richmond  and  was  awarded  third 
honors.  For  a time  he  was  a drug  clerk,  was  with 
the  Adair  Brothers  in  the  drug  business  from  1899 
to  1901,  and  in  the  latter  year  became  a broommaker 
at  Ridgeville,  Indiana.  After  three  years  he  returned 
to  Portland  and  bought  a drug  store,  which  he  con- 
ducted for  two  years.  He  resumed  the  broom  making 
business  at  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  re- 
mained three  years,  was  similarly  engaged  at  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  for  two  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Ridgeville  and  was  secretary  of  a broom  company 
there  and  later  its  sales  manager.  Mr.  Jellison  came 
to  Auburn  in  1916  and  has  built  up  the  plant  and 
industry  of  the  Auburn  Broom  Company  and  made 
it  one  of  the  flourishing  concerns  of  DeKalb  County. 

In  April,  1901,  he  married  Miss  Blanche  Burke,  of 
Jay  County,  Indiana.  She  is  also  a graduate  of  the 
Portland  High  School.  They  have  three  children : 
Guinevere,  born  in  November,  1903;  Gareth,  born 
in  May,  1905 ; and  Francis,  born  in  January,  1908. 
Mrs.  Jellison  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  while  he  was  reared  a Catholic. 

Warren  H.  Throop.  Through  three  generations 
and  for  over  eighty  years  the  Throop  family  have 
maintained  a vigorous  and  influential  position  in 
Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben  County.  Several 
of  the  first  settlers  hore  the  name  of  Throop,  and 
the  confidence  the  family  still  enjoys  in  that  com- 
munity is  well  testified  to  by  the  fact  that  the  pres- 
ent township  trustee  is  Warren  H.  Throop,  a grand- 
son of  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  ’30s. 

Warren  H.  Throop  was  born  in  the  same  town- 
ship September  3,  1864.  His  grandfather,  Hiram 
Throop,  was  born  in  Canandaigua,  New  York,  in 
1799.  He  married  a Miss  Sanford.  The  first  re- 
corded settlers  in  Clear  Lake  Township  entered  land 
in  1836.  Among  them  were  Charles  and  Clark 
Throop,  while  in  1840  Hiram  Throop  came  to  the 
township.  The  name  frequently  appears  in  the 
early  as  well  as  the  later  annals  of  the  township. 
Hiram  Throop’s  home  was  in  section  28,  and  he 
lived  in  the  township  until  his  death  in  1872.  His 


children  were  Roxie,  Mary,  Estella,  Samuel,  Allen 
and  Albert. 

Allen  Throop  was  born  June  14,  1832,  and  on 
April  12,  1857,  married  Cloa  Dickinson.  She  was 
born  in  Chenango  County,  New  York,  in  1833,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Maria  (Atwood)  Dickinson. 
Allen  Throop  acquired  his  education  largely  in  the 
district  schools  of  Clear  Lake  Township,  also  at- 
tended school  at  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  and  as  a young 
man  began  farming  in  his  home  township  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  there.  At  the  time  of  his  death 
he  owned  200  acres,  all  of  it  paid  for.  He  died 
three  weeks  before  his  father,  in  1872.  His  widow 
has  survived  him  for  over  forty-five  years,  and  has 
proved  a capable  business  manager  and  has  increased 
the  homestead  by  the  purchase  of  sixty  acres.  She 
was  the  mother  of  seven  children:  Frank;  Louisa, 

who  became  the  wife  of  Frank  Gowthrop;  Elva, 
who  married  Fred  Wigent;  Clara,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; Warren;  Nellie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
George  Gowthrop ; and  Carrie,  who  died  in  child- 
hood. 

Warren  H.  Throop  attended  district  school  in 
Clear  Lake  Township  and  acquired  his  early  knowl- 
edge and  experience  of  farming  on  the  homestead. 
For  eight  years  he  farmed  in  Scott  Township,  but 
with  that  exception  has  always  lived  on  the  place 
where  he  was  born.  Today  he  owns  200  acres  in 
section  28,  known  as  Clear  Lake  Jersey  Farm.  He 
does  general  farming,  but  for  several  years  has  spe- 
cialized in  the  breeding  of  high  grade  Jersey  cattle. 

Mr.  Throop’s  public  record  includes  ten  years  of 
service  as  township  assessor.  In  January,  1919,  he 
entered  upon  his  duties  as  township  trustee. 

He  married  Marilla  Kellog,  daughter  of  Josiah 
and  Emelie  (Swager)  Kellog.  To  their  marriage 
were  born  six  children : Walter,  who  married  Ida 

Chandler;  Ray,  who  married  Clela  Elgekrout; 
Harry,  whose  wife  was  Lela  Becker,  by  whom  he 
has  children,  Robert  and  Victor;  Guy  who  married 
Mabel  Brouse  and  has  two  children,  Mildred  and 
Cleon;  Carl,  who  entered  the  National  Army  and 
died  while  in  the  Great  Lakes  Training  Camp  at 
Chicago ; and  Lawrence. 

Herbert  H.  Wildman  has  spent  all  his  life  in 
the  village  of  Wolcottville,  began  his  career  there 
as  a merchant  but  for  ever  thirty-five  years  has 
been  identified  with  banking,  and  is  now  president 
and  principal  owner  of  the  Wildman  State  Bank. 

He  was  born  at  Wolcottville,  April  5,  i860,  son 
of  Levi  L.  and  Louisa  M.  (Taylor)  Wildman.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Massachusetts.  Herbert  H. 
Wildman  attended  the  common  and  high  schools  of 
Wolcottville,  and  his  first  business  venture  was  as 
restaurant  proprietor.  Later  he  was  in  the  general 
merchandise  business  at  Wolcottville  until  he  and 
his  father  started  a private  bank.  In  1884  they  re- 
organized, with  his  father  as  president  and  Herbert 
H.  as  cashier.  Levi  Wildman  died  in  1893,  and  was 
succeede*d  in  the  presidency  of  the  bank  by  Herbert 
Wildman.  In  1917  the  bank  was  organized  under 
a state  charter  as  the  Wildman  State  Bank,  with 
Herbert  H.  Wildman,  president,  Lee  S.  Jennings, 
vice  president,  and  G.  H.  Weaver,  cashier.  The  only 
change  in  officers  at  the  present  time  is  that  George 
C.  Morgan  is  cashier.  The  other  directors  are 
Harry  E.  Roy,  V.  D.  Weaver  and  Clyde  A.  Walb. 

Mr.  Wildman  married  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
Minnie  C.  Parks.  They  had  four  children : Viola 
W.  is  a high  school  graduate,  finished  her  education 
in  the  Fort  Wayne  College,  and  is  the  widow  of 
Charles  S.  Smith.  Vida,  a graduate  of  high  school, 
is  the  wife  of  Clyde  A.  Walb  of  LaGrange.  Leon 
L.  after  leaving  high  school  took  the  full  course  at 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


i 


Wabash  College  and  two  years  in  Johns  Hopkins 
University  at  Baltimore,  and  is  now  credit  man 
for  the  Bowser  Company  at  Toronto,  Canada.  The 
fourth  child,  Wilman,  is  deceased. 

Mr.  Wildman  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
served  a number  of  years  as  its  chorister,  and  all  his 
children  are  musicians.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  with  the  Lodge 
and  Chapter  of  Masons  at  LaGrange,  and  in  politics 
is  a republican. 

Oliver  P.  Brown  has  been  a fixture  in  the  com- 
mercial life  and  service  of  the  Village  of  Hamilton 
for  thirty-six  years.  In  fact  he  is  regarded  as  the 
town’s  oldest  resident,  and  the  place  is  important 
to  him  also  as  his  birthplace. 

He  was  born  there  August  17,  1857,  a son  of  John 
and  Susan  (Mann)  Brown.  His  father  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in  1821,  and  his  mother  in  the 
same  state  in  1834.  John  Brown  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  in  the  early  ’50s,  and  was  a 
school  teacher  in  DeKalb  County,  where  he  mar- 
ried. After  he  settled  at  Hamilton  he  became  a 
merchant  and  followed  business  there  for  many 
years,  until  his  death  in  1884.  His  widow  survived 
him  until  1911.  John  Brown  was  a democrat  and 
held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  and 
his  wife  had  the  following  children:  Oliver  P.,  Jane 
W.,  Lawson,  Charles  M.,  Eda,  Mary  E.  and  Kate. 

Oliver  P.  Brown  grew  up  in  his  native  village, 
attended  the  public  schools  there,  and  for  over  a 
third  of  a century  has  kept  a confectionery  store  and 
barber  shop.  He  owns  the  building  in  which  he 
does  business  and  has  other  property  there.  Mr. 
Brown  is  a stanch  democrat,  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masons  and  attends 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1883  he  married  Miss  Elva  J.  Fifer.  She  was 
born  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County  April 
23,  1866,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Martha  Fifer.  Her 
father  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1861,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  a resident  of  the  county  for  over  forty- 
five  years.  He  died  July  23,  1906,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  July  15,  1911.  In  the  Fifer  family  were 
the  following  children:  Elva,  Margaret  Laura,  John 
Adam,  Orlando  and  Jessie  Alvada.  Mrs.  Brown’s 
mother  had  for  her  first  husband  Sylvanua  George, 
and  there  is  one  child  by  that  union,  Edward  Melvin 
George. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have  two  sons.  Grover 
Cleveland,  the  older,  was  born  January  10,  1884, 
had  a high  school  education,  and  is  a barber  by 
trade.  He  married  Mary  Crane,  and  their  children 
are  named  Oliver  Perry,  Mildred  Ann,  Jessie  Al- 
vada,' Leander  Timothy  and  James  Kenneth.  The 
second  son,  Cleland  Kenneth,  born  July  15,  1889, 
was  educated  in  the  Hamilton  grammar  and  high 
schools,  and  is  now  a successful  young  farmer  in 
Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  He  mar- 
ried Audra  Chilchote. 

Edward  E.  Pray.  In  LaGrange,  Noble  and  Steu- 
ben counties  the  name  Pray  for  at  least  half  a 
century  has  been  prominently  identified  with 
numerous  business  affairs.  It  is  characteristic  of 
the  family  to  promote  new  activities  and  keep  busi- 
ness lively  wherever  they  are.  Edward  E.  Pray 
represents  the  third  generation  of  the  family  since 
they  came  to  Northeast  Indiana.  He  has  figured 
conspicuously  as  a merchant,  public  official  and 
farmer  in  the  Helmer  community  of  Steuben  County, 
where  he  resides. 

He  was  born  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  November  10,  1868,  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Rhoads)  Pray,  his  mother  a native  of  Delaware 


County,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  John  Rhoads.  His 
grandparents  were  John  Williams  and  Charlotte 
Pray.  John  William  Pray  was  born  on  the  Susque- 
hanna River  near  Horseshoe  Bend  in  Pennsylvania, 
moved  from  there  to  Sunbury,  Ohio,  later  located 
near  Kendallville  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life  on  a farm.  He  and  his 
wife  had  six  children,  named  Daniel,  Charles,  David, 
Rhoda,  Mary  and  Eunice. 

Daniel  Pray,  who  was  born  at  Sunbury,  Ohio,  in 
early  youth,  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  He 
was  not  satisfied  with  what  he  could  turn  out  by 
his  individual  skill  and  established  a business  at 
Middletown,  Ohio,  and  prospered  until  he  had  to 
meet  the  competition  of  machinery  in  making  shoes. 
At  one  time  he  employed  seven  men  in  this  shop. 
From  Ohio  he  came  to  Milford  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  bought  eighty-five  acres 
of  land,  and  after  a few  years  established  a brick 
yard  near  Kendallville,  looking  after  the  manage- 
ment of  this  business  while  his  wife  and  family 
remained  on  the  farm.  After  a few  years  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm  in  Milford  Township,  and  for 
several  years  his  chief  occupation  was  making  brick 
there.  He  also  made  brick  at  Angola.  In  1898  he 
moved  to  Helmer,  taking  charge  of  the  grain  ele- 
vator, which  he  operated  for  eight  years.  At  the 
same  time  he  was  in  partnership  with  his  son  in  a 
general  store  at  Helmer  under  the  firm  name  of 

D.  Pray  & Son.  Before  moving  to  Helmer  he  con- 

ducted a general  store  at  Turkey  Creek.  He  has 
been  retired  from  business  affairs  since  1905,  and 
is  now  living  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange 
County.  He  and  his  wife  had  a family  of  six 
children : Carrie  B.,  Emma  A.,  William,  Edward 

E. ,  Alice  F (who  died  young),  and  Grace  V. 

Edward  E.  Pray  has  spent  almost  as  busy  a life 

as  his  father.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Milford  Township,  finished 
the  eighth  grade  at  Kendallville  and  for  two  years 
was  a student  in  Angola.  He  helped  work  the  home 
farm,  also  assisted  in  running  the  store  on  the 
farm,  and  in  the  fall  of  1889  became  a partner  with 
his  father  in  a general  store  at  Turkev  Creek.  This 
business  was  moved  to  Helmer  in  1897,  and  the 
partnership  between  father  and  son  was  continued 
until  1905,  after  which  Mr.  Pray  operated  the  store 
alone  until  September,  1915.  He  then  sold  his  busi- 
ness. For  twelve  years  he  was  postmaster  of 
Helmer,  keeping  the  office  in  his  store.  Mr.  Pray 
o\Jns  a good  farm  of  107  acres  in  section  34  of 
Salem  Township,  and  since  selling  his  store  has 
continued  to  make  his  home  in  Helmer  and  from 
that  point  supervises  his  farm.  He  has  held  a com- 
mission as  notary  public  for  fifteen  years.  He  was 
for  many  years  affiliated  with  Helmer  Lodge  No. 
424  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  until  the  lodge  lost 
its  charter.  Mr.  Pray  in  1909  married  Clara  Metz, 
a daughter  of  Emanuel  Metz. 

Irven  O.  Buchtel,  M.  D.  A physician  and  sur- 
geon of  the  homeopathic  school  whose  skill  and  abili- 
ties are  widely  appreciated  over  DeKalb  County, 
Doctor  Buchtel  has  practiced  at  Auburn  many  years 
and  is  a native  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  Ligonier  August  6,  1862,  a son  of 
Charles  C.  and  Sarah  E.  (Simmons)  Buchtel.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
were  married  in  that  state,  and  coming  to  Indiana 
located  in  Ligonier,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  The  father  was  a carpenter  and  con- 
tractor, was  active  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  con- 
stable and  member  of  the  regulators,  and  was  a 
democrat  in  politics,  while  his  wife  was  a member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  Doctor  Buchtel  is  one  of 


8 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


six  children  and  he  has  two  brothers  still  living:  S. 

E.,  a merchant  at  Knightstown,  Indiana,  and  C.  W., 
in  business  at  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Doctor  Buchtel  grew  up  at  Ligonier,  graduated 
from  the  high  school  there,  and  attended  Buchtel 
College,  now  Akron  University,  in  Ohio,  where  he 
received  his  Bachelor  of  Science  degree  and  took  his 
medical  work  in  the  Hahnemann  Medical  College  in 
Chicago.  He  also  had  three  years  experience  and 
training  in  New  York  City  and  one  year  in  Chicago. 
Doctor  Buchtel  is  a member  of  the  State  Institute  of 
Homeopathy  and  the  American  Association  of  Orifi- 
cial  Surgeons.  He  is  treasurer  of  the  Auburn  School 
Board,  a democrat  in  politics,  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  lodge,  the  Commercial  Club  and  a stock- 
holder in  the  City  National  Bank  of  Auburn.  April 
28,  1889,  Doctor  Buchtel  married  Nettie  E.  Dowell. 
They  have  a daughter,  Lucile,  who  has  graduated 
from  the  Auburn  High  School  and  is  at  home. 

John  Gasser.  The  Gasser  family  has  been 
identified  with  Steuben  County  for  over  three  quar- 
ters of  a century.  As  good  substantial  farmers  and 
equally  substantial  citizens  they  have  contributed 
their  share  to  the  development  and  progress  of  this 
locality,  and  their  name  is  one  justly  respected  and 
esteemed. 

The  father  of  Mr.  John  Gasser,  now  a retired 
resident  of  Angola,  was  the  late  Benedict  Gasser, 
who  lived  in  Steuben  County  over  sixty  years.  He 
was  born  in  Berne,  Switzerland,  August  9,  1817,  son 
of  John  and  Anna  Gasser,  who  in  1833  brought 
their  family  of  nine  children  to  the  United  States 
and  settled  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  where  the 
mother  died  the  same  year  and  the  father  the  next 
year.  This  left  the  children  unprovided  for,  and 
they  were  cared  for  by  different  parties.  Benedict 
was  a young  man  when  his  parents  came  to  this 
country,  and  he  did  his  part  in  providing  for  his 
own  living  and  helping  his  brothers  and  sisters. 
In  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  in  1840  he  married 
Caroline  Albert.  She  was  born  in  Hesse,  Germany, 
November  18,  1819.  It  was  two  years  after  their 
marriage  that  Benedict  Gasser  and  wife  came  to 
Steuben  County  and  located  in  section  20  of 
Scott  Township.  He  bought  forty  acres  of  wild 
land,  built  his  log  cabin  in  the  woods,  and  worked 
steadily  until  he  had  most  of  it  under  cultivation. 
Later  he  increased  his  farm  to  120  acres,  and  two 
years  before  his  death  moved  to  Angola,  where  he 
died  in  1905,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  His  good 
wife  passed  away  in  1893,  aged  seventy-five.  Bene- 
dict Gasser  was  a democrat  and  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had 
nine  children:  Sanford  and  Margaret,  deceased; 

John;  Josephine;  Mary,  deceased;  Frederick,  Addie, 
Eva  and  Ida. 

John  Gasser  was  born  in  Steuben  County  Febru- 
ary 8,  1848,  and  spent  his  early  life  on  the  old 
home  place,  acquiring  his  education  in  the  public 
schools.  After  reaching  manhood  he  acquired  the 
other  interests  in  the  old  farm,  and  not  only 
handled  it  successfully  but  added  to  its  area  by  fifty 
acres,  giving  him  a fine  place  of  170  acres  in  Scott 
Township.  Not  long  ago  he  sold  this  farm  for 
$137.50  an  acre,  and  the  sale  set  a record  for  high 
prices  paid  for  land  in  large  farms  in  Steuben 
County.  On  February  21,  1918,  Mr.  Gasser  moved 
to  Angola,  and  has  one  of  the  good  homes  in  the 
town,  with  a large  lot  running  from  one  street  to 
another  and  a vacant  lot,  where  he  keeps  himself 
busy  in  the  summer  time  gardening.  He  also  em- 
ploys his  spare  time  as  a fur  buyer,  and  has  been 


buying  furs  for  about  thirty  years  and  is  an  author- 
ity on  that  branch  of  commerce. 

In  politics  Mr.  Gasser  is  independent  and  strongly 
favors  prohibition.  He  has  never  aspired  to 
political  office  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  In  1893  he  married  Miss 
Ella  Moss,  of  Steuben  County.  She  died  in  1906. 
In  October,  1909,  Miss  Sarah  L.  Crawford,  of 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  a cousin  of  his  first  wife, 
became  his  bride. 

Samuel  H.  Galloway  has  long  been  a citizen  of 
prominence  and  usefulness  in  Sparta  Township, 
where  he  is  the  present  trustee  and  also  a success- 
ful farmer,  has  been  identified  with  school  work  as 
a practical  school  man  and  teacher,  and  altogether 
has  filled  His  rather  brief  life  with  intense  activities. 

Mr.  Galloway,  whose  home  is  on  his  farm  in  sec- 
tion 33  of  Sparta  Township,  was  born  in  the  same 
locality  September  20,  1886,  a son  of  John  F.  and 
Eliza  (Brown)  Galloway,  the  former  a native  of 
Sparta  Township  and  the  latter  of  Kosciusko  Coun- 
ty, Indiana.  His  father  was  a farmer  in  Noble  County 
for  many  years.  He  was  twice  married,  his  second 
wife  being  Ellen  Burns.  By  the  first  marriage  there 
were  four  children : Samuel  H. ; Rosa  A.,  a gradu- 

ate of  the  common  schools  and  wife  of  Ernest  Wilk- 
inson; Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Ray  Prentiss;  and  Mary 
E.,  who  is  unmarried  and  lives  at  home. 

Samuel  H.  Galloway  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
and  was  liberally  educated.  He  is  a graduate  of  the 
Cromwell  High  School,  attended  the  Tri-State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Angola,  and  also  was  a student  in 
Valparaiso  University.  His  work  as  a school  man 
has  covered  a period  of  about  thirteen  years.  He 
owns  a well  kept  and  well  managed  farm  of  forty- 
three  acres,  and  has  about  seventy  acres  in  farming 
use.  He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Sparta  State 
Bank  at  Cromwell. 

October  12,  1912,  Mr.  Galloway  married  Jennie 
Piper,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Viola  Piper.  They 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Cromwell  and  Mr.  Galloway  is  also  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  School  of  the  Broadway  Christian 
Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  and 
Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  at  Cromwell  and  in 
politics  is  a republican. 

Charles  O.  Jones  has  been  a member  of  the 
farming  community  of  Millgrove  Township  for  over 
thirty  years,  and  his  own  work  and  interests  have 
supplemented  the  record  of  a family  that  through  its 
different  branches  have  been  a part  of  Steuben 
County  history  since  earliest  times. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  September  21,  1861,  and 
has  lived  in  Steuben  County  since  early  childhood. 
His  father,  Hiram  S.  Jones,  was  born  in  Vermont 
in  January,  1834,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Jerusha  Jones. 
In  1843  the  Jones  family  came  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana.  Samuel  Jones  spent  the  rest  of  his  life 
there  as  a farmer.  His  children,  included  Julius, 
Sidney,  Henry,  Miller,  William,  Sarah,  Hattie  and 
two  that  died  in  infancy. 

Hiram  S.  Jones  had  an  eventful  experience  in 
California  during  six  years  of  his  early  manhood. 
October  21,  i860,  he  married  Nancy  J.  Clark,  who 
was  born  at  Lockport,  New  York,  in  1836,  a daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Jane  M.  Clark,  natives  of  New 
York,  who  moved  to  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  in  1857, 
in  i860  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  two  years 
later  to  Kalamazoo,  Michigan.  Isaac  Clark  also 
spent  some  time  in  Steuben  County.  His  children 
were  named  Nancy,  William,  Alice,  Mary  and  James. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


9 


Hiram  S.  Jones  farmed  for  a number  of  years 
in  DeKalb  County,  also  lived  on  the  Clark  farm 
in  Kalamazoo  County,  Michigan,  and  in  1872  bought 
back  his  old  homestead  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  He  died  while  attending  the 
County  Fair  on  October  18,  1877.  He  and  his  wife 
had  five  children:  Charles  O.,  Frank  B.,  Fred  A., 

and  Lillie  and  Leila,  twins.  The  mother  of  these 
children  was  married  in  1884  to  Almon  W.  Thorpe. 

Charles  O.  Jones  acquired  most  of  his  education 
at  Orland,  also  attended  school  at  Flint,  and  in  1889 
began  farming  his  present  place  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship. He  has  specialized  in  thoroughbred  stock, 
breeding  Poland  China  hogs  of  the  big  type  and 
also  Shropshire  sheep.  His  farm  comprises  seventy 
acres  situated  in  sections  33  and  28.  Mr.  Jones  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Orland. 

November  27,  1883,  he  married  Myrtia  Turner,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Susan  Turner.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1831  and  her 
mother  in  Steuben  County  in  1839.  Her  mother  was 
a Salisbury.  Both  the  Turner  and  Salisbury  fami- 
lies figure  prominently  in  the  history  of  Steuben 
County,  as  noted  on  other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Jones  had  four  children:  Murl,  wife  of  Joseph 

Moffett  and  the  mother  of  Helen  and  Florence ; 
Urban,  who  married  Vera  Waters  and  has  a daugh- 
ter, Martha;  Bruce,  who  married  May  Nash;  and 
Beulah,  who  was  a trained  nurse  and  died  in  a 
Chicago  hospital. 

Charles  Carter.  The  coming  years  loom  large 
with  economic  problems,  but  of  them  all,  none  are  as 
important  as  the  production  of  foodstuffs  in  sufficient 
quantities  to  supply  not  only  the  constantly  increas- 
ing domestic  demand,  but  that  of  European  nations 
now  partially  dependent  upon  American  farmers  for 
the  necessities  of  ordinary  existence.  Because  of 
these  conditions  the  status  of  the  farmer  has  very 
materially  improved  and  his  calling  is  recognized  as 
one  of  the  most  important,  and  those  men  of  ex- 
perience in  agricultural  activities  are  urged  to  remain 
in  harness  during  the  next  few  years,  which  are  to 
prove  so  potent  in  the  world’s  history.  One  of 
the  men  of  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  who  has  spent 
his  life  in  cultivation  of  the  soil  is  Charles  Carter, 
who  owns  a valuable  farm  in  Steuben  Township. 

Charles  Carter  was  born  on  his  present  farm 
March  18,  1854,  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Ann 
(Frink)  Carter,  and  grandson  of  Jonas  Carter,  the 
founder  of  the  family  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
and  also  a grandson  of  Selah  Frink.  The  birth 
of  Jonas  Carter  took  place  in  Worcester  County, 
Massachusetts,  in  June,  1767,  but  he  left  his  native 
county  in  young  manhood,  going  to  Luzerne  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  investing  quite  heavily  in  farm 
land  there,  upon  which  he  lived  for  many  years. 
After  locating  in  that  county  he  was  married  to 
Catherine  Wheeler,  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1774, 
who  was  taken  to  Pennsylvania  by  her  parents  after 
the  frightful  massacre  of  Wyoming,  from  which 
they  fortunately  escaped.  After  the  birth  of  eight 
of  their  nine  children  Jonas  Carter  and  his  wife 
moved  to  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  making  the  trip 
in.  November,  1815,  once  more  entering  upon  the 
privations  and  hardships  of  pioneer  life.  They  were 
among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  that  county,  and 
here  they  improved  a farm  and  reared  their  chil- 
dren. Animated  by  the  same  spirit  which  prompted 
Jonas  Carter  to  migrate,  his  sons  struck  out  for 
themselves,  pushing  a little  farther  westward,  into 
northeastern  Indiana.  In  October  Lewis  and  John 
Carter  sons  of  Jonas  Carter,  entered  several  hun- 
dreds of  acres  comprising  portions  of  sections  13, 
24  and  23,  Steuben  Township,  Steuben  County.  They 
returned  to  Ohio  in  the  fall,  but  John  came  back 


to  their  claim  the  next  year,  bringing  his  family 
with  him,  and  he  erected  a log  cabin  in  July,  1836, 
in  section  24.  In  July,  1837,  Lewis  Carter  returned 
to  Steuben  County,  bringing  with  him  not  only 
his  own  family  but  his  father  and  his  family.  Jonas 
Carter  located  on  a farm  later  owned  by  his  son 
Samuel,  and  lived  in  a log  cabin  Samuel  had  erected 
for  him,  and  this  continued  his  home  until  his  death 
in  November,  1842.  His  wife  died  from  the  effects 
of  a fall  into  the  cellar  while  on  a visit  to  her 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Jackson,  in  1853.  The  children 
of  Jonas  Carter  and  his  wife  were  as  follows:  Sarah, 
Rufus,  Lewis,  Abigail,  John  N.,  Jonas,  James,  Sam- 
uel and  Mary  Ann. 

Samuel  Carter  was  born  in  Luzerne  County, 
Pennsylvania,  June  27,  1814.  Ris  first  trip  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana  was  made  in  June,  1835,  and  he 
located  here  permanently  in  1836,  in  the  latter  year 
entering  about  620  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship. He  worked  his  father’s  farm  until  the  demise 
of  the  latter,  when  he  acquired  it,  and  moved  upon 
a portion  of  the  land  he  had  entered,  but  within 
four  years  moved  to  the  homestead,  where  he  died 
in  August,  1873.  His  wife  also  came  of  a pioneer 
family,  and  was  born  in  Madison  County,  New  York, 
a daughter  of  Selah  Frink,  a soldier  of  the  War 
of  1812.  She  died  in  April,  1873,  having  borne  her 
husband  six  children,  namely:  Mary  L..  Sarah  H., 
Charles,  Lucy  J.,  Ellen  and  Celestia. 

Charles  Carter  attended  the  public  schools  of  Steu- 
ben Township,  and  was  brought  up  on  his  father’s 
homestead.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  began 
operating  his  father’s  farm,  but  after  his  marriage 
he  went  to  Virginia  and  lived  on  a peanut  farm  for 
a year,  returning  in  1900  to  the  homestead  and  con- 
ducting it  for  two  years.  For  the  subsequent  six 
years  he  was  engaged  in  farming  west  of  Angola 
in  Pleasant  Township,  and  then  once  more  came 
back  to  his  birthplace.  In  1909,  Mr.  Carter  went 
to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  spent  a year,  and 
the  next  year  he  was  in  Steuben  County.  Going 
back  to  DeKalb  County,  he  resumed  his  farming 
in  that  locality,  and  remained  for  four  years,  and 
in  1917  returned  to  the  Carter  homestead,  where 
he  has  since  resided.  His  property  is  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  the  township  and  his  buildings,  fences 
and  machinery  show  that  he  understands  his  busi- 
ness and  takes  a pride  in  his  premises.  He  belongs 
to  the  Masonic  fraternity  and  the  Grange,  and  Mrs. 
Carter  is  a Gleaner. 

In  1890  Charles  Carter  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Mrs.  Mary  Hanselman,  widow  of  Charles 
Hanselman,  and  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
(Crum)  Willemar.  By  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Carter 
had  three  children,  namely:  Jennie,  who  married 
Fred  Frisbie ; Earl,  who  was  the  second  in  order  of 
birth  ; and  Mabel,  who  married  Frank  Dirrim.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carter  are  numbered  among  the  very  best 
people  of  this  section  of  the  county,  and  their 
pleasant  home  is  the  gathering  place  for  their  friends 
upon  numerous  occasions,  for  they  enjoy  dispensing 
a generous  hospitality  to  those  to  whom  they  are 
bound  by  ties  of  affection. 

Emery  White.  The  name  of  Emery  White  has 
been  associated  for  a long  period  of  years  with  the 
ownership  of  a good  farm  in  Salem  Township,  and 
with  the  substantial  financial  interests  of  that 
locality. 

Mr.  White,  who  came  to  Steuben  County  forty- 
five  years  ago,  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
in  May,  1832,  a son  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Breise) 
White.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Columbia 
County,  Pennsylvania,  lived  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  for  a number  of  years  and  in  1873  came  to 
Steuben  County  and  located  in  Jackson  Township. 


10 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


In  1875  they  moved  to  Salem  Township  and  had 
twenty  acres  at  Flint  and  later  lived  on  the  farm 
now  owned  by  their  son  Emery.  The  father  died 
in  1907,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  There  were  seven 
children : Amanda,  deceased,  Emery,  Mary  and 

Matilda  deceased,  Francis  and  Nettie,  twins,  the 
former  deceased,  and  Minta.  The  father  was  inde- 
pendent in  politics  and  attended  the  Methodist 
Church  and  later  the  Church  of  God. 

Emery  White  received  his  education  in  Richland 
County.  Ohio.  As  a youth  he  learned  the  trade  of 
tanner  and  worked  in  a leather  store  at  Mansfield 
and  Plymouth,  Ohio.  He  came  with  his  parents 
to  Steuben  County  in  1873  and  in  1875  bought  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres.  At  present  he  has  240  acres 
in  his  home  place  and  thirty  acres  near  Hudson. 
He  still  does  some  farming,  though  most  of  his 
land  is  rented.  Several  years  ago  a fine  barn  was 
struck  by  lightning,  entailing  a loss  of  $2,000,  but 
was  rebuilt  with  an  equally  good  structure  the  same 
year.  Mr.  White  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
in  business  as  a money  lender.  He  has  been  very 
successful  in  financial  matters.  Mr.  White  is  un- 
married and  is  a republican  voter. 

Christian  E.  Slabaugh.  Many  long  years  of 
hard  and  earnest  labor  have  given  Christian  E.  Sla- 
baugh their  proper  reward  in  a prosperity  measured 
by  large  land  holdings  and  a wealth  of  community 
esteem.  Mr.  Slabaugh  is  no  longer  actively  identi- 
fied with  farming  pursuits,  but  is  still  living  in  his 
country  home  in  section  10  of  Perry  Township, 
3 ]/2  miles  northwest  of  Ligonier. 

A native  of  Indiana,  he  was  born  in  Clay  County, 
September  29,  1846,  son  of  Elias  and  Mary  Sla- 
baugh, the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
latter  of  Germany.  His  parents  were  married  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  coming  to  Indiana  settled  in  the 
western  part  of  the  state,  in  Clay  County.  That 
was  their  home  for  about  ten  years,  but  in  1852 
they  moved  to  Elkhart  County  and  bought  another 
farm.  Several  years  later  they  traded  for  land  in 
Perry  Township  of  Noble  County,  and  on  that  place 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Elias  Slabaugh  was  a 
well  to  do  farmer  and  had  made  all  his  wealth 
through  his  own  efforts.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Dunkard  Church  and  a democrat  in  politics.  Of 
five  children,  three  are  still  living:  Nancy,  wife  of 

John  Emmett,  of  LaGrange  County;  William,  who 
lives  in  the  State  of  Washington;  and  Christian  E. 

Christian  E.  Slabaugh  was  six  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Elkhart  County,  and  he  has  spent 
nearly  all  his  life  in  that  and  in  Noble  counties.  He 
had  a common  school  education,  and  lived  at  home 
until  the  age  of  twenty-one.  In  1870  he  married 
Catherine  Bowsher,  who  was  born  in  Perry  Town- 
ship, Noble  County.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Slabaugh  rented  land  for  one  year,  and  he 
then  bought  sixty  acres,  the  nucleus  of  his  steadily 
increasing  estate,  which  is  represented  now  by  the 
ownership  of  nearly  900  acres  here  and  elsewhere, 
including  400  acres  of  land  in  New  Mexico.  He 
also  owns  some  real  estate  in  Central  Colorado. 
Mr.  .Slabaugh  is  a stockholder  in  the  Citizens  Bank 
at  Ligonier  and  in  the  Farmers  Co-operative  Ele- 
vator of  the  same  city.  He  is  a democrat  and  has 
served  as  township  supervisor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slabaugh  have  four  children : Sid- 
ney, of  Perry  Township ; Willard,  of  Perry  Town- 
ship; Ollie,  wife  of  John  Larimer,  of  the  State  of 
Montana;  and  Ray,  of  Perry  Township. 

Harley  H.  Webb  is  cultivating  acres  that  were 
once  cultivated  by  his  father,  and  is  living  on  the 
same  farm  where  he  was  born  in  Millgrove  Town- 


ship, in  section  26.  Mr.  Webb  is  one  of  the  highly 
thought  of  citizens  of  that  community,  and  his 
family  is  one  of  the  best  in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Webb  was  born  April  3,  1876,  a son  of  Arthur 
and  Permilla  (Case)  Webb.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Pleasant  Township  of  Steuben  County.  Arthur 
Webb  was  born  in  England  in  1828,  son  of  John 
and  Grace  (Harrison)  Webb,  both  natives  of  Eng- 
land who  came  with  their  family  to  America  in  1830. 
The  Webbs  settled  in  Steuben  County  as  pioneers 
in  1845,  coming  here  from  Michigan. 

Arthur  Webb  in  1850,  when  a young  man  of 
twenty-two,  left  Steuben  County  and  went  overland' 
by  mule  team  to  California.  He  lived  in  the  gold 
districts  of  the  Pacific  Coast  for  about  five  years, 
and  on  returning  to  the  States  came  by  boat  and 
around  Cape  Horn.  From  New  York  City  he  re- 
turned to  Millgrove  Township  and  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  in  that  locality,  where  he  died  in  1912. 
He  was  four  times  married.  His  first  wife  was  a 
Miss  Heath,  and  she  was  the  mother  of  two  daugh- 
ters, Eva  and  Amy.  For  his  second  wife  Arthur 
Webb  married  Rose  Case,  and  her  children  were 
Delmer,  Jessie,  Zella  and  Rosa.  For  his  third  wife 
Arthur  Webb  married  Permilla  Case,  a sister  of  his 
second  wife.  His  fourth  wife  was  Martha  Hallet, 
and  she  is  still  living. 

Harley  H.  Webb,  only  child  of  his  father’s  third 
marriage,  acquired  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Millgrove  Township  and  has  been  farm- 
ing since  early  youth  on  the  place  where  he  now 
lives.  He  owns  no  acres  in  section  26,  and  besides 
farming  and  stock  raising  keeps  bees  as  a source 
of  pleasure  as  well  as  profit.  He  is  one  of  the 
skilled  bee  keepers  in  the  county. 

In  1897  Mr.  Webb  married  Miss  Alida  McGrew, 
a daughter  of  Melvin  McGrew.  Her  family,  and  its 
various  connections  and  interests  in  Steuben  County, 
is  described  on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Webb  have  two  children,  Hilda  and  Joyce. 

Charles  Libey.  While  Mr.  Libey’s  work  and 
interests  for  many  years  have  been  identified  with 
one  farm  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
the  record  of  his  family  in  its  different  connections 
runs  through  two  counties  of  Northeast  Indiana, 
Steuben  and  DeKalb. 

Mr.  Charles  Libey  was  born  in  Steuben  Township 
of  Steuben  County,  July  31,  1870,  son  of  George  E. 
and  Matilda  E.  (Houser)  Libey.  The  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  his  mother 
being  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Gonser) 
Houser.  John  Houser  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers 
of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Fairfield 
Township  in  1847  and  living  there  until  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  in  1894,  when  he  moved  to  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County  and  lived  at  the  home 
of  his  daughter  Mrs.  George  Libey  until  his  death 
also  in  1894.  He  had  the  following  children:  Matilda, 
Sarah,  Ella,  Katie  and  Louisa. 

William  Libey  grandfather  of  Charles  Libey,  came 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and  from  the  latter 
state  to  Fairfield  Township  in  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  in  1847.  His  farm  cornered  on  that  of 
John  Houser.  He  and  his  wife  died  there,  leaving 
a family  of  small  children,  George  E.,  the  oldest, 
David,  Mary,  Jacob,  Elizabeth  and  Margaret. 

George  E.  Libey  left  DeKalb  County  in  1869  and 
located  on  a farm  now  within  the  corporation  limits 
of  Ashley  in  Steuben  Township.  He  remained  there 
about  four  years  and  then  established  his  home  on 
the  farm  in  section  25,  Salem  Township,  now  oc- 
cupied by  his  son  Charles.  In  1901  he  and  his  wife 
moved  to  Hudson,  where  he  died  in  April,  1902,  and 
his  wife  in  the  following  December.  Both  were 
active  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


11 


Hudson.  They  had  eight  children : Frank,  who 

died  in  1900;  Ulysses  G. ; Sarah  E.,  wife  of  William 
Fink;  Almon  G. ; Charles;  John  E. ; Bert  W.,  and 
Ora  W. 

Charles  Libey  grew  up  in  Salem  Township,  at- 
tended the  Osborne  school  there,  and  about  the  time 
he  turned  his  majority  he  began  farming  the  home 
place  and  also  rented  other  fields  near  by.  He  bought 
forty  acres  of  the  old  farm  in  1903,  and  gradually 
has  expanded  his  property  with  the  increase  of  his 
means  until  he  now  owns  100  acres.  He  has  re- 
modeled and  added  to  all  the  buildings,  and  has 
one  of  the  best  sets  of  farm  buildings  in  the  town- 
ship, including  a house  of  modern  equipment  and 
comfort. 

Most  of  his  time  is  now  taken  up  with  the  busi- 
ness of  his  home  place.  For  six  years  he  was 
honored  with  and  gave  a most  efficient  administra- 
tion of  the  office  of  trustee  of  Salem  Township. 

July  8,  1897,  Mr.  Libey  married  Mis  Carrie  Clink, 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Catherine  (Ritter)  Clink. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  in 
1838,  a son  of  George  and  Catherine  Clink,  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty  years  he  came  to  Steuben  County, 
later  going  back  to  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1861 
returned  to  Steuben  County  and  in  August  of  the 
same  year  enlisted  in  Company  A,  of  the  Forty- 
fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  with  his  regiment 
two  years,  then  reenlisted,  and  served  until  honor- 
ably discharged  in  September,  1865,  holding  the 
rank  of  sergeant.  He  was  in  many  of  the  great 
battles  of  the  war,  including  Fort  Donelson,  Stone 
River  and  Chickamauga.  Charles  Clink  in  1869 
bought  a farm  of  120  acres  in  Salem  Township, 
and  besides  working  the  farm  he  also  followed  more 
or  less  the  carpenter’s  trade. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Libey  have  two  children.  Lucille 
is  a graduate  of  the  Hudson  High  School,  has 
taken  three  terms  in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola, 
and  is  now  a teacher  in  the  schools  of  Metz.  North 
C.  is  also  a graduate  of  the  high  school  at  Hudson. 

Charles  E.  Wells  is  one  of  the  older  merchants 
of  Angola,  and  for  many  years  has  served  some  of 
the  best  town  and  country  trade  as  a grocer. 

His  people  were  identified  with  the  early  settle- 
ment of  this  county,  and  .he  was  born  here  February 
8,  1864,  son  of  Friend  S.  and  Adaline  (Howard) 
Wells.  Both  parents  were  also  natives  of  Steuben 
County.  The  grandfather,  L.  Wells,  came  to  Steu- 
ben County  when  it  was  practically  a wilderness. 
He  married  Ann  Soule.  The  father  of  Adaline 
Howard  was  Morris  Howard.  Friend  S.  Wells  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Steuben  County  and  followed 
the.  trade  of  carpenter  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
democrat  and  at  one  time  served  as  trustee  of 
Pleasant  Township.  He  was  also  active  in  the 
Christian  Church.  His  widow  is  still  living.  They 
were  the  parents  of  two  sons,  Charles  E.  and 
Archie,  both  of  Angola. 

Charles  E.  Wells  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Angola,  and  after  leaving  high  school  took  a busi- 
ness course  in  Valparaiso  College.  He  learned 
merchandising  by  practical  experience  as  a clerk  in 
some  of  the  Angola  stores,  and  then  entered  busi- 
ness for  himself.  He  has  been  a merchant  for 
twenty-two  years  and  now  owns  a well-stocked 
establishment  at  the  corner  of  Elizabeth  and  Maumee 
streets,  where  he  has  been  in  business  for  twelve 
years.  Mr.  Wells  also  owns  a farm  in  Pleasant 
Township.  He  has  never  cared  for  the  honors  and 
responsibilities  of  public  office,  is  a democratic 
voter  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees. 

In  December,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Mor- 


row. She  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1865,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Era  (Tolies)  Morrow.  Her  parents  came  from 
Hammondsport,  Steuben  County,  New  York,  first 
settling  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  where  they 
lived  sixteen  years  and  then  removed  to  Angola, 
where  both  of  them  died.  Mrs.  Wells’  mother  died 
in  1918,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one.  Mrs.  Wells  is 
one  of  three  daughters,  Elizabeth,  Lucy  and  Hattie, 
all  of  whom  live  at  Angola.  Elizabeth  is  the  widow 
of  John  Richardson  and  Lucy  is  the  widow  of  Joseph 
Beil.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wells  have  two  sons.  Cleon 
M.,  born  in  1887,  was  well  educated  in  the  high 
school  and  the  Tri-State  College  and  is  now  with 
his  father  in  business.  He  married  Lila  Brown. 
The  second  son,  Leighton  B.,  born  in  1893,  has 
earned  distinction  as  a professional  musician.  He 
graduated  from  the  Angola  High  School  and 
studied  music  in  the  Bush  Conservatory  of  Music 
at  Chicago.  He  is  now  following  his  profession  at 
Chicago,  and  married  Miss  Ina  Brant,  who  came 
from  the  vicinity  of  Kansas  City. 

John  R.  Reese  has  been  identified  with  the  farm- 
ing community  of  Perry  Township  in  Noble  County 
practically  all  his  life,  and  has  been  an  active  factor 
therein  for  over  a quarter  of  a century.  He  is  a 
veteran  of  the  threshing  business,  and  owns  a large 
acreage  and  a valuable  farm  which  represents  to  a 
large  extent  his  varied  industry  and  capabilities. 
His  home  is  two  miles  east  of  Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  Perry  Township,  June  30,  1871, 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Peters)  Reese.  His 
parents  were  born  in  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  when  young,  and  two  years  later  were  mar- 
ried at  Buffalo;  New  York.  They  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  in 
Elkhart  Township.  They  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  John  Reese  after  ac- 
quiring American  citizenship  voted  as  a democrat. 
They  had  eight  children,  but  only  two  are  now  living, 
Elizabeth  and  John  R.  Elizabeth  is  the  wife  of 
Ernest  Sorgenfrei  and  lives  with  her  brother. 

John  R.  Reese  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  the 
vicinity  of  his  present  home.  He  acquired  a com- 
mon school  education  and  after  reaching  manhood 
he  bought  out  the  interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the 
old  homestead  of  113  acres  and  has  since  made 
steady  progress  toward  the  acquisition  of  a large 
landed  estate,  and  now  has  422  acres  all  in  Perry 
Township  and  most  of  it  adjoining.  He  uses  this 
land  for  the  raising  of  general  crops  and  livestock. 
As  a thresherman  he  ran  an  outfit  for  twenty  years, 
and  became  known  to  all  the  farmers  in  his  and  a 
number  of  adjoining  townships.  Mr.  Reese  is  a 
democrat  in  politics,  is  affiliated  with  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  and  with  Ligonier  Lodge  No.  123, 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Orlando  Kimmell.  Of  the  older  residents  of 
Noble  County  few  have  made  themselves  more 
prominently  a part  of  the  community  and  have  en- 
joyed more  of  the  well  ordered  prosperity  that 
comes  with  long  years  and  hard  work  than  Orlando 
Kimmell,  whose  name  is  perpetuated  in  the  Village 
of  Kimmell,  and  whose  home  is  in  York  Township 
on  the  Lincoln  Highway,  two  miles  southeast  of  the 
village  of  that  name. 

Mr.  Kimmell  was  born  at  Canton  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  March  25,  1830,  and  has  now  attained  that 
venerable  age  where  he  can  survey  in  retrospect 
more  than  fourscore  years.  His  father,  Joseph  Kim- 
mell, was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  son  of  Joseph 
Kimmell,  Sr.,  a native  of  the  same  state,  who  became 


12 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


an  early  settler  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  lived  and 
died  there.  Joseph  Kimmell,  Jr.,  married  in  Stark 
County  Catherine  Amich,  a native  of  that  county. 
They  lived  there  until  1851,  when  they  removed  to 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  in  this  county  Joseph 
Kimmell  acquired  a farm  of  195  acres  and  was  one 
of  the  well  known  and  substantial  residents  the  rest 
of  his  days.  He  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  was  quite  active  in  republican  politics, 
serving  as  trustee  and  as  a justice  of  the  peace  in 
Ohio.  He  was  the  father  of  five  children : Cyrus, 

who  spent  his  life  in  York  and  Sparta  townships  in 
Noble  County;  Harriet,  who  married  John  Arnold; 
Orlando,  the  only  living  member  of  his  father’s  fam- 
ily ; Maria,  who  married  Nathan  White;  and 
Emeline,  who  became  the  wife  of  George  Casper. 

Orlando  Kimmell  was  twenty-one  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  Noble  County.  He  had  attended 
the  log  school  houses  of  Ohio,  and  in  that  way 
acquired  a practical  education.  On  January  24,  1856, 
Mr.  Kimmell  married  Jane  White.  She  was  born  in 
Marion  County,  Ohio,  and  was  brought  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  when  a girl.  She  attended  some  of 
the  old  log  school  houses  of  this  county.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmell  settled  on  his 
father’s  farm,  and  rented  for  thirteen  years.  His 
energy  as  a farmer  and  as  a general  business  man 
enabled  him  to  accumulate  at  one  time  1,200  acres 
of  land,  and  he  still  owns  1,120  acres.  The  town  of 
Kimmell  was  built  on  land  which  he  owned,  and  it 
was  through  his  instrumentality  that  the  railroad 
right  of  way  was  located  as  it  was  and  the  station 
established  bearing  his  name.  Mr.  Kimmell  made 
most  of  his  money  raising  livestock,  and  has  been 
a buyer  and  seller  of  livestock  for  many  years.  He 
is  now  practically  retired  from  all  the  heavier  re- 
sponsibilities of  business. 

'Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmell  had  ten  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmell  were 
happily  married  over  sixty  years.  She  passed  away 
in  June,  1918,  and  was  a devout  and  loyal  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Of  the  children 
to  grow  up  the  following  record  is  made : May, 

wife  of  Willis  Kinnison,  of  Garden  City,  Kansas ; 
Lillian,  unmarried  and  living  with  her  father;  Jen- 
nie, wife  of  Doctor  Shoab,  of  Ligonier ; Maud,  wife 
of  Ed  Eagles,  of  Albion  ; Thela,  wife  of  Martin  Beck, 
of  Albion;  Morton,  unmarried  and  living  at  home; 
and  Claudius,  who  is  married  and  lives  on  his 
father’s  farm. 

Mr.  Kimmell  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge 
and  was  formerly  an  Odd  Fellow.  In  politics  he 
has  always  been  a republican  since  the  formation 
of  the  party.  He  served  four  years  as  trustee  of 
his  township  and  for  two  terms  was  county  commis- 
sioner. He  was  elected  and  served  as  a member 
of  the  Indiana  Legislature  in  the  session  of  1877, 
and  though  renominated  for  that  office  declined  to 
make  the  campaign.  He  was  also  nominated  in  1890 
as  candidate  for  Congress  from  the  Twelfth  Dis- 
trict, but  declined  the  nomination.  Mr.  Kimmell 
is  a stockholder  and  is  president  of  the  Cromwell 
State  Bank,  the  other  officers  of  which  are  A.  Meyer, 
vice  president,  and  Bert  Tucker,  cashier.  He  is 
also  a stockholder  in  the  Wolf  Lake  Bank.  Mr. 
Kimmell,  though  not  a member  of  that  denomina- 
tion, contributed  $3,000  to  the  building  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Kimmell,  and  has 
always  exercised  a similarly  liberal  spirit  in  behalf 
of  all  community  undertakings.  He  was  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Ligonier  Livestock  Associa- 
tion, serving  as  president  of  the  organization  during 
two  years  of  its  early  existence.  He  was  for  thir- 
teen years  president  of  the  Noble  County  Agricul- 


tural Society,  and  these  and  other  positions  indicate 
the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  his  fellow 
citizens  of  that  county. 

William  E.  Iddings.  There  are  several  careers 
of  younger  men  in  Steuben  County  which  illustrates 
the  fact  that  opportunities  are  not  all  gone  for  mak- 
ing a success  of  farming  from  small  beginnings. 
One  of  them  is  that  of  William  E.  Iddings,  who 
came  to  Northeast  Indiana  comparatively  poor  in 
purse,  was  at  one  time  a farm  hand,  and  has  won 
prosperity  and  a large  farm  in  Jackson  Township, 
making  the  most  of  his  property  during  the  trying 
years  that  beset  agriculture  and  the  farmer  prior 
to  the  present  great  wave  of  prosperity. 

Mr.  Iddings  was  born  in  Belmont  County,  Ohio, 
July  3,  1865,  and  is  a member  of  an  old  and  promi- 
nent family  in  that  section  of  Eastern  Ohio  along 
the  Ohio  Valley.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and 
Teresa  (Close)  Iddings.  His  father  was  born  in 
Jefferson  County,  March  25,  1836,  and  his  mother  in 
Belmont  County.  Her  father,  Josiah  Close,  was  a 
Belmont  County  farmer.  The  paternal  grand- 
father, Joseph  Iddings,  also  had  a farm  in  the  early 
days  of  Belmont  County.  Joseph  Iddings  followed 
farming  in  Belmont  County,  where  his  wife  died 
in  1875.  She  was  the  mother  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: William  E. ; John  C.,  who  was  born  July  6, 
1870,  and  now  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  in  Bel- 
mont County;  and  Thomas  J.,  who  was  born  July 
22,  1873,  and  was  killed  while  on  construction  work 
in  New  York  City  in  August,  1903.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  Joseph  Iddings  married  Sina 
Hogue.  Both  are  still  living  in  Belmont  County. 

William  E.  Iddings  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Belmont  County,  and  in  April, 
1883,  when  about  eighteen  years  old,  came  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana.  He  farmed  the  first  year 
in  Jackson  Township,  and  after  two  years  worked 
out  by  the  month.  He  has  remained  in  that  one 
locality,  and  with  his  hard  earned  savings  and  ex- 
perience he  eventually  acquired  some  land  of  his 
own,  seventy  acres,  and  with  that  as  a start  has 
built  up  a large  and  valuable  homestead  of  230 
acres,  devoted  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is 
one  of  the  successful  hog  raisers  of  the  county,  is 
a good  manager,  and  knows  how  to  make  farming 
pleasant  as  well  as  profitable. 

October  6,  1887,  Mr.  Iddings  married  Lottie  E. 
Benninghoof,  a daughter  of  Reuben  and  Susan 
(Metzger)  Benninghoof.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Violet  W.  and  Iona  P.  Violet  is  a graduate  of  the 
Flint  High  School  and  is  now  continuing  her  higher 
education  in  DePauw  University  at  Greencastle, 
Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Iddings  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  at  Pleasant  View. 

Mary  Thayer  Ritter,  M.  D.  The  Thayer  and 
Ritter  families  were  connected  with  the  pioneer 
life  and  enterprise  of  Steuben  County.  These  are 
family  names  that  have  always  been  associated 
with  the  best  interests  of  the  community,  and  it  is 
in  comformity  to  the  traditions  of  her  ancestors 
that  Mary  Thayer  Ritter  should  choose  some  special 
form  of  usefulness,  and  in  her  choice  of  the  medical 
profession  she  has  achieved  success  and  for  fifteen 
years  has  been  one  of  the  most  capable  members 
of  her  profession  in  Angola. 

Doctor  Ritter’s  mother  was  Helen  Thayer,  who 
was  born  in  Steuben  Township  of  Steuben  County 
September  14,  1843.  She  was  a daughter  of  Eber 
and  Amy  (Golden)  Thayer,  both  natives  of  New 
York  State.  The  Thayer  family  came  to  Steuben 
County  when  most  of  the  land  was  covered  with 
heavy  woods.  Amy  Golden  Thayer  became  the 
mother  of  six  children:  Mrs.  Fronia  Carver;  Mrs. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


13 


Lucinda  Kratzer ; Mrs.  Emily  Scoville ; Mrs.  Susie 
Hunter;  William  A.  and  Mrs.  Helen  Ritter. 

Doctor  Ritter’s  paternal  grandparents  were  Theo- 
bold  and  Catherine  (Hartzel)  Ritter.  They  were 
Ohio  people  and  in  1854  settled  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, on  the  land  where  Doctor  Ritter  was  born. 
Theobold  Ritter  died  in  1877  and  his  wife  in  1869. 
Their  children  were  Simon,  Peter,  Sarah,  Margaret 
and  Lucy.  Theobold  Ritter  married  for  his  second 
wife  Ruth  (Fishbaugh)  Johnson,  and  had  two  sons, 
Enos  and  Eli.  Eber  Thayer  also  married  a second 
wife,  Laura  Mason,  and  by  that  union  had  children 
named  Frank,  Charles,  Judson  and  Carrie.  Carrie 
was  the  wife  of  Onslow  Nixon,  and  they  had  two 
sons  in  the  late  war,  Mason  E.  Nixon,  who  as  a 
member  of  the  Signal  Corps  was  killed  in  France 
October  7,  1918;  and  Clark  Nixon,  who  is  also  in 
the  Signal  Corps  and  is  still  in  France. 

Doctor  Ritter,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, is  a daughter  of  Simon  and  Helen  (Thayer) 
Ritter.  Her  father,  the  late  Simon  Ritter,  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  November  15,  1836, 
and  came  to  Steuben  County  with  his  parents  at 
the  age  of  sixteen.  He  spent  his  life  actively  and 
usefully  on  the  farm  where  his  parents  had  settled 
and  attained  the  good  old  age  of  nearly  eighty-one. 
He  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  Doctor  Ritter 
in  Angola  September  15,  1917.  In  1858  he  married 
Helfen  Thayer.  They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen 
children  seven  of  whom  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  the  others  dying  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Helen  Ritter  died  in  1894.  Both  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  Simon  Ritter 
was  a Republican.  The  names  of  his  children  were 
Charles,  Amy,  Loretta,  Nettie,  Vira,  Mary,  Lettie, 
Judson,  Fielding,  Pearl,  Effie,  Bertha  and  Guy.  The 
son  Pearl  died  in  1905  and  the  son  Charles  in  1899. 

Doctor  Ritter  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm, 
though  from  1871  to  1875  her  parents  lived  in 
Kansas.  In  1884  they  left  the  farm  and  moved  to 
Angola,  where  Doctor  Ritter  attended  High  School 
and  the  Tri-State  Normal  College.  After  five  years 
of  successful  work  in  teaching  she  took  up  the 
serious  study  of  medicine,  spending  two  years  in 
the  Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania  at 
Philadelphia,  and  in  1903  graduated  from  the  Indiana 
Medical  College  at  Indianapolis.  Doctor  Ritter  has 
been  enjoying  a busy  practice  at  Angola  since  April 
18,  1903.  She  is  a member  in  good  standing  of  the 
County  and  State  Medical  Associations,  the  Woman’s 
Medical  Association,  and  the  American  Medical 
Association,  and  is  a member  of  the  Sorosis  Circle 
and  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Frederick  Werner,  who  has  been  a figure  in  the 
business  life  of  Steuben  County  for  many  years, 
is  the  present '’postmaster  of  Orland,  and  was  the 
first  incumbent  of  that  office  after  it  was  raised  to 
a third-class  postoffice. 

Mr.  Werner  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Michi- 
gan, November  24,  1870,  a son  of  George  and 
Pauline  (Nooding)  Werner,  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many. His  father  was  born  in  1832  and  his  mother 
in  1830.  George  Werner  came  to  the  United  States 
at  the  age  of  fifteen,  reaching  New  York  City  with 
only  $5  in  money.  He  was  a tailor  and  worked  at 
that  trade  in  New  York  City  for  a time  and  also 
spent  two  years  on  a farm.  About  1858  he  moved  . 
to  Michigan,  and  in  that  state  followed  farming. 
Eventually  he  acquired  312  acres  in  Jackson  County, 
and  was  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  that  section. 
He  retired  when  about  sixty-five  years  of  age  and 
lived  at  Somerset  Center  in  Hillsdale  County  until 
his  death  in  1915.  His  wife  died  in  1913,  at  the 


age  of  eighty-three.  He  was  an  independent  demo- 
crat in  politics  and  'a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten  chil- 
dren: George;  Joseph,  who  died  when  one  year 

old;  Jennie;  Hallie,  who  died  in  1899;  Jacob,  Josie, 
Frank,  John,  Ernest  and  Frederick. 

Frederick  Werner  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Jackson  County,  Michigan.  He  had  a public 
school  education  and  as  a boy  learned  the  trade  of 
harness  maker  with  his  brother  Jacob.  He  first 
came  to  Orland  in  1890  and  opened  a shop  of 
his  own.  In  1895  he  went  to  Quincy,  Michigan, 
and  engaged  in  the  harness,  agricultural  implements 
and  buggy  business.  In  October,  1898,  his  shop  was 
burned  out,  and  then  for  four  years  he  was  travel- 
ing salesman  for  the  McCormick  Harvester  Com- 
pany. Later  he  represented  the  Portland  Cement 
Company  of  Bronson,  Michigan,  and  for  six  years 
engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at  Orland.  He 
served  as  postmaster  when  Orland  was  a fourth- 
class  office  and  the  grade  was  raised  to  the  third 
class  in  July,  1916.  His  appointment  as  postmaster 
bears  date  of  December  20,  1916.  Mr.  Werner  has 
been  quite  prominent  in  democratic  politics.  While 
living  at  Bronson,  Michigan,  he  served  as  treasurer 
of  Bronson  Township  two  years,  and  also  as  town- 
ship clerk.  At  Quincy  he  was  city  treasurer  two 
years,  and  was  precinct  committeeman  when  ap- 
pointed to  the  office  of  postmaster.  Mr.  Werner 
is  affiliated  with  Star  Lodge  No.  225,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Orland  Chapter  No.  100,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Eastern  Star  and  of  the  Congregational 
Church. 

In  1894  he  married  Miss  Grace  Parker,  daughter 
of  John  and  Elmina  (Luce)  Parker.  Her  mother 
is  a daughter  of  one  of  Michigan’s  most  noted 
governors,  Cyrus  G.  Luce.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Werner 
have  one  daughter,  Pauline  Elmira.  She  was  born 
December  23,  1896,  and  was  educated  in  the  Orland 
High  School  and  two  years  in  the  Hillsdale  College. 
She  is  now  the  wife  of  Lieutenant  Frederick  Seitz 
of  Hillsdale,  a son  of  Frederick  Seitz,  who  for 
many  years  has  been  with  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
Company.  Lieutenant  Seitz  is  a graduate  of  Hills- 
dale College,  and  entered  the  officers’  training  school 
at  Camp  Custer,  later  was  sent  to  Camp  Lee  of 
Virginia,  and  received  a commission  as  lieutenant. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  army  in 
February,  1919. 

Mitchell  S.  Campbell  is  the  present  superin- 
tendent of  the  County  Farm  of  Steuben  County  in 
Pleasant  Township.  He  is  a young  man  well  quali- 
fied for  his  administrative  responsibilities,  is  a 
capable  farmer,  a vocation  to  which  he  has  been 
trained  since  early  boyhood,  and  is  a native  of  Steu- 
ben County. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  Township,  May  27,  1887, 
a son  of  William  and  Sophronia  (Haswell)  Camp- 
bell. His  parents  were  both  born  in  DeKalb  County, 
where  the  grandparents  were  pioneers.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  James  Mitchell  Campbell,  was  one  of 
the  early  settlers  in  that  county  and  developed  a 
farm  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  there.  His  farm 
was  on  Fish  Creek.  William  Campbell  was  born 
in  1848  and  his  wife  in  1851,  they  were  married  in 
DeKalb  County  and  in  the  late  ’70s  moved  to  Steu- 
ben County  and  bought  a farm  in  Richland  Town- 
ship, where  the  father  lived  until  his  death  in  1893. 
His  widow  is  now  living  with  her  son  Hugh  in 
Richland  Township.  They  had  six  children : Viola, 
deceased;  Clara;  Florence;  Lizzie;  Mitchell  S. ; and 


14 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Hugh  A.  Hugh  A.  Campbell  also  served  four  years 
as  superintendent  of  the  Steuben  County  Farm  and 
is  now  a resident  of  Richland  Township. 

Mitchell  S.  Campbell  grew  up  on  the  home  place 
in  Richland,  acquired  a district  school  education, 
and  by  practical  experience  has  become  a good 
farmer.  He  also  took  the  Jesse  Berry  Horse  Train- 
ing Course,  and  is  well  qualified  to  handle  and 
train  horses.  Until  his  appointment  to  his  present 
duties  he  was  a farmer  and  owned  thirty-three  acres 
in  Scott  Township.  In  March,  1918,  the  County 
Board  of  Commissioners  appointed  him  as  superin- 
tendent of  the  County  Farm.  Mr.  Campbell  is  a 
republican  and  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views. 

In  1917  he  married  Miss  Verle  Holbrook,  of  Steu- 
ben County,  daughter  of  Frank  and  Elizabeth 
(Folck)  Holbrook,  of  Fremont,  Indiana.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Mildred  Elizabeth,  born  Decem- 
ber 15,  1918. 

Edgar  J.  Wilson.  The  prosperity  which  Edgar  J. 
Wilson  now  enjoys,  surrounded  by  his  rich  and  pro- 
ductive acres  in  Millgrove  Township,  has)  been 
earned  by  many  years  of  well  directed  industry.  At 
one  time  he  was  a farm  laborer,  working  for  a 
monthly  wage,  and  only  through  thrifty  habits,  good 
judgment  and  all  round  business  ability  has  ad- 
vanced to  the  stage  of  independence. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  May  4,  1866,  son  of  Edwin  H.,  and 
Christina  (Klink)  Wilson.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  Klink,  of  a promi- 
nent old  family  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Edwin  H. 
Wilson  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  a son 
of  John  and  Hannah  (Bodley)  Wilson,  the  former 
a native  of  New  York  State.  John  Wilson  was  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  the  “thirties”  in  Steuben  County, 
reaching  Salem  Township  in  1836.  He  settled  near 
the  Block  Church,  and  remained  the  rest  of  his  life 
in  that  township.  His  children  were  named  Mar- 
garet, Elizabeth,  Melvina,  Harvey,  Edwin  H.,  and 
Rebecca. 

Edwin  H.  Wilson  spent  most  of  his  active  life  as 
a farmer  in  Jackson  Township.  In  1881  he  moved 
to  Millgrove  Township,  and  in  1890  retired  to  Mil- 
ford Township  of  LaGrange  County,  where  he  died. 
He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  named  Lillie, 
May,  Edgar  and  Edson,  twins,  Edwin,  Edna  and 
Addie. 

Edgar  J.  Wilson  acquired  his  early  education  in 
Jackson  Township,  attending  the  Morgan  School 
and  District  School  Number  Seven,  and  for  one  year 
attended  school  in  Millgrove  Township.  He  left 
home  and  began  working  out  for  wages  when  six- 
teen years  old,  and  continued  in  that  way  for  a 
period  of  sixteen  years.  The  first  farming  he  did 
independently  was  in  Millgrove  Township  in  1896, 
and  for  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  enjoying  a 
constantly  rising  position  of  influence  and  pros- 
perity. He  bought  ninety  acres  there  in  1904,  added 
thirty-five  acres  a few  years  later,  and  on  selling 
that  first  place  bought  his  present  farm  of  no  acres 
in  section  22.  Since  1918  Mr.  Wilson  has  leased 
his  farm  and  is  now  practically  retired. 

November  5,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Zella  L.  Webb, 
a daughter  of  Arthur  and  Rosana  (Case)  Webb. 
Her  father  was  a native  of  England  and  the  Webbs 
were  early  established  in  Steuben  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilson  have  two  daughters,  Mabel  and  Iva. 
Mabel  is  the  widow  of  Claude  Brown,  and  has  a 
daughter,  Dorothy.  Iva  married  Homer  Fisher, 
and  has  a daughter,  Mattie  Lorene. 

Cyrus  Kint,  of  Clear  Lake  Township,  came  to 
Steuben  County  in  the  role  of  a hard  working  farm 


hand  and  renter,  and  gradually  the  years  have 
brought  him  their  sure  reward,  and  he  is  today  a 
prosperous  farmer  and  land  owner  and  a citizen 
entitled  to  the  respect  he  enjoys. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  December 
15,  1856,  a son  of  Simon  and  Mary  Jane  (Hight) 
Kint.  His  father  was  a son  of  Simon  Kint,  Sr, 
and  they  cleared  up  120  acres  of  land  in  Superior 
Township  of  Williams  County.  Simon  Kint  was 
a Republican  and  a member  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

Cyrus  Kint  was  only  six  years  old  when  his 
father  died.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was  bound 
out  to  John  Snyder,  with  whom  he  lived  a few 
years  and  then  worked  by  the  month  on  a farm 
and  rented  land.  In  1886  he  came  to  Steuben 
County,  working  for  Dwight  Lewis  in  Salem  Town- 
ship and  later  rented  William  Kinser’s  farm  for 
five  years.  In  1900  he  acquired  his  first  farm,  103 
acres  in  Clear  Lake  Township.  He  moved  to  the 
land  in  1901.  It  was  a tract  of  heavy  brush  land, 
and  year  after  year  he  has  broadened  the  area  of  cul- 
tivation, has  improved  it  with  good  buildings,  and 
enjoys  a well  earned  independence.  Mr.  Kint  is 
a Republican  and  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 

In  October,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Alice  E.  Rogers. 
She  born  in  Northwest  Township  of  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  December  10,  1862,  a daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Margaret  (Robbins)  Rogers.  Her 
grandparents,  Adolphus  and  Amelea  (Whaley) 
Rogers,  were  pioneers  in  Williams  County,  and  both 
of  them  spent  their  last  years  at  Marion  Center, 
Kansas.  The  old  Rogers  homestead  today  is  owned 
by  Lyle  Shank,  county  superintendent  of  schools  of 
Steuben  County.  Adolphus  Rogers  at  one  time  was 
a merchant  in  Williams  County,  also  a teacher,  and 
on  his  farm  kept  an  early  day  tavern.  Joseph  Rogers, 
the  father  of  Mrs.  Kint,  was  a farmer  and  died 
in  Williams  County  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
four.  Mrs.  Kint’s  mother  is  still  living,  aged  seventy- 
five.  Mrs.  Kint‘s  great-grandfather  on  the  maternal 
side  was  Thomas  Whaley,  a very  early  settler  of 
Williams  County  who  took  up  government  land 
and  made  a farm  of  it. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kint  have  two  children : Carl,  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  Tri-State  College, 
and  took  a course  in  the  Michigan  State  School  of 
Agriculture  at  Lansing.  He  is  a practical  and 
scientific  farmer  and  lives  in  Clear  Lake  Town- 
ship, where  he  owns  164  acres  and  rents  120 
acres.  He  married  Fannie  Gowthrop,  and  they 
have  one  son,  Carl  Vere.  Emma  L.  Kint,  is  a grad- 
uate of  high  school,  took  the  teacher’s  course  in  the 
Tri-State  College,  and  later  graduated  from  the 
Indiana  State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute.  She  has  a 
state  license,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a success- 
ful teacher.  She  taught  in  Clear  Lake  six  years, 
also  taught  in  Angola  six  years,  and  is  now  con- 
nected with  the  Tri-State  College. 

Charles  H.  Bruce  has  lived  at  Ashley  for  over 
a quarter  of  a century,  and  has  been  a man  of 
great  usefulness  in  that  community.  He  is  a lawyer 
by  profession  and  training,  for  many  years  was  in 
the  railroad  service  at  Ashley  and  elsewhere,  and 
is  now  serving  the  town  and  surrounding  com- 
munity effectively  in  the  office  of  postmaster. 

Mr.  Bruce  was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
March  31,  1854,  a son  of  Charles  F.  and  Sarah  A. 
(Hammond)  Bruce.  His  father  was  born  at  the 
head  of  Skaneateles  Lake  in  New  York  State  in 
1823,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  the  same  year 
at  Lockport,  New  York.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
Ezra  Bruce,  came  to  Noble  County  about  1838,  after 
a residence  in  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  and  acquired 
government  land  in  Swan  Township.  Ezra  and  his 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


15 


wife  Susannah  spent  their  last  years  in  Noble 
County.  Charles  F.  Bruce  was  only  a boy  when 
brought  to  Noble  County,  and  he  grew  up  here, 
followed  farming,  and  at  one  time  kept  the  tavern 
in  Swan  Township.  He  was  a whig  and  later  a 
republican,  but  had  no  official  aspirations.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church.  He 
and  his  wife  had  eight  children,  of  whom  Charles 
H.  is  the  only  survivor.  Two  died  in  infancy  and 
the  others  were  named  Edward,  Alice,  Anna, 
Luella  and  William.  Charles  F.  Bruce  died  in  1882, 
and  his  widow  survived  him  and  passed  away  at 
the  age  of  eighty-three.  She  lived  at  Kendallville, 
but  her  death  occurred  while  visiting  her  son  at 
Ashley. 

Charles  H.  Bruce  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  after  the  public  schools  entered 
Oberlin  College  in  Ohio,  where  he  graduated  in  the 
law  department.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  a 
skillful  telegraph  operator,  employed  by  the  Wabash 
Railway  Company.  He  was  located  at  various 
places  and  at  different  times  was  at  Kalamazoo, 
Mendon  and  Cedar  Springs  in  Michigan.  In  1893 
he  came  to  Ashley,  where  he  began  the  practice  of 
law,  and  for  several  years  was  also  chief  clerk  in 
the ’Wabash  Machine  Shops.  He  has  been  one  of 
the  leading  spirits  in  community  affairs  there.  He 
served  about  six  years  as  city  clerk  of  Ashley,  and 
is  now  serving  his  fifth  year  as  postmaster.  He  is 
a democrat  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with  Ashley 
Lodge  No.  614,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
Ashley  Chapter,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Kendallville 
Commandery,  Knight  Templars,  and  also  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his  family 
attend  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1882  Mr.  Bruce  married  Miss  Lyda  Chittenden 
of  Lenawee  County,  Michigan.  Their  only  daughter 
is  Bessie,  a graduate  of  the  Ashley  High  School  and 
the  wife  of  Jay  Gage  of  Ashley.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gage 
have  one  child,  Grace. 

Harry  Black  is  now  the  active  head  of  what  is 
probably  the  oldest  mercantile  establishment  at  Al- 
bion, and  one  of  the  oldest  in  one  location  and 
under  the  direction  of  one  family  in  Northeast 
Indiana. 

The  Black  family  has  been  in  Noble  County  for 
over  fifty  years.  The  ancestry  goes  back  several 
generations  to  about  the  time  of  the  Revolutionary 
war,  when  a German  boy  came  to  this  country  and 
settled  in  Pennsylvania.  This  German  immigrant 
was  the  father  of  Peter  Black,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1787.  Peter  Black  served  as  a loyal 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  His  son  Owen  Black 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1813,  and  grew  up  in 
Richland  County,  Ohio.  Owen  Black  came  to 
Albion,  Indiana,  in  1856,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year 
established  a partnership  with  Mr.  Love  in  general 
merchandising.  Three  or  four  years  later  he  con- 
ducted the  business  himself,  and  was  at  its  head 
until  1862.  In  that  year  Samuel  Foster  became  a 
member  of  the  firm.  In  1863  the  store  was  burned 
and  Owen  Black  then  re-established  the  business  for 
himself  under  the  name  Black  & Son.  This  title 
was  continued  until  1870,  when,  upon  the  death  of 
his  son  and  business  partner,  another  son,  Jackson 
D.  Black,  was  taken  in.  Finally  Owen  Black  retired,, 
and  the  firm  was  Black  & Brother  for  a number  of 
years.  Finally  Jackson  D.  Black  took  over  the  busi- 
ness alone  and  continued  it  until  about  1905,  when 
he  took  in  his  son,  and  the  firm  has  since  been  con- 
ducted as  J.  D.  Black  & Son. 

Jackson  D.  Black  was  born  in  Richland  County, 


Ohio,  April  3,  1846,  and  died  at  Albion,  May  9, 
1916. 

Mr.  Harry  Black  is  a son  of  Jackson  D.  Black 
and  was  born  at  Albion  in  December,  1879.  His 
brother,  Albert  Black,  associated  with  the  business, 
was  called  to  the  army  May  15,  1918,  and  was  an 
instructor  at  Camp  Perry,  Ohio,  with  the  title  of 
captain.  He  was  discharged  January,  1919,  and  is 
now  at  home  in  the  same  business. 

Harry  Black  married  Miss  Bertha  Belt.  They 
have  three  living  children:  Harry  D.,  born  in  1907; 

Marian,  born  in  1911 ; and  John,  born  in  1915.  Mr. 
Black  is  a democrat  in  politics.  The  Black  mer- 
cantile firm  is  regarded  as  a fixture  and  landmark 
at  Albion,  and  has  been  doing  business  in  one  loca- 
tion for  sixty-two  years. 

Bertha  Belt,  wife  of  Harry  Black,  is  the  daughter 
of  Edwin  Belt,  who  came  to  Noble  County  from 
Newark,  Ohio.  He  married  Eugenia  Kline,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Louisa  (Potts)  Kline.  The  Potts 
family  were  pioneers  of  Noble  County,  locating  here 
more  than  eighty  years  ago. 

John  B.  Rodgers.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
families  of  Steuben  County  is  that  of  John  B. 
Rodgers,  a prosperous  farmer  of  the  highest  stand- 
ing in  the  community  of  Jamestown  Township.  Mr. 
Rodgers  comes  of  sturdy  and  long  lived  ancestry, 
tracing  his  descent  from  a victim  of  the  English 
religious  wars,  John  Rogers,  who  was  burned  at 
the  stake.  The  habit  of  large  families  seems  to  have 
persisted  in  nearly  all  the  generations  of  the  family, 
though  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodgers  hardly  measure  up 
to  the  earlier  generations  in  that  particular. 

Mr.  Rodgers  was  born  in  Millgrove  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  May  29,  1858,  son  of  James  M.  and 
Betsie  (Bennett)  Rodgers.  His  maternal  grand- 
father was  Daniel  Bennett,  a pioneer  of  Steuben 
County  who  settled  in  Jackson  Township  in  1838 
and  became  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  and  land 
owners,  owning  400  acres  of  land.  Daniel  Bennett 
on  May  5,  1795,  married  for  his  first  wife  Sally 
Sayer.  Their  children  were  Thomas,  Abraham, 
Isaac,  Mary,  Peggie  (who  died  in  childhood), 
Samuel,  Sally,  Rebecca  (who  died  in  infancy),  and 
Prudence.  The  mother  of  these  died  in  1809,  and 
in  the  same  year  Daniel  Bennett  married  Rebecca 
Norris.  Daniel  Bennett  was  the  father  of  twenty- 
four  children  by  these  two  wives,  those  of  the 
second  marriage  being  Mary,  Peggie,  Polly,  Hilly, 
Daniel,  Jr.,  Betsie,  Alzina,  Norris,  Christopher  C., 
Benjamin,  Rebecca,  John,  Orilla,  Judson,  and  the 
youngest  died  in  infancy. 

In  the  paternal  line  Mr  Rodgers  is  a grandson  of 
Ithuriel  Rodgers,  who  was  born  October  3,  1778.  In 
1800  he  married  Betsie  Dodge.  Ithuriel  Rodgers 
was  a New  York  State  farmer,  and  his  children 
were  Almena,  Sabria,  John  A.,  Alphonso,  William 
H.  H.  and  James  M. 

James  M.  Rodgers  was  born  in  New  York  State 
July  9,  1816.  His  wife,  Betsie  Bennett,  was  born 
in  the  same  state,  April  20,  1819.  James  Rodgers 
arrived  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County 
in  May,  1837,  bought  land,  but  after  a few  years 
moved  to  Springfield  Township  in  LaGrange  County. 
In  1850  he  joined  the  tide  of  emigration  to  the  gold 
coast  of  California,  making  the  journey  overland. 
He  remained  in  the  Far  West  a year  and  a half  and 
about  1854  he  moved  from  Springfield  Township  to 
Millgrove  Township  in  Steuben  County.  In  1880 
he  retired  from  his  farm  to  the  village  of  Orland, 
where  he  died  March  9,  1890.  His  wife  passed 
away  April  2,  1876.  They  had  a family  of  sixteen 
children,  twelve  of  whom  reached  mature  years. 


16 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


The  names  of  the  sixteen  were  Madison,  Bradley, 
Antoinette,  Hila,  Romeo,  Lodaska,  Fernando,  Mary 
Bell,  Austin,  Orvilla,  Romeo,  the  second  of  the 
name,  Lina,  Zoe,  John,  Jabez  and  Alzina. 

John  B.  Rodgers  as  a boy  attended  district  schools 
in  Jackson  and  Millgrove  townships,  finished  his 
education  in  the  Orland  High  School,  and  has  been 
farming  since  early  manhood.  On  October  19,  1880, 
he  married  Alma  Hall.  She  was  born  near  Nevada 
Mills  in  Jamestown  Township,  April  2,  1863,  a 
daughter  of  James  M.  and  Mary  (Ford)  Hall.  Her 
father  was  born  in  1821  and  her  mother  in  1823. 
James  M.  Hall  was  a native  of  New  York  State  and 
in  1838  went  to  Michigan  and  in  1861  settled  in 
Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben  County,  where  he 
died  in  1892.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Rodgers  died 
March  4,  1907.  In  the  Hall  family  were  seven  chil- 
dren: Maria  J.,  John  R.,  James,  who  died  in  child- 
hood, Thomas,  William,  Ida,  who  died  in  infancy, 
and  Alma.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rodgers  are  members  of 
the  Order  of  Gleaners.  Besides  their  four  children 
they  have  a number  of  grandchildren.  Theo  M.,  the 
oldest  of  their  children,  married  Ora  Laird,  and 
their  family  consists  of  Olive  I.,  Cecil  B.,  Robert 
W.,  John  M.,  and  Wilma  Lorine.  Maude  C.  Rod- 
gers is  the  wife  of  Irving  A.  Wickman,  and  their 
four  children  are  Roger  I.,  James  A.,  Alma  Mary 
and  Herbert.  Hazel  M.  is  the  wife  of  William  D. 
Souder  and  she  has  a son,  John  William.  Frank 
Bennett  Rodgers  married  Ida  C.  Reynolds,  and  to 
them  were  born  five  children,  Kathryn  L.,  Lucile 
M.,  Bennett,  who  died  in  childhood,  Earl  and  Wil- 
ford  J. 

George  Franklin  Slick,  whose  home  is  in  Jackson 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  has  grown  crops  in 
that  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  for  thirty  years  or 
more,  and  his  own  record  is  a worthy  contribution 
to  a family  history  which  has  been  associated  with 
this  county  from  the  earliest  pioneer  times. 

Mr.  Slick  was  born  just  east  of  the  Block  Church, 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Dell  Wood,  on  January 
30,  1856.  He  is  a son  of  Holister  and  Lavina  (Shaf- 
stahl)  Slick.  Holister  Slick  was  born  in  Rochester 
County,  New  York,  April  23,  1827,  a son  of  John 
and  Mary  (Hempstead)  Slick.  John  Slick  was  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812,  so  that  the  American 
record  of  this  family  goes  back  more  than  a century. 
John  Slick  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County 
in  1840  and  settled  south  of  Salem  Center,  acquiring 
forty  acres  of  government  land.  He  and  his  wife 
spent  their  last  days  in  that  locality. 

Holister  Slick  was  about  thirteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  Steuben  County,  finished  his  education 
there,  like  most  of  the  family,  took  up  farming  as 
his  vocation.  He  owned  fifty  acres  east  of  the 
Block  Church,  and  lived  there  in  comfortable  circum- 
stances until  his  death  on  August  15,  1909,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-two.  His  wife  who  died  September  30, 
1908,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five,  was  born  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  December  24,  1832.  She  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Christian  and  Christina  Shafstahl,  who  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1846.  Christian  Shafstahl,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1807,  on  moving  to 
Steuben  County  settled  in  Salem  Township  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  1880.  A number  of  his 
children  became  well  known  and  prominent  in  this 
part  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

Holister  Slick  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  nine 
children:  Sarah,  deceased,  George  F.,  Alice,  Nancy, 
Adam,  Christina,  Mary,  Susan  and  William. 

George  Franklin  Slick  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  started  life  with  a public  school  education. 
The  first  land  he  owned  was  forty  acres  in  Salem 
Township.  After  selling  that  he  bought  eighty-five 
acres  in  Jackson  Township,  improved  it  with  good 


buildings,  and  on  April  7,  1917,  bought  his  present 
place,  of  thirty-six  acres.  He  has  always  been  pro- 
gressive in  the  matter  of  improvements,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1919  was  engaged  in  the  erection  of  his 
fifth  barn,  having  put  up  four  other  barns  on  the 
other  farms  he  owned. 

April  12,  1883,  Mr.  Slick  married  Miss  Emma 
Green.  She  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  of 
Steuben  County  May  22,  1861,  a daughter  of  Marvin 
and  Flora  (Jones)  Green.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Medina  County,  Ohio,  September  6,  1833,  and 
her  mother  in  Licking  County  of  the  same  state 
in  1836.  The  Green  family  came  to  Steuben  County 
in  1837,  when  Marvin  was  four  years  old.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Louisa  Green,  who  as 
pioneers  settled  on  land  in  Pleasant  Township  which 
is  now  the  Henry  Jordan  farm.  John  Green  and  wife 
both  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  in  that  locality. 
Mrs.  Slick’s  father  after  growing  to  manhood  bought 
a farm  of  113  acres  in  Scott  Township,  and  he  died 
in  Fremont  in  1912.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the 
age  of  eighty-three.  In  the  Green  family  were  the 
following  children : Lewis,  Ella  and  Emma,  twins, 
Elmer,  deceased,  Sarah,  Matilda,  Bert  and  Charles. 
Mrs.  Slick’s  maternal  grandparents  were  Ziba  and 
Flora  Jones,  likewise  identified  with  the  early  set- 
tlement of  Steuben  County,  and  more  particularly 
mentioned  in  connection  with  other  branches  of  the 
family.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slick  had  four  children. 
Ella  is  the  wife  of  John  Ritter.  Nellie  is  the  wife 
of  Shermie  German,  and  their  children  are  Emma 
Paulina,  who  died  in  infancy,  Violet,  Raymond, 
Gladys  and  Evelyn.  The  son  William  married  Ona 
German,  and  they  have  a son,  Lawrence.  Ethel 
is  the  wife  of  Francis  Wyatt  and  has  one  child, 
Max. 

Martin  M.  Burch  has  been  longer  in  business  as 
a merchant  at  Metz  than  any  of  his  present  com- 
petitors and  associates.  For  over  thirty  years  he 
has  sold  goods  and  furnished  an  adequate  mercan- 
tile service  in  his  particular  line,  and  enjoys  an 
enviable  reputation  in  commercial  circles. 

Mr.  Burch  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County  August  11,  i860,  son  of  Halbert  C.  and 
Mary  (Rhinehart)  Burch,  and  a grandson  of  Ches- 
ter Burch.  Chester  Burch  was  born  in  Vermont 
March  22,  1810,  a son  of  Oliver  and  Anna  Burch. 
In  1825  his  parents  moved  to  Washington  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  grew  up  and  where  in  1831  he 
married  Polly  Davis.  She  was  born  in  that  Ohio 
county  April  4,  1812.  Chester  Burch  was  one  of 
the  early  pioneers  of  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
arriving  in  the  year  1837.  Three  years  later  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  section  10  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship, and  lived  there  until  his  death  on  January  26, 
1879.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  in  that  township.  He  and  his 
wife  had  seven  children. 

Halbert  C.  Burch  was  born  in  New  York  State, 
but  was  reared  and  educated  in  Otsego  Township. 
He  served  three  years  and  three  months  in  the 
Union  army,  and  then  returned  home  and  took  up 
farming.  His  career  was  terminated  at  the  age  of 
thirty-eight,  in  1872,  when  he  was  accidentally 
killed  by  being  thrown  from  a wagon.  His  widow 
survived  him  many  years  and  passed  away  at  the 
age  of  seventy-two.  Halbert  Burch  was  a republi- 
can and  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He 
and  his  wife  had  four  children : Martin  M.,  Eugene, 
Lorenzo  and  John  Chester. 

Martin  M.  Burch  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township,  had  a public  school  education  and  was 
busily  engaged  as  a farmer  until  1886.  He  came  to 
Metz"  in  that  year  and  opened  a harness  shop  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


17 


later  expanded  into  a general  store,  and  has  been 
in  business  at  the  old  stand  now  for  over  thirty 
years. 

Mr.  Burch  has  taken  an  active  interest  in  local 
affairs,  is  a republican,  a member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Christian  Church 
and  works  for  every  worthy  movement. 

In  1879  he  married  Miss  Deetle  Woodcox.  She 
was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  December  26, 
1862,  daughter  of  Curtis  and  Mary  (Morrell)  Wood- 
cox. Her  parents  were  early  settlers  of  DeKalb 
County.  Her  father  died  at  Millersburg,  Indiana, 
in  1890,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two  and  her  mother  in 
1873,  aged  thirty-two.  There  were  five  children  in 
the  Woodcox  family:  Martin,  Deetle,  George,  Bell 

and  Blanche,  all  of  whom  are  still  living.  Curtis 
Woodcox  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  Green- 
wood, and  they  had  two  children,  Frank  and  Nelson. 
His  first  wife  was  Ida  Spears,  and  she  became  the 
mother  of  one  son,  Glen.  Mrs.  Burch’s  father 
moved  to  Metz  in  1872,  and  was  successfully  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  medicine  in  and  around 
that  village  until  about  six  years  before  his  death. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burch  are  the  parents  of  five 
children : Clara,  the  oldest,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Miller  and  has  a son,  named  Willis.  Meda  is  the 
widow  of  Zach  Pillsbury  and  has  a son,  Marion. 
Virgil  married  Naomi  Lindow  and  has  two  sons, 
Virgil  and  Lindow.  Floyd  enlisted  in  May,  1918, 
in  the  National  army  and  in  the  spring  of  1919 
was  at  Camp  Grant,  Illinois.  He  married  Louise 
Loweren.  Marie,  the  youngest  child  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Burch,  is  clerk  in  the  Stiefel  store  at  Angola. 

A.  Howard  Smith  represents  a family  that  has 
been  identified  with  the  agricultural  community  of 
Noble  County  for  over  half  a century,  and  his  own 
efforts  as  an  agriculturist  have  given  him  a sub- 
stantial reputation  in  several  communities,  chiefly 
in.  Perry  Township,  where  he  owns  one  of  the  good 
farms,  located  a mile  and  a half  east  of  Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble 
County,  July  2,  1871,  son  of  Abraham  H.  and  Mary 
E.  (Dumm)  Smith.  His  father  and  mother  were 
both  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  the  former  on 
August  18,  1841,  and  the  latter  in  1843.  They  were 
married  at  Brownsville,  Ohio,  and  in  1864  came  to 
Noble  County  and  located  in  Elkhart  Township. 
They  had  their  home  in  that  community  for  many 
years,  developed  a good  farm,  and  in  1901  retired  and 
removed  to  Ligonier,  where  the  mother  died  in 
1911  and  the  father  in  1915.  They  were  very  active 
members  of  the  Primitive  Baptist  Church,  the  father 
serving  as  clerk  of  the  church.  He  was  a democrat 
in  politics.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  family, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  to  grow  up 
were:  Charles  L. ; Emma  L.,  wife  of  Curtis  Cole; 

Ella  M.,  wife  of  Dr.  A.  J.  Hostettler,  of  LaGrange ; 
Frank  R.,  deceased;  A.  Howard;  Bruce,  who  is  a 
conductor  with  the  New  York  Central  lines;  Edwin 
D.,  of  Ligonier;  and  Edith  M.,  wife  of  Walter  Rob- 
inson, of  Ligonier. 

A.  Howard  Smith  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Elkhart  Township  and  had  a district  school  educa- 
tion. After  leaving  school  he  remained  with  his 
father  helping  to  till  the  fields  and  carry  on  the 
work  of  the  farm  until  he  was  thirty  years  of  age. 

In  October,  1894,  Mr.  Smith  married  Lillie 
Schwab.  She  died  in  1895.  On  March  12,  1901,  he 
married  Minnie  Burket.  Mrs.  Smith  was  born  in 
Perry  Township  and  had  a common  school  educa- 
tion. After  their  marriage  they  lived  for  three 
years  in  Elkhart  Township,  and  in  1911  moved  to 
their  present  farm  of  112  acres  in  Perry  Township. 

Vol.  11— 2 


They  also  own  thirty-four  acres  in  Elkhart  Town- 
ship. This  is  a valuable  property,  and  represents  to 
a large  degree  the  earnest  efforts  of  Mr.  Smith 
since  he  started  life  on  his  own  responsibility.  He 
and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Mildred  M.,  born 
May  13,  1905,  and  now  attending  school.  Mr. 
Smith  keeps  good  grades  of  livestock  of  all  kinds 
and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Co-operative 
Elevator  at  Ligonier.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and  the  Eagles,  and  is  a 
democrat. 

Ross  McNett.  More  than  seventy  years  have 
passed  since  the  McNett  family  became  settled  in 
Steuben  County.  As  a family  they  have  been  hard 
workers,  successful  farmers,  earnest  citizens  and 
always  identified  with  the  religious  and  moral  forces 
of  their  communities.  Of  the  third  generation  Ross 
McNett  is  a representative,  a capable  and  progres- 
sive young  farmer  in  Jamestown  Township. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  lives  today, 
August  29,  1882.  The  founder  of  the  family  in  this 
county  was  his  grandfather,  Jacob  McNett,  who  was 
born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  May  21,  1824.  He 
grew  up  in  Logan  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1846  came 
to  Steuben  County  and  lived  for  three  years  on 
Jackson  Prairie,  and  in  1849  located  on  the  west 
bank  of  Lake  Gage,  and  remained  a resident  of  that 
neighborhood  until  his  death  in  1880.  He  owned  a 
farm  of  180  acres  and  had  the  physical  ability  and 
power  to  give  a good  account  of  himself  as  a farmer 
and  was  a man  of  strong  will  and  great  Christian 
spirit  and  for  many  years  was  an  active  leader  in 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  married  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  Mary  Jane  Rock,  and  they  had  seven 
children  : Sarahett,  who  died  in  childhood ; George 

Sylvester;  J.  C. ; Marietta;  Orpha,  who  died  in 
childhood;  and  John  and  Jane,  twins. 

George  Sylvester  McNett  was  born  in  Millgrove 
Township,  March  6,  1848,  and  spent  his  life  in 
Steuben  County.  He  began  farming  in  Millgrove, 
later  lived  in  Jamestown  Township,  and  for  many 
years  had  his  home  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
his  son,  Ross.  He  died  April  22,  1903.  He  was 
active  in  public  affairs,  serving  four  years  as  town- 
ship assessor,  and  completed  one  term  as  county 
commissioner  and  was  on  his  second  term  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  George  S.  McNett  married  for 
his  first  wife  Gelane  Miller,  who  died  leaving  one 
son,  George.  For  his  second  wife  he  married  Eliza 
Arnold,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State,  October 
20,  1851.  She  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Lulu, 
wife  of  Ray  Terry,  and  Ross. 

Ross  McNett  acquired  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Jamestown  Township.  For  two 
years,  1906-08,  he  lived  with  his  mother  in  Angola, 
but  with  that  exception  has  spent  all  his  life  on 
the  home  farm.  He  owns  fifty  acres  under  contract 
for  sole  ownership  at  the  death  of  his  mother,  also 
a tract  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a successful  general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

December  n,  1907,  he  married  Lillie  May,  a 
daughter  of  Albert  and  Catherine  May.  They  have 
four  children,  named  Mildred,  Mabel,  Melvin  and 
Merle. 

Orda  B.  Galloway  is  a native  of  Northeast  In- 
diana, his  people  having  been  pioneers  in  Noble 
County,  and  after  a number  of  years  of  successful 
practice  as  a dentist  in  his  native  county  he  moved 
to  Steuben  County,  and  is  now  enjoying  a large 
practice  and  well  satisfied  clientele  at  Angola. 

He  was  born  south  of  Ligonier,  near  Cromwell, 
November  25,  1878,  son  of  Anderson  and  Harriet 
(Miller)  Galloway.  The  Galloway  family  came 


18 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


originally  to  Northeast  Indiana  from  Greene  County, 
Ohio,  and  acquired  extensive  tracts  of  wild  land  in 
Noble  County.  Doctor  Galloway’s  grandfather  was 
Joseph  Galloway.  Anderson  Galloway  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Noble  County,  and  for  many  years 
was  one  of  the  succesful  farmers  of  that  locality. 
He  and  his  wife  now  live  retired  at  the  Village  of 
Cromwell.  He  was  born  March  12,  1840,  and  his 
wife  July  5,  1845.  He  is  one  of  the  ardent  repub- 
licans of  Noble  County,  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Order  and  his  wife  is  active  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 
They  had  a family  of  ten  children : Groase,  Clara, 
Etta,  Prentice,  Cora,  Serepta,  Verna,  Orda  B.,  Ora 
and  Oakley.  Prentice,  Cora,  Serepta  and  Verna  are 
deceased. 

Orda  B.  Galloway  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  at 
Cromwell  and  lived  there  until  he  was  about  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  His  education  began  in  the  district 
schools,  was  continued  in  the  high  school  at  Crom- 
well, and  for  two  and  a half  years  he  was  a 
student  in  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan.  He  re- 
ceived his  degree  Doctor  of  Dental  Surgery  at  the 
Dental  College  of  Indianapolis  in  1905.  He  at  once 
returned  to  his  home  locality  at  Cromwell  to  begin 
his  professional  work,  and  had  a good  business 
there  for  ten  years.  In  1915  he  moved  to  Pleasant 
Lake  and  in  the  fall  of  1918  opened  his  offices  in 
Angola.  Doctor  Galloway  is  a republican  and 
attends  the  Congregational  Church  at  Angola.  In 
1915  he  married  Mrs.  Frank  Mayfield,  of  Noble 
County.  Her  one  son  by  her  former  marriage,  Jack 
Mayfield,  is  now  thirteen  years  old. 

J.  Clifton  McNaughton,  though  a native  of 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Steuben  County  and  is  a member  of  a family 
that  came  here  in  pioneer  days,  establishing  a home 
in  the  wilderness  more  than  fourscore  years  ago. 

The  pioneer  head  of  the  family  was  his  grand- 
father, Alexander  McNaughton,  a native  of  New 
York  State,  who  married  Maria  Crawford,  also  of 
the  same  state.  Alexander  McNaughton,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  four  children,  made  the 
long  journey  by  ox  team  and  wagon  from  New 
York  to  Fremont  Township  of  Steuben  County  in 
1836.  Only  the  previous  year  had  the  first  home 
been  built  in  that  township.  They  settled  on  a 
piece  of  wild  land  two  miles  south  of  the  present 
Village  of  Ray.  Alexander  McNaughton  sold  that 
land  a few  years  later  and  bought  160  acres  in 
section  13,  The  Village  of  Ray  stands  on  part  of 
that  quarter  section.  Alexander  McNaughton  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  there  as  a farmer,  and  he  platted 
the  Village  of  Ray  and  gave  its  its  first  impulse 
toward  growth.  His  children  were  named  Eliza, 
Joseph,  Archibald,  Robert,  Maria  and  Sarah  Jane. 
The  wife  of  Alexander  McNaughton  died  March 
30,-1-867,  and  he  passed  away  January  24,  1884. 

Robert  McNaughton  was  born  in  New  York  State 
and  was  a small  , child  when  brought  to  Steuben 
County.  After  getting  his  education  he  taught  school 
in  Fremont  Township,  made  his  first  efforts  as  a 
farmer  in  the  same  locality,  and  after  a few  years 
moved  to  California  Township  in  Branch  County, 
Michigan.  When  the  railroad  was  built  and  the  Vil- 
lage of  Ray  came  into  existence,  he  was  one  of  the 
first  men  on  the  ground  and  established  a general 
store  and  had  his  home  in  the  village.  He  con- 
tinued as  a merchant  there  for  about  thirteen  years. 
He  and  his  brother  Archibald  also  built  the  first 
grain  elevator.  From  Ray  he  moved  to  Jamestown 
Township,  living  there  about  three  years.  His 
second  wife  died  in  Jamestown  and  soon  afterward 
he  took  up  his  home  with  his  son  J.  Clifton,  and 
died  there.  Robert  McNaughton  married  for  his 


first  wife  Carrie  Lathrope.  She  was  the  mother  of 
one  son,  Delbert.  His  second  wife  was  Jane  Duguid, 
a daughter  of  John  and  Helen  (Stewart)  Duguid. 
To  that  union  were  born  nine  children,  three  of 
whom  died  in  childhood.  Those  to  reach  mature 
years  were  Kent,  Charles  B.,  Alma,  who  died  when 
a young  woman,  J.  Clifton  and  Elton. 

J.  Clifton  McNaughton  was  born  in  Branch 
County,  Michigan,  October  31,  1877,  and  attended 
his  first  schools  in  that  county.  For  one  term  he 
was  a student  in  a school  in  Fremont  Township. 
As  a boy  he  worked  on  his  father’s  farm,  but  since 
early  manhood  has  been  concentrating  his  efforts 
upon  the  place  where  he  now  lives.  He  owns  160 
acres  in  section  13  of  Fremont  Township,  and  his 
friends  and  neighbors  speak  of  him  as  one  of  the 
most  efficient  young  farmers  in  that  locality. 

Mr.  McNaughton  married  in  1897  Bertha  Handy, 
a daughter  of  Spencer  and  Sarah  (Kaylor)  Handy. 
They  have  two  children.  Lorene  is  a graduate  of 
Fremont  High  School  and  has  taken  work  in  the 
International  Business  College  at  Fort  Wayne.  Clay- 
ton, the  son,  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Fremont 
High  School. 

Mrs.  Marium  E.  Campbell.  It  was  in  1847  that 
the  early  members  of  the  Campbell  and  Childs  fam- 
ilies came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  They  have 
been  quiet,  thrifty  people  and  always  identified  with 
the  development  of  the  county  in  a worthy  way. 
The  late  Edward  Campbell  was  long  one  of  the 
county’s  honored  and  representative  citizens. 

Edward  Campbell  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
in  1841,  hence  was  six  years  old  when  he  accom- 
panied his  parents,  Abel  and  Jane  (Taylor)  Camp- 
bell, in  May,  1847,  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Smith- 
field  Township,  DeKalb  County.  They  had  six  sons 
and  two  daughters.  Abel  Campbell  died  on  an  his- 
toric day  of  the  nation’s  history,  the  same  on  which 
Abraham  Lincoln  was  first  elected  President  of  the 
United  States.  Edward  Campbell  remained  on  the 
home  farm  and  looked  after  the  comfort  of  his 
widowed  mother  and  subsequently  became  the  owner 
of  the  farm  and  continued  its  operation  for  many 
years.  His  death  occurred  there  on  March  7,  1914, 
and  by  loving  friends  and  with  Masonic  rites,  he 
was  laid  to  rest  in  the  family  plot  in  the  Waterloo 
cemetery. 

On  May  4,  1865,  Edward  Campbell  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Marium  E.  Childs,  whose  parents, 
Bleeker  E.  and  Jane  A.  (Wood)  Childs,  came  from 
Wayne  County,  New  York,  to  DeKalb  County,  In- 
diana, settling  in  Fairfield  Township,  the  family 
consisting  of  three  sons  and  five  daughters,  Mrs. 
Campbell  at  this  time,  September,  1847,  being  three 
years  old.  She  grew  up  in  Fairfield  Township,  at- 
tended school  diligently  and  fitted  herself  for  teach- 
ing and  later  taught  schools  in  Fairfield,  Smithfield 
and  Waterloo,  and  has  always  been  a lady  whose  in- 
tellectual acquirements  have  been  recognized  in  the 
family  and  in  society.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  on  the  pleasant  old  farm  in 
Smithfield  Township,  namely:  Frank,  Elnora,  Al- 
bertus,  Clark  and  Thomas.  Frank  married  Almira 
Buchanan,  and  they  have  one  son,  Robert  Leander. 
Elnora,  who  is  deceased,  was  the  wife  of  Oliver 
Hinman,  and  is  survived  by  one  daughter,  Willo 
Hinman.  Albertus  married  Laura  Walker,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  Edward  and  Jeremiah  E.  Clark 
married  Mrs.  Dora  (Walker)  Kelley.  Thomas  re- 
sides with  his  mother  at  Waterloo,  to  which  city 
Mrs.  Campbell  removed  shortly  after  Mr.  Camp- 
bell’s death,  although  she  still  retains  the  ownership 
of  the  old  Smithfield  homestead  of  200  acres.  Mrs. 
Campbell  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


19 


at  Waterloo  and  takes  an  interested  part  in  its  many 
avenues  of  useful  beneficence. 

The  early  members  of  the  Campbell  and  Childs 
families  considered  politics  not  only  a necessary  part 
of  good  citizenship,  but  the  male  voters  of  those 
days  were  apt  to  be  emphatic  partisans.  In  both 
families  the  whig  element  prevailed,  but  when  the 
republican  party  was  organized,  its  principles  proved 
more  acceptable.  At  the  present  time  Albertus  Camp- 
bell is  serving  as  a member  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners  of  DeKalb,  being  one  of  the  few  re- 
publicans in  this  county  so  honored. 

The  late  Edward  Campbell  joined  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Auburn  and  ever  afterward  he  was  a 
member  in  good  standing.  He  was  faithful  in  all 
observances  and  for  years  never  missed  a lodge 
meeting,  traveling  the  seven  miles  to  Auburn  on 
every  occasion  no  matter  what  might  be  the  con- 
dition of  the  weather.  By  transfer  he  later  became 
a charter  member  of  Waterloo  lodge.  On  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  his  becoming  a Mason,  brethren  of 
the  Auburn  and  Waterloo  lodges  celebrated  the  event 
and  because  of  Mr.'  Campbell’s  feeble  health  at  the 
time,  went  in  a body  to  his  farm,  where,  with  ap- 
propriate and  beautiful  ceremony,  they  presented 
him  with  a Masonic  emblem  that  signifies  great  and 
special  honor.  During  the  remaining  year  of  his 
life  Mr.  Campbell  prized  this  mark  of  appreciation 
and  friendship  as  one  of  his  dearest  treasures,  and  it 
is  equally  prized  by  his  eldest  son,  Frank,  also  a 
Mason,  upon  whom  his  mother  bestowed  it.  Mrs. 
Campbell  has  a wide  acquaintance  in  the  county  and 
at  Waterloo,  and  is  held  in  the  highest  esteem  every- 
where. 

Capt.  George  H.  Cosper.  For  many  years  a re- 
tired resident  of  Hamilton,  Capt.  George  H.  Cosper 
spent  his  active  years  chiefly  in  DeKalb  County  and 
went  from  that  locality  when  a youth  to  serve  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  war.  The  Cosper  fam- 
ily established  itself  in  the  wilds  of  DeKalb  County 
three  quarters  of  a century  ago,  and  of  the  names 
longest  identified  with  that  locality  that  of  Capt. 
George  H.  Cosper  is  held  the  highest  honor. 

He  was  born  in  Chemung  County,  New  York, 
July  2,  1842,  a son  of  Charles  and  Lucinda  (Weeks) 
Cosper.  His  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1808  and  his  mother  in  Vermont  in  1812.  They 
married  in  New  York  State  and  in  1844  came  West 
by  such  means  of  conveyance  as  were  then  available 
and  secured  Government  land  in  Wilmington  Town- 
ship of  DeKalb  County.  A log  house  was  their  first 
home  in  the  wilderness,  and  successive  years  brought 
them  increased  material  circumstances  and  comfort. 
About  the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war  Charles  Cosper 
left  Indiana  and  went  to  Minnesota.  He  died  at 
Glenville  in  that  state  in  1872.  His  widow  then 
returned  to  Steuben  County  and  lived  at  Hamilton 
until  her  death  in  October,  1893.  Mr.  Cosper  was 
a whig  and  republican  in  politics  and  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children : Ransom,  Elizabeth, 

Emeline,  Mary,  W esley,  Catharine,  George  H.,  Amy, 
James,  Lucretia,  Martha  and  Henry.  Those  still 
living  are  Emeline,  Catharine,  George,  Amy,  James, 
Lucretia,  Martha  and  Henry. 

George  H.  Cosper  spent  his  boyhood  in  the  woods 
of  Wilmington  Township  and  acquired  his  educa- 
tion largely  through  study  at  home  and  as  oppor- 
tunity offered.  There  were  few  good  public  schools 
in  his  early  youth.  In  the  first  summer  of  the 
Civil  war  he  enlisted  in  Company  F of  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Indiana  as  a private.  He  was  in  camp  two 
months  before  he  was  sworn  in  and  mustered  on 
September  21,  1861.  He  saw  nearly  four  years  of 


service,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  Septem- 
ber 14,  1865.  He  was  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Regiment,  and  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain.  He  received  a shot  in  the  face  at  Shiloh, 
and  was  again  wounded  at  Stone  River. 

The  war  over,  Captain  Cosper  returned  to  DeKalb 
County  and  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1885, 
when  he  sold  his  place  and  bought  property  in  the 
Village  of  Hamilton,  where  he  has  enjoyed  the  com- 
forts that  are  his  due  for  his  record  as  a soldier 
and  his  industry  as  a citizen.  Captain  Cosper  has 
always  been  a stanch  republican,  but  has  never 
sought  office.  However,  while  in  DeKalb  County 
he  served  as  constable.  He  is  present  commander  of 
Leman  Griffith  Post  No.  387  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  is  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

February  18,  1864,  he  married  Miss  Evaline  Dir- 
rim.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  April  17, 
1845,  where  her  parents,  Isaac  and  Eleanor  (Wycoff) 
Dirrim,  had  settled  in  the  preceding  February.  Her 
parents  developed  a farm  in  that  county,  but  spent 
their  last  years  in  Hamilton,  where  her  father  died 
in  1892  and  her  mother  in  1900.  There  were  ten 
children  in  the  Dirrim  family : Sarah,  Eliza,  Han- 

nah, Evaline,  Cyrus,  Lavina,  Peter,  Martha,  Mary 
and  Ida.  Those  still  living  are  Eliza,  Evaline,  La- 
vina, Peter  and  Mary. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Cosper  have  had  a happy  mar- 
ried life  for  fifty-five  years,  having  celebrated  their 
golden  wedding  anniversary  in  1914.  With  five 
children  of  their  own  they  have  seen  numerous 
grandchildren  grow  up  around  them.  Their  oldest 
child,  Marshall,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  is  now  a farmer  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County.  He  married  Ida  Sanxter,  and  their 
children  are  Harley,  Lena,  George,  Pearl  and  Addie. 
The  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cosper  was 
named  Addie,  and  died  at  the  age  of  six  years. 
Florence  is  the  wife  of  Monroe  Garber,  of  Quincy, 
Michigan,  and  they  have  three  children,  Lola,  Floyd 
and  John.  Mary  was  first  married  to  Ernest  Wright, 
by  which  union  she  had  two  daughters,  named  Anna 
and  Alta,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Elmer  Wideman, 
of  Detroit,  Michigan.  By  her  second  marriage  she 
has  two  sons,  Albert  and  George.  Leona  is  the 
wife  of  Fred  Spurling,  station  agent  at  Hamilton. 
She  has  reared  one  of  her  sister  Mary’s  children, 
Alta,  who  is  now  attending  high  school. 

Charles  H.  Turner  has  been  one  of  the  busy  and 
useful  men  of  Steuben  County  for  a great  many 
years,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  efforts  and  ex- 
perience has  been  applied  to  developing  a farm 
which  his  father  once  owned  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Turner  was  born  in  that  township,  November 
2,  1862,  son  of  William  W.  and  Susan  (Salisbury) 
Turner.  His  mother  was  born  in  Steuben  County 
in  1839,  daughter  of  a prominent  pioneer,  Chester 
D.  Salisbury.  The  record  of  the  Salisbury  family 
will  be  found  on  other  pages.  William  W.  Turner 
was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1831,  a son  of  Joseph 
and  Sally ■ Anna  (Horton)  Turner.  Sally  Anna 
Horton  was  born  in  Coldbrook,  New  Hampshire, 
in  1805.  Joseph  Turner  was  a shoemaker  by  trade 
and  followed  that  occupation  for  many  years  in 
-New  York  State.  Wiliam  W.  Turner  when  about 
eighteen  years  of  age,  in  1848  came  from  New  York 
to  Indiana,  settling  in  Millgrove  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  He  lived  with  his  older  brother, 
Nathan,  for  a time,  worked  out  for  other  farmers, 
and  after  a few  years  bought  a piece  of  wild  land 
in  section  14.  Some  of  it  had  been  cleared,  but  he 
put  up  his  first  buildings  among  the  trees  and  worked 


20 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


along  steadily  increasing  the  area  of  cultivation 
and  giving  the  farm  other  improvements  until  he 
had  a valuable  place  of  152  acres.  He  and  his  wife 
had  three  children : Charles  H.,  Myrtle,  wife  of 

C.  O.  Jones,  and  Julia  M.,  wife  of  C.  C.  Mitchell. 

Charles  H.  Turner,  only  son  of  his  parents,  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  Turner  School  of  Mill- 
grove  Township,  graduated  from  the  high  school 
at  Orland,  and  for  two  winter  terms  he  taught  in 
one  of  the  country  districts.  He  was  in  the  old 
home  with  his  parents  until  1895,  in  which  year  he 
built  his  present  commodious  residence  and  has  been 
farming  independently  there  for  a quarter  of  a 
century.  He  owns  180  acres  in  sections  14  and  23, 
and  does  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Like 
his  father  he  is  a member  of  the  Grange. 

Mr.  Turner  married  in  1894  Lucy  M.  Shutts,  a 
daughter  of  Herman  C.  and  Mary  (Collins)  Shutts. 
Her  father  came  to  Steuben  County  in  i860,  and 
some  of  the  important  facts  in  his  family  history 
are  published  on  other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Turner 
have  three  children  : Hilda  M„  born  in  1895,  is  a 

graduate  of  the  Orland  High  School  and  of  the 
South  Bend  Business  College ; Marian  H„  born  in 
1900,  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and  is  the  wife 
of  Lyston  C.  Keyes;  and  Willa  S.,  who  was  born 
in  1910. 

Thomas  A.  Parker.  The  County  Farm  advisor 
for  Steuben  County  is  Thomas  A.  Parker,  who  has 
spent  practically  all  his  life  in  this  section  of  North- 
eastern Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Kosciusko  County, 
a son  of  Elijah  J.  and  Ada  Mary  (Orr)  Parker. 
His  father  was  born  in  Kosciusko  County  and  his 
mother  at  Westminster,  Ohio.  His  father  is  still 
fanning  in  Kosciusko,  and  on  the  home  farm  Thomas 
A.  Parker  grew  up.  He  is  a graduate  of  the  Warsaw 
High  School  and  received  his  degree  Bachelor  of 
Science  from  Winona  College  in  1915.  He  also 
graduated  in  1917  from  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts 
at  Winona. 

Mr.  Parker  was  formerly  a teacher  in  the  high 
school  at  Pierceton,  Indiana,  and  for  one  year 
taught  in  the  Vocational  School  at  Metz.  In  March, 
1918,  he  was  appointed  county  agricultural  agent 
of  Steuben  County,  and  took  up  the  duties  of  that 
office  in  the  same  year,  and  all  through  the  critical 
season  of  1918,  when  American  agriculture  meant 
so  much  to  the  world  welfare,  he  was  busy  doing 
his  part  in  the  agricultural  communities  of  Steuben 
County. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Rotary  Club  of  Angola, 
is  a Baptist,  and  a Mason  and  Knight  of  Pythias. 
In  January,  1917,  Mr.  Parker  married  Esther  H. 
Parker,  daughter  of  Murray  and  Margaret  (Morris) 
Parker.  They  have  one  son,  Thomas  A.,  Jr.,  born 
May  27,  1918. 

Emmet  B.  Chard  is  a successful  farmer  of  Scott 
Township,  who  has  applied  himself  not  only  to  his 
individual  labors  as  a producer,  but  also  to  some 
of  those  broad  movements  and  efforts  now  affecting 
for  the  better  agricultural  conditions  and  the  inter- 
ests of  farmers. 

Mr.  Chard  was  born  in  Richland  Township  of 
Steuben  County  January  11,  1885,  a son  of  Robert 
and  Dorcas  (Thompson)  Chard  of  Angola.  He 
grew  up  on  a farm  as  a boy,  attended  public  schools 
and  the  Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  has  taken 
the  short  course  in  agriculture  at  Purdue  Uni- 
versity. Since  early  manhood  he  has  given  his  best 
energies  and  study  to  farming,  and  is  now  making 
a success  of  the  management  of  the  200-acre  farm 
owned  by  his  father  in  Scott  Township.  His  father 
bought  this  place  February  22,  1899.  Mr.  Chard  is 
a breeder  of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Percheron  horses. 


He  is  a member  of  the  Angola  Co-operative  Ship- 
pers Association  and  was  formerly  identified  with 
the  Valley  Shippers  Association.  He  is  also  active 
in  the  Bate  Farmers  Club,  composed  of  twelve 
families  and  holding  social  and  business  meetings 
once  a month.  He  has  served  as  chairman  of  the 
club.  In  politics  he  is  a republican  and  is  a member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

December  31,  1909,  Mr.  Chard  married  Miss  Pearl 
Beard,  daughter  of  Gates  and  Louise  Beard  of  Scott 
Township.  They  had  two  children:  Esther,  who 

died  in  infancy,  and  Robert  Gates,  born  June  9, 
1915. 

Albert  F.  Straw.  The  enterprise  of  the  Straw 
brothers  at  Fremont  is  a reflection  of  the  increasing 
interest  paid  to  the  dairy  business  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty. Straw  brothers  operate  a model  creamery  and 
are  also  manufacturers  of  ice  cream  in  large  quan- 
tities, a delicious  product  that  is  distributed  over 
many  towns  around  Fremont. 

The  Straw  family  was  one  of  the  first  to  locate  at 
the  Village  of  Fremont,  and  three  generations  have 
lived  there.  The  first  generation  was  headed  by 
Frederick  Straw,  who  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1811,  a son  of  George  and 
Elizabeth  Straw.  In  1832  Frederick  married  Cath- 
erine Wagner,  who  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1813.  They  came  with  their  chil- 
dren to  Indiana  in  the  spring  of  1856  and  bought 
land  just  west  of  the  present  site  of  the  depot  at 
Fremont,  which  then  contained  only  a store  and  a 
blacksmith  shop.  Frederick  Straw  cleared  up  most 
of  his  land  from  the  heavy  timber  and  improved  a 
farm  of  180  acres.  His  wife  died  June  17,  1871, 
and  he  passed  away  about  1891.  He  was  a Jackson 
democrat  until  the  republican  party  was  formed, 
after  which  he  was  one  of  its  firm  adherents.  Fred- 
erick Straw  and  wife  were  the  parents  of  eight  chil- 
dren. 

One  of  them  was  Elias  Straw,  who  was  born  in 
Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  November  9,  1834, 
and  was  married  there  in  1855  to  Catherine  Baker. 
She  was  born  in  the  same  county  in  1839,  a daughter 
of  Frederick  Baker.  Elias  Straw  came  to  Steuben 
County  at  the  same  time  with  his  father  and  bought 
a tract  of  land  in  section  28.  Later  he  bought  an- 
other place  and  for  many  years  was  successfully 
identified  with  farming.  He  was  a republican  in 
politics,  but  his  chief  interest  outside  of  his  farm 
and  family  was  the  Evangelical  Church.  He  organ- 
ized a society  of  that  denomination  near  his  home, 
and  was  very  attentive  to  his  duties  as  a church 
man,  being  class  leader  for  many  years.  He  and 
his  wife  had  the  following  children:  William  R. ; 

John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  Albert  F. ; 
Granville  E. ; George  W. ; Augusta,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  two  years ; Harvey  H. ; and  Herman,  who 
is  associated  with  his  brother  Albert  in  the  creamery 
business  as  a member  of  the  firm  Straw  Brothers. 

Albert  F.  Straw  was  born  in  Fremont  Township, 
January  6,  1861,  and  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a 
farm,  attending  the  local  public  schools.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  a practical  farmer  and  owns  a 
place  of  104  acres  in  Fremont  Township,  besides 
property  in  the  village.  In  1913  the  Straw  Brothers 
Creamery  was  built  at  Fremont,  and  since  that  time 
it  has  consumed  a large  part  of  the  dairy  products 
in  that  locality.  The  brothers  are  very  enterprising 
business  men  and  know  their  special  line  thoroughly. 

Mr.  Straw  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church.  In  1889  he  married  Mary 
Ackerman.  She  died  in  1894,  leaving  no  children. 
In  1899  he  married  Belle  Wise,  who  died  in  1902. 
Mr.  Straw  married  for  his  present  wife  in  1904 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


21 


Linnie  Friday.  They  have  three  children,  Arva, 
Virgil  and  Clifton. 

Lewis  A.  Keeslar.  While  Mr.  Keeslar  for  over 
thirty  years  has  been  identified  with  the  farming 
and  community  interests  of  Steuben  County,  his 
home  is  still  close  to  the  locality  of  his  birth,  over 
the  state  line  in  the  historic  Gilead  Township  of 
Branch  County,  Michigan.  He  represents  some  of 
the  old  and  prominent  families  of  Southern  Michi- 
gan, people  who  developed  that  region  from  a wil- 
derness of  swamps,  woods  and  “oak  openings.” 

Mr.  Keeslar  was  born  in  Gilead  Township,  July 
9,  1858,  and  is  a son  of  William  and  Sally  (Green) 
Keeslar.  Peter  Keeslar,  his  grandfather,  was  born 
in  New  York  State  in  1800  and  died  in  1887.  He 
arrived  in  Gilead  Township  of  Branch  County  in 
1836,  entering  ninety  acres  of  timbered  land.  He 
put  all  the  buildings  and  other  improvements  on  the 
farm  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  His  children 
were  Joseph,  Wiliam,  George  and  Clarissa  by  his 
first  wife  and  by  a second  marriage  he  had  children 
named  Charles,  Daniel,  John,  Mary  and  Jennie. 

On  the  maternal  side  Lewis  A.  Keeslar  is  related 
to  an  even  older  pioneer  family  of  Gilead  Township. 
His  maternal  grandfather  was  David  Green,  who 
married  Maranda  Chocker.  Both  the  Greens  and 
the  Keeslars  were  remarkable  for  much  of  the  de- 
velopment that  has  transformed  a beautiful  region 
of  Southern  Michigan  into  beautiful  farms  and 
homes.  They  lived  in  the  same  community  where 
Bishop  Chase,  the  first  Episcopal  bishop  west  of 
the  Alleghany  Mountains,  had  his  home  in  old 
Gilead  Township. 

William  Keeslar,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1827,  and  died  February  15,  1912,  spent 
many  years  as  a farmer  in  Gilead,  beginning  with 
forty  acres  of  wild  land  which  he  paid  for  by  money 
earned  at  work  by  the  month.  The  first  forty  acres 
he  increased  to  the  extent  of  120  acres,  and  in  1874 
left  his  farm  and  spent  one  winter  in  Coldwater 
and  then  moved  to  a farm  near  Burr  Oak,  where 
he  remained  nine  years.  In  1884  he  bought  115 
acres  in  Millgrove  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  His  wife, 
who  was  a native  of  Seneca  County,  New  York, 
died  July  8,  1900.  Their  children  were  five  in  num- 
ber, two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  to  reach 
mature  years  were  Louisa  C.,  Lewis  A.  and  Al- 
fred R. 

Lewis  A.  Keeslar  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Gilead  Township,  attended  school 
in  Coldwater  one  winter,  and  finished  his  education 
at  Burr  Oak.  He  has  been  farming  in  Millgrove 
Township  for  over  thirty  years,  and  made  his  first 
purchase  of  twenty  acres  in  section  16  of  that  town- 
ship in  1888.  Gradually  as  a result  of  many  years 
of  toil  and  good  management  his  property  has 
grown  until  it  now  comprises  175  acres,  ninety-five 
in  Millgrove  Township  and  eighty  acres  across  the 
line  in  Gilead  Township  of  his  native  county.  It  is 
divided  into  two  farms,  and  on  one  of  these  Mr. 
Keeslar  has  erected  practically  all  of  the  substantial 
buildings.  In  recent  years  the  heavier  responsibili- 
ties of  managing  these  places  have  developed  upon 
his  two  sons. 

Mr.  Keeslar  married  June  18,  1881,  Miss  Jennie 
D.  Cross,  daughter  of  Leonard  and  Asenath  (Ar-  , 
nold)  Cross.  Their  two  sons  are  Glenn  and  Carl. 
Glenn  married  Janet  Gillis  and  has  three  children, 
Orion,  Evelyn  and  Duane.  Carl  married  Bessie 
Berry,  and  their  family  consists  of  Donald,  George, 
Helen  and  Ray. 

DeWitt  Ewers,  who  for  a third  of  a century  has 
been  identified  with  the  business  of  brick  manufac- 


ture and  is  manager  of  the  Angola  Brick  & Tile 
Company,  one  of  the  largest  industries  of  its  kind 
in  Northeast  Indiana,  is  a native  of  Steuben  County, 
and  represents  several  of  the  oldest  families  estab- 
lished here,  including  the  Stockers  and  Sowles. 

He  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  December  21, 
1869,  a son  of  Sylvester  and  Estella  (Stocker)  Ewers, 
who  were  also  natives  of  Pleasant  Township,  the 
father  born  in  1845  and  the  mother  in  1854.  The 
paternal  grandparents  were  James  Benjamin  and 
Harriet  (Sowle)  Ewers.  Harriet  Sowle  was  born 
January  7,  1814,  and  was  one  of  a number  of  this 
family  to  become  identified  with  the  earliest  pioneer 
development  in  Pleasant  Township.  James  B.  Ewers 
and  wife  were  married  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
and  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1838.  The  Sowle 
ancestry  goes  back  700  years  in  English  annals 
and  to  the  year  1140  in  France.  James  B.  Ewers 
was  a cooper  by  trade  and  died  in  1872,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-two,  while  his  widow  survived  him  until 
1898.  Of  their  fifteen  children  only  one  is  now 
living,  Mrs,  Melissa  Dixon  of  Sparta,  Wisconsin. 

Mr.  DeWitt  Ewers’  maternal  grandparents  were 
Leland  Howard  and  Lucy  (Mallory)  Stocker,  the 
former  a native  of  Vermont.  They  were  also  among 
the  early  settlers  of  Steuben  County. 

Sylvester  Ewers  received  a public  school  education 
and  learned  the  trade  of  brick  mason.  In  the  ’70s 
he  also  took  up  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  in 
1879  moved  to  Jamestown  and  in  1880  to  Angola, 
where  he  started  a brick  yard,  which  was  the  primary 
industry  now  known  as  the  Angola  Brick  & Tile 
Company.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  associated 
with  his  brother  Ora  under  the  name  Ewers  brothers, 
brick  manufacturers.  He  bought  out  his  brother’s 
interests  in  1889  and  continued  the  business  until 
1893,  when  it  was  incorporated  as  the  Angola  Brick 
& Tile  Company.  Sylvester  Ewers  owned  three- 
sevenths  of  the  stock  in  that  corporation.  He  con- 
tinued giving  his  time  and  attention  to  his  business 
affairs  until  his  death  on  July  9,  1910.  He  was  a 
good  business  man  and  an  equally  good  citizen  and 
helped  make  the  City  of  Angola  what  it  is  today. 
Politically  he  was  a democrat  and  at  one  time  was 
a greenbacker.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Masons, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  was  a member  of  the  Christian  Church. 
His  widow  is  still  living  at  Angola. 

They  had  a family  of  nine  children,  named  DeWitt, 
Eugene,  James,  John,  Lucy,  George,  Maud,  Mildred 
and  Elizabeth.  Three  are  now  deceased,  John,  Lucy 
and  Elizabeth. 

DeWitt  Ewers  was  educated  in  the  schools  of 
Angola,  where  he  has  spent  most  of  his  life.  He 
attended  the  Angola  High  School,  and  finished  the 
commercial  course  of  the  Tri-State  Normal.  For 
thirty-three  years  he  has  been  connected  with  the 
brick  and  tile  company  and  was  an  active  associate 
with  his  father  and  uncle  for  seventeen  years  and 
since  the  incorporation  of  the  company  has  been 
its  manager. 

Mr  Ewers  is  a prohibitionist  in  politics.  He  was 
a member  of  the  first  council  of  the  City  of  Angola. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  1893 
he  married  Miss  Ida  May  Eckman,  who  was  born 
in  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  daughter  of  George 
and  Marion  (Taylor)  Eckman.  She  was  only  seven 
years  old  when  her  mother  died,  and  her  father 
afterward  came  to  Steuben  County  and  died  at 
Metz,  where  Mrs.  Ewers  lived  until  her  marriage. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ewers  have  two  children.  Leland, 
born  August  31,  1894,  was  educated  in  the  grammar 
and  high  schools  of  Angola  and  is  now  associated 
with  his  father  and  is  also  engaged  in  the  coal 
business.  Marion,  born  March  18,  1901,  is  a student 


22 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


of  the  Angola  High  School.  Mr.  Ewers’  nephew, 
Ralph  Ewers,  a son  of  his  brother  Eugene,  is  now 
serving  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Sixth  Artil- 
lery with  the  Army  of  Occupation  in  Germany. 

Maurice  C.  Lemmon  has  been  figuring  as  one  of 
the  leading  men  in  the  agricultural  industry  of 
Steuben  County  for  over  thirty  years.  He  has  a 
large  farm  in  Steuben  Township,  his  address  being 
at  Pleasant  Lake.  He  is  a native  of  that  county, 
and  his  people  have  lived  there  for  over  three- 
quarters  of  a century. 

Mr.  Lemmon  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  No- 
vember 9,  1862,  a son  of  David  Riley  and  Lorana 
(Tuttle)  Lemmon.  The  grandparents,  Maurice  and 
Lucinda  Lemmon,  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1842 
and  acquired  the  farm  which  their  son  David  Riley 
afterwards  owned.  Grandfather  Maurice  Lemmon 
died  at  the  age  of  thirty-two  and  his  wife  at  forty- 
eight.  They  had  four  children,  Bert,  David  Riley, 
Brace  and  Clay.  The  mother  of  these  children 
afterward  married  David  Lemmon,  a brother  of 
her  first  husband,  and  by  that  union  also  had  four 
children,  Tina,  Adhill,  Mildred  and  Burr. 

David  Riley  Lemmon  was  born  in  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  November  26,  1839,  and  was  about 
three  or  four  years  old  when  his  parents  came  to 
Steuben  County.  He  grew  up  on  the  homestead, 
made  a choice  farm  of  it,  and  of  the  160  acres  he 
sold  sixty-two  and  a half  acres  to  his  son  Morton. 
He  also  owned  forty  acres  in  another  place  and 
still  another  tract  of  fifty-five  acres.  In  politics 
he  is  a republican.  His  wife,  Lorana  Tuttle,  was 
born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  April  15,  1838,  and 
they  were  married  February  20,  1861.  Her  parents 
were  Lemmon  and  Lora  Tuttle.  Mrs.  David  R. 
Lemmon  died  May  12,  1899,  and  a few  years  later 
her  husband  moved  to  Pleasant  Lake,  where  he  is 
now  living  retired.  They  had  a family  of  nine 
children,  all  still  living,  named  Maurice,  Cora, 
Morton,  Lora,  Chaplin,  Vira,  Bessie,  Ethel  and 
Elsie. 

Maurice  C.  Lemmon  spent  his  early  years  on  his 
father’s  farm  and  attended  the  district  schools  and 
the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School.  He  has  given  all 
his  time  and  energies  to  farming  since  he  was 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  and  after  renting  for  three 
years  he  bought  in  1889  the  place  where  he  now 
lives,  comprising  152  acres.  Much  of  the  land  was 
rough  and  uncleared,  and  he  has  since  put  it  into 
cultivation  and  has  improved  the  farm  with  good 
buildings.  Mr.  Lemmon  is  a republican,  but  has 
never  sought  political  office. 

In  1884  he  married  Miss  Anna  Beecher,  daughter 
of  Truman  and  Statira  (Brown)  Beecher.  Her 
mother  died  in  1901  and  her  father  is  now  living 
at  Hamilton.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemmon  have  three 
children : Russell  finished  his  education  in  the 

Pleasant  Lake  High  School  and  died  in  1906,  at  the 
age  of  twenty  years.  Bernice,  who  was  educated 
in  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School,  married  Clarence 
Brooks,  of  Pleasant  Lake,  and  they  have  two  chil- 
dren, Alice  Jean  and  Maurice  George.  The  son 
Beecher  also  had  a high  school  education,  and  on 
July  27,  1917,  enlisted  in  the  regular  army,  and 
served  until  granted  an  honorable  discharge  April 
25,  1918.  At  the  time  of  his  discharge  he  was  a 
sergeant  in  the  quartermaster’s  corps. 

Truman  A.  Beecher,  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
and  business  men  of  Hamilton,  Indiana,  where  he 
has  lived  more  than  sixty  years,  was  born  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Ohio,  May  25,  1837,  a. son  of  Truman 
and  Hannah  (Sloane)  Beecher.  His  father  was 


born  at  Litchfield,  Connecticut,  and  his  mother  near 
Steubenville,  Ohio,  and  they  were  married  in  the 
latter  state  in  1824.  Truman  Beecher  and  a partner 
built  the  first  ten  locks  on  the  Ohio  Canal  at  Akron, 
Ohio.  Later  he  moved  to  Fredericksburg  in  Wayne 
County  and  also  lived  at  Wooster,  the  county  seat 
of  that  county.  His  business  as  a contractor  took 
him  to  various  localities.  He  also  lived  in  Crawford 
County,  and  in  1845  brought  his  family  to  Franklin 
Township  of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  He  soon 
moved  to  Albion  in  Noble  County,  where  his  wife 
died  in  1850.  About  that  time  he  fitted  up  a com- 
pany for  the  overland  route  to  California,  and 
while  on  the  way  west  he  took  sick  and  died  at  Fort 
Laramie,  Wyoming,  when  about  sixty  years  of  age. 
His  children  were  John  Sloane,  Mary,  Philemon, 
Henry  and  Truman  A. 

Mr.  Beecher’s  maternal  grandfather,  John  Sloane, 
was  a distinguished  figure  in  Ohio  and  national  his- 
tory. He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1779  and 
at  an  early  date  moved  to  Ohio.  During  the  War 
of  1812  he  was  a colonel  of  militia.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Legislature  in  1804-06,  serving  two 
years  as  speaker.  He  w.as  United  States  receiver 
of  public  monies  at  Canton  from  1808  to  1816,  and 
at  Wooster  from  1816  to  1819.  He  represented  his 
district  in  Congress  from  1819  until  1829.  He  was 
a warm  friend  and  admirer  of  Henry  Clay,  and  at 
a time  when  the  presidential  election  was  decided  by 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  contest  between 
Adams,  Clay  and  Crawford,  he  refused  a high 
presidential  appointment  offered  as  a reward  for 
his  voting  for  Adams,  and  remained  true  to  Clay. 
A warm  friendship  existed  between  him  and  the 
great  Kentucky  whig  statesman.  John  Sloane  was 
also  clerk  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  seven 
years,  secretary  of  the  State  of  Ohio  three  years 
and  was  appointed  United  States  treasurer  and 
served  from  November,  1850,  to  April,  1853.  He 
died  at  Wooster,  Ohio,  in  May,  1856. 

Truman  A.  Beecher  was  eight  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  He  at- 
tended public  schools  and  after  the  death  of  his 
father  and  mother  he  returned  to  Wooster,  Ohio, 
and  lived  with  his  distinguished  grandfather,  John 
Sloane.  As  a youth  he  learned  the  trade  of  tinner, 
and  in  1858,  on  coming  to  Steuben  County  and 
locating  at  Hamilton,  he  opened  a tinner’s  shop. 
He  was  in  business  steadily  for  over  fifty  years, 
until  he  retired  in  1915.  Mr.  Beecher  owns  a good 
home  in  Hamilton.  He  has  been  a steadfast  re- 
publican, his  father  having  been  an  old-line  whig. 
In  religious  views  he  is  liberal.  On  May  4,  1862, 
he  married  Miss  Statira  Brown.  She.  was  born  in 
Erie  County,  Ohio,  in  1840,  and  died  in  1901.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Beecher  had  ten  children,  including  several 
pairs  of  twins : Minnie ; Anna,  wife  of  Maurice 
Lemmon;  Harriet  Stowe;  Nettie  and  an  infant 
sister;  William,  whose  twin  died  in  infancy;  Frank 
C.  and  Fannie  C.,  twins;  and  James  Garfield,  who 
was  born  the  day  Garfield  was  elected  president. 

John  M.  Moore  is  one  of  the  widely  known  citi- 
zens of  Noble  County,  spent  many  years  of  his  life 
as  a practical  farmer,  but  for  the  last  twenty  years 
has  been  in  the  sawmill  and  lumber  business  at 
Cromwell,  and  is  now  head  of  the  M.  Moore  & Com- 
pany, dealers  in  lumber  and  building  material  and 
coal. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  three  miles  southwest  of 
Cromwell  in  Sparta  Township,  November  25,  1856, 
son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Airgood)  Moore.  His 
father,  a native  of  New  Jersey,  came  West  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  grew  up  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


23 


married  here,  and  then  settled  in  section  19  of 
Sparta  Township.  Later  he  acquired  a farm  of  162 
acres  in  Turkey  Creek  Township  of  Kosciusko 
County,  and  lived  there  until  the  death  of  his  wife. 
He  afterward  married  a second  time,  and  spent  his 
last  years  at  Cromwell.  By  his  first  wife  he  was  the 
father  of  nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  young. 
Those  still  living  include:  Emeline,  widow  of  John 

S.  Shock;  Maria,  wife  of  Allen  Wright,  of  Syra- 
cuse, Indiana ; Almina,  wife  of  Charles  Lowner,  of 
Syracuse;  Etta,  wife  of  Rev.  N.  J.  Myer,  of  Denver, 
Colorado ; and  Minnie,  wife  of  William  Grider,  of 
Sparta  Township. 

John  M.  Moore  attended  the  schools  near  his 
father’s  home  and  had  the  usual  training  and  ex- 
perience of  an  Indiana  farm  boy.  He  sought  no 
particular  interest  or  enterprise  outside  of  farming 
until  1898,  when  he  left  the  country  and  moved  to 
Cromwell.  Here  he  established  and  conducted  a 
lumber  yard  and  sawmill,  and  continued  it  as  an 
individual  business  under  his  own  name  until  Janu- 
ary, 1914,  when  he  associated  his  son-in-law  with 
him.  They  carry  a large  stock  and  have  taken  pains 
to  be  in  a position  to  supply  every  demand  for  build- 
ing material  and  similar  commodities  required  by 
their  community. 

Mr.  Moore  married  Nettie  Snyder.  He  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  his  wife  in  August,  1914.  She 
was  the  mother  of  five  children : Elvin  C.,  a busi- 

ness man  of  Hartford  City,  Indiana;  Ethel,  wife  of 
Calvin  Seymour;  Freeman  C.,  who  lives  on  the  old 
farm ; Hazel  and  Mabel,  twins,  the  former  the  wife 
of  Roy  Eaton,  and  the  latter  the  wife  of  Forest 
Heney,  of  Avilla,  Indiana.  On  January  30,  1919, 
Mr.  Moore  married  Minnie  Bentz,  of  Turkey  Creek 
Township,  Kosciusko  County.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a past 
grand  and  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Politically  he  is  a republican.  Besides  his  chief 
business  Mr.  Moore  is  a stockholder  in  the  Sparta 
State  Bank. 

Arthur  L.  Peachey.  While  Mr.  Peachey’s  enter- 
prise has  been  directed  over  a good  farm  in  Fre- 
mont Township  for  a number  of  years,  the  original 
seat  of  the  family  in  Steuben  County  was  Otsego 
Township,  where  he  was  born  and  where  his  par- 
ents settled  at  a time  not  far  removed  from  the 
earliest  occupation. 

Mr.  Peachey  was  born  October  19,  1861,  a son  of 
James  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Peachey.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Cambridgeshire,  England.  Sa- 
rah Brown  was  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Mary 
(Brown)  Brown.  Joseph  Brown,  accompanied  by 
his  family,  including  Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Peachey, 
came  from  England  to  America  in  1851.  He  located 
in  Medina  County,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to  1857 
moved  to  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  had  two 
daughters,  named  Rebecca  and  Sarah.  _ James 
Peachey  also  located  in  Otsego  Township  in  i857> 
and  was  one  of  the  capable  farmers  of  that  locality 
until  his  death  on  January  23,  1890.  His  widow 
survived  him  until  March,  1910.  They  have  four 
children,  named  Walter,  Mary,  Margaret  and  Ar- 
thur L. 

Arthur  L.  Peachey  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools,  attended  the  high  school  at 
Angola,  and  for  nearly  thirty  years  has  found  his 
efforts  directed  pleasantly  and  profitably  along  lines 
of  agriculture.  In  the  spring  of  1892  he  moved  from 
Otsego  to  Scott  Township,  farmed  there  ten  years, 
in  1902  returned  to  Otsego  and  in  1910  bought  his 
present  place  in  section  34  of  Fremont  Township. 


Mr.  Peachey  is  owner  of  167  acres,  well  improved, 
two  of  the  buildings  having  been  erected  under  its 
present  ownership,  and  all  devoted  to  general  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Peachey  is  a breeder  of 
blooded  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Fremont. 

In  1887  he  married  Inez  McCurdy,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Celinda  (Mumma)  McCurdy.  They  have 
two  children,  J.  Carl  and  Achsa.  Carl,  who  runs 
the  home  farm  with  his  father,  married  Lena  Stroh. 
Achsa  is  the  wife  of  K.  B.  Mann. 

J.  Frank  Stanley  is  a native  of  Green  Township, 
Noble  County,  and  during  his  long  career  there  has 
concerned  himself  not  only  with  the  successful 
prosecution  of  his  private  business  and  affairs  but 
also  with  many  community  enterprises.  He  is  a 
former  trustee  of  the  township,  and  has  always  been 
active  in  politics.  Mr.  Stanley’s  home  farm  is  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  northeast  quarter  of  sec- 
tion 21. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township  April  7,  1849, 
and  the  Stanleys  are  one  of  the  oldest  families  of 
that  locality.  His  parents  were  H.  C-  and  Sophronia 
(Beeson)  Stanley.  His  father  was  born  in  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  January  24,  1818.  His  mother  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  December  22,  1824. 
When  H.  C.  Stanley  was  three  years  old  his  parents 
moved  to  Union  County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew 
up.  He  and  his  wife  were  married  in  Wayne 
County,  Indiana.  The  Beeson  family  came  from 
North  Carolina.  H.  C.  Stanley  after  his  marriage 
moved  into  the  wilderness  of  Green  Towship,  Noble 
County,  establishing  a farm  in  the  northern  part  of 
the  township.  He  lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life  and 
was  one  of  the  really  big  men  in  the  community.  His 
material  affairs  prospered,  including  the  ownership 
of  400  acres  of  good  farm  lands.  He  also  served  as 
county  commissioner  and  three  times  represented  his 
county  in  the  Legislature.  During  the  Civil  war 
he  lent  all  his  influence  and  resources  to  the  success- 
ful prosecution  of  the  war  against  the  rebellion. 
H.  C.  Stanley  and  wife  had  seven  children  to  reach 
maturity  and  six  are  still  living:  J.  Frank;  May 
H.,  wife  of  Oro  Barnum;  M.  D.  Stanley,  of  Avilla; 
Alice,  widow  of  Marshall  Bonham ; C.  H.  Stanley, 
of  Albion;  and  Charles  H.,  a farmer  in  Noble 
County. 

J.  Frank  Stanley  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  the  northern  part  of  Green  Township,  and  was 
well  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  the  schools 
of  Albion.  For  several  years  he  taught  in  his  native 
county  in  addition  to  farming.  He  made  his  home 
with  his  parents  until  he  was  past  the  age  of  thirty. 

In  1882  he  established  a home  of  his  own  by  his 
marriage  to  Alma  Prouty.  She  was  born  in  Jeffer- 
son Township  of  Noble  County  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  She  also  taught.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley  located  on 
their  present  farm,  known  as  the  Fountain  Farm, 
comprising  200  well  cultivated  acres.  Here  Mrs. 
Stanley  died  in  1886.  None  of  her  children  are 
now  living.  In  1896  Mr.  Stanley  married  Miss 
Clara  Applegate.  She  was  born  in  Noble  County. 
They  have  two  living  children:  Aubrey,  a graduate 
of  high  school  and  now  in  Purdue  University,  joined 
the  students  aviation  corps  at  Purdue.  Hazel  is  a 
high  school  student.  The  family  are  members  of 
'the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Green  Center.  Mr. 
Stanley  is  a stanch  democrat.  He  served  three 
times  by  election  and  twice  by  appointment  as  trustee 
of  Green  Township.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  at  Alb|gn. 

Merle  C.  Nisonger.  One  of  the  younger  men  of 
the  agricultural  community:  '’of  Scott  Township, 


24 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Steuben  County,  Merle  C.  Nisonger  has  the 
progressive  spirit  of  youth  and  has  identified  him- 
self with  the  best  interests  of  the  community  and 
with  those  organizations  which  represent  the  modern 
uplift  in  country  life  and  agricultural  enterprise. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Nisonger  homestead  in 
Scott  Township  June  7,  1885,  a son  of  Jackson  and 
Sarah  Jane  (Dygert)  Nisonger.  Jackson  Nisonger 
was  a native  of  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  and  his 
parents  settled  in  early  days  in  Scott  Township, 
trading  their  Kosciusko  County  lands  for  107  acres 
in  Steuben  County.  Jackson  Nisonger  grew  up  on 
the  farm,  spent  his  life  as  an  agriculturalist,  and 
since  his  death  his  widow  has  become  the  wife  of 
James  E.  Gifford,  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this 
publication. 

Merle  C.  Nisonger  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
attended  the  district  schools,  and  for  two  years 
was  a student  in  the  Angola  High  School.  After 
leaving  school  he  spent  a year  and  a half  traveling 
in  Colorado,  Oregon  and  California  and  other 
points  in  the  West.  With  a new  outlook  and  knowl- 
edge he  returned  to  Steuben  County  and  has  since 
been  busily  engaged  in  farming.  He  bought  eighty 
acres  of  the  Cyrus  Cole  estate  as  the  principal  part 
of  his  farm,  and  has  since  added  another  twenty 
acres,  giving  him  100  acres  for  cultivation  and  man- 
agement. He  keeps  a number  of  grade  Holstein 
cattle  and  follows  modern  feeding  methods,  employ- 
ing a silo,  his  silo  being  10x40  feet.  Since  January 
1,  1918,  Mr.  Nisonger  has  been  secretary  of  the 
Angola  Cooperative  Shippers  Association.  He  is  a 
democrat,  is  affiliated  with  Angola  Lodge  No.  236, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  also  the 
Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Angola. 

February  16,  1910,  he  married  Miss  Dessa  Mor- 
rison, of  Angola,  daughter  of  Irvin  and  Myrtle 
Morrison.  To  their  marriage  were  born  three  chil- 
dren: Jackson  M.,  Lyle  T.  and  Lorin  M. 

Abram  H.  Wemple  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  citizens  of  Noble  County,  and  continuously 
for  over  half  a century  has  lived  on  and  worked  out 
his  prosperity  on  one  farm.  This  farm  home,  which 
has  so  many  associations  for  him  and  his  family,  is 
located  in  section  23  of  Perry  Township,  a half 
mile  north  and  three-quarters  of  a mile  east  of 
Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  Schenectady  County,  New  York, 
October  8,  1841,  son  of  John  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Strang)  Wemple,  both  natives  of  New  York  State. 
His  mother  was  born  in  New  York  City.  After 
their  marriage  they  came  to  Indiana  in  1855,  locating 
in  Clear  Spring  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 
They  were  farmers  in  that  community,  and  were 
active  members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  of  which 
John  A.  Wemple  was  a deacon  and  otherwise  active. 
He  was  a democrat  in  political  affiliations.  Of  ten 
children  five  are  living : Abram  H. ; Angelica, 

widow  of  Bartlet  Smith;  James  V.,  a farmer  in 
Michigan ; Elias  C.,  who  lives  on  a farm  at  Valen- 
tine in  LaGrange  County;  and  Elijah  P.,  of  Topeka, 
Indiana. 

Abram  H.  Wemple  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
his  parents  first  came  to  LaGrange  County.  The 
following  year  his  father  returned  to  New  York 
State,  and  it  was  not  until  the  fall  of  1859  that  the 
family  settled  permanently  in  LaGrange  County. 
Abraham  therefore  acquired  his  education  partly 
in  the  public  schools  in  LaGrange  County.  He  lived 
at  home  until  the  age  of  twenty-four. 

On  December  28,  1865,  he  married  Lavina  Nelson. 
She  was  born  in  New  York  State,  October  13,  1845, 
and  was  brought  to  Indiana  at  the  age  of  two  years, 


her  people  being  neighbors  to  the  Wemples  in  La- 
Grange County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wemple  lived  for 
one  year  with  her  parents,  but  in  1867  came  to  the 
farm  where  they  have  had  their  home  for  over  half 
a century.  ' Mr.  Wemple  has  not  only  kept  up  his 
own  land  and  improvements  but  has  witnessed  a 
remarkable  transformation  in  many  ways  that  en- 
hance the  value  and  attractiveness  of  country  life. 
He  has  a good  farm  of  120  acres,  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company  and  the 
Co-operative  Elevator  in  Ligonier,  and  is  still  man- 
aging his  various  business  interests. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wemple  had  four  children:  Charles 
N„  who  was  educated  in  the  common  and  high 
schools,  is  married  and  lives  in  Perry  Township ; 
Clarence  E.  finished  his  education  in  high  school 
and  lives  in  Ligonier;  Cora  L.  was  a student  in  the 
Ligonier  Fligh  School  and  is  the  wife  of  Delano 
Oliver  and  has  one  daughter,  Mildred,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  high  school ; and  Arvilla,  who  finished 
her  education  in  the  Ligonier  High  School  and  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Straub,  of  Goshen.  Mr.  Wemple 
has  three  grandchildren.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Ligonier, 
and  he  is  one  of  its  trustees.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat. 

William  F.  Krueger.  A family  that  has  for  many 
years  enjoyed  the  respect  and  esteem  of  a large 
community  in  Northeastern  Indiana  is  that  repre- 
sented by  William  F.  Krueger,  who  is  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  and  is  a son  of  the  late  Charles  Henry 
Krueger. 

Charles  Henry  Krueger  was  born  in  Germany 
April  5,  1835,  and  married  there  in  1859  Sophia 
Miller.  She  was  born  July  21,  1843.  Immediately 
after  their  marriage  they  started  for  America,  and 
after  landing  came  west  to  Kendallville,  Indiana. 
Charles  H.  Krueger  had  been  coachman  for  a 
wealthy  family  in  Germany,  but  after  coming  to 
America  clerked  in  a drug  store  and  later  in  a gro- 
cery store,  and  also  operated  a dray.  He  was  al- 
ways very  fond  of  horses.  In  1878  he  moved  to 
Steuben  County  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land, 
and  by  his  industry  cleared  most  of  it  and  erected 
very  substantial  buildings,  including  a barn  66  by  30 
feet.  He  lived  there  until  his  death  on  January  7, 
1906.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  old  homestead 
with  her  son  William.  Charles  H.  Krueger  was  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Minnie,  wife  of  Alfred  Fisher;  Henry,  who 

died  when  twenty-one  years  old;  Georgina,  who  is 
the  wife  of  John  Ahrens  and  has  three  children, 
named  Iona,  Milton  and  Jessie;  William;  Gusta, 
wife  of  Theodore  Richards,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Theodore.  Mrs.  Charles  Krueger  also  has  an 
adopted  daughter,  Augusta,  a grandchild,  daughter 
of  her  son  Harmon.  Harmon  Krueger  first  mar- 
ried Pauline  Keibel  and  Augusta  is  the  only  child 
of  their  union.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Bertha  Fogus,  and  has  two  children,  George  and 
Helen. 

William  F.  Krueger  was  born  at  Kendallville 
July  26,  1872,  and  since  early  childhood  has  lived 
on  the  home  farm.  He  received  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  and  is  a high  class  farmer,  one 
who  takes  pride  in  keeping  improvements  up  to  date. 
He  is  a raiser  of  Poland  China  and  Berkshire  hogs 
and  Shropshire  sheep.  He  built  both  the  house  and 
the  barn  and  has  made  many  other  improvements. 
When  the  family  came  to  this  farm  there  was  only 
a log  house  and  a log  barn,  and  much  interesting 
transformation  has  gone  on  since  Mr.  Krueger 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


25 


moved  here.  Mr.  William  F.  Krueger  is  unmarried 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  mother.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

Amos  Bowsher,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  whose  two  sons  have  done  patriotic  service  for 
their  country  in  the  recent  World  war,  is  a native 
of  Northeast  Indiana,  and  for  half  a century  has 
been  actively  identified  with  the  Topeka  community 
in  LaGrange  County.  He  was  born  in  Perry  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County  September  9,  1842,  son  of 
Boston  and  Sophia  (Kuntz)  Bowsher.  His  father 
was  born  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  his  mother 
in  Virginia.  The  Bowsher  and  Kuntz  families  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Northern  Indiana, 
the  Bowshers  locating  near  Ligonier  in  Noble  County 
while  the  Kuntzes  established  their  early  home  in 
Elkhart  County.  Boston  Bowsher  and  wife  after 
their  marriage  settled  in  Perry  Township  of  Noble 
County,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  on  the 
farm.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics.  They  were 
the  parents  of  fourteen  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Amos;  Cephas,  a resident  of  Colo- 

rado; Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Giant,  of  lopeka,  In- 
diana; and  Catherine,  wife  of  Christ  Slabaugh,  of 
Perry  Township,  Noble  County. 

Amos  Bowsher  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Noble  County  and  had  such  advantages  as  were 
offered  by  the  district  schools  of  that  day.  He 
was  about  nineteen  when  the  Civil  war  broke  out, 
and  on  January  8,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  I 
of  the  Forty-eighth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  in 
service  over  three  years,  and  received  a slight  wound 
during  the  Vicksburg  campaign.  He  held  the  rank 
of  sergeant.  After  returning  home  he  rented  his 
father’s  farm  for  a time,  and  on  February  18,  1867, 
married  Miss  Clara  Poyser.  She  was  born  in  Eden 
Township  of  LaGrange  County  August  1 1,  1850. 
Mrs.  Bowsher  owns  in  Eden  Township  420  acres, 
the  farm  where  she  was  born,  also  the  home  of  her 
father  and  maternal  grandfather,  Senator  John 
Thompson. 

Mr.  Bowsher  still  owns  120  acres  of  good  farm 
land,  but  is  practically  retired  from  managing  it. 
He  owns  local  real  estate  in  Topeka.  He  is  a re- 
publican in  politics  and  is  past  grand  of  Topeka 
Lodge  No.  760,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  also  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

His  two  sons  are  William  H.  and  Harley  M.  Wil- 
liam H.  graduated  from  the  State  Normal  at  Terre 
Haute.  He  is  a mechanical  engineer  by  profession, 
and  during  the  World  war  was  in  the  Engineers 
Corps  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  Fie  served 
in  France  six  months  and  was  wounded  in  action 
three  times  and  gassed.  He  was  at  the  Argonne  For- 
est battle  and  in  other  engagements.  He  makes  his 
home  at  Topeka.  The  other  son  is  a graduate  of 
high  school,  and  is  a jeweler  by  trade.  During 
his  army  service  he  was  assigned  to  duties  with 
the  Eleventh  Cavalry  Band  at  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia. 

Isaac  Sutton,  a former  sheriff  of  LaGrange 
County,  is  known  all  over  Indiana  as  a horse  man. 
On  his  farm  and  in  his  stables  he  has  raised  and 
trained  some  of  the  best  road  horses  in  the  country 
and  is  an  expert  in  every  detail  of  staple  manage- 
ment. 

Mr.  Sutton  was  born  in  Eden  Township  February 
28,  1853,  a son  of  David  and  Julia  (Miller)  Sutton, 
the  former  a native  of  Indiana  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  His  grandfather  James  Sutton  was  a native 
of  England  and  came  to  the  United  States  with  six 
brothers,  several  of  whom  subsequently  located 
in  Indiana.  David  Sutton  grew  up  in  Allen  County, 


and  after  his  marriage  settled  in  Eden  Township, 
where  death  overtook  him  in  his  labors  at  the  age 
of  thirty-nine.  He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children, 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the  three  still 
living  are  Marion,  Isaac  and  David,  all  living  near 
Topeka. 

Isaac  Sutton  grew  up  on  a farm  which  his  grand- 
mother Catherine  Miller  had  entered  from  the 
government.  He  attended  the  common  schools  and 
spent  one  year  in  Valparaiso  University.  As  a 
boy  on  his  father’s  farm  he  took  special  interest 
in  handling  the  horses,  and  he  is  still  in  the  business 
of  breeding  and  training  road  horses.  He  formerly 
owned  “Jack  Dillard,”  with  a record  of  2:11  Hi 
Among  his  horses  were  “Barney  M.  Hart,”  with  a 
record  of  2:17)4,  “Bonnie  B.,”  a dam  of  ‘“Jack 
Dillard”  and  “Barney  M.”  made  a mark  of  2:i6I/i, 
and  “Ed.  H.  Hart”  2:io)4,  son  of  “Barney  M. 
Hart.” 

Mr.  Sutton  served  as  sheriff  of  LaGrange  County 
from  December  3,  1900,  to  January  1,  1905.  He 
lived  in  the  county  seat  during  his  term  of  office,  but 
since  then  has  been  on  his  farm  of  170  acres. 

In  September,  1879,  he  married  Julia  Roderick,  a 
native  of  Eden  Township,  and  they  grew  up  together 
as  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sutton  have  two  children; 
Minnie,  who  attended  high  school  and  is  the  wife 
of  Karl  Ulmer  of  North  Manchester,  Indiana;  and 
Guy,  who  married  Beulah  Barnes  and  lives  in 
Topeka. 

Mr.  Sutton  is  a Past  Grand  of  Haw  Patch  Lodge 
No.  760  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
has  been  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  formerly  members  of  the  Rebekahs. 
Politically  he  is  a republican  and  was  elected  on 
that  ticket  to  the  office  of  sheriff. 

Ray  D.  Hosack  is  well  known  to  the  business 
community  of  Angola,  where  he  is  the  leading 
musical  instrument  merchant.  He  has  had  a long 
and  active  experience  in  this  line  of  business,  and 
the  family  tastes  largely  run  along  the  line  of 
music. 

He  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  November 
12,  1892.  His  grandfather  was  a native  of  New 
York  State  and  when  quite  young  moved  to  Ohio, 
owning  a farm  there,  and  was  also  a partner  in  the 
Matchlin  Machine  Works.  He  died  in  Ohio.  Ray 
Hosack’s  father  is  a native  Ohioan,  was  reaied  and 
educated  there,  studying  music,  and  nearly  all  his 
active  life  has  been  a teacher  of  music.  He  travels 
much  in  quartet  work,  has  done  much  singing  to 
aid  evangelists,  and  is  now  proprietor  of  a musical 
instrument  store  at  Edgerton,  Ohio.  He  also  has 
a 100-acre  farm  near  that  town.  He  is  a republican 
and  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Ray  D.  Hosack  secured  his  education  in  the 
grammar  and  high  schools  of  Ohio,  had  a normal 
training,  and  for  one  year  attended  Dana’s  Musical 
Institute.  He  was  for  several  years  employed  as 
salesman  of  musical  instruments  and  for  one  year 
worked  in  a piano  factory  in  New  York  City.  Mr. 
Hosack  came  to  Angola  in  1916  and  engaged  in  the 
music  business,  and  the  following  year  bought  the 
Conklin  Music  Store,  which  is  one  of  the  chief 
centers  for  the  trade  in  musical  instrument  supplies 
in  Steuben  County. 

April  20,  1918,  Mr.  Hosack  married  Miss  Blanche 
Baker,  a daughter  of  Frank  W.  Baker,  a prominent 
farmer  and  member  of  an  old  family  of  Steuben 
County.  Mrs.  Hosack  was  born  in  1895. 

Anderson  Galloway,  a retired  farmer  living  at 
Cromwell,  has  had  a long  and  notable  experience 
during  his  lifetime  of  nearly  eighty  years.  He  is 


26 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


one  of  the  oldest  native  sons  of  Noble  County,  hav- 
ing been  born  in  Washington  Township,  March  14, 
1840. 

His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Frances  (Town) 
Galloway,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  latter  of  Vermont.  This  was  his  father’s  second 
marriage.  His  father  first  married  in  Ohio,  and 
coming  to  Indiana  located  on  Rolling  Prairie  and 
entered  Noble  County  as  a pioneer  in  1837,  settling 
in  Washington  Township,  where  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life.  He  was  always  prominent  in  politics, 
first  as  a whig  and  later  as  a republican.  He  and  his 
wife  Frances  had  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living:  Anderson;  Catherine,  widow  of  James 

Reed ; Martha,  widow  of  Abraham  Hines ; Scott,  of 
Wolf  Lake;  and  Frances,  widow  of  Frank  Eaton. 

Anderson  Galloway  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  the 
pioneer  environment  of  Washington  Township,  and 
had  opportunities  to  attend  school  only  during  the 
winter  sessions.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  started 
out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  For  a time 
he  lived  in  Illinois,  working  at  wages  of  $11  a month, 
then  went  to  Missouri  and  got  an  advance  of  wages 
to  Si  5 a month,  and  for  one  summer  was  employed 
on  a Mississippi  River  steamboat.  He  adventured 
further  West  to  the  gold  mines  of  Denver,  and  re- 
mained in  those  diggings  for  a year  and  a half,  and 
was  more  fortunate  than  most  prospectors,  since  he 
returned  with  more  than  he  took  with  him. 

Returning  to  Noble  County  in  1861,  Mr.  Galloway, 
after  the  death  of  his  father  in  1863,  enlisted  in 
Company  C of  the  Thirtieth  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
saw  much  of  the  hard  fighting  of  the  war  during 
the  time  he  was  in  the  army.  He  participated  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign  under  Sherman,  and  after  the  fall 
of  that  Confederate  stronghold  he  went  back  to 
Tennessee  under  General  Thomas  in  pursuit  of 
General  Hood  to  Nashville.  He  received  his  final 
discharge  in  Texas. 

After  his  return  home  on  February  8,  1866,  he 
married  Harriet  Miller.  She  was  born  in  Sparta 
Township  of  Noble  County  and  has  lived  in  that 
locality  all  her  life.  After  their  marriage  they 
moved  to  a farm  in  the  southern  part  of  the  town- 
ship and  lived  there  until  1901,  when  they  retired  to 
Cromwell.  Mr.  Galloway  still  owns  274  acres  of 
land  in  Noble  County.  He  became  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Ligonier  in  1863,  and  upon  the 
organization  of  Cromwell  Lodge  No.  705,  became  a 
charter  member.  He  has  always  been  active  as  a 
republican,  and  he  was  one  of  the  Township  Advis- 
ory Board  for  Sparta  from  the  time  the  law  was 
passed  establishing  that  board  for  sixteen  consecu- 
tive years.  Mrs.  Galloway  is  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church. 

They  have  six  living  children : Gross,  a farmer 

in  Sparta  Township;  Clara,  wife  of  Theodore 
Wright,  of  Sparta;  Etta,  wife  of  William  R. 
Wright,  of  Cromwell;  Orda,  a dentist  at  Angola; 
Ora,  wife  of  William  Hinman,  of  Cromwell;  and 
Oakley,  of  Detroit. 

Eugene  F.  Weicht  has  accumulated  a great  deal 
of  experience  since  boyhood,  and  largely  dependent 
upon  his  own  resources  and  abilities  has  achieved  a 
prosperity  as  a farmer  which  classes  him  with  the 
very  first  and  best  of  that  profession  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  that  township  April  15,  1857,  a 
son  of  Fred  and  Susan  (McEntarfer)  Weicht.  His 
father  was  born  in  Germany  in  1818  and  his  mother 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1839.  Fred  Weicht  came  to 
America  with  his  parents  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 
They  were  a pioneer  family  in  Salem  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  Fred  was  the  oldest  of  seven  chil- 


dren, the  others  being  William,  Leopold,  Charles, 
Ernest  (who  died  in  infancy),  Christiana  and 
Louisa.  Grandfather  Weicht  acquired  120  acres  of 
government  land  in  Steuben  county,  and  the  same 
tract,  greatly  improved,  was  afterward  owned  by 
Fred  Weicht.  Fred  Weicht  died  in  1865,  and  his 
widow  survived  him  until  1910.  Fred  Weicht  was  a 
physician  by  profession  and  gave  much  of  his  time 
to  practice  in  the  early  days.  He  and  his  wife  had 
five  children:  Julius,  Elizabeth,  Adaline,  Eugene 

and  Ida. 

As  a boy  on  the  home  farm  in  Salem  Township 
Eugene  F.  Weicht  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  and  also  attended  the  Angola  High 
School.  He  was  only  eight  years  old  when  his  fa- 
ther died,  and  as  there  was  no  one  to  help  him  par- 
ticularly he  early  learned  to  help  himself.  For  about 
two  years  he  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter.  As 
a farmer  he  rented  land,  and  later  bought  forty 
acres  where  he  still  lives.  Subsequently  he  added 
seventy-nine  acres  and  afterward  ninety  acres,  and 
is  now  owner  of  a fine  body  of  land  comprising  209 
acres.  He  uses  this  for  raising  the  staple  crops  of 
the  vicinity  and  also  keeps  a herd  of  pure  bred 
Poland  China  hogs.  He  is  an  extensive  cattle 
feeder. 

Mr.  Weicht  is  a democrat  in  politics.  In  1886  he 
married  Miss  Effie  Silvey,  daughter  of  Benjamin 
and  Magdalena  (Sutterlin)  Silvey.  Her  parents 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Salem  Township 
and  her  mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weicht 
have  two  children.  Vern,  born  October  30,  1889, 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  the  Angola 
High  School,  also  attended  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege, and  on  November  26,  1915,  married  Miss  Mil- 
dred Leas,  a daughter  of  Marvin  Leas  of  Salem 
Township.  They  have  a daughter,  June  Catherine. 
Carmah,  the  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weicht, 
was  born  January  9,  1891,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Pleasant  Lake  High  School  and  the  wife  of  Asa 
Glago.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glago  have  two  children, 
Madalena  and  Carroll. 

John  Headley.  From  the  years  of  early  man- 
hood until  his  death  in  1914.  John  Headley  was  a 
citizen  of  York  Township  in  Steuben  County  upon 
whom  his  neighbors  could  depend,  when  the  com- 
munity needed  the  support  of  all  its  public  spirited 
citizens.  He  lived  a long  life,  was  prospered  in 
his  material  affairs,  and  left  a name  untarnished 
to  his  descendants. 

He  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1828,  a son  of  Reuben  and  Louisa  Headley, 
the  former  a native  of  New  Jersey  and  and  the  latter 
of  Virginia.  The  family  came  to  Steuben  County 
in  1849,  settling  in  section  16  of  York  Township, 
where  Reuben  Headley  died  in  i860,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-six.  His  widow  survived  and  passed  away 
February  12,  1892.  Their  children  to  reach  mature 
years  were  John,  Hannah,  Nancy,  Mary,  Wheeling, 
Joseph,  Reuben,  Sarah  Jane,  Emma,  Louisa  and 
Charles. 

John  Headley  was  just  about  twenty-one  years 
old  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County.  In  the  same 
year  he  bought  thirty-six  acres  of  land  in  section  16 
and  deeded  it  to  his  mother.  In  1851  he  bought  forty 
acres  for  himself  in  the  same  section,  and  there 
started  to  clear  the  land  and  make  a home,  and  in 
the  later  years  of  his  life  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  seeing  his  efforts  rewarded  in  a farm  that  was 
a conspicuously  attractive  part  of  the  landscape.  He 
at  one  time  owned  280  acres  in  his  home  farm,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  had  200  acres.  He  was 
very  successful  in  handling  stock  and  usually  kept 
his  farm  supplied  with  some  of  the  best  cattle  and 
horses  in  the  county.  He  was  a loyal  republican  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


27 


politics,  and  for  twenty-one  years  was  road  super- 
visor. 

November  9,  1853,  he  married  Susan  Hubbell.  She 
was  born  in  New  York  State  July  13,  1833,  and  died 
April  11,  1882.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren : Edwin  E.,  Edgar,  Minard,  Cary,  who  died 

at  the  age  of  six  years,  and  Mordant,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

June  24,  1883,  Mr.  Headley  married  Harriett 
Hood.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  March  23, 
i860.  She  is  still  living  on  the  home  farm  in  York 
Township.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children: 
Alma,  born  April  20,  1886,  and  died  September  15, 
1886 ; Harmon,  born  March  6,  1892,  had  a public 
school  education  and  is  a farmer  living  at  home 
with  his  mother;  Nora  B.,  born  August  2,  1894,  now 
the  wife  of  Lawrence  Dick,  of  York  Township,  and 
she  has  two  children,  named  Winona  and  Alene;  and 
John,  born  July  9,  1900,  finished  the  common  schools 
and  lives  on  the  home  farm. 

Everington  F.  Beers.  A farm  widely  known  as 
one  of  the  notable  old  homesteads  of  Steuben 
County  is  the  Walnut  Dale  Farm  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, the  present  proprietors  of  which  are  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Everington  F.  Beers.  They  and  their  families 
have  been  factors  in  the  early  settlement  and  the 
later  development  of  Steuben  County  for  three 
quarters  of  a century. 

Mr.  Beers  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township 
August  30,  1847,  son  of  Bradford  and  Amanda 
(Bement)  Beers,  both  natives  of  New  York.  His 
parents  were  married  in  that  state  and  came  to 
Steuben  County  in  1845.  His  father  bought  eighty 
acres  in  Jamestown  Township,  and  on  selling  that 
acquired  forty  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  The 
last  fifteen  years  of  his  life  he  lived  with  his  son 
Everington  and  died  in  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
three.  The  mother  of  Mr.  Beers  died  in  1857,  aged 
thirty-one.  Bradford  Beers  was  a democrat,  and 
as  a pioneer  lived  in  a log  house  when  he  first  came 
to  Steuben  County.  He  and  his  wife  had  five  chil- 
dren : Eleanor ; Harriet,  deceased ; Everington  F. ; 

Imogene,  deceased ; and  Mortimer.  The  father  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Burnett  Whaley,  and  their 
three  children  were  Ida,  George  and  Nora,  both 
daughters  now  deceased. 

Everington  F.  Beers  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a public  school  education.  Until  he  re- 
tired he  was  an  active  farmer  for  nearly  fifty  years, 
and  the  first  place  he  owned  was  eighty  acres  on 
Jackson  Prairie  in  the  Township  of  that  name.  He 
lived  there  seventeen  years  and  in  1904  moved  to 
his  present  home,  the  old  Darius  Sams  place,  for- 
merly owned  by  Mrs.  Beers’  father.  He  lived  there 
as  a . renter  for  twelve  years  before  he  bought. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beers  have  126  acres  in  their  home 
place  and  have  added  many  improvements  to  it 
during  their  ownership.  Mr.  Beers  now  rents  his 
farm  and  is  practically  retired. 

He  is  one  of  the  men  who  has  lived  to  see  early 
hopes  realized  in  the  success  of  the  prohibition 
cause.  When  he  cast  his  first  vote  on  the  prohibi- 
tion ticket  in  Jackson  Township  he  was  the  only 
man  to  support  that  ticket  and  he  gave  his  modest 
advocacy  to  the  cause  alone  in  that  locality  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

February  25,  1874,  Mr.  Beers  married  Miss  Effie 
Sams.  She  was  born  on  the  place  where  she  now 
lives  February  25,  1854,  a daughter  of  Darius  and 
Phoebe  (Lounsbury)  Sams.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1829  and  her  mother  in  New  York  State 
in  1831.  Darius  Sams  was  a son  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Baker)  Sams  and  they  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Steuben  County,  coming  in  1835 


and  locating  on  a farm  south  of  the  Jackson  Prairie 
cemetery.  At  that  time  David  Sams  acquired  forty 
acres  and  afterward  by  entry  and  purchase  became 
one  of  the  extensive  land  owners  in  the  county.  He 
died  on  the  old  homestead  in  April,  1874,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-three,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in 
1888,  aged  eighty-eight.  They  had  the  following 
children:  Mary  Jane,  Peter,  Daniel,  Darius,  Sarah 

Ann,  Abdilla,  Amasa  and  Henry,  the  only  one  now 
living  being  Henry. 

Darius  Sams,  father  of  Mrs.  Beers,  had  a good 
education,  attending  the  Academy  at  Ontario  and 
the  Methodist  College  at  Fort  Wayne.  After  school 
days  he  spent  his  active  career  as  a farmer  and 
bought  the  126  acres  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beers  now 
live,  and  that  was  his  home  for  fifty-three  years. 
He  also  owned  a place  of  120  acres  a mile  and  a 
half  south  and  later  bought  forty  acres  of  his  fa- 
ther’s old  home.  Darius  Sams  died  in  1915,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six,  having  spent  practically  eighty 
j^ears  in  Steuben  County.  His  wife  died  April  21, 
1907,  aged  seventy-eight. 

Mrs.  Beers  was  the  only  child  of  her  parents, 
though  her  mother  by  a previous  marriage,  to  Daniel 
Sams,  brother  of  her  second  husband,  had  a son, 
Daniel.  Mrs.  Beers  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools,  the  Orland  Academy  and  the  Angola  High 
School.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beers  have  two  sons.  Hugh, 
born  April  8,  1880,  was  educated  in  the  Orland  High 
School  and  as  a farmer  rents  his  father’s  place  on 
Jackson  Prairie,  comprising  120  acres,  including 
forty  acres  where  the  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Beers 
began  keeping  house  in  the  pioneer  times.  Hugh 
Beers  married  Anna  Nichols,  and  their  three  sons 
are  Bruce,  Henry  and  Homer.  Mrs.  Hugh  Beers 
died  in  January,  1917,  and  he  married  for  his  second 
wife  Flora  White.  Harry  Beers,  the  second  son, 
was  born  January  29,  1888.  He  also  completed  a 
high  school  course  at  Orland,  and  is  owner  of  120 
acres  of  the  old  John  Parker  farm.  He  married 
Versa  Watters,  and  has  one  daughter,  Helen. 

James  M.  Furnish.  One  of  the  farms  in  Jack- 
son  Township  of  DeKalb  County  longest  in  the 
possession  of  one  family  is  that  owned  by  James  M. 
Furnish  on  the  county  line  between  Allen  and  De- 
Kalb counties.  Mr.  Furnish  himself  has  gathered 
crops  from  that  land  for  over  forty  years,  and 
his  father  before  him  developed  and  farmed  it. 

James  M.  Furnish  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  January  26,  1849,  a son  of  David  and  Mary  C. 
(Davis)  Furnish.  His  father  was  born  in  Suffolk, 
England,  in  1805,  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  about  twenty-eight  or  thirty  years  of  age.  He 
lived  in  Boston  for  several  years,  married  in  that 
city,  and  then  moved  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  His 
home  was  in  Ashland  County  for  seventeen  years. 
He  supported  his  family  by  common  labor  and  also 
by  farming.  After  selling  his  twenty-five  acres  of 
land  in  Ashland  County  he  moved  to  DeKalb  County 
and  bought  eighty  acres  where  his  son  James  now 
lives.  He  remained  there  the  rest  of  his  life  and 
owing  to  an  injury  spent  several  years  almost  help- 
less. James  M.  Furnish  carefully  looked  after  his 
parents  in  their  declining  years  and  was  their  main- 
stay and  support  during  their  last  years.  Both  were 
active  in  the  Lutheran  Church  and  his  father  was  a 
republican.  Of  their  family  of  eleven  children  only 
four  are  now  living:  Abraham,  of  Fort  Wayne, 

Indiana;  Margaret  J.,  wife  of  David  Hollabaugh ; 
James  M. ; and  Martha. 

James  M.  Furnish  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  worked 
for  his  father  and  took  charge  of  the  farm  for  a 
number  of  years  and  after  his  father’s  death  he 
bought  the  old  homestead.  He  does  general  farm- 


28 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


jng.  Mr.  Furnish  is  a republican  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

May  13,  1880,  he  married  Ida  Steward.  She  was 
a native  of  DeKalb  County  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  They  have  three  children : Ralph, 
a farmer  living  with  his  father ; Sudia,  wife  of  Mel- 
vin Howey  of  DeKalb  County;  David,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  where  he  is 
working  with  the  Ford  Automobile  Works. 


a breeder  of  Duroc  hogs.  Mr.  Barnes  is  affiliated 
with  Steuben  Lodge  No.  231  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

December  21,  1912,  he  married  Miss  Dorothy 
Worthington,  born  March  24,  1894,  daughter  of 
William  and  Nettie  Blanche  Worthington,  of  Argus. 
They  have  two  daughters,  Cora  Lucile,  born  De- 
cember 21,  1914,  and  Maxine,  born  April  25,  1919. 


John  A.  Barnes.  Steuben  County  received  its 
first  permanent  settlers  during  the  decade  of  the 
’30s,  and  it  is  rather  unusual  to  find  a family 
established  here  through  four  generations  and  with 
such  an  honorable  record  as  farmers,  good  citizens 
and  vigilant  members  of  the  community  as  that 
belonging  to  the  Barnes  connection.  One  of  the 
representatives  in  the  fourth  generation  is  John 
A.  Barnes,  a young  and  progressive  farmer  ot  iork 


Township.  . . , • . ,• 

The  first  of  the  family  in  this  county  was  his 
great-grandfather,  Cowee  Barnes,  who  was  born 
Tune  21  1788.  September  5,  1809,  he  married  Bridget 
Howard,  who  was  born  May  10,  1791-  Cowee 
Barnes  came  to  Steuben  County  m 1836.  He  was 
one  of  the  settlers  of  that  year  in  York  Township. 
The  first  recorded  settlers  in  the  township  arrived 
in  1836.  Cowee  Barnes  entered  120  acres  of  wild 
land  from  the  government,  and  before  his  death, 
which  occurred  in  1855,  had  cleared  up  most  of 
it  and  put  it  into  cultivation  and  improved  with 
good  buildings.  The  wife  of  Cowee  Barnes  died 
August  31,  1856.  They  had  a family  of  ten  chil- 
dren a brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows : George, 
born  August  10,  1810;  Betsie  born  July  6 1812; 

Hannah,  born  July  6,  1814;  Edward,  born  April  8, 
1817;  Ira,  born  June  28,  1819;  Cyrus,  born  April  n, 
1822;  Abigail,  born  March  28,  1825;  Abel  M„  born 
February  15,  1827;  John,  born  June  23,  1829;  and 
Cecilia,  born  July  31,  1832. 

Of  this  family  the  next  to  the  youngest,  John 
Barnes,  who  as  noted  was  born  in  1829,  was  born 
in  Delaware  County,  New  York,  and  was  seven 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Steuben  County. 
He  grew  up  in  York  Township  and  lived  practically 
all  his  life  on  one  farm,  where  his  death  occurred 
June  20,  1914.  He  married  September  27,  1855, 
Julia  Handley,  who  was  born  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  in  1838,  and  died  February  6,  1906.  lhey 
were  the  parents  of  three  children : Alverda 

Lucinda,  born  June  11,  1859,  and  died  August  20, 
1861;  Albert  E„  born  July  11,  1862,  and  died  June 
i3>  1917 : and  Howard,  born  January  2,  1870. 

Albert  E.  Barnes  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  York  Township,  and  had 
a varied  career  as  a farmer,  beginning  in  York 
Township,  living  on  rented  farms  in  Fremont  and 
Clear  Lake  townships,  and  finally  retiring  to  the 
old  homestead  in  sections  12  and  13. of  York  Town- 
ship, where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  Success 
attended  his  efforts  and  he  owned  180  acres  and 
most  of  the  buildings  still  found  on  the  farm  were 
placed  there  under  his  direction.  He  married  Octo- 
ber 15,  1885,  Cora  E.  Hemry,  born  April  1,  1867,  a 
daughter  of  John  Hemry,  and  of  their  two  children 
the  older,  Vena,  died  February  20,  1888,  at  the  age 


of  eleven  months. 

John  A.  Barnes  was  born  while  his  parents  were 
living  in  Fremont  Township,  May  5,  1890.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  York  Township,  took  a 
business  course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola, 
and  succeeded  his  father  in  the  ownership  and 
responsibility  of  the  large  farm  of  180  acres  in 
sections  12  and  13.  He  does  general  farming  and  is 


William  R.  Wright,  a member  of  a well-known 
family  in  Noble  County,  grew  up  and  spent  his  boy- 
hood on  a farm,  but  for  many  years  has  been  iden- 
tified with  commercial  pursuits  at  Cromwell,  where 
he  is  now  the  leading  hardware  merchant. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township,  December  21, 
1869,  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  (Hull) 
Wright,  and  was  the  second  oldest  in  their  family. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio.  William 
R.  Wright,  after  getting  his  education,  left  home 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and  for  several 
years  did  farm  work.  He  laid  the  foundation  of 
his  business  career  at  Cromwell  as  clerk  in  a general 
store.  He  was  employed  by  others  for  thirteen 
years,  but  since  February  1,  1909,  has  been  pro- 
prietor of  the  hardware  store  and  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  merchants  in  that  section  of  Noble 
County. 

Mr.  Wright  married  Etta  Galloway,  a daughter 
of  Anderson  Galloway,  a well-known  Noble  County 
citizen,  elsewhere  referred  to  in  this  publication. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  have  two  children.  Stanley 
A.,  born  March  20,  1895,  is  a graduate  of  the  Crom- 
well High  School  and  is  married.  On  June  1,  1918, 
he  enlisted  in  the  navy  and  after  a period  of  training 
at  the  Great  Lakes  was  put  on  active  duty,  and  dur- 
ing a portion  of  the  war  was  stationed  at  Queens- 
town, Ireland.  The  daughter,  Velma,  is  a graduate 
of  the  Cromwell  High  School,  and  is  a proficient 
young  business  woman,  being  bookkeeper  in  the 
Sparta  State  Bank. 

Mr.  Wright  has  served  for  the  past  eight  years 
as  town  treasurer  of  Cromwell.  He  is  a republican, 
is  past  chancellor  of  Cromwell  Lodge  No.  408, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  is  past  noble  grand  of  his 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  also  active  in 
Masonry,  being  affiliated  with  Fort  Wayne  Consis- 
tory of  the  Scottish  Rite. 

Abijah  D.  Emerson,  who  recently  left  his  farm  in 
Salem  Township  to  enter  into  a meat  market  business 
at  Kendallville,  has  spent  his  life  in  Steuben  County 
and  is  member  of  an  old  and  historic  family.  On 
other  pages  of  this  publication  is  traced  the  interest- 
ing story  of  his  grandfather,  Avery  Emerson,  and 
other  members  of  the  family. 

Abijah  D.  Emerson  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Salem  Township  November  6,  1873,  a son 
of  Avery  and  Elizabeth  (Parsell)  Emerson.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools,  finishing 
the  eighth  grade,  and  since  school  days  has  been 
identified  with  farming.  He  now  owns  127.84  acres 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  has  his  land  devoted  to 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  has  made  a 
specialty  for  some  years  of  breeding  road  horses. 
He  left  the  farm  in  the  fall  of  1918  and  moved  to 
Kendallville.  He  has  a great  many  friends  and  is 
regarded  as  a man  of  ability  in  whatever  line  he 
undertakes. 

In  politics  he  is  independent  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America,  while  he  and  his  wife  are 
active  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  1895  he  married  Miss  Clara  Spears,  a daughter 
of  John  and  Emily  A.  (Helmer)  Spears  of  Steuben 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


29 


County.  Mrs.  Emerson  died  May  5,  1912,  the  mother 
of  six  children : Mabel,  wife  of  Samuel  Greeno, 

who  occupies  the  Emerson  home  farm ; Ned,  who 
married  Valta  Garver  and  has  a son,  Lee;  Emily, 
wife  of  Wayne  Sherrick  and  the  mother  of  one 
son,  Ned;  Gladys,  Anna  and  Abijah  D.,  Jr.,  all 
members  of  the  home  circle.  On  September  7,  1918, 
Mr.  Emerson  married  Miss  Zola  Hamlin,  a daugh- 
ter of  Albert  and  Clara  Hamlin  of  Wolcottville. 

George  M.  Emerson,  a son  of  Avery  Emerson 
and  a brother  of  A.  D.  Emerson  of  Kendallville, 
was  born  on  the  old  Emerson  homestead  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County  July  17,  1868. 

He  grew  up  there,  acquiring  his  education  in  the 
local  district  schools,  and  for  thirty  years  has  fol- 
lowed farming  and  stock  raising  as  his  business. 
He  owns  a farm  of  sixty-four  acres,  originally  a 
part  of  the  old  Emerson  homestead.  Mr.  Emerson 
is  a democrat,  but  has  aspired  to  no  political  office. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  has  been  an  active  member  of  the  lodge 
for  twenty-five  years  and  also  belongs  to  the  En- 
campment and  to  the  Gleaners.  Mrs.  Emerson  is 
a member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  Church. 

April  30,  1896,  he  married  Miss  Ona  Cleveland. 
She  was  born  at  Flint  in  Jackson  Township  October 
19,  1871,  a daughter  of  George  and  Nancy  Cleve- 
land. Her  father  died  in  June,  1909,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-seven,  and  her  mother  is  still  living  aged 
seventy-four.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emerson  have  three 
children:  George  Cary,  born  January  1,  1901,  grad- 

uated from  the  Salem  Center  High  School  in  1918, 
and  Elizabeth  Nancy,  born  February  7,  1907,  and 
Mildred  Arvilla,  born  in  August,  1908,  both  of  whom 
are  still  diligently  pursuing  their  studies  in  the  com- 
mon schools. 

Charles  C.  Weingart  has  been  a factor  in  the 
business  and  civic  life  of  Noble  County  for  a long 
period  of  years.  He  was  for  two  terms  postmaster 
of  Kendallville,  and  since  leaving  that  office  has 
been  a successful  merchant.  He  gained  his  first 
business  experience  as  clerk  in  the  store  of  John 
Deibele.  He  worked  for  that  one  man  twenty  years 
and  three  months,  and  for  the  last  ten  years  was 
manager  of  the  hardware  and  general  contracting 
department.  In  1906  Mr.  Weingart  was  elected 
a councilman  at  large  and  carefully  looked  after  the 
interests  of  the  city  during  his  term.  On  August  22, 
1907,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  by  President 
Roosevelt  and  reappointed  by  President  Taft  De- 
cember 30,  1911,  serving  altogether  eight  years  and 
eleven  months. 

In  February,  1916,  Mr.  Weingart  entered  a part- 
nership with  Carl  F.  Mabus  under  the  name  of 
Weingart  & Mabus,  dealing  in  men’s  furnishing 
goods.  They  established  their  store  near  the  Noble 
County  Bank  and  in  1917  bought  the  Toggery  store. 
Mr.  Weingart  now  gives  his  personal  attention  to 
this  business. 

Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville 
Lodge  No.  276,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 
Mr.  Weingart  is  a member  and  trustee  of  the  Chris- 
tion  Church,  and  in  politics  is  a republican 

Robert  L.  Wade,  M.  D.  Numbered  among  the 
successful  physicians  of  Steuben  County,  Doctor 
Wade  has  been  in  practice  at  Fremont  since  1907,  and 
has  given  that  community  not  only  the  benefit  of  his 
individual  services  but  has  extended  the  range  of  his 
work  by  founding  at  Fremont  a private  hospital. 

Doctor  Wade  is  a self-made  man  and  earned  most 
of  the  money  which  took  him  through  medical  school. 
He  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  March  18,  1877,  a son  of  Henry  M. 


and  Christiana  (Lupton)  Wade.  He  spent  his  boy- 
hood days  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship and  attended  the  district  schools  there.  Later 
he  finished  the  teacher’s  course  in  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College  at  Angola,  and  it  was  his  work  as  a 
teacher,  carried  on  for  six  years  in  his  native  town- 
ship in  LaGrange  County,  that  enabled  him  to  enter 
and  complete  his  work  in  the  College  of  Physicians 
and  Surgeons  at  Chicago.  He  graduated  in  1907, 
and  in  the  same  year  located  at  Fremont,  where  he 
has  had  a very  successful  practice.  In  1914  he  built 
a modern  brick  hospital  at  the  corner  of  Toledo  and 
Pleasant  streets,  in  which  his  office  is  located.  He 
also  owns  a comfortable  residence  on  East  Toledo 
Street.  He  is  a member  of  the  County,  State  and 
American  Medical  associations.  Doctor  Wade  has 
prospered  and  has  acquired  considerable  property, 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  State 
Bank,  which  bought  the  Bank  of  Fremont.  He  has 
been  on  the  Board  of  Directors  since  the  organiza- 
tion. 

Doctor  Wade  is  a republican,  has  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  City  Council,  School  Board  and  the  Ad- 
visory Township  Board,  and  is  affiliated  with  North- 
east Lodge  No.  210,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Fre- 
mont Chapter  No.  68,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and 
Fremont  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1898  he  married  Miss  Lura  Talmage,  only  child 
of  Charles  E.  and  Emma  (Joyce)  Talmage,  of 
Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County.  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Wade  have  three  daughters:  Mildred  Joyce, 
bom  in  December,  1898,  is  a graduate  of  the  Fremont 
High  School  with  the  class  of  1917  and  now  assists 
her  father  in  his  office;  Wilma,  born  in  1901  is.  a 
senior  in  the  Fremont  High  School ; and  Bessie, 
born  in  1902,  is  a junior  in  the  high  school. 

John  James  Oberlin,  who  for  many  years  was  a 
business  man  at  Hamilton  and  is  still  living  in  a 
comfortable  home  in  that  village,  while  looking 
after  his  property  interests,  is  a member  of  a family 
of  early  settlers  in  DeKalb  County,  where  the  name 
is  represented  by  several  distinct  branches. 

John  James  Oberlin  was  born  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship of  that  county  June  4,  i860,  a son  of  Frederick 
D.  and  Sarah  (Dirrim)  Oberlin,  and  a'  grandson 
of  the  pioneer  John  Oberlin,  who  in  1845  came  to 
DeKalb  County  and  settled  on  the  northwest  quar- 
ter of  section  28  in  Franklin  Township.  He  con- 
ducted a tannery  in  that  locality  for  a number  of 
years. 

Frederick  D.  Oberlin  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  February  5,  1830,  and  was  fifteen  years  old 
when  his  father  came  to  DeKalb  County.  He  had 
many  pioneer  experiences  and  from  an  early  age 
chose  to  be  dependent  largely  upon  his  own  efforts 
for  self-support.  In  1850  he  bought  forty  acres  of 
land  for  the  sum  of  $300,  and  at  the  same  time 
began  work  at  the  carpenter’s  trade,  his  employer 
paying  him  $10  a month  for  five  years.  In  the 
course  of  time  he  had  a large  and  well-appointed 
farm  of  160  acres,  and  improved  it  with  good  house 
and  buildings.  He  also  lived  in  the  Village  of 
Hamilton  for  some  years,  and  died  there  in  1912, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-two  years,  six  months  and  six- 
teen days.  In  politics  he  was  a republican,  and  he 
served  as  township  trustee  two  years  and  three 
years  as  county  commissioner.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  was  a member  of  Company  G of  the  Fifty- 
Third  Indiana  Infantry,  and  participated  in  the 
battle  of  Kinston,  North  Carolina.  He  was 
affiliated  with  the  Christian  Church.  February  12, 
He  and  his  wife  were  Methodists  and  later  became 


30 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


affiliated  with  the  Chrisitan  Church.  February  12, 
1854,  Frederick  D.  Oberlin  married  Sarah  Dirrim, 
daughter  of  James  Dirrim,  another  prominent  early 
family  in  Northeastern  Indiana.  She  was  born  in 
Carroll  County,  Ohio,  January  25,  1836,  and  died 
at  the  home  of  her  son  John  James,  November  11, 
IQ15,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  nine  months  and 
sixteen  days.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  chil- 
dren, and  three  are  still  living:  Cyrus  C.,  John 

James  and  Isaac  Charles. 

John  James  Oberlin  grew  up  on  the  homestead 
farm,  had  the  benefit  of  the  common  schools,  and 
through  his  industry  as  a farmer  acquired  a place 
of  eighty  acres  in  Franklin  Township  a half  mile 
south  of  the  Village  of  Hamilton.  In  1892  he  moved 
into  Hamilton  and  for  twenty  years  was  in  the 
livery  business.  Since  then  he  has  been  looking- 
after  his  farm  and  other  interests,  and  enjoys  the 
comforts  of  one  of  the  best  homes  in  Hamilton. 
Mr.  Oberlin  is  a republican  in  politics  and  his  family 
attend  the  Christian  Church.  In  1885  he  married 
Miss  Lenora  Margaret  Fifer.  She  was  born  in 
Steuben  County  in  1867,  a daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Martha  (Harpham)  Fifer,  early  settlers  of  Steuben 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oberlin  have  three  children. 
Lula,  who  is  the  wife  of  Glen  Gnagy,  of  the  well- 
known  Gnagy  family  of  Steuben  County.  Glen 
Gnagy  was  in  the  war,  serving  at  the  Great  Lakes 
Naval  Training  Station.  Roscoe  Conkling  Oberlin, 
the  second  child,  lives  at  Hamilton  and  married 
Pearl  Cecil  Grear.  Basil  Jesse,  the  youngest,  is 
managing  his  father’s  farm.  He  married  Mertie 
Lemon,  of  Steuben  County. 

John  Reidenbach  has  been  a resident  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  over  sixty  years,  since  birth,  has 
been  identified  with  farming  in  Elkhart  Township 
forty  years,  and  in  material  affairs  as  well  as  in 
good  citizenship  has  well  earned  the  place  of  pros- 
perity and  esteem  he  enjoys.  Mr.  Reidenbach  and 
family  reside  in  section  34  of  Elkhart  Township. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township,  June  3,  1857, 
son  of  Philip  and  Catherine  (Comin)  Reidenbach. 
His  father,  who  was  born  in  Germany  in  1820,  came 
to  America  in  1840  and  lived  for  several  years  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio.  He  married  there  Cath- 
erine Comin,  who  is  also  a native  of  Germany  and 
had  come  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty 
and  settled  in  Tuscarawas  County.  In  1844  Philip 
Reidenbach  moved  to  Indiana,  settling  in  the 
woods  of  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County.  He 
and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there,  and 
were  long  known  as  people  of  solid  industry  and 
true  worth.  They  were  members  of  the  German 
Methodist  Church  and  the  father  was  a democrat. 
In  their  family  were  nine  children,  and  the  follow- 
ing are  still  living:  Christine,  widow  of  William 

Miller;  Malinda,  wife  of  John  Koch;  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth Koch;  John;  Philip,  a farmer  in  Elkhart  Town- 
ship ; and  Mary,  widow  of  Charles  Ramer. 

John  Reidenbach  grew  up  on  the  old  farm,  and 
the  first  school  he  attended  was  kept  in  a log  school- 
house.  Later  he  was  a student  in  the  frame  school- 
house,  and  he  made  the  best  possible  use  of  his  op- 
portunities to  acquire  an  education.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  married  Emma  Monk,  who  died 
with  her  only  child.  He  married  for  his  present 
wife  Louise  Schmidt,  of  Wayne  County,  Michigan. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reidenbach  have  the  following  chil- 
dren : George,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools, 

married  Helen  Kirkpatrick;  Ella,  who  completed  a 
high  school  course,  is  the  wife  of  Rudy  Gill ; Cora, 
who  also  had  a high  school  education,  is  the  wife  of 
Oscar  Yoder;  Brady,  a high  school  graduate,  mar- 


ried Marie  Stiffner ; Roy,  a high  school  graduate, 
served  as  a first  sergeant  with  the  American  Expedi- 
tionary Forces  in  France;  and  Florence,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  high  school  and  is  still  at  home. 

Mr.  Reidenbach  for  many  years  has  given  his 
labors  to  the  business  of  farming  and  stock  raising 
on  his  place  of  142  acres.  He  is  also  one  of  the 
directors  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Wawaka. 
In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  has  served  as  supervisor 
of  his  township,  and  is  a past  chancellor  and  past 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Wawaka  Lodge  No. 
432,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  is  a trustee  and  steward. 

Silas  C.  Cook  is  owner  of  one  of  the  farms  that 
have  a history  in  Noble  County.  Most  of  it  was 
acquired  in  a condition  of  absolute  rawness  fully 
sixty  years  ago  by  his  father.  In  buildings,  general 
improvements  and  productivity  the  Norwood  Farm, 
as  it  is  known,  is  recognized  far  and  near  as  one 
of  the  best  farm  estates  in  the  county.  It  comprises 
220  acres,  and  lies  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  section 
19,  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  northwest  quarter 
of  section  30,  and  twenty  acres  in  Noble  Township. 

It  was  on  this  farm  that  Silas  C.  Cook,  its  present 
proprietor,  was  born  December  26,  1867.  He  is  a 
son  of  Jonas  and  Elizabeth  (Zigler)  Cook.  Jonas 
Cook  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  De- 
cember 10,  1827,  son  of  Baltzer  and  Elizabeth  (Faulk- 
ner) Cook,  both  of  German  ancestry.  Baltzer  Cook 
and  wife  were  also  born  in  Maryland.  He  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation.  In  1830  he  moved  to  Mont- 
gomery County,  Ohio,  and  he  and  his  wife  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days  there.  Jonas  Cook  was  only  three 
years  old  when  taken  to  Ohio.  As  a boy  he  lived 
on  the  farm  and  attended  country  schools.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  began  an  apprenticeship  at  the 
carpenter’s  trade,  and  followed  that  as  a business 
with  marked  success  for  fifteen  years.  It  was  with 
his  savings  and  modest  capital  derived  from  his  me- 
chanical skill  that  he  came  to  Noble  County  in  1859 
and  bought  120  acres  now  included  in  the  Norwood 
Farm.  It  was  a big  task  he  set  himself  to  make  a 
farm  out  of  a portion  of  the  primeval  wilderness. 
But  he  steadily  persevered  and  saw  all  his  affairs 
prosper  and  increase.  He  bought  other  land  until 
he  owned  220  acres.  On  that  farm  he  died  in  hon- 
ored old  age  in  February,  1907,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  June  4,  1905.  He  and  Elizabeth  Zigler  were 
married  in  1849.  Silas  C.  Cook  is  the  only  one 
living  of  their  three  children.  The  daughter,  Letitia, 
was  married  to  E.  C.  Oldwine,  and  the  son  Gran- 
ville married  Alta  Smith. 

Jonas  Cook  in  the  fall  of  1864  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany C of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was 
in  the  Union  army  about  a year,  receiving  his  hon- 
orable discharge  and  returning  home  in  the  fall  of 
1865.  He  saw  some  active  service  during  the  siege 
of  Richmond,  was  also  at  Fort  Fisher  and  at  Ben- 
tonville,  where  the  last  important  battle  of  the  war 
occurred.  He  was  a loyal  republican  in  politics  and 
one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church 
in  his  community. 

Silas  C.  Cook  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Green, 
Township,  and  besides  the  advantages  of  the  com- 
mon schools  attended  Normal  School  at  Albion  and 
Valparaiso.  Besides  helping  his  father  on  the  farm 
he  taught  school  and  was  engaged  in  that  profession 
altogether  for  about  fifteen  years. 

In  1891  Mr.  Cook  married  Miss  Emma  Garber, 
who  was  born  near  Webster  Lake  in  Indiana.  After 
their  marriage  they  located  on  the  home  farm,  and 
have  lived  there  continuously  except  for  two  and  a 
half  years  in  North  Webster. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


31 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  are  the  parents  of  three  tal- 
ented daughters : Elsie,  a high  school  graduate  and 
a former  teacher,  is  now  in  the  adjutant  general’s 
office  at  Washington,  D.  C.  Mildred,  also  a grad- 
uate of  high  school  and  a former  teacher,  is  now 
connected  with  the  Gospel  Trumpet  Company  at 
Anderson,  Indiana.  The  youngest  daughter,  Eliza- 
beth, is  still  a student  in  high  school.  Mr.  Cook 
is  an  active  republican  and  has  served  as  committee- 
man of  Green  Township. 

George  Perry  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  citi- 
zens and  personalities  in  Noble  County,  particularly 
in  the  community  of  Swan  Township  where  he  has 
spent  all  his  life,  a period  of  four-score  years.  The 
Perrys  are  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  respected 
families  of  Noble  County. 

The  farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies  was  the  birth- 
place of  George  Perry.  He  was  born  there  March 
21,  1839.  When  he  first  looked  out  upon  the  world 
with  conscious  eyes  he  saw  practically  the  same 
scenes  and  environment  which  the  earliest  pioneers 
had  encountered.  He  has  witnessed  every  change 
and  process  in  the  making  of  Northeast  Indiana 
what  it  is  today.  In  that  progress  and  development 
his  own  part  has  not  been  without  honor  and  im- 
portance. 

His  parents  were  Oliver  L.  and  Mary  (Francis) 
Perry,  the  former  a native  of  New  York  State  and 
the  latter  of  Connecticut.  After  they  married  they 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  New  York  State.  A 
brief  residence  upon  it  convinced  him  that  it  was 
practically  worthless,  and  he  soon  disposed  of  it 
for  much  less  than  he  paid  and  invested  the  remain- 
ing capital  in  four  yoke  of  oxen  and  two  wagons. 
In  this  manner  he  started  westward.  He  journeyed 
through  Canada,  on  to  Michigan,  and  purposed  to 
locate  at  Coldwater  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 
All  the  good  land  had  been  taken  up  in  and  around 
Coldwater.  News  came  to  him  of  the  construction 
of  the  canal  from  Fort  Wayne  connecting  the  waters 
of  the  Wabash  Valley.  He  set  out  for  this  locality, 
which  he  deemed  a region  of  new  opportunity.  On 
the  way  he  crossed  section  36  of  Swan  Township 
in  Noble  County.  At  that  point  his  wife  broke 
down  with  discouragement  and  weariness  and  per- 
suaded him  to  stop.  He  therefore  entered  320  acres 
in  section  36  and  in  that  way  was  established  the 
Perry  family  in  Noble  County,  where  they  have 
been  located  for  over  eight  years.  Oliver  Perry  and 
wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  on  the  old  home- 
stead and  during  his  lifetime  fully  200  acres  of  it 
was  cleared  up  and  made  useful  for  agriculture.  He 
was  a man  of  splendid  integrity,  a fine  type  of 
pioneer,  and  died  at  the  age  of  fifty-six.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics.  His  widow  survived  him  some 
years.  Of  eight  children  only  three  are  now  living: 
George;  Irene,  wife  of  David  Fair  of  Huntertown; 
and  J.  Frederick,  whose  home  is  in  Allen  County, 
Indiana. 

George  Perry  had  no  really  good  schools  to  at- 
tend as  a boy  and  part  of  his  education  was  acquired 
in  the  old-fashioned  subscription  schools.  As  soon 
as  his  strength  permitted  he  worked  with  his  father 
in  clearing  up  the  land,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  hired  out  to  his  father  by  the  month.  Later 
he  remained  with  his  mother  on  the  farm  and 
eventually  succeeded  to  the  ownership  of  most  of 
it.  On  May,  1869,  almost  fifty  years  ago,  Mr. 
Perry  married  Miss  Rose  Mickey.  She  was  born  in 
Ross  County,  Ohio,  October  20,  1836,  and  was 
brought  to  Indiana  by  her  parents  in  1839.  The 
Mickey  family  located  in  Whitley  County  near 
Churubsco,  and  in  that  locality  Mrs.  Perry  grew 
to  womanhood,  familar  with  many  of  the  same 


pioneer  scenes  as  her  husband.  Mrs.  Perry  taught 
school  five  years,  though  her  teaching  was  spread 
over  a period  of  about  twelve  years.  She  was  an 
excellent  teacher  and  is  still  kindly  remembered  by 
many  of  her  old  pupils.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perry  began 
housekeeping  in  May,  1869,  and  they  have  lived  on 
that  one  farm  steadily  now  for  fifty  years  and  will 
soon  celebrate  their  golden  wedding  anniversary.  No 
children  have  come  into  their  home.  Both  are  faith- 
ful members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and 
Mr.  Perry  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  was  once 
nominated  for  representative  from  Noble  County. 
He  is  now  practically  retired  from  active  responsi- 
bilities of  farming,  but  owns  160  acres  in  the  old 
homestead  and  at  one  time  had  240  acres. 

Adam  Orewiler  is  one  of  the  representatives  of 
the  prominent  family  of  that  name  identified  with 
Steuben  County  since  pioneer  days,  and  like  most 
of  the  name  his  work  and  chosen  vocation  has  been 
farming. 

Mr.  Orewiler  was  born  on  the  Orewiler  home- 
stead just  across  the  road  from  where  he  now  lives 
in  Scott  Township,  February  25,  1859,  and  is  a son 
of  David  and  Lucy  Orewiler.  Other  reference  to 
the  family  is  made  in  other  pages  of  this  publica- 
tion. Adam  Orewiler  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
had  a public  school  education,  and  has  steadily 
devoted  himself  to  agriculture  for  forty  years.  He 
still  retains  and  manages  a good  farm  of  eighty 
acres  and  has  given  forty  acres  to  his  son.  Mr. 
Orewiler  is  a republican  without  official  aspirations 
and  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1884  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Tarr,  a daughter 
of  John  and  Sophia  Tarr  of  Angola.  Her  mother 
is  still  living. 

The  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orewiler  is  Roy, 
born  in  1885.  He  supplemented  his  public  school 
education  with  a course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College,  and  is  making  a good  record  as  one  of  the 
younger  farmers  of  Scott  Township.  He  married 
Miss  Mellie  Maxton,  of  Steuben  County,  and  they 
have  two  sons,  Russell  Dale  and  Keith  Raymond. 

Joseph  C.  Kimmell.  During  the  past  quarter  of 
a century  no  citizen  has  been  more  active  in  public 
and  business  affairs  in  Sparta  Township  than  Joseph 
C.  Kimmell.  Mr.  Kimmell  is  a former  member  of 
the  State  Legislatqre,  also  a former  county  auditor 
of  Noble  County,  for  years  has  done  a large  business 
as  a farmer,  and  is  now  giving  his  time  to  his  duties 
as  cashier  of  the  Sparta  State  Bank  at  Cromwell. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County,  April  28,  1872,  a son  of  Cyrus  and  Ellen 
(Lane)  Kimmell,  the  former  a native  of  Canton, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Pickaway  County  in  the 
same  state.  Their  respective  families  came  to  In- 
diana in  early  days,  locating  in  Noble  County, 
where  Cyrus  and  Ellen  were  married.  They  first 
lived  on  a farm  in  York  Township  and  then  moved 
to  Orange  Township,  where  he  owned  a fine  farm  of 
eighty  acres.  Cyrus  Kimmell  and  family  moved,  to 
Sparta  Township  in  1873,  and  purchased"  a farm  of 
160  acres.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Church 
of  God  and  in  politics  was  a republican,  serving  at 
one  time  as  assessor  of  York  Township.  Joseph  C. 
Kimmell  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents,  and  grew 
up  in  a good  home,  early  had  farming  experience, 
and  at  the  same  time  acquired  a liberal  education, 
partly  in  the  common  schools  and  afterward  com- 
pleted a business  course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  at 
Angola.  On  May  18,  1893,  he  established  a home  of 
his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Lena  A.  Keehn,  who  was 
born  in  Perry  Township  of  Noble  County.  After 


32 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


their  marriage  they  settled  on  the  old  home  farm, 
and  that  is  still  their  home,  where  they  enjoy  the 
peace  and  contentment  of  rural  life  and  the  pros- 
perity which  their  broad  and  well  tilled  acres  afford. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimmel  have  five  living  children : 
Verlie,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  now  a 
practical  farmer;  Joseph  K.,  a high  school  graduate; 
Harriet,  a junior  in  high  school;  Chester,  who  is 

also  attending  high  school;  and  Mildred,  in  the 

first  year  of  high  school.  The  eldest  daughter, 

Lera  Eva,  died  April  20,  1910,  aged  sixteen  years. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
at  Ligonier,  Mr.  Kimmell  being  one  of  the  elders. 
He  is  affiliated  with  Excelsior  Lodge  No.  267  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  the 
Masonic  Order  of  Cromwell,  and  politically  is  a 
democrat.  He  was  elected  on  that  ticket  to  repre- 
sent Noble  County  in  the  Legislature  in  1907,  and 
gave  a good  account  of  himself  to  his  constituents. 
He  was  elected  and  served  as  auditor  of  the  county 
from  1911  to  1914.  The  Sparta  State  Bank  was 
organized  in  1917  with  the  same  officers  as  at  pres- 
ent, namely:  Fred  N.  Hunt,  president;  George  S. 

Bouse,  vice  president;  and  J.  C.  Kimmell,  cashier. 
The  other  directors  are  J.  E.  Hilter,  J.  E.  Knapp, 
A.  M.  Snyer,  N.  S.  Stump,  Martin  L.  Hussey  and 
Lee  Lung. 

Willard  Slabaugh  is  a veteran  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  and  since  the  close  of  his  service  has 
been  one  of  the  successful  farmers  and  stock  raisers 
in  Perry  Township  of  Noble  County.  His  home  is 
in  section  9,  three  and  a half  miles  northwest  of 
Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township  December  8, 
1876,  son  of  Christian  and  Catherine  (Bowser)  Sla- 
baugh. They  were  the  parents  of  four  children : 
Sidney,  a farmer  in  Perry  Township;  Willard;  Ollie, 
wife  of  John  Larimer  of  Montana;  and  Ray,  a 
farmer  in  Perry  Township. 

Willard  Slabaugh  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  and  was  about  twenty-one 
years  of  age  when,  soon  after  the  outbreak  of  the 
Spanish-American  war,  he  enlisted  in  Company  L 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Seventh  Indiana  Vol- 
unteers, under  Colonel  Studebaker.  He  was  in  the 
service  for  six  months. 

Mr.  Slabaugh  married  Miss  Zinla  Latta,  who  was 
born  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  a daughter  of 
James  T.  and  Abigail  (Simpson)  Latta.  After  their 
marriage  they  located  on  a farm  in  Perry  Township, 
and  through  a period  of  twenty  years  have  been 
steadily  prospering  until  they  now  have  a farm  of 
161  acres  in  sections  9 and  16.  Mr.  Slabaugh  is 
making  a success  of  handling  the  pure  bred  Short- 
horn cattle  and  Duroc  hogs.  He  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Citizens  Bank  at  Ligonier  and  is  a democrat  in 
politics. 

He  and  his  wife  have  four  children : Keith,  who 

attended  high  school  for  a year  and  a half  is  now 
with  his  father  on  the  farm ; Dorothy,  in  the  third 
year  of  high  school ; and  Everett  and  Forrest. 

Willis  Beigh.  More  than  sixty  years  have  passed 
since  the  Beigh  family  became  established  in  Steuben 
County.  Some  of  the  family  history  is  recorded 
on  other  pages,  and  at  this  point  special  mention  is 
made  of  Willis  Beigh,  one  of  the  prominent  resi- 
dents and  farmers  of  Salem  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of  the  same 
county  August  30,  1859,  a son  of  John  and  Mary 
(Gooding)  Beigh.  He  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  lived  there  until  he  was  twenty-seven  years 
of  age,  acquiring  a good  education  in  the  public 
schools.  For  thirty-two  years  he  has  owned  a half 


interest  in  109^  acres  in  Salem  Township,  and 
later  he  bought  \2l/2  acres  more.  This  farm  is  one 
of  the  good  ones  in  Salem  Township,  is  improved 
with  good  buildings,  and  is  the  basis  of  a very  satis- 
factory business.  Mr.  Beigh  is  a republican,  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Salem  Center,  and  with  his  wife  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

November  18,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Bell 
Cary.  She  was  born  in  Fairfield  Township  of  De- 
Kalb  County,  Indiana,  May  7,  1868.  She  was  well 
educated,  attending  the  Angola  High  School  and 
Tri-State  College,  and  for  several  years  before  her 
marriage  was  a teacher.  Mrs.  Beigh  is  a daughter 
of  John  and  Christina  (Helwig)  Cary.  Her  father 
was  born  in  the  State  of  New  York  December  2, 
1841,  and  her  mother  in  Troy  Township  of  DeKalb 
County,  July  29,  1842.  Her  grandparents  were  John 
W.  and  Martha  (Cosper)  Cary,  early  settlers  of 
DeKalb  County,  and  they  lived  on  a farm  east  of 
Helmer  for  many  years,  and  while  living  here  the 
sons  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war.  John  W.  Cary  died 
in  May,  1880,  and  his  wife  in  1885,  in  York  Town- 
ship, Stevens  County,  Indiana.  They  were  the 
parents  of  the  following  children : David,  who  was 

a Union  soldier  and  died  near  Helmer ; Phineas,  who 
was  also  in  the  Civil  war  and  died  at  Henderson, 
Kentucky;  John  Wallace;  Henry,  a Civil  war  sol- 
dier who  was  buried  at  Nashville,  Tennessee;  George 
W. ; Cassie,  who  died  in  childhood ; and  Alice. 

Mrs.  Beigh’s  maternal  grandparents  were  Jacob 
and  Sarah  (Gorsuch)  Helwig,  who  were  among  the 
first  settlers  of  DeKalb  County.  Jacob  Helwig  was 
a farmer,  living  first  in  Troy  and  later  in  Fairfield 
townships,  and  died  in  the  latter  locality  in  1870. 
He  was  prominent  in  democratic  politics,  serving 
in  the  Legislature  in  early  days.  His  wife  died  in 
1885,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Jacob  Helwig  and 
wife  had  the  following  children : Barbara  Ann, 

Kesiah,  Mary,  Rebecca  and  Christina.  By  a former 
marriage  to  Miss  Jennings,  Jacob  Helwig  had  five 
children,  George,  Elizabeth,  Peter,  Isaac  and  John. 
John  Helwig  was  a graduate  of  Wittenberg  College 
at  Springfield,  Ohio,  was  a minister  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  and  later  for  some  years  was  president  of 
Wittenberg  College. 

Mrs.  Beigh’s  father  after  his  marriage  moved 
east  of  Salem  Center,  in  Salem  Township.  In 
March,  1887,  he  moved  to  the  farm  now  occupied  by 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beigh.  John  Cary  died  March  17, 
1910,  and  his  wife  on  December  26,  1888.  Mrs. 
Beigh  was  their  only  child.  Her  paternal  grand- 
father was  a prominent  Methodist  and  a local 
preacher  in  the  early  days.  Her  maternal  grand- 
father was  equally  prominent  in  the  Lutheran 
Church  as  a layman  and  minister. 

William  L.  Braun  is  one  of  the  older  business 
men  of  Angola  and  for  thirty-five  years  has  been 
retailing  meats  to  an  appreciative  public  in  that 
city.  For  nearly  thirty  years  of  this  time  he  has 
been  in  business  for  himself.  He  has  been  suc- 
cessful, has  prospered  through  his  own  abilities  and 
industry,  and  is  a man  of  high  standing  in  the 
community. 

He  was  born  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  September 
26,  1857,  a son  of  Henry  Edward  and  Margaret 
(Heldti  Braun.  His  mother  at  the  age  of  one 
year  came  from  Alsace-Lorraine  with  her  parents 
to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  where  John  and  Barbara 
Heldt  spent  their  last  years.  Henry  E.  Braun  was 
born  in  Saxony,  Germany,  February  28,  1831,  learned 
the  meat  cutter’s  trade  in  the  old  country,  and  on 
coming  to  America  worked  at  his  trade  in  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  where  he  met  and  married  his  wife. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


33 


Later  he  moved  to  Waterloo,  Indiana,  and  engaged 
in  the  meat  business,  and  lived  there  until  his  death 
in  iqii,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  He  was  a 
prohibitionist  in  politics  and  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  His  widow  died  at  the  venerable 
age  of  eighty-two  years.  Their  three  children,  all 
living,  are  Katie,  William  L.  and  George  A.,  the 
latter  of  Auburn,  Indiana. 

William  L.  Braun  was  but  a child  when  his  par- 
ents removed  to  Waterloo,  and  besides  the  instruc- 
tion he  received  from  the  public  schools  there  he 
learned  the  trade  of  meat  cutter  under  his  father. 
In  1884  he  came  to  Angola,  and  after  seven  years 
of  working  for  others  he  engaged  in  business  for 
himself  in  1891,  and  has  always  had  the  reputation 
of  conducting  one  of  the  best  markets  and  supplying 
the  highest  class  of  provisions.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat,  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

In  1879  Mr.  Braun  married  Miss  Delia  J.  Stroh, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  DeKalb  County,  and 
her  people  lived  on  a farm  southeast  of  Waterloo. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Braun  have  one  daughter,  Maud,  now 
the  wife  of  Mack  Fisher.  The  three  children  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  are  Malba  Pauline,  Ned  Braun 
and  Martha  Jeanette. 

George  D.  Gaby.  The  first  frame  house  built  in 
Orange  Township  of  Noble  County  was  erected  by 
the  late  Timothy  Gaby,  father  of  Ligonier’s  popular 
postmaster  and  prominent  democratic  leader  in 
Noble  County.  The  Gaby  family  in  many  ways 
have  been  prominent  in  this  part  of  Northeast  In- 
diana since  early  times. 

Credit  is  given  to  George  D.  Gaby  for  the  achieve- 
ment of  making,  at  least  temporarily,  a democratic 
county  out  of  the  normal  republican  complexion  of 
Noble  County.  That  was  while  he  was  chairman  of 
the  Democratic  County  Committee.  Mr.  Gaby  does 
not  give  all  his  time  to  politics.  He  is  a thorough 
business  man,  and  for  years  has  been  a successful 
farmer.  He  owns  a good  farm  in  Orange  Township, 
and  was  born  on  the  old  Gaby  homestead  there  July 
4,  1853.  His  father,  Timothy  Gaby,  was  born  in 
Genesee  County,  New  York,  in  1820,  and  went  from 
that  state  to  Ohio.  There  he  married  Amy  A.  Ed- 
monds, a native  of  Lorain  County,  Ohio.  From 
Ohio  they  moved  to  Orange  Township  in  Noble 
County,  and  Timothy  bought  or  traded  for  land, 
and  spent  many  busy  years  in  cleaning  it  up  and 
producing  crops  there.  He  died  on  the  old  farm  in 
1912,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two,  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  citizens  of  that  locality.  His  wife 
died  about  1900.  Of  the  family  of  seven  children 
only  two  are  now  living,  George  D.  and  Charles  E., 
the  latter  also  a farmer  in  Orange  Township. 

George  D.  Gaby  grew  up  in  his  native  township 
and  acquired  a common  school  education.  At  the 
age  of  twenty-four  he  entered  the  merchandise 
business  at  Brimfield  and  sold  goods  in  that  locality 
for  eight  years.  After  disposing  of  his  store  he 
returned  to  the  old  farm  and  bought  out  the  other 
heirs  and  interests.  He  has  a finely  improved  place 
of  190  acres,  and  he  continued  to  make  it  his  home 
and  the  scene  of  most  of  his  business  activities  until 
he  removed  to  Ligonier  in  1913. 

Mr.  Gaby  served  three  terms  as  county  chairman 
of  the  democratic  party  in  Noble  County.  Some 
years  ago  he  was  nominated  for  the  office  of  county 
auditor.  Governor  Marshall  appointed  him  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  school  for  the  feeble  minded  at 
Fort  Wayne,  and  he  served  three  years,  resigning  to 
accept  the  appointment  by  President  Wilson  as  post- 
Vol.  11— 3 


master  of  Ligonier.  He  is  now  in  his  second  term 
of  that  office,  his  present  term  expiring  in  1922.  Mr. 
Gaby  is  a stockholder  in  the  Albion  National  Bank. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks  at  Ligonier.  May  13,  1880,  he  married 
Geneva  V.  Pancake,  who  was  born  in  Elkhart  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County  in  1855,  a daughter  of  Isaac 
Pancake.  She  was  reared  on  a farm,  received  a 
good  education  in  the  district  schools  and  in  the 
schools  of  Ligonier,  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaby  have  two 
sons,  both  of  whom  have  finished  high  school  and 
are  practical  farmers  in  Orange  Township.  Timothy 
E.,  the  older,  married  Zelma  Smith,  of  Jefferson 
Township,  and  they  have  an  adopted  daughter, 
Georgia  V.  Rolland  Roy,  the  second  son,  married 
Ruth  Pancake,  of  Convoy,  Ohio,  and  they  have  two 
children,  Helen  and  Norman. 

Jasper  N.  Ott,  who  died  June  24,  1919,  gave  many 
hard  working  years  to  the  business  of  farming  in 
Green  Township  of  Noble  County.  All  the  pros- 
perity he  enjoyed  and  which  he  has  so  liberally  dis- 
pensed to  his  family  was  the  result  of  his  own  efforts 
and  enterprise.  He  was  an  honored  resident  of  that 
locality  for  forty  years.  His  home  was  in  the  south 
half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  19,  Green 
Township. 

Mr.  Ott  was  born  in  Benton  Township  of  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  February  16,  1850,  son  of  Jacob  and 
Margaret  (Gordy)  Ott,  the  former  a native  of  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Indiana.  Jacob  Ott 
came  to  Indiana  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  located  in 
Elkhart  County,  and  two  years  later  married  and  set- 
tled on  a farm  there.  On  leaving  the  farm  he  re- 
tired to  Syracuse  in  Kosciusko  County  and  lived 
there  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Church  and  in  politics  he 
was  a very  active  republican.  There  were  nine  chil- 
dren in  the  family,  seven  of  whom  reached  maturity, 
and  the  three  living  today  are:  John  W.,  of  Syra- 

cuse; Julia  A.,  unmarried  and  living  at  Syracuse; 
and  Elmer,  also  of  Syracuse. 

Jasper  N.  Ott  while  a boy  on  the  home  farm  in 
Elkhart  County  attended  the  local  schools,  and  lived 
in  that  county  until  he  was  about  twenty-six  years 
of  age.  October  28,  1875,  Mr.  Ott  married  Sarah 
Ott,  a native  of  Noble  County,  Indiana.  In  1876 
they  moved  to  Noble  County  and  located  on  eighty 
acres  of  brush  grown  and  wet  land.  Mr.  Ott  under- 
took the  tremendous  task  of  making  a farm  with 
unlimited  courage  and  energy,  and  for  many  years 
the  soil  has  been  drained  and  available  for  cultiva- 
tion, and  he  has  given  his  farm  all  its  improvements 
of  value.  He  raised  good  grades  of  livestock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ott  became  the  parents  of  three 
daughters.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  William  Hart. 
Laura  married  Eugene  Ranee  and  lives  near  Ripley, 
Indiana.  The  daughter  Effie  is  the  wife  of  Willard 
More  and  is  now  deceased.  Mr.  Ott  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Durham  Christian  Chapel,  as  is  also 
Mrs.  Ott,  and  he  was  one  of  the  trustees  of  the 
church  and  did  much  toward  financing  it.  In  poli- 
tics he  was  a republican. 

Chester  E.  Marsh,  whose  life  for  the  most  part 
has  been  spent  in  Steuben  County,  was  born  in 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  June  3,  1853.  He  was 
only  a small  child  when  his  parents,  Ebenezer  and 
Minerva  (Gleason)  Marsh,  died,  and  after  their 
death  he  was  indebted  to  his  aunt,  Sally  Marsh  Lyon, 
for  a home  and  his  early  training. 

Mr.  Marsh  was  educated  in  the  North  Eastern 
Academy  at  Orland  and  later  the  Angola  High 
School,  and  taught  school  for  several  years  before 


34 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


he  took  tip  farming.  To  farming  he  gave  his  un- 
divided attention  and  with  increasing  success  until 
he  retired,  and  is  now  enjoying  a comfortable  home 
at  Orland.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

April  ii,  1880,  Mr.  Marsh  married  Miss  Eva  C. 
Webb.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  County  July  5. 
1858,  a daughter  of  Arthur  and  Amelia  (Heath) 
Webb.  Her  father  was  a native  of  England  and 
her  mother  of  New  York  State,  and  both  families 
were  early  settlers  in  Steuben  County.  Mr;  and 
Mrs.  Marsh  have  two  children:  Lizzie. M.,  wife  of 

Clyde  Spangle  of  Jackson  Township,  Steuben 
County;  and  Elzie  A.,  who  was  married  to  B.  Frank- 
lin Collins.  t 

Clyde  Spangle  is  owner  of  two  handsome  and 
productive  farms,  in  Northeast  Indiana,  and  in 
every  sense  of  the  term  is  a progressive,  up-to-date 
farmer  and  a citizen  whose  name  is  spoken  with 
respect  wherever  known. 

His  home  farm  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben 
County  was  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  first  saw 
the  light  of  day  January  3,  1877,  and  is  a son  °I 
Henry  and  Sarah  (Metzger)  Spangle.  His  father 
was  born  in  Steuben  County,  New  York,  in  1821, 
a son  of  Henry  and  Mary  Spangle.  He  grew  up 
in  Seneca  County  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three 
came  to  Indiana,  purchasing  160  acres  in  Jackson 
Township.  Only  six  acres  had  been  cleared,  and 
eventually  he  brought  under  cultivation  120  acres 
and  placed  upon  it  some  exceptional  improvements. 
He  died  August  16,  1907,  and  his  wife  May  29,  1912. 
His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Adam  and  Mary  Metz- 
ger, who  settled  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  Henry  Spangle  and  wife  had  two  children, 
Carrie  and  Clyde.  Carrie,  who  died  in  June,  1906, 
was  the  wife  of  Jacob  Hellinger  and  she  left  three 
children,  named  Charles,  Lucile  and  Basil. 

Clyde  Spangle  attended  the  district  schools  in 
Jackson  Township,  also  at  Orland,  and  since  he  was 
eighteen  years  of  age  has  been  farming  the  home- 
stead for  himself.  He  is  owner  of  212(4  acres  in 
section  6 of  Jackson  Township,  and  also  has  240 
acres  in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrapge  County. 
Both  farms  are  improved  with  splendid  buildings 
and  for  years  these  farms  have  been  notable  for  the 
production  of  good  live  stock. 

December  30,  1903,  Mr.  Spangle  married  Lizzie 
M.  Marsh,  daughter  of  Chester  and  Eva  (Webb) 
Marsh.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Jackson  Township 
in  1859,  a daughter  of  Arthur  and  Amelia  Webb. 
Chester  Marsh  was  born  in  Branch  County,  Mich- 
igan, a son  of  Ebenezer  and  Minerva  (Gleason) 
Marsh,  and  was  two  years  old  when  his  father 
died  and  four  when  his  mother  passed  away.  Soon 
afterward  he  was  brought  to  Millgrove  Township 
of  Steuben  County  and  with  the  exception  of  three 
years  in  Michigan  has  been  a resident  of  Steuben 
County  ever  since.  His  present  home  is  at  Orland. 
Mr.  Marsh  had  two  children,  Lizzie  M.  and  Elzie, 
the  latter  the  wife  of  Frank  Collins. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spangle  have  two  children : Henry, 
born  January  15,  1914;  and  Evelyn,  born  March  23, 
1909. 

George  Franklin  Harding,  a successful  hardware 
merchant  at  Fremont,  Indiana,  has  also  been  a 
farmer,  and  much  of  the  interest  of  his  career 
centers  in  the  fact  that  he  owns  a tract  of  land 
that  was  taken  up  by  his  grandfather  more  than 
eighty  years  ago  and  constitutes  one  of  the  oldest 
farms  in  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben  County. 

His  paternal  grandparents  were  George  and 
Sophronia  Harding.  George  Harding  is  credited 


with  having  made  the  third  land  entry  in  Jamestown 
Township,  on  June  27,  1835.  Both  tracts  of  land 
which  he  acquired  are  located  on  Hoab  Lake.  He 
became  a permanent  settler  on  this  land  in  1836.  He 
was  a native  of  England,  had  lived  for  several 
years  in  Detroit,  and  was  connected  with  the 
original  survey  of  the  railroad  between  Elkhart  and 
Toledo,  and  also  did  some  work  on  the  railroad 
between  Detroit  and  Ypsilanti,  Michigan.  He  died 
in  1892,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-two,  having 
spent  his  later  years  at  Orland.  He  was  three 
times  married,  and  his  second  wife  was  the  grand- 
mother of  George  Franklin  Harding. 

George  W.  Harding,  father  of  George  Franklin, 
was  born  in  Jamestown  Township,  on  the  old  home- 
stead, March  4,  1845.  He  grew  up  in  that  locality, 
attended  public  schools  there,  and  married  Florence 
Flint.  She  was  born  at  Kinderhook  in  Michigan 
in  1849.  George  W.  Harding  since  1886  has  been 
a resident  of  Coldwater,  Michigan,  where  he  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  son  Ross  W.  in  the  implement  busi- 
ness under  the  name  Harding  & Son.  For  many 
years  he  was  a farmer  in  Jamestown  Township  and 
still  owns  a fine  place  of  200  acres  there.  Both  he 
and  his  father  were  at  one  time  extensively  en- 
gaged in  the  breeding  of  pure  bred  Shorthorn 
cattle,  and  frequently  exhibited  this  stock  in  fairs 
at  Coldwater  and  Angola.  George  W.  Harding  is  a 
republican,  and  was  made  a Mason  at  Fremont, 
Indiana,  being  affiliated  with  Northeastern  Lodge 
No.  210,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with  Fremont 
Chapter  No.  5,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Kendallville 
Commandery  of  the  Knights  Templar,  and  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  His  wife  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church,  which  the  family  attend. 
George  W.  Harding  and  wife  had  four  sons:  George 
F.,  Lewis  K.,  Amos  F.  and  Ross  W.  Amos  died 
in  1905. 

George  Franklin  Harding,  who  was  born  on  the 
old  farm  in  Jamestown  Township  December  3,  1868, 
grew  up  there,  attending  the  district  schools,  and 
later  was  a student  in  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  and  from  the  age  of  seventeen  made  his 
home  with  his  parents  in  Coldwater,  Michigan.  On 
January  12,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Fannie  D.  Pease, 
of  Rolling  Prairie,  Indiana.  Before  her  marriage 
she  was  an  instructor  in  a business  college  at 
LaPorte,  Indiana.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harding  returned  to  the  old  Harding  home- 
stead once  owned  by  his  grandfather  and  lived 
there  until  1914.  He  still  owns  his  homestead  of 
195  acres,  and  rents  the  land.  As  a farmer  cattle 
feeding  was  his  chief  and  most  profitable  business. 
After  moving  to  Fremont  in  1914  Mr.  Harding  en- 
gaged in  the  hardware  business  with  J.  W.  McClue, 
but  after  two  years  bought  out  his  partner. 

He  is  a republican  and  served  one  term  on  the 
County  Council.  He  is  affiliated  with  Northeastern 
Lodge  No.  210,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Fremont 
Chapter  No.  48,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Angola  Coun- 
cil No.  27,  Royal  and  Select  Masons,  and  is  a 
member  of  Coldwater  Lodge  No.  1023  of  the  Elks. 
He  attends  the  Methodist  Church,  of  which  his  wife 
is  a member. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harding  had  six  children:  Bessie 

and  Bernice,  twins,  the  former  dying  at  birth  and 
the  latter  at  one  year  of  age;  George  F.,  Jr.,  Floyd 
R.,  Florence  L.  and  Ralph  L.  Two  sons  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harding  were  in  the  war.  George  F., 
Jr.,  enlisted  at  Indianapolis  in  July,  1917,  became 
first  sergeant  of  Company  B of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Thirty-Ninth  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  and  is 
how  at  Camp  Hancock,  Georgia.  He  is  a member 
of  Northeastern  Lodge  No.  210,  Free  and  Accepted 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


35 


Masons,  and  also  of  Khairum  Lodge  of  Perfection 
No.  2 of  the  Scottish  Rite.  The  son  Floyd  R. 
enlisted  at  Fremont  in  September,  1918,  was  sent 
to  a school  of  instruction  at  Valparaiso,  later  to 
the  Carnegie  Institute  of  Technology  at  Pittsburg, 
was  located  for  a time  at  Fort  Howard  at  Baltimore, 
then  transferred  to  the  Clerical  School  at  Fortress 
Monroe,  Virginia,  and  finally  to  Camp  Sherman  in 
Ohio,  where  he  received  his  honorable  discharge  in 
January,  1919. 

Charles  L.  Schlabach  has  been  a merchant  prac- 
tically all  his  active  career  at  Cromwell,  and  for 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century  has  been  one  of  the 
stanch  citizens  and  upbuilders  of  that  thriving  little 
village  of  Noble  County. 

His  birth  occurred  on  a farm  four  miles  east  of 
Cromwell  in  Sparta  Township,  June  10,  1869.  His 
parents  were  \Villiam  and  Sarah  (Braucher)  Schla- 
bach, his  father  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1835,  and  his  mother  in  Stark  County,  Ohio. 
They  were  married  in  Ohio  and  on  coming  to  In- 
diana located  in  Noble  County.  William  Schlabach 
though  beginning  life  poor  and  gaining  prosperity 
by  his  unaided  efforts  achieved  prominence  in  this 
county.  He  made  a farm  of  over  300  acres,  and  in 
many  ways  expressed  his  wise  benevolence  in  behalf 
of  those  less  fortunate  than  himself.  He  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Sparta  Christian  Church,  was 
a democrat  and  served  four  years  as  trustee  of 
Sparta  Township.  He  died  in  1909,  honored  and 
respected  all  over  the  county.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1879.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  All  the  others 
are  still  living:  Mrs.  Y.  Werker,  of  Cromwell; 

J.  R.,  of  Cromwell;  Anna,  wife  of  James  T.  Iden, 
of  Sparta  Township;  W.  O.,  of  South  Bend,  In- 
diana: Ella,  wife  of  James  Smith,  of  Ligonier ; M. 
A.,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana;  Charles  L.,  of  Crom- 
well ; Stella,  wife  of  Alvin  Moore,  of  Hartford  City, 
Indiana ; and  Harry,  of  Kimmell,  Indiana. 

Charles  L.  Schlabach  lived  on  his  father’s  farm 
to  the  age  of  eighteen  and  in  the  meantime  ac- 
quired a good  district  school  education.  He  then 
joined  his  father  in  a mercantile  enterprise  and 
after  two  years  bought  , the  store  at  Cromwell,  and 
has  now  been  in  business  there,  selling  merchandise 
to  a large  circle  of  patrons  for  fully  thirty  years. 
He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Cromwell  State 
Bank,  is  a democrat,  like  his  father,  and  has  filled 
all  the  chairs  of  the  local  lodges  at  Cromwell  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

April  27,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Kauff- 
man. Mrs.  Schlabach  is  a highly  educated  woman, 
a graduate  of  the  Ligonier  public  schools  and  took 
the  musical  course  in  Purdue  University.  They 
have  one  son,  LaMar,  born  in  1904,  and  now  in  the 
first  year  of  the  high  school.  Mrs.  Schlabach  is 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Mr.  Schlabach  gives  liberal  support  to 
that  church  and  to  all  other  worthy  causes  in  the 
community. 

Joseph  E.  Knapp.  Though  he  is  vice  president 
of  the  Wolf  Lake  State  Bank  and  a director  of  the 
Sparta  State  Bank,  Joseph  E.  Knapp  is  still  living 
on  his  farm  in  Washington  Township,  a place  which 
he  started  to  clear  and  make  into  a farm  fully  half 
a century  ago.  It  was  his  success  as  a substantial 
farmer  that  attracted  the  attention  of  his  fellow 
citizens  to  his  qualities  and  qualifications  for  public 
office  and  other  places  of  trust. 


Mr.  Knapp,  who  represents  one  of  the  oldest  fam- 
ilies of  Washington  Township,  was  born  in  Sussex 
County,  New  Jersey,  August  17,  1840,  a son  of 
August  and  Anna  M.  (Wetzel)  Knapp.  His  father 
was  born  in  Prussian  Poland  and  his  mother  in 
Baden,  Germany.  They  reached  New  York  City 
about  1830  and  were  married  there,  and  August  lived 
in  that  vicinity  about  five  years  working  at  his 
trade  as  a cabinet  maker.  He  then  lived  several 
years  in  Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  located  in 
Sussex  County,  New  Jersey.  In  the  spring  of  1850 
he  brought  his  family  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and 
acquired  eighty  acres  in  the  woods  of  Washington 
Township.  He  cleared  his  land,  and  ever  afterward 
was  a substantial  factor  in  that  community  until  his 
death.  He  was  active  in  the  Christian  Church,  and 
as  a republican  was  affiliated  first  with  the  whig  and 
later  with  the  republican  party.  He  and  his  wife 
had  ten  children,  and  the  five  now  living  are  : Fer- 
dinand; Joseph  E. ; Amelia,  wife  of  Aaron  King; 
Cecelia,  her  twin  sister,  wife  of  Joseph  Gerken ; and 
William  B.,  a farmer  in  Washington  Township. 

Joseph  E.  Knapp  was  ten  years  old  when  brought 
to  Noble  County,  and  the  education  he  had  begun  in 
the  East  was  continued  in  one  of  the  familiar  log 
schoolhouses  of  that  time.  He  made  good  use  of  his 
educational  opportunities,  such  as  they  were,  and 
many  men  and  women  now  grown  to  mature  years 
gratefully  recall  his  services  as  a teacher.  Alto- 
gether he  taught  for  thirteen  terms. 

Mr.  Knapp  is  also  one  of  the  honored  veterans  of 
the  Civil  war  still  living  in  Noble  County.  He  en- 
listed February  12,  1862,  and  was  a fighting  soldier 
in  the  army  of  the  Cumberland  under  General 
Thomas.  He  saw  more  than  three  years  of  service 
and  was  not  mustered  out  until  in  December,  1865, 
while  in  Texas.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. . Not 
long  after  his  return  from  the  army,  on  February 
24,  1867,  he  married  Delilah  Breninger.  She  was 
born  in  Ohio  and  was  brought  to  Noble  County  when 
a girl.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp 
started  farming  in  Washington  Township,  and  they 
came  to  their  present  locality  in  1867,  and  the  house 
in  which  Mr.  Knapp  still  lives  was  built  in  that  year. 
At  that  time  it  was  completely  surrounded  by  heavy 
woods,  and  his  own  labors  cleared  away  the  timber 
and  gradually  increased  the  area  of  cultivation.  He 
had  a very  limited  capital  saved  from  his  wages  as 
a soldier,  and  this  was  used  to  start  him  after  his 
marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Knapp  had  six  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  Three  are  still  living:  Ed- 
ward E.,  a farmer  in  Washington  Township ; Ella, 
wife  of  John  W.  Adair,  of  Noble  Township;  and 
Charles  M.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  Wolf  Lake 
High  School  and  married  Grace  Metz.  Mr.  Knapp 
is  also  proud  of  his  eleven  grandchildren.  Mrs. 
Knapp  died  August  17,  1912,  after  they  had  been 
married  forty-five  years, 

Mr.  Knapp  is  one  of  the  extensive  farmers  of 
Noble  County,  owning  three  hundred  and  seventy 
acres  of  land.  He  owns  stock  in  the  Farmers  Bank 
at  Albion  in  addition  to  his  interests  as  a stockholder 
and  executive  official  of  the  Wolf  Lake  State  Bank 
and  the  Sparta  State  Bank.  He  has  been  quite  active 
in  republican  politics,  serving  two  years  as  county 
chairman  of  the  Central  Committee,  and  for  six 
years  was  a member  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners. He  has  been  active  and  liberal  in  sup- 
port and  work  with  the  Christian  Church  and  its 
Sunday  school,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Wolf  Lake. 


36 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Charles  Holsinger’s  home  is  one  of  the  best  im- 
proved farms  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County. 
It  is  a mile  and  a half  southwest  of  Kendallville,  and 
is  the  old  Holsinger  homestead,  where  the  people  of 
this  name  have  lived  since  early  times. 

Mr.  Holsinger  was  born  in  Orange  Township,  near 
Rome  City,  December  8,  1869,  son  of  William  and 
Lucinda  (Dyer)  Holsinger.  His  father  was  a na- 
tive of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  his  mother  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana.  William  Holsinger  came  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Orange  Township, 
where  he  married,  and  lived  on  a farm  in  that 
locality  untd  he  traded  for  the  old  homestead,  but 
in  1903  sold  out  and  moved  to  Kendallville,  where  he 
died.  Both  parents  were  active  church  members, 
and  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Masons  and  Knights 
of  Pythias.  There  are  only  two  living  children,  Wil- 
liam and  Charles,  the  former  a resident  of  Chicago. 

Charles  Holsinger  grew  up  in  Noble  County,  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  the  high  school,  and 
since  early  manhood  has  industriously  pursued  the 
business  of  farming.  Besides  the  operation  of  the 
old  homestead  he  also  does  a rather  extensive  busi- 
ness buying  stock  cattle,  feeding  and  fattening  them, 
and  selling  them  through  the  different  markets. 

January  30,  1893,  he  married  Miss  May  Knight. 
She  was  born  at  Leo,  Indiana,  and  was  educated 
in  public  and  high  schools.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holsinger  lived  one  year  in  Kendall- 
ville, then  moved  to  their  home  farm,  spent  three 
years  in  Saranac  County,  Michigan,  and  sold  their 
property  in  that  county  at  an  advantage  and  re- 
turned to  Noble  County  and  bought  the  Holsinger 
homestead  in  Allen  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holsinger  have  one  son  and  three 
daughters:  Walter,  born  in  1898,  was  educated  in 

the  grammar  and  high  schools  and  is  still  at  home; 
Bessie,  a graduate  of  the  high  school  at  Columbus, 
Ohio;  Helen,  educated  in  the  local  public  and  high 
schools;  and  Lois,  who  is  still  in  school.  Mr.  Hol- 
singer is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge  No.  109, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a republican. 

John  E.  Borntreger.  The  Borntreger  family  is 
one  of  the  large  and  important  ones  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  its  representatives  stand  for  good  gov- 
ernment, upright  manhood  and  desirable  and  loyal 
citizenship.  One  of  those  bearing  this  honored 
name  is  John  E.  Borntreger  of  Newbury  Town- 
ship, a man  widely  and  favorably  known.  He  was 
born  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  9, 
1837,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Barbara  (Yoder)  Born- 
treger, who  made  the  trip  overland  from  the  Key- 
stone State  to  Indiana  during  the  year  1841,  in 
wagons,  and  bought  land  in  Clinton  Township,  Elk- 
hart County,  on  which  they  lived  for  twelve  years, 
moving  then  to  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  and  here  purchasing  160  acres,  to  which 
they  later  added  eighty  acres.  This  continued  the 
family  home  until  the  death  of  the  father,  April 
5,  1908,  when  he  was  ninety-six  years  eight  months 
and  one  day  of  age,  the  mother  having  passed  away 
October  2,  1888,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  Their 
children  were  as  follows : Elizabeth,  Christina,  Bar- 
bara, John  and  David,  all  of  whom  were  born  in 
Pennsylvania ; and  Eli,  who  was  the  first  Amish 
Mennonite  child  born  in  Indiana  who  lived;  Susan- 
nah, Rosa,  Daniel,  Rebecca,  and  Martha,  all  of 
whom  were  of  Indiana  birth. 

John  Borntreger  was  brought  up  on  his  father’s 
farm,  learning  how  to  operate  it,  and  he  also  at- 
tended the  public  and  private  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. When  he  began  farming  for  himself  he 
settled  on  his  present  property,  which  he  cleared, 
and  he  erected  his  present  house,  which  replaced  the 
little  frame  cabin  in  the  woods  he  built  with  his 


own  hands.  At  one  time  he  owned  190  acres,  but 
has  sold  some  of  it,  so  that  he  now  has  but  116 
acres,  all  of  which  is  finely  cultivated  and  improved. 

In  1864  Mr.  Borntreger  was  married  to  Barbara 
Mishler,  a daughter  of  Christian  Mishler,  a sketch 
of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Borntreger  became  the  parents  of  the  follow- 
ing children:  Catherine;  Samuel,  who  is  deceased; 

Eli;  Polly;  Joseph;  Lydia,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  Anna;  Menno;  John;  Barbara,  who  is 
deceased ; Levi ; and  David.  The  first  Mrs.  Born- 
treger died  May  16,  1900.  On  June  27,  1907,  Mr. 
Borntreger  was  married  to  Mrs.  Fannie  Miller, 
widow  of  Levi  L.  Miller.  Of  the  above  children, 
Eli,  who  owns  a portion  of  the  old  homestead,  mar- 
ried Mattie  Miller,  and  has  five  children.  John,  who 
is  a farmer,  responded  to  the  call  of  his  country 
during  the  World  war  and  served  in  the  National 
army  for  about  a year,  reaching  France,  having  en- 
listed August  21,  1917,  as  a motor  mechanic  and 
was  assigned,  to  the  Thirtieth  Aero  Squadron.  He 
received  his  honorable  discharge  April  15,  1919. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  E.  Borntreger  belong  to  the 
old  Amish  Mennonite  Church.  When  a young  man 
Mr.  Borntreger  taught  three  terms  in  the  district 
schools  and  three  terms  also  in  private  school  on 
the  farm. 

Daniel  A.  Douglass,  a former  county  auditor  of 
Steuben  County,  has  had  a long  and  active  career, 
and  is  prominent  and  well  known  both  in  that 
county  and  in  Branch  County,  Michigan.  He  was 
at  one  time  a county  official  of  Michigan  County. 

He  was  born  in  Livingston  County,  New  York, 
November  12,  1843,  a son  of  Alexander  and  Christie 
(McCall)  Douglass.  His  father  was  born  in  Scot- 
land in  1809  and  his  mother  in  Livingston  County, 
New  York,  in  1818.  In  February,  1863,  the  parents 
moved  to  Branch  County,  Michigan,  locating  on  a 
farm  four  miles  north  of  Fremont,  Indiana.  Alex- 
ander Douglass  died  in  Steuben  County  in  1879  and 
his  wife  at  the  home  of  her  son  Daniel  in  1901. 
Their  children  were  Catherine,  Jennie,  Daniel  A., 
Alexander,  John,  Mary  and  Lillie.  Alexander 
Douglass  was  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  devout  Presbyterians. 

Daniel  Douglass  acquired  his  education  in  Liv- 
ingston County,  New  York,  attended  an  academy  in 
Wyoming  County,  that  state,  and  was  a young  man 
when  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Michigan.  In 
September,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  G of  the 
First  Michigan  Light  Artillery,  and  was  with  that 
organization  during  the  last  year  of  hostilities. 
After  that  he  returned  to  Branch  County  and  took 
an  active  part  in  its  business  and  civic  affairs.  In 
1879  he  moved  to  Steuben  County,  locating  in  the 
village  of  Fremont,  where  he  had  his  home  until 
1900.  In  that  year  he  moved  to  Angola  to  take  up 
his  duties  as  county  auditor,  to  which  he  had  been 
elected.  He  held  that  office  nearly  five  years,  one 
full  term  and  ten  months  of  over  term.  Mr. 
Douglass  after  selling  his  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Branch  County  bought  a place  of  fifty  acres  in 
Fremont  Township,  later  sold  that,  and  now  owns 
a place  of  120  acres  two  miles  east  of  Pleasant  Lake 
in  Steuben  Township.  He  has  always  affiliated 
with  the  republican  party.  While  living  in  Branch 
County  he  served  as  supervisor  of  California  Town- 
ship and  was  elected  register  of  deeds,  beginning 
his  official  term  January  1,  1870.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Coldwater.  During  his 
residence  at  Fremont  in  addition  to  farming  he  was 
a traveling  salesman  for  over  twenty  years.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post. 

Daniel  Douglass  married  in  1870  Miss  Ellen 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


37 


Averill,  of  Ontario,  LaGrange  County,  daughter  of 
James  Averill.  She  died  in  1893,  the  mother  of  two 
children  : Claude  Douglass,  of  Angola,  and  Agnes, 

who  was  married  to  William  Stevens  and  has  two 
sons,  named  William  and  Donald.  The  Stevens 
family  live  at  Coldwater,  Michigan.  Daniel  Douglass 
married  for  his  second  wife  in  1907  Alta  Wood, 
of  Angola. 

Claude  H.  Douglass,  secretary  of  the  Angola 
Bank  Trust  Company,  has  been  one  of  the  respon- 
sible men  in  commercial  affairs  in  Angola  for  a 
quarter  of  a century,  and  his  entire  record  justifies 
the  confidence  and  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Douglass  was  born  at  Coldwater,  Michigan, 
October  11,  1874,  son  of  Daniel  and  Ellen  (Averill) 
Douglass.  When  he  was  four  years  old  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Fremont,  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
and  in  that  locality  his  boyhood  was  spent.  He  at- 
tended the  local  schools,  also  the  high  school,  and  he 
gained  his  first  business  experience  as  a clerk  at 
Fremont.  He  also  worked  on  a farm.  On  coming 
to  Angola  in  1894  Mr.  Douglass  was  clerk  in  a local 
drygoods  store  for  about  three  years,  and  then  was 
associated  in  that  line  of  business  with  W.  C.  Pat- 
terson. For  five  years  he  served  as  deputy  county 
auditor,  and  then  became  interested  in  a private 
hank  with  G.  R.  Wickwire.  In  1906  Mr.  Douglass 
helped  organize  the  Angola  Bank  Trust  Company, 
and  became  its  assistant  secretary.  Since  1916  he 
has  been  secretary  of  that  solid  financial  institution. 

He  is  a republican  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men.  He  married  in  June,  1897,  Miss  Nora  J. 
Hirst,  of  Angola,  daughter  of  Joseph  Hirst,  now  re- 
tired. To  their  marriage  was  born  two  sons,  Robert 
H.,  born  in  1899,  at  Fremont,  and  Joseph  M.,  born  in 
1908.  The  son  Robert  is  now  a student  of  engineer- 
ing in  the  Tri-State  College. 

Hon.  John  H.  Hoffman.  During  the  greater 
part  of  his  active  career  covering  more  than  half  a 
century,  John  H.  Hoffman  has  been  identified  with 
business  and  other  interests  connected  directly  or 
indirectly  with  the  public  welfare.  At  Ligonier  he 
is  known  as  a merchant,  farmer  and  banker,  is  also 
a former  postmaster,  and  represented  his  county  in 
the  Legislature  in  the  sessions  of  1917  and  1919. 

He  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  Novem- 
ber 7,  1845,  son  of  George  R.  and  Sarah  (Cramer) 
Hoffman.  His  parents  were  both  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  father  in  1808.  After  their  marriage 
they  lived  for  several  years  at  Gettysburg,  but  in 
1842  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  DeKalb  County. 
George  R.  Hoffman  spent  his  active  life  as  a farmer, 
and  was  also  prominent  in  politics,  serving  as  county 
recorder  and  in  other  county  offices.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  a family  of 
six  children  John  H.  and  his  brother  George  H.  are 
the  only  living  survivors.  His  brother  has  long 
been  prominent  in  South  Dakota,  where  he  still 
resides,  and  had  the  distinction  of  being  the  first 
lieutenant  governor  of  that  state. 

John^  H.  Hoffman  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  DeKalb  County  and  had  a common  school  educa- 
tion. At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  home  and  school 
to  enlist  in  the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
was  in  the  army  nearly  a year.  He  was  wounded 
at  the  battle  of  Shiloh  in  1862,  and  that  closed  his 
actual  service.  Toward  the  close  of  the  war  he  re- 
enlisted, but  was  never  called  to  the  front.  After 
the  war  Mr.  Hoffman  attended  school  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  a teacher.  He  removed  to  Ligonier 
in  1868  and  from  1869  to  1873  was  a teacher  in 


local  schools.  Since  1872  Mr.  Hoffman  has  been 
perhaps  chiefly  known  as  a factor  in  mercantile 
affairs  at  Ligonier  through  the  book,  stationery  and 
office  supply  business.  He  became  sole  proprietor 
of  his  store  in  1873,  and  two  generations  of  patrons 
have  bought  their  books  and  stationery  from  him. 

He  is  also  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers 
and  Merchants  Trust  Company  of  Ligonier  and  is 
vice  president  and  director  of  the  Ligonier  Refrig- 
erator factory.  He  owns  a farm  and  gives  much 
of  his  time  to  its  management. 

Mr.  Hoffman  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Eldred.  She 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  when  a girl 
came  to  Huntington  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1865 
to  Ligonier.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hoffman  have  no  chil- 
dren. Mrs.  Hoffman  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  He  has  long  been  affiliated  with 
the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  with  Post  No.  125. 
He  is  a past  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodges  of  both 
orders.  Mr.  Hoffman  gave  eight  years  to  the  man- 
agement of  the  Ligonier  postoffice,  serving  under 
Harrison  and  McKinley.  He  has  also  served  as 
town  clerk  and  treasurer  of  Ligonier.  He  was 
elected  a member  of  the  Legislature  in  1916  and  re- 
elected in  1918.  This  is  the  only  case  in  Noble 
County  in  which  a representative  to  the  Legislature 
has  been  elected  for  two  successive  terms. 

L.  Wallace  Wible  is  a prosperous  farmer  of 
Noble  County,  his  place  being  two  miles  south  and 
three  quarters  of  a mile  west  of  Kendallville  in  Allen 
Township. 

In  this  township  he  was  born  December  7,  1880, 
a son  of  C.  L.  and  Verda  (Halferty)  Wible.  The 
Wibles  are  an  old  established  family  in  Noble 
County.  C.  L.  Wible  was  born  in  Allen  Township 
May  26,  1852,  son  of  John  and  Lucinda  (Varner) 
Wible.  John  Wible  was  a Pennsylvanian,  came  to 
Indiana  after  his  marriage  and  located  in  Allen 
Township  in  1850,  living  there  the  rest  of  his  life. 
C.  L.  Wible  grew  up  in  this  township,  after  his 
marriage  located  on  a farm,  and  lived  and  died 
there.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Eng- 
lish Lutheran  Church  and  he  was  one  of  the  church 
officials.  He  was  a republican.  C.  L.  Wible  and 
wife  left  two  sons,  L.  Wallace  and  Roy  E.  The 
latter  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  is 
now  living  in  Colorado,  where  he  is  a ranger  in  the 
employ  of  the  United  States  Government.  He  mar- 
ried Bessie  Stout. 

L.  Wallace  Wible  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Allen  Township,  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
has  steadily  pursued  the  vocation  to  which  he  was 
trained  as  a boy.  A number  of  years  ago  he  bought 
the  old  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  devotes  it  to 
vegetables  and  onions,  and  livestock. 

In  1902  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Rimmel,  daugh- 
ter of  A.  J.  Rimmel.  She  was  reared  in  Jefferson 
Township  of  Noble  County.  They  have  one  son, 
Orville,  born  April  23,  1904,  and  now  a student  in 
the  common  schools.  Mr.  Wible  is  a republican. 

William  P.  Grannis,  present  trustee  of  Orange 
Township,  Noble  County,  and  a farmer  of  that 
locality,  has  been  a resident  of  Noble  County 
most  of  his  active  life  and  his  own  career  and  that 
of  the  family  are  closely  identified  with  many  points 
of  interest  in  the  history  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

Mr.  Grannis’  home  is  5^2  miles  northwest  of  Ken- 
dallville and  3j/2  miles  southeast  of  Wolcottville. 
On  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  he  was  born  May 
10,  1854.  He  is  a son  of  Otis  P.  and  Hannah 
(Creigh)  Grannis.  Creigh  Lake,  four  miles  north 


38 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


of  Kendallville,  on  the  east  side  of  the  old  Plant 
Road,  was  named  for  his  maternal  grandfather, 
Samuel  Creigh,  who  located  on  the  south  side  of  that 
body  of  water  in  1844. 

The  Grannis  family  is  of  Scotch  ancestry.  To 
go  back  to  the  time  of  its  earliest  settlement  in  this 
country  requires  a leap  over  nearly  three  centuries. 
In  1644  Edward  Grannis  came  from  Scotland  and 
settled  at  Southaven  in  Connecticut.  Edward 
Grannis  was  born  in  1630.  The  second  generation 
was  represented  by  John  Grannis,  born  in  1674,  the 
third  by  Enos  Grannis,  born  in  1720,  the  fourth  by 
Enos  Grannis,  Jr.,  born  in  1754,  the  fifth  by  Palmer 
Grannis,  born  in  1^87 ; the  sixth  by  Otis  P.  Grannis, 
born  March  2,  1825 ; while  William  P.  Grannis  is  of 
the  seventh  generation  in  America. 

Palmer  Grannis  was  born  in  Connecticut,  was 
married  there,  took  his  family  to  Ohio  and  in  the 
fall  of  1834  moved  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana. 
As  one  of  the  pioneers  he  entered  land  a few  miles 
south  of  Lima,  a farm  now  known  as  the  Hoglund 
farm,  between  LaGrange  and  Howe.  At  that  time 
the  four  adjoining  counties  were  still  called  La- 
Grange, with  Lima  as  the  county  seat.  In  1836  the 
family  moved  to  the  Lima  Mills,  one  mile  west  of 
Lima,  where  Palmer  Grannis  built  a mill  and  oper- 
ated it  until  his  death.  He  was  the  father  of  the 
following  children:  Orin  M.,  Isaac  P.,  Otis  P.,  John 
W.,  Margaret,  and  Eliza. 

Otis  P.  Grannis  was  born  in  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  March  2,  1825,  and  in  1831  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Geauga  County  in  that  state  and  was 
nine  years  of  age  when  he  came  with  them  to  La- 
Grange County.  At  the  old  Lima  Mills  he  learned 
the  miller’s  trade  and  followed  it  for  nearly  twenty- 
five  years,  working  at  Mongo,  then  called  Union 
Mills,  Fawn  River,  Michigan,  Jamestown,  Rome 
City,  the  Minot  Mill,  Kendallville  and  the  Tamarack. 
For  !ten  years  Indians  were  his  associates,  and  he 
became  fluent  in  their  language,  and  was  presented 
with  a bow  and  some  arrows  by  one  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  Pottawatomies.  In  1846  he  went  to  Con- 
necticut and  lived  with  his  uncle,  Alva  Merriman, 
at  New  Milford,  for  about  a year.  On  returning  to 
Indiana  in  1847  he  bought,  the  land  where  his  son 
William  P.  now  lives.  At  Sturgis,  Michigan,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1849,  he  married  Hannah  Creigh,  and 
they  began  housekeeping  at  Jamestown  in  Steuben 
County,  but  in  the  spring  of  1850  returned  to  his 
farm  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County.  The 
next  fall  they  went  back  to  Jamestown  and  in  the 
spring  of  1852  went  to  Rome  City,  where  Otis  P. 
Grannis  fitted  up  the  burrs  for  the  flouring  mill 
and  ground  the  first  grain. in  the  Rome  City  Mills, 
conducting  it  for  eighteen  months,  until  he  re- 
turned to  the  farm.  In  1856  he  bought  a farm, 
sawmill  and  flouring  mill  just  across  the  county 
line  in  LaGrange  County,  at  the  Tamarack.  It  was 
there  that  William  Grannis  learned  the  miller’s  trade, 
and  he  did  the  grinding  for  a number  of  years. 
The  day  following  Buchanan’s  election  in  1856  Otis 
P.  Grannis  moved  there  and  was  business  manager 
of  the  two  mills  for  twenty-four  years.  In  the 
fall  of  1880  he  sold  out  the  mill,  the  pond  was 
drained,  and  thus  ended  one  of  the  landmarks  in 
that,  part  of  the  country.  In  1895  he  moved  to 
Wolcottville,  where  his.  wife  died  in  1899,  and  he 
continued  to  live  there  until  September,  igo2.  His 
last  days  were  spent  at  the  home  of  his  son,  Wil- 
liam P.,  on  the  old  farm  in  Orange  Township, 
where  he  died  May  12,  1903.  He  and  his  wife  had 
three  children:  William  P.,  Charles  O.,  of  Wol- 

cottville, and  Frank  C.,  of  Howard  City,  Michigan. 

While  he  played  a very  important  part  as  a miller 
Otis  P.  Grannis  should  be  remembered  for  his 
effective  and  sterling  citizenship.  He  gave  efficient 


aid  to  the  movement  which  vigorously  suppressed 
the  organized  desperadoes  who  by  their  thieving 
and  murdering  terrified  the  early  settlers.  He  was 
secretary  of  the  first  organized  regulators  at  the 
Tamarack  and  helped  make  some  of  the  important 
arrests.  Among  the  outlaws  whom  he  helped  to 
bring  to  justice  were  Malcolm  Burnam,  Miles  C. 
Payne  and  Gregory  McDougal.  He  was  present  at 
the  hanging  of  McDougal  at  Diamond  Lake  in  Noble 
County,  January  26,  1858.  He  was  Payne’s  guard 
at  Ligonier  and  persuaded  him  to  make  a full  con- 
fession, which  practically  put  an  end  to  the  activi- 
ties of  “black  legs.” 

He  was  also  an  active  stock  dealer  for  twenty- 
five  years  and  for  many  years  shipped  more  stock 
than  any  other  dealer  on  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad 
between  Chicago  and  Buffalo. 

William  P.  Grannis,  the  son  of  this  honored 
pioneer,  has  been  a resident  of  Noble  County  con- 
tinuously since  1884.  On  December  6,  1883  he 
married  Miss  Ella  Wert.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  in  July,  1859.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Vera  L.,  born  February  27,  1900,  now 
attending  the  Rome  City  High  School. 

Mr.  Grannis  is  a republican,  has  served  as  presi- 
dent of  the  advisory  board,  and  on  April  1,  1918, 
was  appointed  trustee  of  Orange  Township.  In 
that  township  he  owns  and  cultivates  a fine  farm 
of  eighty  acres. 

Dewitt  Clinton  Salisbury  for  many  years  has 
been  one  of  the  chief  factors  in  promoting  business 
affairs  at  Orland.  He  is  president  of  the  bank  and 
head  of  the  Creamery  Company,  and  is  still  inter- 
ested in  farming,  a vocation  he  followed  for  many 
years. 

Mr.  Salisbury,  who  was  born  March  15,  1857, 
represents  two  of  the  very  old  and  prominent  fam- 
ilies of  Steuben  County.  His  father,  Chester  D. 
Salisbury,  who  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1836, 
was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  New  York,  in  1817,  a 
son  of.  Edgar  and  Susanna  (Gore)  Salisbury,  na- 
tives of  Vermont.  Hezekiah,  father  of  Edgar,  was 
at  one  time  owner  of  the  land  on  which  is  situated 
the  City  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont.  Edgar  Salisbury 
was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  Chester  D.  Salis- 
bury was  only  eight  years  old  when  his  father  died. 
That  put  the  widowed  mother  and  the  young  chil- 
dren largely  on  their  own  responsibilities.  At  the 
age  of  eleven  Chester  went  into  cedar  swamps  to  as- 
sist in  making  rails.  He  had  no  opportunity  to 
attend  school  until  after  he  reached  manhood.  Pie 
learned  the  trade  of  tanner,  but  in  1836  left  his 
master  and  came  to  Indiana.  He  reached  this  state 
with  only  half  a shilling  or  twelve  and  a half  cents. 
His  first  location  was  in  Jamestown  Township,, 
where  he  burned  lime  two  years.  He  then  opened 
up  and  improved  the  farm  in  the  locality  known  as 
Nevada,  but  after  four  years  moved  to  Millgrove 
Township,  and  settled  on  land  that  he  gradually 
improved  until  he  had  over  200  acres,  said  to  con- 
stitute at  one  time  one  of  the  best  farms'  in  the 
county.  He  married  in  1838  Julia  Collins,  daughter 
of  Barton  and  Anna  Collins.  Her  parents  were  the 
first  settlers  in  Jamestown  Township. 

Dewitt  Clinton  Salisbury  was  one  of  a family  of 
six  children,  and  he  grew  up  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead in  Millgrove  Township.  He  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools,  also  the  Orland  Academy,  and  during 
his  mature  career  he  acquired  117  acres  of  the  old 
homestead  of  180  acres,  and  was  prosperously  en- 
gaged in  farming  there  until  he  sold  his  place  sev- 
eral years  ago.  Mr.  Salisbury  has  been  a resident 
of  Orland  since  1910.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Citizens  State  Bank  and  has  been  its  president 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


39 


for  about  seven  years.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Mill- 
grove  Creamery  Company  and  owns  a forty-acre 
farm  a half  mile  south  of  Orland. 

He  is  active  in  republican  politics,  and  for  the  past 
four  years  served  as  trustee  of  Millgrove  Town- 
ship. He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at 
Orland  and  of  the  Congregational  Church.  August 
8,  1878,  he  married  Ella  Reed,  daughter  of  William 
Reed,  of  LaGrange  County. 

J.  L.  Henry  has  long  sustained  a reputation  as 
one  of  the  energetic  and  substantial  business  men  of 
Northeastern  Indiana,  was  for  many  years  a mer- 
chant at  Avilla,  and  is  known  in  every  community 
of  Noble  County  by  the  service  he  rendered  as 
county  auditor.  He  is  now  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company  of 
Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  Wood  County,  West  Virginia,  July 
27,  1861.  His  father,  Gabriel  S.  Henry,  was  born 
in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  November  5,  1831,  and 
married  Sophia  McKenzie,  who  was  born  in  the 
same  state  August  4,  1831.  In  November,  1865,  he 
and  his  family  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and 
settled  in  Allen  Township.  They  lived  there  until 
1892.  Both  Gabriel  Henry  and  his  wife  are  now 
deceased.  Their  children  were : Martha  J.,  wife  of 
Henry  Gettle ; Margaret  C.,  who  died  March  14, 
1900:  Elizabeth,  wife  of  A.  C.  Shambaugh;  John 
L„  of  Ligionier;  Robert  A.,  of  Kendallville,  In- 
diana; Ida  B.,  wife  of  H.  L.  Ashew,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana;  and  William  F.,  now  deceased. 

John  L.  Henry  was  about  four  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Noble  County,  and  he  grew  up  in 
Allen  Township,  acquiring  a good  education  in  the 
public  schools.  He  graduated  from  the  schools  of 
Kendallville,  and  in  1880  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  furniture  business  at  Avilla.  While 
there  he  was  appointed  and  served  as  postmaster 
and  since  early  manhood  has  been  one  of  the  influ- 
ential members  of  the  republican  party  in  Noble 
County.  He  was  elected  on  that  ticket  as  county 
auditor,  and  showed  that  he  was  deserving  of  the 
honor  by  the  marked  success  of  his  administration 
in  the  office  during  four  years.  Upon  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company 
of  Ligonier  Mr.  Henry  was  elected  secretary.  On 
January  12,  1909,  he  was  also  elected  treasurer  to  fill 
a vacancy  caused  by  the  death  of  Mr.  Weir,  since 
which  time  he  has  filled  the  position  of  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  Trust  Company  and  is  one  of  the 
efficient  members  of  that  corporation. 

December  24,  1882,  he  married  Emma  G.  Haines, 
a daughter  of  Robert  S.  and  Permelia  (Baum) 
Haines.  Mrs.  Henry  was  born  August  31,  1863,  in 
Avilla.  To  their  marriage  were  born  two  children, 
Perma,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  and  a half 
years,  and  Marjorie  A.  Mr.  Henry  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

Charles  N.  Cline  was  educated  for  the  medical 
profession,  but  has  found  himself  in  a more  con- 
genial sphere  as  a business  man.  He  is  member 
of  the  firm  Cline  Brothers,  lumber  merchants  at 
Kendallville. 

Mr.  Cline  was  born  at  Hartford  City,  Indiana, 
January  29,  1875,  son  of  William  W.  Cline,  who  was 
born  in  Blackford  County,  Indiana,  in  October,  1837, 
and  a grandson  of  Michael  Cline.  William  W.  Cline 
grew  up  in  Hartford  City,  learned  a trade  and  fol- 
lowed it  until  about  1872.  In  that  year  he  opened 
a factory  for  the  manufacture  of  drain  tile,  and 


was  the  first  man  in  his  section  of  Indiana  to  intro- 
duce the  clay  drain  tile.  He  finally  gave  up  man- 
ufacturing and  went  on  a farm,  and  is  still  living 
on  his  farm  near  Hartford  City,  though  retired  from 
its  responsibilities.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1889,  was 
Harriet  A.  Chaffee.  They  had  eight  children,  two 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Orlo  L.,  a graduate  of 
De  Pauw  University,  is  a successful  attorney  at 
Marion,  Indiana ; Lora  is  the  wife  of  Finley  Geiger, 
and  she  lives  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  father; 
Albert  B.  is  a resident  of  Bluffton,  Indiana;  Lillie, 
a graduate  of  De  Pauw  University,  is  the  wife  of 
John  E.  Higdon,  a graduate  from  the  same  school 
and  now  an  actuary  in  an  insurance  department  in 
Chicago ; Charles  N. ; and  Edith,  a graduate  of 
De  Pauw  University,  is  the  wife  of  Harlan  H.  York, 
professor  of  biology  in  Brown  University  at  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island. 

Charles  N.  Cline  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm. 
He  is  a graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  High  School, 
and  took  his  medical  degree  from  Indiana  Medical 
College  at  Indianapolis.  He  was  also  a student  at 
Purdue  University  two  years.  Instead  of  practicing 
medicine  he  removed  to  Bluffton  in  1892  and  became 
associated  with  his  brother,  A.  B.  Cline,  in  the 
lumber  business.  In  February,  1904,  he  came  to 
Kendallville,  and  has  since  been  manager  and  pro- 
prietor of  the  plant  of  Cline  Brothers  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Cline  married  Miss  Edna  Hutchinson.  She 
is  a graduate  of  the  Hartford  City  High  School  and 
was  a teacher  before  her  marriage.  They  have  two 
daughters : Gertrude  and  Lucile,  both  attending 

the  public  schools  at  Kendallville.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cline  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  is  a trustee  and  on  the  Official  Board. 
He  is  an  Odd  Fellow,  a republican  voter,  and  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Noble  Truck  Corporation. 

John  A.  Bontrager.  One  of  the  distinctive 
features  of  LaGrange  County  is  that  a number  of 
its  most  substantial  and  successful  farmers  are 
native  sons  of  this  region,  who  have  given  to  it  a 
lifetime  of  effort,  and  are  rewarded  by  a gratifying 
prosperity  which  is  well  merited,  because  it  has 
come  through  hard  work  and  careful  saving.  The 
Bontrager  family  is  a large  one  in  this  county, 
and  many  of  its  members,,  born  and  bred  within  the 
confines  of  LaGrange.  have  found  congenial  em- 
ployment on  their  fertile  farms  in  the  several  town- 
ships. One  of  them  is  John  A.  Bontrager  of  New- 
bury Township.  He  was  born  in  this  same  town- 
ship October  5,  1856,  a son  of  Amos  Bontrager, 
a sketch  of  whom  will  be  found  elsewhere  in  this 
work. 

Growing  up  on  his  father’s  homestead,  John 
Bontrager  was  early  taught  to  make  himself  use- 
ful, as  well  as  the  fundamentals  of  a common  school 
education,,  and  as  his  attention  was  thus  directed  to 
farming  it  is  not  remarkable  that  he  chose  it  for  his 
life  work.  In  1879  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
covered  with  timber,  to  which  he  has  added  until 
he  owns  100  acres  of  land,  all  of  which  is  under 
cultivation,  and  here  he  carries  on  general  farming 
and  stockraising,  specializing  in  pure  bred  Hereford 
cattle.  His  comfortable  residence  and  large  barns 
are  built  with  lumber  cut  from  the  farm.  In  re- 
ligious views  Mr.  Bontrager  is  an  Amish  Menno- 
nite. 

In  1880  John  Bontrager  was  married  to  Sarah 
Harshbarger,  a daughter  of  Abram  Harshbarger, 
who  now  resides- in  Missouri.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bon- 
trager have  had  the  following  children  born  to 
them:  Holly  J.,  who  lives  at'  Shipshewana,.  In- 

diana; Todd,  who  lives  at  LaGrange,  married  Kate 
Hostetter,  and  has  no  children;  Sadie,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  four  months.  All  -of  the  work  of 


40 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


clearing  off  the  farm  devolved  upon  Mr.  Bon- 
trager,  but  he  managed  to  do  it,  and  also  to  en- 
gage in  the  additional  task  of  putting  in  his  crops 
as  he  made  ready  the  land.  No  one  who  has  not 
done  this  kind  of  work  has  any  idea  of  how  hard 
it  is,  nor  how  discouraging,  but  there  does  come 
a time  when  things  begin  to  count,  and  from  then 
on  the  way  is  clear.  No  matter,  however,  how  hard 
Mr.  Bontrager  might  have  worked  had  he  not  have 
been  willing  to  save  and  known  how  to  invest  his 
money  so  as  to  make  it  work  for  him  he  would 
not  be  today  as  well-to-do  as  he  is.  It  takes  brains 
as  well  as  hard  work  to  gather  together  any  of  this 
world’s  goods,  as  Mr.  Bontrager  and  a number  of 
other  LaGrange  County  men  have  proven.  The 
young  people  growing  up  about  them  will  do  well  to 
follow  their  example,  and  not  only  live  within  their 
means  but  out  of  every  dollar  earned  put  by  a 
little  for  investment  so  that  when  old  age  comes 
they  will  have  something  to  show  for  their  life 
work. 

Frederick  A.  Emerson,  representing  one  of  the 
oldest  families  of  Steuben  County,  is  essentially  a 
business  man,  and  had  a wide  and  varied  experience 
in  business  affairs  for  many  years.  He  is  now  serv- 
ing his  second  term  as  postmaster  of  Angola. 

His  grandfather,  Avery  Emerson,  Sr.,  who  was 
born  in  New  Hampshire,  September  22,  1788,  re- 
moved in  early  manhood  to  Auburn,  New  York, 
where  he  married  Sophronia  Allen,  who  was  born 
in  Massachusetts  in  February,  1799.  The  Emerson 
family  moved  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and 
in  June,  1836,  again  became  pioneers,  when  they 
located  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  Avery  Emer- 
son’s place  of  settlement  was  in  section  22  of 
Salem  Township,  on  what  was  known  as  the  “Indian 
fields.”  Remains  of  Indian  corn  cultivation  could 
still  be  seen.  They  were  among  the  three  or  four 
families  who  first  located  in  that  township,  and 
Avery  Emerson  served  as  the  first  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  in  that  capacity  officiated  at  the  first 
wedding  in  the  township.  From  1841  to  1849  he 
held  the  office  of  probate  judge.  He  sold  his  farm 
in  1867  and  moved  to  Angola,  and  later  went  to 
Kendallville,  where  he  died  the  following  October. 
His  wife  passed  away  March  17,  1877.  In  many 
other  ways  Avery  Emerson,  Sr.,  was  one  of  the  men 
who  made  early  history  in  Steuben  County.  He  was 
a whig  and  later  a republican.  He  and  his  wife  had 
ten  children. 

Avery  Emerson,  Jr.,  father  of  Frederick  A.,  was 
born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  in  1827,  and  was 
nine  years  old  when  brought  to  Steuben  County, 
where  he  spent  practically  all  his  life.  He  married 
Elizabeth  S.  Parsed,  daughter  of  Moses  S.  Parsed, 
who  arrived  in  Steuben  County  in  1838.  Avery 
Emerson  and  wife  had  nine  children,  seven  sons  and 
two  daughters.  He  owned  a large  farm  in  Salem 
Township,  and  to  that  gave  the  best  years  of  his 
active  manhood. 

Frederick  A.  Emerson  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Salem  Township,  December  20,  1865.  While 
growing  up  there  he  attended  the  district  schools, 
later  took  a business  course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal, 
and  had  his  first  business  experience  as  a merchant 
at  Kendallville.  In  1893  he  returned  to  Angola,  and 
clerked  for  Summerlot  and  Smith,  grocers,  for  four 
years  was  with  John  W.  Snyder,  in  the  hardware 
business,  and  continued  one  year  in  the  same  store 
for  Charles  A.  Bachelor.  For  two  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Angola  Granite  Company,  the  firm 
being  Emerson,  Kinney  & Slade.  Selling  his  in- 
terests there  he  traveled  two  years  as  a salesman 
for  E.  Bement  Sons,  of  Lansing,  Michigan,  dealers 


in  stoves  and  implements.  He  was  then  with  the 
Germer  Stove  Company,  and  represented  that  firm 
eleven  years. 

Mr.  Emerson  was  first  appointed  postmaster  at 
Angola  by  President  Wilson,  February  n,  1914,  and 
was  reappointed  September  6,  1918.  Politically  he  is 
a good  democrat  and  fraternally  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  Order  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  at  Angola,  and  with  the  Elks  Lodge 
at  Ligonier.  He  and  his  family  attend  worship  in 
the  Congregational  Church. 

May  9,  1893,  Mr.  Emerson  married  Miss  Ina  L. 
Craig,  of  Angola,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
Craig.  Her  widowed  mother  is  now  living  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Emerson.  The  latter  have  good  reason  to 
be  proud  of  their  three  young  sons,  two  of  whom 
were  soldiers  in  the  great  war.  The  youngest, 
Lawrence  Douglas,  born  December  11,  1905,  is  now 
in  the  Angola  High  School.  The  oldest  is  Kenton 
Craig,  born  December  4,  1895.  He  is  a graduate  of 
the  Angola  High  School,  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College  and  took  the  engineering  course  there.  He 
enlisted  and  was  mustered  into  the  army  service 
September  4,  1917,  at  Fort  Crook,  Nebraska,  as  a 
member  of  Motor  Truck  Company  No.  315.  He  was 
transferred  to  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  in  Novem- 
ber, 1917,  and  left  for  overseas  duty  December  31, 
1917.  During  practically  all  the  war,  beginning 
early  in  1918,  he  was  in  active  duty  in  France  as  a 
traffic  engineer,  and  was  still  in  the  service  in 
August,  1919.  The  second  son,  John  Thomas,  born 
September  11,  1897,  also  graduated  from  the  high 
school  and  the  Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  first 
went  into  the  army  in  the  Hospital  Corps  of  the 
National  Guard.  He  was  on  the  Mexican  border 
during  part  of  the  year  1917,  having  been  mustered 
in  in  January  of  that  year.  He  was  called  back  into 
active  service  August  4,  1917,  was  first  located  at 
South  Bend  and  later  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison, 
and  from  there  transferred  to  Hattiesburg,  Missis- 
sippi. He  was  in  the  officers  training  school  at 
Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky,  and  was  graduated  and 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  October  29,  1918. 
He  was  then  sent  to  Camp  Jackson,  South  Carolina, 
where  he  remained  until  after  the  signing  of  the 
armistice  and  his  muster  out. 

Melvin  L.  Werker,  one  of  the  leading  business 
men  of  Kimmell,  has  had  experience  both  as  a prac- 
tical farmer  and  as  a merchant,  and  is  one  of  the 
busy  young  men  of  his  community  whose  services 
are  most  frequently  sought  in  any  community  enter- 
prise. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble  Coun- 
ty, August  23,  1878,  a son  of  Y.  and  Clara  (Schla- 
bach)  Werker.  His  father  was  born  in  Germany, 
July  4,  1847,  and  h>s  mother  in  Ohio,  November  6, 
1856.  The  father  came  to  America  with  his  par- 
ents at  the  age  of  four  years,  the  family  first  locat- 
ing in  Ohio,  and  later  both  the  Werkers  and  Schla- 
bachs  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  where  the 
parents  married.  They  located  on  a farm  in  Sparta 
Township,  but  the  father  is  now  living  retired  in 
Cromwell.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics.  Melvin  L. 
Werker  is  one  of  a family  of  seven  sons:  Charles, 

a farmer  in  Sparta  Township;  William,  a farmer  in 
Iowa;  Melvin  L. ; Wallace,  a farmer  in  Sparta 
Township;  John,  who  has  farming  interests  in  Mon- 
tana; Orlo,  a Sparta  Township  farmer;  and 
Harvey. 

Melvin  L.  Werker  grew  up  on  the  home  place  in 
Sparta  Township,  was  educated  in  the  local  schools, 
and  lived  at  home  with  his  father  to  the  age  of 
twenty-one. 

February  11,  1903,  he  married  Lena  R.  Deardorf, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


41 


who  was  born  in  Noble  County  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Werker  settled  on  a farm  in  York  Township,  later 
spent  a year  as  a farmer  in  Sparta  Township,  and 
moving  from  there  to  Cromwell  gained  a thorough 
knowledge  of  merchandising  as  clerk  in  a general 
store.  He  spent  nine  years  in  that  business,  and 
then  returned  to  a farm  in  Sparta  Township  and 
resumed  agriculture  for  four  years.  In  1916  he 
bought  his  present  store  and  stock  of  goods  in 
Kimmell,  and  is  now  head  of  a very  prosperous  and 
thriving  business.  He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Kimmell. 

Mr.  Werker  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Sparta  Christian  Church.  He  is  a democrat,  and 
is  affiliated  with  Cromwell  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  and  his  wife  have  two  children,  both 
attending  school,  Merritt  being  thirteen  and  Esther 
eleven  years  old. 

Thomas  Kelham  is  the  present  trustee  of  Allen 
Township,  Noble  County.  His  public  position  is  in 
many  respects  a reflection  of  the  very  able  manner 
in  which  he  has  prosecuted  his  private  affairs  for 
many  years.  Mr.  Kelham  has  been  a resident  of 
Noble  County  since  early  manhood,  is  a very  suc- 
cessful farmer  and  land  owner,  and  is  a man  who 
began  life  with  very  modest  capital  and  has  suc- 
ceeded beyond  his  sanguine  expectations. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  in  1853, 
son  of  Edward  and  Sarah  (Fownend)  Kelham.  His 
father  was  born  in  England  October  13,  1812,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  twenty-two. 
His  first  home  was  near  Sandusky,  Ohio,  where  for 
a time  he  was  employed  with  the  construction  forces 
of  what  is  now  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railway.  He 
married  at  Shelby,  Ohio,  and  for  a time  lived  on  a 
farm,  but  in  1858  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
DeKalb  County,  near  Avilla.  He  was  a farmer 
there  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  served  as  a county 
commissioner,  was  a democrat,  and  a man  highly 
esteemed  all  over  DeKalb  County.  Of  nine  children 
six  are  still  living:  Thomas;  Edward,  of  DeKalb 

County;  Joseph,  of  Noble  County;  George,  whose 
home  is  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County: 
Charles,  a resident  of  Idaho;  and  Mary,  widow  of 
David  Turner,  of  Garrett,  Indiana. 

Thomas  Kelham  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
DeKalb  County,  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
lived  at  home  until  twenty-one.  The  next  three 
years  he  worked  out  at  common  wages  and  relied 
upon  his  own  energies  to  get  his  start  in  life.  Mr. 
Kelham  married  Miss  Emma  L.  Lobdell.  She  was 
born  and  reared  in  Noble  County. 

After  their  marriage  they  rented  a farm  and  they 
made  their  first  purchase  of  land  when  they  bought 
forty  acres.  Mr.  Kelham  now  owns  what  amounts 
to  a large  estate.  It  was  acquired  by  a gradual 
process,  buying  as  opportunity  and  means  justified, 
until  his  present  farm  near  Avilla  comprises  300 
acres,  and  he  also  owns  a large  ranch  of  1200  acres 
in  Montana. 

Mr.  Kelham  was  actively  identified  with  the  man- 
agement of  his  farm  and  lived  in  the  country  until 
1912,  when  he  moved  to  Avilla,  from  which  point 
he  looks  after  a varied  line  of  business  undertakings. 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Avilla  Tele- 
phone Company,  its  first  president  and  is  still  pres- 
ident of  the  company.  He  is  one  of  the  leading 
democrats  of  the  county,  and  he  served  a regularly 
elected  term  as  trustee  of  Allen  Township  from 
1904  to  1908.  He  is  the  present  trustee  by  virtue 
of  appointment  to  that  office  in  1916.  Fraternally 
he  is  a past  master  of  Avilla  Lodge  No.  460,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelham 


are  active  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and 
he  is  one  of  its  trustees. 

He  and  his  wife  had  six  children:  Annetta,  de- 

ceased wife  of  Samuel  Scheurich ; Alda  Z.,  wife  of 
Leroy  Zellars ; Frank  E.,  a farmer  near  Avilla; 
James  W.,  who  lives  on  the  old  home  farm  near 
Avilla;  Fred,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two; 
and  John  C.,  who  died  December  6,  1918,  aged 
twenty-four  years.  All  of  these  children  are  grad- 
uates of  high  school  and  John  completed  the  course 
of  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College. 

Henry  J.  Herrick,  whose  long  and  active  career 
as  a farmer,  lawyer  and  banker  has  made  him  widely 
and  favorably  known  in  Northeast  Indiana  and  in 
other  states,  came  to  DeKalb  County  when  an  in- 
fant more  than  eighty  years  ago,  and  his  father 
at  one  time  was  one  of  the  largest  land  owners 
in  that  county. 

Mr.  Herrick,  whose  present  home  is  on  his  farm 
of  1 18  acres  in  Concord  Township,  a mile  south  of 
Newville,  was  born  at  Norwalk,  Ohio,  August  9, 
1835,  a son  of  Lot  and  Lola  (Sutliff)  Herrick.  His 
father  was  born  in  Herkimer  County,  New  York, 
and  his  mother  in  Connecticut.  The  parents  were 
married  in  Ohio.  Lola  Sutliff  was  an  Ohio  teacher, 
and  under  her  supervision  Lot  Herrick  learned  to 
read  and  write.  In  1836  the  Herrick  family  came 
to  Indiana  and  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  St. 
Joseph  River,  about  twenty-six  miles  northeast  of 
Fort  Wayne.  Lot  Herrick  acquired  extensive  tracts 
of  land  in  and  around  that  locality  and  he  and  his 
wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  as  farmers.  They 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  he 
entered  politics  as  a whig  voter  but  subsequently 
was  a democrat.  He  was  elected  probate  judge  of 
DeKalb  County  in  early  days.  There  were  eight 
children  in  the  Lot  Herrick  family,  Henry  J.  being 
the  only  one  now  living. 

Mr.  Herrick  was  a year  old  when  his  parents 
came  to  DeKalb  County.  He  secured  his  early 
training  in  a log  school  house,  but  made  good  use 
of  his  opportunities  and  for  about  eight  years  was 
a successful  teacher.  He  entered  the  law  department 
of  the  University  of  Michigan  and  was  a member 
of  the  first  graduating  class  in  1862,  when  he  re- 
ceived the  LL.  B.  degree.  For  one  year  he  prac- 
ticed in  DeKalb  County  and  in  1863,  during  Civil 
war  times,  he  moved  to  Northwestern  Missouri, 
practiced  at  Princeton  until  he  went  into  the  Union 
army  and  served  as  assistant  adjutant  general  under 
General  Pratt.  He  was  in  the  army  until  June  15, 
1866.  After  that  Mr.  Herrick  practiced  at  Tren- 
ton, Missouri,  and  finally  moved  to  the  southern 
part  of  that  state.  He  was  a Missouri  lawyer  for 
thirty  years,  and  while  living  at  Trenton  held  the 
office  of  prosecuting  attorney  for  several  years. 

Mr.  Herrick  married  Sarah  Fusselman,  a native 
of  DeKalb  County.  She  died  while  they  were  resi- 
dents of  Missouri,  and  her  only  child  died  at  the 
age  of  nine  years. 

Mr.  Herrick  was  active  in  the  banking  business 
for  about  seven  years.  After  the  death  of  his  wife 
he  came  to  DeKalb  County  and  lived  with  his  sister 
Electa,  who  has  long  since  passed  away.  For  many 
years  he  was  a deacon  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
in  politics  a republican. 

Calvert  Metz.  Some  of  the  best  farms  in  Noble 
County  are  in  Washington  Township.  One  of  them 
is  the  place  of  Calvert  Metz  in  section  15.  Mr.  Metz 
has  the  reputation  not  only  of  owning  a good  farm 
but  of  being  a good  farmer,  and  a man  of  most  sub- 
stantial character  in  the  citizenship  of  his  locality. 
He  has  acquired  his  present  comfortable  circum- 


42 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


stances  as  a result  of  self  denying  labors  in  youth 
and  for  a number  of  years  after  he  attained  manhood 
he  remained  at  home  and  helped  lift  the  burden  of 
debt  from  the  old  homestead. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  section  of  Washington 
Township  where  he  is  now  living  on  July  12,  1867,  a 
son  of  Aaron  and  Mary  (Prickett)  Metz.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Ohio.  His  mother  was  dis- 
tinguished as  the  first  white  child  born  in  Washing- 
ton Township  of  Noble  County.  Her  birth  occurred 
in  1830,  and  the  Pricketts  were  one  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  locate  in  the  woods  of  that  section.  Aaron 
Metz  went  with  his  parents. to  Whitley  County,  In- 
diana, grew  up  there,  and  learned  the  trade  of  sad- 
dler. He  had  a shop  at  South  Whitley  for  several 
years,  later  one  in  Columbia  City,  and  finally  moved 
to  a farm  in  Washington  Township,  but  left  the  farm 
to  conduct  a saddlery  and  harness  shop  in  Ligonier 
for  seven  years.  He  then  returned  to  his  farm,  and 
two  years  later  died.  His  widow  survived  him  for 
a number  of  years  and  died  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Washington  Township.  Both  were  active  members 
of  the  Dunkard  Church  and  Aaron  Metz  was  a re- 
publican. Of  their  six  children  three  are  still  living: 
William  F.  Metz,  of  Albion;  Calvert;  and  Norvel  E., 
a farmer  in  Washington  Township. 

Calvert  Metz  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  and  after 
his  father’s  death  he  and  his  brothers  were  in  part- 
nership in  managing  the  land  and  helped  pay  off  the 
obligations  resting  upon  the  homestead.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  After  leaving 
the  home  farm  he  came  to  his  present  place,  which 
comprises  two  hundred  and  twenty  acres,  and  is  one 
of  the  high  class  farms  of  the  township.  Mr.  Metz 
is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Sparta  State  Bank  at 
Cromwell.  He  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Fraternal  Order  of  Eagles  at  Ligonier. 

April  20,  1889,  he  married  Amelia  Gilbert.  She 
was  born  in  Washington  Township,  July  18,  1867, 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Egner)  Gilbert. 
She  has  spent  practically  all  her  life  in  Washington 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz  have  two  daughters, 
both  married,  and  four  granddaughters.  Grace  is 
the  wife  of  Melvin  Knapp  and  Velma  is  the  wife  of 
Claude  Hardsock. 

Granville  L.  McClue  represents  some  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Steuben  County,  has  himself  spent 
his  life  within  the  limits  of  that  county,  and  has 
long  been  a successful  farmer  and  stockraiser, 
though  he  now  has  a home  in  Angola  where  he 
spends  the  winter  months. 

Mr.  McClue  was  born  in  Steuben  County  Jan- 
uary 13,  1859,  son  of  Thomas  and  Henrietta  (Kemp) 
McClue,  the  former  a native  of  New  York  and  the 
latter  of  England.  Henrietta  Kemp  when  a girl 
came  with  her  parents  to  the  United  States,  and 
after  some  years  of  residence  in  New  York  the 
family  came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  in  Mill- 
grove  Township,  where  her  parents  spent  the  rest 
of  their  lives.  Mr.  McClue’s  paternal  grandparents 
were  John  and  Maria  (Smith)  McClue,  pioneer 
settlers  of  Steuben  County.  They  lived  at  the  vil- 
lage of  Fremont.  John  McClue  died  in  Pleasant 
Township.  Thomas  McClue  was  a farmer  by  occu- 
pation and  died  August  13,  1906,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two.  He  was  a republican  and  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  His  wife  died 
August  29,  1869,  the  mother  of  two  sons,  Granville 
L.  and  John  Willis. 

Granville  L.  McClue  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Jamesr 
town  Township,  had  a public  school  education,  also 
attending  high  school  at  Fremont  and  Angola,  and 
when  he  was  twenty-two  years  old  he  bought  his 
first  farm  in  Jamestown  Township.  Later  he  traded 


for  another  farm,  and  at  the  present  writing  is 
owner  of  two  complete  and  well  arranged  farms, 
aggregating  320  acres  and  constituting  a compe- 
tence. Mr.  McClue  for  many  years  was  a success- 
ful breeder  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  In  the  spring  of 
1915  he  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  owns  a nice 
home  on  North  Wayne  Street. 

Politically  Mr.  McClue  has  been  affiliated  with 
the  republican  party  and  served  as  a member  of  the 
advisory  board  of  his  township,  also  as  a member 
of  the  county  council.  He  was  formerly  president 
of  the  Bank  of  Fremont,  which  later  became  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Fremont.  Recently  he  sold  his 
stock  in  that  institution.  Mr.  McClue  married  Flora 
E.  Mallory,  of  Steuben  County.  She  died  July  16, 
1912,  mother  of  three  sons,  Carl  C.,  Howard  L.  and 
Emmet  G.  Emmet  graduated  from  the  Angola. 
High  School  in  1919,  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  The 
son  Carl  married  Miss  Mary  Rakestraw  and  has  a 
son,  Wayne  Russell.  Howard  L.  married  Ethel 
Clark.  On  July  16,  1914,  Mr.  McClue  married  Mrs. 
Edith  (Munger)  Craig,  widow  of  Fred  Craig.  She 
has  a daughter,  Florence  E.  Craig,  now  the  wife  of 
Dr.  Clyde  R.  Clark  of  Goshen,  Indiana,  and  is  the 
mother  of  one  child,  Vincent.  Mrs.  McClue,  who  is 
a member  of  the  Christian  Church,  is  a daughter  of 
one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Steuben  County. 

George  W.  Cole.  The  last  several  years  have 
found  George  W.  Cole  busily  engaged  in  the  man- 
agement of  one  of  the  valuable  farms  of  Scott 
Township  in  Steuben  County.  A native  of  that 
county,  be  has  been  familiar  since  early  childhood 
with  all  conditions  affecting  farm  life  and  work,  and 
is  one  of  the  practical,  progressive  men  who  are 
doing  much  to  bring  Steuben  County  to  the  front, 
as  an  agricultural  community. 

Mr.  Cole,  who  represents  an  old  family  of  North- 
east Indiana,  was  born  in  Scott  Township,  December 
28,  1870,  a son  of  Nelson  and  Eliza  (Phenecie) 
Cole.  His  father  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio, 
May  4,  1838,  and  his  mother  in  Bedford  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  27,  1843.  The  paternal 

grandparents  were  Jacob  V.  and  Sarah  (Geer)  Cole,' 
who  were  early  settlers  in  Steuben  County,  where 
they  bought  a large  tract  of  land  in  Scott  and 
Pleasant  townships  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  days 
in  that  community.  Jacob  Cole  and  wife  had  four- 
teen children,  and  the  three  still  living  are:  Charles, 
of  Scott  Township,  Sarah  Rathburn  and  Marcia 
Eliza. 

Nelson  Cole  and  wife  were  married  in  Steuben 
County,  February  16,  i860.  On  August  9,  1862, 
Nelson  Cole  and  his  brother  Samuel  enlisted  as 
Union  soldiers  in  Company  H of  the  Seventy-fourth 
Indiana  Infantry.  Samuel  was  severely  wounded  at 
Jonesboro,  Georgia,  and  died  a few  weeks  after- 
ward. Nelson  Cole  saw  a great  deal  of.  severe 
fighting,  participating  in  the  Atlanta  campaign  and 
the  march  to  the  sea.  His  cousin,  George  Geer,  was 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  After  the  war 
he  returned  to  Steuben  County  and  became  a farmer 
and  owned  a large  place  of  210  acres  in  Scott  Town- 
ship. He  was  later  a member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  and  in  politics  an  ardent  republican. 
He  died  at  his  home  in  Scott  Township,  January  4, 
1901.  His  wife,  who  died  December  29,  1904,  came 
to  Steuben  County  with  her  parents,  George  and 
Mary  Ann  Phenecie,  who  also  settled  in  Scott 
Township.  Her  father  later  died  in  Kansas,  and 
her  mother  a few  years  afterward  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty. Nelson  Cole  and  wife  had  four  sons:  Samuel, 
who  died  in  infancy,  Sherman,  Frank  and  George. 

George  W.  Cole  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm, 
attended  local  schools  for  his  education,  and  lived 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


43 


at  home  until  1909.  He  then  sold  his  possessions 
there  and  bought  the  farm  he  now  owns  in  Scott 
Township,  comprising  122  acres.  This,  under  his 
management,  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Mr.  Cole  is  a republican  in  politics 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  at  Angola. 

March  1,  1898,  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Harmon, 
of  Steuben  County.  She  died  May  27,  1911,  the 
mother  of  two  sons.  Glen,  born  October  21,  1900,  is 
a student  in  the  Angola  High  School.  Leon,  born 
January  12,  1903,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  the  Angola  High  School,  and  died  while  a high 
school  boy  October  20,  1918.  Mr.  Cole  married  Lulu 
Maugherman  on  December  24,  1915. 

Glenn  W.  Kesler,  who  represents  one  of  the  old 
and  prominent  families  of  Noble  County,  has  made 
good  use  of  his  opportunities  and  is  conducting  one 
of  the  best  appointed  dairy  farms  in  the  vicinity 
of  Kendallville.  His  home  is  in  Jefferson  Town- 
ship, west  of  Kendallville. 

Mr.  Kesler  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of 
Noble  Couffiy,  June  4,  1890,  son  of  T.  P.  and  Ella 
(Smith)  Kesler.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Cardington,  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  while  his  mother 
was  born  in  Eaton,  Ohio.  Both  were  brought  to 
Noble  County  while  children  by  their  respective 
parents,  and  they  grew  up  and  married  there.  They 
were  the  parents  of  four  children.  Alta,  the  oldest, 
graduated  from  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  at  Cin- 
cinnati and  is  now  the  wife  of  Doctor  Boram,  and 
both  are  in  practice  at  South  Bend,  Indiana.  Theo 
P.  is  a farmer  at  Sheboygan,  Wisconsin.  Glenn  W. 
is  third  in  age.  Ethel  is  the  wife  of  Ed  Belmont 
and  lives  at  Price,  Utah. 

Glenn  W.  Kesler  grew  up  on  a farm  a mile  east 
of  Brimfield,  Indiana,  and  besides  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  schools  of  that  village  attended  Notre 
Dame  University  at  South  Bend  for  four  years.  He 
is  one  of  the  young  college  men  who  are  making 
notable  strides  in  agriculture  in  Indiana  today.  He 
has  a 600-acre  farm,  located  partly  in  Jefferson  and 
partly  in  Orange  townships,  and  his  main  source  of 
production  is  dairying. 

March  10,  1915,  Mr.  Kesler  married  Mrs.  Pearl 
Shanafelt.  She  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Indiana, 
and  was  educated  in  the  local  schools  and  in  the 
schools  of  South  Bend.  By  her  first  husband  she 
has  a son,  Elwood  Shanafelt.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kesler 
have  one  son,  Glenn  W.,  Jr.  Mr.  Kesler  is  affiliated 
with  Lodge.  No.  1194  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks. 

Frank  G.  Salisbury,  whose  father  was  one  of 
the  settlers  of  1836  in  Steuben  County,  is  one  of  the 
best  known  citizens,  is  present  county  commissioner, 
former  state  representative,  and  while  many  years 
of  his  life  were  devoted  to  farming,  his  chief  atten- 
tion at  present  is  given  to  the  Shady  Nook  resort 
at  Lake  Gage,  of  which  he  is  proprietor. 

Mr.  Salisbury  was  born  in  Millgrove  Township 
November  28,  1854,  a son  of  Chester  D.  and  Julia 
(Collins)  Salisbury.  His  great-grandfather,  Heze- 
kiah  Salisbury,  at  one  time  owned  land  included  in 
the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Brattleboro,  Vermont. 
His  grandfather,  Edgar  Salisbury,  was  in  the  War 
of  1812.  Chester  D.  Salisbury  was  born  in  Jeffer-  ' 
son  County,  New  York,  in  1817,  and  owing  to  the 
death  of  his  father  when  he  was  eight  years  of  age 
had  to  become  a working  member  of  the  household 
and;  saw  much  hardship  and  few  educational  or  other 
advantages  except  such  as  he  could  gain  for  him- 
self. He  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  tanner’s 
trade,  but  left  that  employment  in  1836  to  come  to 


Indiana.  On  arriving  in  Steuben  County  he  burned 
lime  for  two  years  in  Jamestown  Township,  then 
opened  up  and  improved  a farm,  and  after  four  years 
moved  to  another  place  in  Millgrove  Township.  He 
reached  Steuben  County  almost  penniless  and  fifty 
years  later  was  enjoying  the  income  and  comforts 
of  one  of  the  model  farms  of  the  county.  He  mar- 
ried in  1838  Julia  Collins,  a daughter  of  Barton  Col- 
lins, distinguished  as  the  first  permanent  settler  in 
Jamestown  Township. 

Frank  G.  Salisbury  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
attended  district  schools,  high  school  at  Orland  and 
the  high  school  at  Angola.  He  worked  on  the  home 
place  until  he  was  twenty-three,  and  in  August, 
1878,  he  went  to  the  Nebraska  frontier.  He  was  in 
Nebraska  until  December,  1884.  Being  a man  of 
good  education  he  employed  some  of  his  earlier 
years  in  teaching  school.  He  was  thus  employed 
for  four  years  in  Steuben  County,  two  years  in 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  and  while  in  Nebraska 
he  taught  for  two  years  in  Fillmore  County.  On 
returning  to  Indiana  in  December,  1884,  Mr.  Salis- 
bury bought  a farm  in  Millgrove  Township,  joining 
the  place  where  he  was  born.  He  lived  there  and 
gained  most  of  his  competence  for  twenty-eight 
years.  On  leaving  the  farm  he  moved  to  Orland, 
and  in  1913  he  moved  to  his  present  home  in  Shady 
Nook  on  Lake  Gage  in  Millgrove  Township.  As 
owner  of  the  Shady  Nook  resort  he  has  a valuable 
property  consisting  of  a hotel  and  seven  cottages, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  most  attractive  and  best  patron- 
ized resorts  in  Steuben  County. 

February  26,  1879,  Mr.  Salisbury  married  Barbara 
E.  Pocok,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Barbara  (Yanney) 
Pocock.  Levi  Pocock,  who  was  born  in  1817,  in 
Maryland,  grew  up  in  Ohio,  and  in  1866  moved  to 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  two  years  later  to 
Steuben  County,  where  he  became  a farmer  in  Mill- 
grove Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Salisbury  had  four 
children;  Earl  married  Jeanette  Van  Fossen,  and 
their  family  consists  of  Esther,  Martha,  Wendell  and 
Arthur.  Geneva  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Fashbough 
and  has  three  children,  Barbara,  Shirley  and  Keith. 
Irene  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Cary  and  has  a son,  Gor- 
don. Winifred  is  now  employed  in  the  adjutant 
general’s  office  at  Washington,  D.  C. 

Mr.  Salisbury  for  many  years  has  been  a prom- 
inent figure  in  the  public  life  of  his  home  township 
and  county.  He  served  as  trustee  of  Millgrove 
Township  from  1895  to  1900,  from  1903  to  1905 
represented  Steuben  and  LaGrange  counties  in  the 
State  Legislature,  and  in  1914  was  elected  county 
commissioner,  taking  office  in  January,  1916.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Lodge  and  Chapter  of  Masons  at 
Orland  and  the  Knight  Templar  Commandery  at 
Angola. 

Allen  J.  Greene  was  for  thirty  years  one  of  the 
leading  stock  buyers  of  Steuben  County,  living  at 
Orland,  and  was  also  a Union  soldier  during  the 
Civil  war. 

He  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1847  and  died  at  Orland 
November  17,  1900.  His  parents,  Francis  and  Alceta 
(Mason)  Greene,  came  to  Steuben  County  about 
1856,  settling  in  Fremont  Township,  where  they  lived 
on  a farm  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The  mother  died 
June  27,  1895.  Francis  Greene  was  also  a minister 
of  the  Baptist  Church. 

Allen  J.  Greene  grew  up  in  that  county,  had  a 
public  school  education,  and  in  1863,  at  the  age  of 
sixteen,  enlisted  in  the  12th  Indiana  Cavalry  and 
served  until  the  close  of  the  war  as  a Union  soldier. 
After  the  war  for  thirty  years  he  was  engaged  in 
the  live  stock  business.  He  was  a republican  and 
finally  became  a democrat.  He  was  affiliated  with 
the  Masons  and  Odd  Fellows  at  Orland. 


44 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


In  1870  he  married  Miss  Mary  Brown,  a native 
of  LaGrange  County,  and  daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Olive  (Gambia)  Brown,  the  former  a native 
of  Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  Her 
father  came  to  LaGrange  County  when  a young 
man,  and  was  married  at  Hamilton  in  Steuben 
County,  his  wife  being  a daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Rachel  (Smart)  Gambia,  who  settled  in  Steuben 
County  as  early  as  1843.  Mrs.  Greene’s  parents 
spent  many  years  on  a farm  in  Greenfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County,  where,  beginning  with  eighty 
acres,  they  gradually  acquired  230  acres.  Mrs. 
Greene  now  owns  part  of  that  old  homestead.  The 
father  of  Mrs.  Greene  died  in  1886  and  her  mother 
in  1893.  Besides  Mrs.  Greene,  the  oldest  of  their 
children,  there  were  Florence,  Frederick,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  nine  months,  and  Charles. 

Fleming  Newell  Wilson.  Of  the  old  citizenship 
of  Steuben  County,  no  name  for  almost  seventy 
years  has  carried  with  it,  generation  after  genera- 
tion, more  genuine  respect  and  esteem  than  that  of 
Wilson.  While  it  has  not  been  an  unusually  prolific 
family,  it  has  been  sturdy,  independent  and  useful, 
and  not  without  heroic  qualities,  for  it  has  not  been 
lacking  in  military  sacrifices.  A worthy  representa- 
tive of  this  fine  old  family  is  found  in  Fleming 
Newell  Wilson,  and  his  large  estate  of  235  acres, 
lying  in  Jackson  Township,  includes  ninety  acres 
of  the  old  original  Wilson  homestead  secured  in 
1850. 

Fleming  Newell  Wilson  was  born  in  a log  cabin 
then  the  family  home,  standing  on  land  he  now 
owns,  in  Jackson  Township,  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, February  20,  1864.  His  parents  were  Newell 
A.  and  Mary  (Klink)  Wilson,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  near  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and  was  a son  of 
Fleming  and  Susannah  Wilson,  and  the  latter,  also 
born  in  Ohio,  was  a daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary 
Klink.  In  1850  Fleming  Wilson  and  his  family 
came  from  Ohio  to  Steuben  County  and  secured  160 
acres  of  land  in  Jackson  Township.  They  were 
quiet,  frugal,  industrious  pioneers,  and  after  the 
building  of  the  log  house  Mr.  Wilson  cleared  his 
land  and  gradually  improved  it,  and  here  both  he 
and  wife  died.  Of  their  seven  children  but  three 
reached  maturity,  namely:  Newell  A.,  Levi  and 
John. 

Newell  A.  Wilson  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
the  family  came  to  Indiana,  and  he  completed  his 
schooling  in  Steuben  County,  after  which  he  taught 
school.  In  the  course  of  time  ninety  acres  of  the 
home  place  became  his  property,  and  he  took  pride 
in  its  possession  and  never  parted  with  it.  His  span 
of  life  was  not  extended  into  old  age,  for  he  was 
a martyr  to  his  loyalty  to  country.  He  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  was  taken  sick  and  came 
home  on  a furlough,  but  failed  to  recover,  dying 
August  22,  1864.  In  1873  his  widow  married  George 
King,  who  died  in  1905,  leaving  no  children.  To 
her  first  marriage  two  children  were  born:  Frances 
R.  and  Fleming  Newell. 

Frances  R.  Wilson  was  born  in  June,  1862,  se- 
cured a good  education  and  taught  school  for 
some  years  prior  to  her  marriage  to  Guy  Bodley,  a 
son  of  Levi  N.  and  Mary  Jane  Bodley,  of  Salem 
Township.  Two  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bodley,  namely : Ethel  and  Glenn.  Ethel  mar- 
ried Clarence  Houts,  and  they  have  three  children : 
Lois,  Lawrence  and  Mary.  Glenn  Bodley  married 
Bonnie  Avery,  and  they  have  two  children : Harold 
and  John.  Guy  Bodley  and  his  wife  live  at  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan. 

Fleming  Newell  Wilson  was  reared  on  the  home 
farm  and  first  attended  the  country  schools  and 


later  the  high  school  at  Angola,  which  was  in  1883. 
He  has  devoted  himself  to  agricultural  pursuits  and 
is  considered  one  of  the  most  up-to-date  and  suc- 
cessful farmers  and  stockraisers  of  Steuben  County. 
For  some  years  he  was  an  extensive  grower  of 
sheep.  Mr.  Wilson  has  carried  on  his  operations 
carefully  and  systematically,  keeping  well  informed 
through  the  Grange  and  by  other  means,  and  has 
built  up  fortune  as  well  as  reputation. 

Mr.  Wilson  was  married  December  24,  1887,  to 
Miss  Myrtie  L.  Barr,  who  was  born  in  Jackson 
Township,  Steuben  County,  July  28,  1869,  and  is  a 
daughter  of  Luke  and  Mary  (Williams)  Barr.  Her 
paternal  grandfather,  Jared  Barr,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1784,  and  married  Lucretia  Hazen, 
a native  of  Connecticut,  a cousin  of  the  father  of 
General  Hazen.  They  lived  in  Dover  and  Elyria, 
Ohio,  until  1845,  when  they  moved  to  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, Indiana,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  Lyman 
Clark  in  Jackson  Township,  and  both  died  there. 
Jared  Barr  served  in  the  War  of  1812,  and  was 
captain  of  a company.  He  and  wife  belonged  to  the 
Disciples  Church,  in  which  he  was  a minister. 

Luke  Barr,  father  of  Mrs.  Wilson,  was  born  at 
Elyria,  Ohio,  September  22,  1830.  He  was  an  enter- 
prising citizen  and  well-to-do  farmer,  and  for  many 
years  was  widely  known  as  a competent  teacher  of 
vocal  music.  In  1864  Mr.  Barr  married  Mary  Wil- 
liams, who  was  born  at  Manlius,  New  York,  May 
15,  1840,  and  died  at  Reid  City,  Michigan,  June  3, 
1902.  When  eighteen  years  old  she  was  graduated 
from  Phipps  Female  Seminary,  Albion,  New  York, 
and  afterward  taught  school  for  twenty-five  terms, 
for  a while  being  principal  of  a school  at  Newville, 
Ohio.  To  Luke  and  Mary  Barr  the  following  chil- 
dren were  born : Lena,  Myrtie,  Lillie,  Charles  and 
Guy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  had  children  as 
follows:  Erma,  Alma  B.,  Newell  H.,  Lloyd,  Loyal  B. 
and  Caroll.  The  eldest,  Erma  Wilson,  was  born 
April  1,  1889,  attended  the  public  schools  and  com- 
pleted the  high  school  course,  subsequently  pursuing 
the  study  of  music  in  the  Chicago  Conservatory  of 
Music,  since  when  she  has  been  teaching  her  art. 
Alma  B.  Wilson  was  born  May  18,  1890,  was  gradu- 
ated from  the  Flint  High  School,  after  which  she 
studied  dramatic  art,  expression  and  music  with 
noted  instructors  in  Chicago.  Newell  H.  Wilson 
was  born  February  2,  1892,  and  died  in  March,  1898. 
Lloyd  Wilson,  who  was  born  July  18,  1894,  was 
graduated  from  the  Angola  High  School,  after 
which  he  spent  several  years  at  Purdue  University. 
He  is  a successful  breeder  of  Hereford  cattle.  He 
was  subject  to  draft  during  the  great  war,  was 
called  May  21,  1918,  was  transferred  from  Colum- 
bus, Ohio,  to  Fort  Snelling,  Minnesota,  then  to  Camp 
Taylor,  Kentucky,  and  was  taking  officer’s  training 
when  the  armistice  with  Germany  was  signed,  and 
he  was  discharged  December  1,  1918,  when  he  re- 
turned home  and  resumed  the  pursuits  of  civil  life. 
Loyal  B.  Wilson  was  born  March  8,  1900,  and  was 
graduated  from  the  Jefferson  High  School,  Lafay- 
ette, Indiana,  in  1919.  Carroll  Wilson,  who  was  born 
Tuly  15,  1902,  at  present  is  a student  in  the  Jefferson 
High  School  of  Lafayette.  Mr.  Wilson  is  one  of 
Steuben  County’s  representative  men. 

Charles  A.  Gatwood  is  one  of  the  pleasant  spoken 
citizens  of  Albion,  a man  of  long  experience  in  mer- 
cantile affairs,  and  is  honored  as  the  present  trustee 
of  Albion  Township. 

He  was  born  in  that  township  of  Noble  County, 
December  9,  1873,  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Rine- 
hart) Gatwood.  His  father  was  a native  of  Ohio 
and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Both  the  Rine- 
hart and  Gatwood  families  came  to  Indiana  in  early 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


45 


days,  the  Rineharts  settling  near  Ossian  and  the 
Gatwoods  in  Wells  County,  near  Zanesville.  After 
Joseph  Gatwood  was  married  he  moved  to  LaGrange 
County,  near  Howe,  worked  at  his  trade  as  a car- 
penter there,  and  on  moving  to  Albion  continued 
business  as  a contractor  and  builder  and  was  also 
in  the  bakery  and  grocery  business  for  a time.  Then 
for  twenty-three  years  he  was  foreman  of  a gang 
of  railway  bridge  carpenters.  He  and  his  wife  are 
still  living  at  Albion.  For  a brief  time  he  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and  is  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post.  He  is  active  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  There  were  eight  children: 
Sarah,  wife  of  J.  N.  Busz ; John  F.,  of  Albion; 
Emma  R.,  wife  of  A.  B.  Pinchon;  Charles  A.; 
George  W.,  of  Areola,  Indiana;  Clyde  D.,  deceased; 
Ted  L.,  of  Albion;  and  Donald  M.,  of  Albion. 

Charles  A.  Gatwood  grew  up  in  Albion  Township 
and  attended  the  public  schools  of  the  village.  After 
leaving  school  he  worked  as  a clerk  for  ten  years, 
then  followed  the  barber  trade  in  Mishawaka,  In- 
diana, four  years,  and  in  the  same  city  was  em- 
ployed as  a rubber  boot  maker  four  years.  On  re- 
turning to  Albion  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  busi- 
ness with  J.  N.  Busz,  and  after  about  four  years 
bought  out  his  partner  and  has  been  sole  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  leading  establishments  of  its  kind  in 
Noble  County  for  the  past  eight  or  nine  years. 

Mr.  Gatwood  married  for  his  first  wife  Elizabeth 
Meiser,  of  Auburn,  Indiana.  She  died  of  smallpox, 
leaving  one  son,  Joseph  L.,  who  is  now  a student  in 
high  school.  Mr.  Gatwood  married  for  his  present 
wife  Nettie  M.  Stewart,  of  Avilla.  They  have  two 
daughters : Hilda  Mae,  born  in  1906,  and  Lora  L., 

born  in  1910,  now  students  in  the  public  schools.  Mr. 
Gatwood  and  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  Albion 
Lodge  No.  223,  Knights  of  Pythias,  of  which  he 
is  a past  chancellor,  and  is  also  a member  of  the 
Maccabees  and  the  Brotherhood  of  American  Yeo- 
men. In  politics  he  has  been  quite  active  as  a re- 
publican, and  his  fellow  citizens  have  been  proud  of 
the  record  he  has  made  as  trustee  of  the  township. 

Cary  M.  Snowberger,  representative  of  an  old 
and  well  known  family  name  in  Steuben  County, 
adopted  as  his  profession  dental  surgery,  and  has 
made  a conspicuous  success  of  its  practice  at 
Hudson. 

Doctor  Snowberger  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
May  15,  1875,  a son  of  Robert  and  Marie  (Lacey) 
Snowberger.  The  family  history  will  be  found  on 
other  pages.  He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools,  spent  a year  and  a half  in  the 
Angola  Tri-State  College,  and  in  October,  1897,  en- 
tered the  Ohio  College  of  Dental  Surgery,  where 
he  was  graduated  in  May,  1900.  He  at  once  located 
at  Hudson  and  has  been  the  leading  dentist  of  that 
village  for  nearly  twenty  years  and  a man  of  un- 
usually fine  qualifications  professionally  and  as  a 
citizen. 

While  in  college  Doctor  Snowberger  became  a 
charter  member  of  Rho  Chapter  of  the  Psi  Omega 
dental  fraternity.  He  is  a member  in  good  standing 
of  the  DeKalb  County,  Northern  Indiana,  Fort 
Wayne  District,  Indiana  State  and  American  Dental 
associations  and  the  Isaac  Knapp  Dental  Coterie.  In 
Masonry  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge  at  Hudson,, 
the  Chapter  at  Ashley  and  the  Council  at  Angola. 
Doctor  Snowberger  married  Reba  B.  Brown,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  Brown,  on  March  27,  1901. 

Solomon  Sexauer  is  widely  known  as  the  cattle 
king  of  Northern  Indiana,  and  while  now  practically 
retired  his  operations  as  a farmer,  land  owner  and 


stockman  have  covered  a wide  field  in  addition  to 
the  home  farm  where  he  has  lived  for  more  than 
half  a century  and  which  was  developed  from  the 
stumps  by  the  labors  of  himself  and  his  father. 

Mr.  Sexauer  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  28,  1842,  a son  of  Andrew  and  Mary 
(Frey)  Sexauer,  both  natives  of  Germany.  His 
father  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  December  15, 
1804,  and  came  to  America  in  1823.  For  a time 
he  worked  for  a governor  of  New  York  State  at 
Albany,  and  married  while  there.  He  then  moved 
to  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1862  came  to 
LaGrange  County  and  settled  on  the  farm  where 
his  son  Solomon  now  resides.  He  owned  250  acres 
and  spent  his  last  days  with  his  son  Tobias  in  Lima 
Township,  where  he  died  March  19,  1891.  His  wife 
had  passed  away  July  27,  1890.  They  had  a family 
of  seven  children,  Solomon  being  the  youngest. 

Solomon  Sexauer  on  coming  to  LaGrange  County 
at  once  set  to  work  to  clear  up  the  forest  on  his 
father’s  land,  and  has  lived  in  that  locality  ever 
since.  To  the  old  homestead  he  added  until  at 
present  he  owns  more  than  1,200  acres  of  land,  all 
joining.  His  home  farm  is  improved  with  splendid 
buildings,  and  here  and  elsewhere  he  has  carried 
on  extensive  operations  in  feeding  and  raising  cat- 
tle, also  feeding  sheep.  He  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

On  January  2,  1882,  Mr.  Sexauer  married  Miss 
Christina  Kielkopf,  who  was  born  in  Sturgis,  Mich- 
igan, December  13,  1864,  a daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Christina  Kielkopf,  who  came  from  Germany 
and  lived  in  New  York  and  Sturgis,  Michigan,  and 
later  settled  on  a farm  in  Lima  Township  of  La- 
Grange  County,  where  her  father  died  in  1909.  Her 
mother  is  now  living  in  Howe.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Sexauer  were  born  four  children:  An  infant  daugh- 
ter that  died  soon  after  birth;  Edward,  who  married 
and  has  a daughter,  Margaret ; Carrie  and  Albert, 
both  at  home  with  their  parents. 

William  T.  Bowles,  a resident  of  Angola,  has 
had  an  active  career  as  a farmer,  contractor,  lumber 
and  coal  merchant  and  in  various  official  capacities 
in  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  at  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  March  25, 
1864.  His  father,  William  Bowles,  was  twelve  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  father  from  England  to 
New  York,  and  soon  afterward  the  family  came 
West  to  Indiana.  William  Bowles  after  settling  in 
Steuben  County  owned  a small  tract  of  land  near 
Metz,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  on  March  8, 
1913.  He  served  several  years  as  road  supervisor. 
He  was  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
His  wife,  Elnora  Reed,  was  born  in  1847  and  died 
February  2,  1913.  They  had  a family  of  seven  chil- 
dren, Charles,  Mary,  William  T.,  Archie,  Calvin, 
Gracie  and  George.  The  son  Archie  died  in  infancy. 

William  T.  Bowles  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Steuben  County,  attended  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  began  his  practical  career  as  a farmer.  He 
farmed  four  years  and  then  for  six  years  did  con- 
tracting work  at  Ashley.  Going  back  on  the  farm, 
he  later  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  and  was  busily 
engaged  in  producing  crops  and  livestock  until  1912. 
In  that  year  he  sold  out  and  engaged  m the  lumber 
and  coal  business  at  Berlin.  He  continued  his  busi- 
ness career  there  until  the  Valley  Line  was  dis- 
continued. He  supervised  the  construction  of  all  the 
buildings  at  Berlin.  After  leaving  that  community 
he  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  resides  today.  Mr. 
Bowles  has  served  for  years  on  the  Advisory  Board 
and  in  politics  is  a republican. 

March  25,  1886,  he  married  Eveline  Wisner, 


46 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


daughter  of  Stephen  and  Martha  Wisner.  She  was 
born  in  Steuben  County,  June  6,  1866.  They  have 
a family  of  six  children,  named:  Essie,  wife  of 

Dr.  J.  N.  Blackman;  Ford,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirteen;  Ralph,  who  married  Hazel  Tuttle;  Ethel, 
wife  o f Curtis  Steller;  Ruth,  wife  of  Paul  Will- 
oby ; and  Clark,  a schoolboy  fifteen  years  old. 

Edward  C.  Moore  is  a well-known  agriculturist 
in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County,  and  after  a 
considerable  diversity  of  experience  has  settled  down 
to  farming  the  place  where  his  mother  was  born 
and  where  he  also  first  saw  the  light  of  day.  This 
farm,  comprising  a valuable  tract  of  land  and  well 
cultivated,  is  a mile  and  a quarter  west  of  Rome 
City. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  July  13,  1876,  son  of  Wil- 
liam H.  and  Ursula  J.  (Hitchcock)  Moore.  His 
father  was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble 
County  and  his  mother,  as  above  stated,  on  the  farm 
where  Edward  C.  Moore  now  lives.  The  father  is 
deceased  and  the  mother  is  living  in  Rome  City. 
Of  their  five  children  one  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years  and  the  four  still  living  are : Fred,  a graduate 
of  the  Rome  City  High  School,  who  served  as  coun- 
ty surveyor  of  Noble  County  fourteen  years  and  is 
now  well  known  in  the  abstract  business ; D.  W. 
Moore,  connected  with  the  great  Atkins  Saw  Manu- 
facturing Company  at  Indianapolis;  Frank  H.,  a 
farmer  in  Orange  "Township;  and  Edward  C. 

Edward  C.  Moore  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
lived  at  home  to  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Rome  City  grade  schools.  On  leav- 
ing school  he  went  to  Indianapolis  and  spent  several 
years  in  that  city,  following  different  lines  of  em- 
ployment. At  the  age  of  twenty  he  returned  home, 
and  on  October  20,  1897,  married  Miss  Nora  M. 
Miller.  Mrs.  Moore  was  born  at  Turkey  Creek  in 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  and  was  educated  in  the 
district  and  high  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moore  lived 
a year  at  Wolcottville,  and  then  moved  to  the  old 
farm.  Six  children  were  born  to  their  marriage, 
five  still  living.  Harold  is  a graduate  of  the  Rome 
City  High  School.  Gertrude  is  also  a graduate  of 
high  school.  Karl  and  Louise  are  both  in  the  first 
year  of  the  high  school,  and  Mildred,  the  youngest, 
is  in  the  fourth  grade  of  the  public  schools.  Mrs. 
Moore  and  the  four  oldest  children  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Moore  is 
quite  active  in  fraternal  affairs  and  is  present  master 
of  Rome  City  Lodge  No.  451,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  is  also  worthy  patron  of  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Ora  W.  Foster,  whose  people  came  to  Steuben 
County  about  1855,  has  made  his  efforts  count  to 
the  building  up  of  a good  farm  and  a commendable 
degree  of  prosperity  as  a farmer  in  York  Township, 
where  he  was  born  and  where  he  has  spent  most  of 
his  life. 

Mr.  Foster  was  born  November  9,  1863,  a son  of 
James  and  Margaret  A.  (Hemrv)  Foster  and  a 
grandson  of  William  Foster.  William  Foster  was 
born  in  Ireland.  June  10,  1811,  and  was  a boy  when 
he  came  to  the  United  States.  August  24,  1836, 
while  living  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  he  married 
Margaret  J.  Bell,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State. 
June  25,  1818.  About  1855  they  came  from  Ohio 
and  settled  in  York  Township,  locating  on  a farm. 
About  1865  William  Foster  returned  to  Edgerton, 
Ohio,  remained  there  about  eight  years  and  then 
came  to  York  Township  again  and  lived  until  his 
death  on  February  11,  1890.  His  death  was  the 
result  of  an  accident.  He  found  it  convenient  to 


cross  a railroad  trestle.  He  knew  that  the  fast 
train  was  due  but  was  informed  that  it  had  passed, 
and  he  started  across  and  was  overtaken  and  killed. 
His  wife  had  died  April  18,  1889.  Their  children 
were:  Emily  Ann,  born  September  19,  1838;  James, 
born  May  10,  1841;  Elizabeth,  born  March  14,  1844; 
William,  born  June  17,  1847;  Mary  H.,  born  Nov- 
ember 22,  1849;  Margaret,  born  May  26,  1852;  Frank, 
born  April  22,  1855 ; and  Olive  May,  born  August  16, 
i860. 

James  Foster,  who  was  born  at  West  Unity,  Ohio, 
May  10,  1841,  was  about  fourteen'  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  from  Ohio  to  York  Township. 
When  a young  man  he  was  poisoned  by  sumac,  and 
the  infection  resulted  in  a permanent  injury  to  his 
right  leg,  so  that  he  has  lived  physically  handi- 
capped. He  and  his  wife  still  live  in  York  Town- 
ship. His  wife,  Maragret  A.  Hemry,  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Hemry.  They  had  six  children: 
Ora  W.,  George  W.,  Eva  M.,  wife  of  Frank  Brooks, 
Ida  M.,  wife  of  Fred  Coveil,  Emily  A.,  wife  of  Her- 
man Trowbridge,  and  Lilly  B.,  wife  of  George 
Court. 

Ora  W.  Foster  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  York  Township  and  early 
took  up  the  responsibilities  of  life  and  became  self 
supporting.  He  worked  as  a farm  hand  for  about 
fifteen  years.  On  November  10,  1893,  he  married 
Zoe  J.  Smith,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca 
(Troxell)  Smith.  The  spring  after  his  marriage 
Mr.  Foster  began  farming  for  himself  on  a rented 
place  in  York  Township.  Slowly  his  experience 
and  industry  brought  him  the  necessary  capital  with 
which  to  buy  land  of  his  own.  He  made  the  pur- 
chase of  his  present  farm  in  1902.  His  first  pur- 
chase was  seventy-nine  and  a half  acres,,  and  since 
then  he  has  bought  twenty  acres  more.  He  has 
added  to  the  buildings  and  has  done  more  than 
make  a good  living  out  of  his  land.  Mr.  Foster  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows at  Fremont,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

His  first  wife  died  December  2,  1915,  the  mother 
of  two  children:  Teresa  D.,  wife  of  Witz  Mason, 

and  Thetis  M.,  wife  of  Hershel  J.  Reichardt.  Nov- 
ember 30,  1918,  Mr.  Foster  married  Mrs.  Ida  B. 
Barnes,  widow  of  Albert  Barnes. 

Willliam  E.  Murray.  Though  a native  of  Elk- 
hart County,  William  E.  Murray  has  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  LaGrange  County,  in  his  earlier  years 
worked  at  the  carpenter’s  trade,  and  gradually  ac- 
quired and  improved  a fine  farm,  which  he  still 
owns  and  occupies  in  Van  Buren  Township. 

Mr.  Murray  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  July  25, 
1861,  a son  of  James  C.  and  Mary  Ann  (Smith) 
Murray.  His  parents  came  to  Indiana  from  San- 
dusky, Ohio,  settled  in  Elkhart  County,  and  two 
weeks  after  the  birth  of  their  son  William  moved 
to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  They 
lived  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  their  son  Frank 
and  owned  130  acres.  The  father  died  there  De- 
cember 4,  1892,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  while 
the  mother  passed  away  in  1889,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
seven.  James  Murray  was  a democrat  in  politics 
and  his  wife  was  affiliated  with  the  Methodist 
Church.  They  had  eleven  children,  three  of  whom 
died  young,  the  others  being  named  Jane,  Amanda, 
Silas,  Martha,  David,  Frank,  William  E.  and  Emma. 

William  E.  Murray  grew  up  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship, was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at 
the  age  of  twenty-three  began  working  at  the  car- 
penter’s trade  and  for  two  years  rented  a house 
from  Moses  Miller.  He  made  his  living  as  a car- 
penter for  eight  years.  He  then  bought  twenty  acres 
in  the  woods,  where  he  now  lives,  put  up  some 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


47 


good  buildings,  and  after  clearing  the  land  has  gone 
steadily  ahead  as  a farmer  and  today  owns  a good 
property  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a democrat  but 
has  never  aspired  to  public  office.  He  and  his  wife 
are  Methodists. 

December  24,  1884,  Mr.  Murray  married  Miss 
Lydia  Neff.  She  was  born  in  Newbury  Township 
August  18,  1864,  a daughter  of  Abram  and  Fannie 
(Plank)  Neff.  Her  parents  came  to  LaGrange 
County  from  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  also  lived  for 
several  years  in  Elkhart  County,  but  in  1866  moved 
to  Van  Buren  Township,  where  they  spent  the  rest 
of  their  years.  Mrs.  Murray’s  father  died  in  1909, 
at  the  age  of  eighty,  and  her  mother  in  1904,  aged 
seventy-two.  In  the  Neff  family  were  nine  chil- 
dren, named  John,  Peter,  Joseph,  Barbara,  Amos 
(deceased),  Lydia,  Emma,  Mary  and  Amanda  (de- 
ceased). 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray  had  five  children.  Carrie 
E.  is  the  wife  of  Clifford  Sixbuy;  Edward  married 
Blanche  Hayes  and  has  a son,  Raymond;  Willard 
married  Ocie  Davis,  a daughter  of  Eugene  Davis, 
of  LaGrange  County,  and  their  family  consists  of 
Vera,  Roscoe  and  Rachel.  The  two  younger  chil- 
dren, both  at  home,  are  Harold  E.  and  Hulda  E., 
twins. 

Charles  L.  Crandall.  One  of  the  families  ear- 
liest to  settle  in  Steuben  County  and  carry  on  the 
work  of  development  on  Jackson  Prairie  was  that 
of  Crandall.  Charles  L.  Crandall  was  an  infant 
when  his  parents  located  there,  and  he  has  spent 
over  seventy  years  in  this  county.  He  went  from 
here  to  join  the  Union  army  as  a boy  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  Since  then  for  half  a century  he  has 
given  his  time  and  attention  to  farming,  and  is 
now  living  practically  retired  and  in  comfort. 

Mr.  Crandall  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  New 
York,  November  2,  1845,  a son  of  Albert  and  Sarah 
(Beebe)  Crandall,  both  natives  of  New  York  State, 
where  they  grew  up  and  married.  They  came  to 
Steuben  County  in  1846  and  acquired  forty  acres  of 
government  land  on  Jackson  Prairie.  They  lived 
there  until  after  the  war,  when  they  sold  and  bought 
the  eighty  acres  now  owned  by  their  son  Charles  in 
Pleasant  Township.  Albert  Crandall  died  on  this 
homestead  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one.  He  was 
a republican  and  a Mason,  and  with  his  wife  was 
active  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  had 
the  following  children : Charles  L.,  Lamott,  Loren, 

Randolph,  Lavitis  and  Adella,  the  last  four  now 
deceased. 

Charles  L.  Crandall  was  educated  in  the  Jackson 
Township  schools,  and  lived  at  home  on  the  farm 
until  he  was  about  eighteen  years  of  age.  On  Janu- 
ary 1,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Company  E of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
saw  some  of  the  very  hard  fighting  in  the  center  of 
the  Confederacy  during  the  last  year  and  a half  of 
the  war,  was  in  the  Atlanta  campaign,  the  battle  of 
Wise’s  Forks  and  the  great  struggle  at  Franklin  and 
Nashville.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Charlotte,  North 
Carolina,  August  29,  1865.  After  the  war  he  re- 
turned home  and  following  his  father’s  death, 
bought  the  old  homestead  and  has  lived  there  ever 
since.  He  has  made  modern  improvements,  has 
raised  great  numbers  of  livestock,  and  a feature 
of  his  livestock  business  and  general  farming  is  a 
silo.  Mr.  Crandall  is  a republican,  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Order  and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. 

February  , 6,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Stroh. 
She  was  born  at  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  and  came  to 
Steuben  County  with  her  parents,  Hugh  and  Cath- 
erine (Fike)  Stroh.  Her  father  was  a Dunkard 


preacher  and  spent  his  last  years  at  Quincy,  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crandall  had  one  son,  Roscoe 
H.  He  was  born  June  20,  1876,  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools  and  the  Angola  High  School,  taught 
two  terms  and  was  a farmer  until  his  death.  He 
married  Maud  N.  Holder  on  April  6,  1899,  and  she 
became  the  mother  of  three  children : R.  Clair, 

born  March  30,  1900,  who  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools;  H.  Wayne,  born  February  9,  1902,  a stu- 
dent in  the  Angola  High  School ; and  Richard  Dale, 
born  April  20,  1906,  who  died  in  infancy.  Mrs. 
Roscoe  Crandall  was  married  September  10,  1918,  to 
Benjamin  S.  Farris,  who  is  a mechanical  engineer 
now  in  Tulsa,  Oklahoma.  ' Mr.  Crandall  and  his 
daughter-in-law  are  members  of  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  Church,  while  Mrs.  Crandall  is  affiliated  with 
the  Christian  denomination. 

John  J.  Forker.  There  is  no  better  known  citi- 
zen of  Noble  County  than  John  J.  Forker.  He  has 
lived  a long  life  of  three  score  years  and  ten,  and 
from  youth  to  the  present  time  he  has  been  active 
in  varied  affairs,  is  a man  of  diverse  interests,  and 
the  diligent  and  successful  prosecution  of  his  own 
business  has  been  accompanied  by  a worthy  public 
spirit  and  participation  in  many  affairs  that  affect 
the  entire  neighborhood.  Mr.  Forker  has  a large 
and  prosperously  conducted  farm  in  Orange  Town- 
ship, in  section  36. 

He  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  native  citizens  of 
Noble  County,  having  been  born  in  Wayne  Town- 
ship, a half  mile  east  of  where  he  now  lives,  April 
30,  1848.  His  parents  were  Oliver  and  Elizabeth 
(Dingman)  Forker.  His  father  was  born  in  New 
York  State,  June  24,  1825,  son  of  John  A.  and  Sybil 
(Bruer)  Forker.  From  New  York  State  the  family 
moved  to  Ohio  and  later  to  Noble  County,  Indiana. 
The  Forkers  arrived  in  Noble  County  as  early  as 
1834  and  the  Dingmans  in  1833.  Oliver  Forker  and 
wife  were  married  in  Noble  County  and  then  located 
on  a farm  in  Wayne  Township,  where  they  lived 
until  his  death  in  1880.  The  mother  passed  away 
in  1893.  Oliver  Forker  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Free  Will  Baptist  Church  and  a democrat  in  politics. 
There  were  ten  children  in  the  family,  two  of  whom 
died  young,  and  five  are  still  living.  The  oldest  is 
John  J.  Edmund  lives  at  Redford,  Michigan.  Ellen 
is  the  wife  of  Curtis  M.  Evans,  of  Lincoln,  Ne- 
braska. George  O.  was  a farmer  in  Steuben  County 
and  is  now  deceased.  Perry  is  a farmer  in  Wayne 
Township.  James  is  fireman  at  the  Waterworks 
plant  in  Kendallville. 

John  J.  Forker  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools.  On  August  18,  1878, 
he  married  Miss  Emma  Strater,  who  was  born  in 
Orange  Township,  member  of  one  of  the  old  and 
well  known  families  of  Noble  County.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Forker  lived  on  his  father’s  farm  until 
1883,  and  then  bought  eighty  acres  included  in  his 
present  farm.  He  had  to  earn  his  own  modest  capi- 
tal and  has  made  his  way  by  dependence  upon  his 
own  energies  and  good  judgment.  He  is  now  owner 
of  a fine  farm  of  280  acres,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  one  of  the  breeders  of  high  grade  livestock  of 
all  kinds.  Mr.  Forker  was  for  twenty-five  years 
well  known  among  the  farmers  of  Noble  County  as 
proprietor  of  a threshing  outfit,  and  is  one  of  the 
veterans  in  that  industry.  He  is  a director  in  the 
Lisbon  Canning  Factory  at  Lisbon,  Indiana,  and  is 
adjuster  for  the  Farmers  Mutual  Fire  Insurance 
Company  in  Wayne,  Orange,  York,  Elkhart  and 
Perry  townships. 

In  politics  Mr.  Forker  is  a democrat.  When  he 
was  chosen  treasurer  of  Noble  County  in  November, 
1906,  it  was  by  a majority  of  100,  and  that  was  a 


48 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


high  testimony  to  his  effiicency  and  popularity  since 
the  county  was  normally  republican  by  at  least  400. 
He  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  January  x, 
1908,  and  served  four  full  years.  In  1883  Mr.  Forker 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Eastern  Indiana 
Fair  Association,  and  he  has  long  been  one  of  its 
directors  and  is  superintendent  of  its  horse  depart- 
ment. Mr.  Forker  is  an  authority  on  many  matters 
of  local  history.  For  many  years  he  has  kept  a 
diary,  and  besides  noting  his  own  private  affairs  he 
has  kept  various  other  interests,  including  the  daily 
temperature,  and  that  is  one  of  the  few  records  of 
the  kind  to  be  found  outside  the  regular  Govern- 
ment weather  stations. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Forker  have  four  children:  John, 

a farmer  in  Jefferson  Township,  who  married  Edith 
Glosser;  Laloh,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools 
and  wife  of  Ernest  Layman,  of  Allen  Township ; 
Merle,  who  runs  the  home  farm  and  married  Rosa 
Pankop ; and  Fred,  who  is  a farmer  in  Jefferson 
Township  and  married  Mary  Butler. 

C.  A.  Hickman,  proprietor  of  the  Locust  Stock 
Farm  near  Wilmot  in  Washington  Township  of 
Noble  County,  has  achieved  success  and  a reputation 
as  a farmer  and  breeder  of  horses  and  cattle  after  a 
youth  and  early  manhood  of  comparative  struggle 
and  hard  work.  He  obtained  his  start  by  working 
for  others  at  the  usually  accepted  wages  of  the  time, 
and  has  gone  steadily  ahead  year  after  year,  solving 
the  problems  as  they  came  up,  and  letting  every  ex- 
perience count  to  his  good  in  the  long  run. 

Mr.  Hickman  was  born  in  Thorn  Creek  Township 
of  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  August  7,  1858,  son  of 
Lewis  J.  and  Martha  (Jones)  Hickman.  His  father 
was  born  in  Hawkins  County,  Tennessee,  and  his 
mother  in  Shelby  County,  Ohio.  They  met  and  mar- 
ried in  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  and  then  settled  on 
a farm  in  Thorn  Creek  Township,  and  from  there 
moved  to  Greene  Township  of  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, locating  near  Charter  Oak  Church,  where  they 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  They  were  very  devout 
members  and  worshipers  in  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  The  father  was  a democrat.  Of  their  nine 
children  five  are  still  living:  C.  A.;  Ann,  wife  of 
John  Garland;  Ellen,  wife  of  Arthur  Rose;  Almira, 
wife  of  Donald  Grabill ; and  Sarena,  wife  of  John 
Benhamer. 

C.  A.  Hickman’s  boyhood  recollections  are  chiefly 
centered  around  the  old  farm  in  Greene  Township. 
He  attended  district  school  there,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  left  home  to  make  his  own  way  in  the 
world.  For  several  years  he  worked  at  monthly 
wages,  and  by  the  time  he  was  ready  to  marry  and 
settle  he  had  saved  $350.  That  was  the  capital  that 
provided  for  his  first  adventure  in  home  making. 

February  11,  1886,  he  married  Eva  Tulley,  who  was 
born  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  in  1867.  For  sev- 
eral years  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hickman  rented  land  in 
Noble  and  Elkhart  counties,  and  finally  they  bought 
their  present  farm  in  Washington  Township.  The 
Locust  Stock  Farm  comprises  140  acres,  and  has  a 
more  than  local  reputation  on  account  of  its  fine 
Belgian  horses  and  Shorthorn  cattle.  His  stock  of 
these  strains  are  in  great  demand  by  buyers  both  in 
the  locality  and  from  a distance. 

Mr.  Hickman  is  a democrat.  He  and  his  wife  have 
three  children : Sadie,  a graduate  of  the  common 

schools ; Clarence,  who  is  married  and  lives  on  a 
farm  near  his  father ; and  Guy,  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools  and  still  at  home. 

James  W.  Porter  is  one  of  the  widely  known 
citizens  of  Richland  Township  in  Steuben  County, 


and  is  a son  of  a hard  working  and  zealous  pioneer 
minister  in  this  section  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

His  father,  Rev.  Joseph  Porter,  was  born  in 
Medina  County,  Ohio,  in  1820,  and  in  1867  married 
Huldah  Buck,  also  a native  of  Medina  County. 
Soon  afterward  they  came  to  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, locating  in  Richland  Township,  where  Rev. 
Joseph  Porter  did  much  to  build  up  the  interests  in 
the  United  Brethren  Church.  He  preached  in  a 
number  of  places  and  continued  in  ministerial  work 
for  many  years.  After  about  two  years  he  moved 
to  the  vicinity  of  Nevada  Mills  in  Steuben  County 
and  lived  there  until  after  the  death  of  his  wife. 
He  was  three  times  married.  His  nine  children 
were:  William,  two  that  died  in  infancy,  Samuel 

D.,  Edmond  R.,  Henry,  John,  Gurden  and  James  W. 

James  W.  Porter  was  born  in  Wood  County,  Ohio, 
April  30,  1858,  received  his  education  in  Steuben 
County,  and  learned  the  tinner’s  trade.  He  later 
took  up  farming,  was  a renter  for  several  years  in 
York  Township,  and  in  1897  bought  the  farm  he 
now  owns  adjoining  the  village  of  Metz  and  con- 
taining 108  acres.  He  is  one  of  the  prosperous 
citizens  in  that  locality  and  has  frequently  been 
honored  with  stations  of  trust.  He  served  as  trus- 
tee of  Richland  Township  six  years  and  as  assessor 
four  years.  He  is  a republican  and  he  and  his  wife 
have  been  active  in  the  United  Brethren  Church  for 
over  forty  years. 

In  1878  Mr.  Porter  married  Miss  Sarah  M.  Snider, 
who  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  November 
1,  1857,  a son  of  Solomon  and  Delilah  Snider.  Her 
parents  came  to  Richland  Township  of  Steuben 
County  about  1882,  and  her  father  died  here  in  1889 
and  her  mother  in  1906.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Porter  had 
five  children:  Minnie,  wife  of  Lester  Lechleid  and 

the  mother  of  two  children,  named  Frances  and 
Willis;  Myrtle,  who  is  married  and  has  four  chil- 
dren, named  Helen,  Wilma,  Roscoe  and  Leota; 
Jennie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six;  Roscoe, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years ; and  Estelle, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  six. 

John  Jacob  Yunker  is  making  a specialty  of 
Jersey  cattle  and  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  on  one  of  the 
good  farms  of  Lima  Township,  LaGrange  County. 
He  is  a man  of  good  education,  with  the  advantage 
of  youth,  enthusiasm  and  unlimited  energy,  and  is 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  progressive  men  in  his 
locality. 

Mr.  Yunker  is  an  American  in  everything  except 
birth  and  earliest  infancy.  He  was  born  in  Berne, 
Switzerland,  December  23,  1882,  and  a few  weeks 
later  was  brought  by  his  parents,  Rudolf  and  Rosetta 
(Lew)  Yunker  to  this  country.  His  parents  were 
both  Swiss,  and  Mr.  Rudolf  Yunker  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  there  and  each  year  for 
twelve  years  took  military  training  and  drill.  He 
was  a stone  mason  by  trade,  and  after  his  father’s 
death  he  made  his  industry  the  chief  support  of 
his  widowed  mother.  In  1883  he  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  America,  arriving  in  New  York  City  October 
15th  and  coming  directly  to  Howe,  Indiana.  Rudolf 
Yunker  found  work  at  his  trade  and  always  fol- 
lowed that  occupation,  though  owning  farms  and 
living  on  them,  allowing  his  sons  to  till  the  fields. 
He  first  bought  twenty  acres  in  Clay  Township  and 
cleared  away  enough  of  the  timber  to  make  a space 
on  which  to  erect  his  log  house.  In  course  of  time 
he  had  most  of  this  tract  under  cultivation,  and  he 
and  his  family  lived  there  until  1900,  and  after 
that  spent  three  years  in  another  part  of  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  in  1903  moved  to  the  farm  now  occupied 
by  John  Jacob  Yunker  in  Lima  Township.  Rudolf 
Yunker  acquired  eighty  acres  there  and  had  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


49 


farm  improved  with  good  buildings  before  be  moved 
his  family.  The  farm  remained  his  home  until  1913, 
when  he  moved  to  Howe  and  was  living  retired 
when  he  died  June  19,  1919.  His  wife  died  on  the 
farm  May  15,  1910.  Rudolf  Yunker  and  wife  had 
eight  children:  Rudolf,  Jr.,  Rosetta,  John  J., 

Ameil,  Mary,  Fred,  Mabel,  who  died  in  April,  1918, 
and  Howard. 

John  Jacob  Yunker  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe 
High  School  and  spent  one  summer  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Indiana  and  another  summer  in  the  Nor- 
mal School  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan.  He  gave  three 
years  of  his  early  manhood  to  teaching,  spending 
one  year  in  the  schools  of  Ontario  and  two  years  at 
Howe.  Then  for  two  years  he  was  employed  in  the 
cold  storage  plant  of  Bollman  Brothers,  at  Sturgis, 
Michigan,  and  since  then  has  been  farming  either 
in  Greenfield  Township  or  over  the  line  in  Michigan. 
He  has  been  directing  head  of  the  old  Yunker  farm 
since  1913.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

Mr.  Yunker  married  Miss  Mabel  Kelly  June  5, 
1907.  She  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  a daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  M.  Kelly.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yunker  have 
an  interesting  family  of  five  children : Gwendolyn 

E.,  Helen  R.,  Marjorie  E.,  Robert  John  and  Jean  H. 

Daniel  M.  Kelly,  father  of  Mrs.  Yunker,  was 
born  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  August  27, 
1861,  son  of  John  M.  and  Asenath  M.  (Parham) 
Kelly,  the  former  a native  of  Trumbull  County, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Greenfield  Township,  La- 
Grange  County.  John  M.  Kelly  was  a son  of  Wil- 
liam and  Rebecca  (Tilej')  Kelly,  who  in  1854  moved 
from  Ohio  to  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and 
later  came  to  LaGrange  County.  William  Kelly 
spent  his  life  as  a farmer  and  lived  on  one  side  or 
the  other  of  the  Michigan-Indiana  state  line  until 
his  death.  John  M.  Kelly  had  a common  school 
education,  and  taught  school  in  LaGrange  County 
and  in  Michigan.  Most  of  his  active  life  was  spent 
as  a farmer  in  Greenfield  Township.  His  wife  died 
in  1909  on  the  old  farm  where  she  was  born.  Her 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Susan  (Kenyon)  Par- 
ham, the  former  a native  of  England,  who  came  to 
America  when  a young  man.  The  Parhams  were 
early  settlers  of  LaGrange  County.  John  M.  Kelly 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  retired  to  Sturgis,  Mich- 
igan, where  he  died.  He  owned  620  acres  in  Mich- 
igan and  Indiana,  and  at  one  time  was  township 
trustee  in  Greenfield.  His  family  of  six  children 
are  all  living,  named  Daniel  M.,  E.  Morton,  Susan 
R.,  Fidelia  J.,  Mary  E.  and  Albert  M. 

Daniel  M.  Kelly  was  one  year  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Greenfield  Township,  and  he  has 
spent  his  life  there  prosperously  and  effectively,  de- 
voted to  farming  and  stock  feeding.  He  owns  360 
acres  in  LaGrange  County  and  twenty  acres  across 
the  Michigan  line.  He  served  on  the  township  ad- 
visory board  fourteen  years.  In  1884  Mr.  Kelly 
married  Miss  Eliza  M.  Milliman,  who  was  born  in 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  a daughter  of  Jerome  B. 
Milliman.  They  have  five  children : Mabel  A.,  Eva 
I.,  Edith  L.,  Robert  J.  and  Ralph. 

Shirley  D.  Fee,  a grandson  of  the  first  settler  in 
Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County,  has  been  a 
diligent  and  public-spirited  factor  in  that  commun- 
ity for  many  years,  was  formerly  a farmer  and  is 
now  proprietor  of  the  Fee  mills  at  Metz. 

His  grandfather,  John  Fee,  was  born  in  Southern 
Ohio,  October  13,  1810,  a son  of  William  Fee,  who 
about  1830  moved  to  Williams  County,  Ohio.  John 
Fee  in  1833  married  Mary  A.  B.  Houlton,  who  was 
born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  in  1811,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Houlton,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Chilli- 

Vol.  II— 4 


cothe.  The  Houlton  family  were  conspicuous  for 
their  pioneer  activities  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana. 
In  1835  John  Fee  came  to  Otsego  Township,  and 
his  was  the  first  white  family  to  make  its  home 
there.  He  acquired  120  acres  in  section  32,  and 
was  well  fitted  for  his  pioneer  environment,  being  a 
man  of  great  energy  and  industry.  In  time  he  be- 
came one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county, 
owning  about  1,500  acres.  His  lands  also  extended 
into  DeKalb  County,  and  comprised  several  farms. 
John  Fee  died  April  2,  1873.  He  was  the  father  of 
nine  children. 

Of  these  Frank  Fee  was  born  in  Otsego  Township 
in  1844,  attended  the  pioneer  schools  of  Steuben 
County,  and  had  much  of  the  enterprise  and  ability 
of  his  father.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
413  acres  of  land.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 
He  married  in  Steuben  County,  Setta  Gilbert,  a 
native  of  that  county.  They  were  the  parents  of 
twelve  children,  nine  of  whom  reached  mature 
years:  Myrtle,  Shirley,  Flora,  John,  Asa  (who  is 

now  deceased),  Clarence,  Earl,  Lloyd  and  Aldah. 

Shirley  D.  Fee  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  in 
August,  1879.  He  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
had  a public  school  education.  Becoming  familiar 
with  farming  as  a boy,  he  followed  it  as  a regular 
occupation  for  many  years,  and  in  1907  bought  a 
place  of  sixty-four  acres  in  Otsego  Township.  On 
January  1,  1919,  he  left  the  farm  to  take  the  active 
management  of  the  Metz  Mills,  a property  which  he 
owns  and  which  does  a large  business  under  his 
management.  Mr.  Fee  is  a republican  and  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge. 

In  1901  he  married  Miss  Alma  Irene  Gurtner, 
daughter  of  Henry  Gurtner  of  Hamilton  and  mem- 
ber of  a well-known  family  of  Steuben  County. 
They  have  one  son,  Walter  Ray,  born  October  28, 
1902,  now  a junior  in  the  Metz  High  School. 

James  W.  Hunt,  a farmer  and  livestock  breeder 
in  Washington  Township  of  Noble  Comity,  is  one  of 
the  interesting  men  of  Northeastern  Indiana,  is 
widely  traveled  and  variously  experienced,  and  has 
seen  a great  deal  of  the  world  since  his  boyhood 
days  in  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Etna  Township  of  Whitley  Coun- 
ty, September  3,  1867,  son  of  Franklin  and  Martha 
J.  (Long)  Hunt.  His  grandfather,  Smith  Hunt,  was 
a prominent  resident  of  Wayne  County,  Indiana, 
and  in  the  early  days  acquired  vast  tracts  of  Gov- 
ernment land  in  Whitley,  Noble  and  Kosciusko 
counties.  He  never  lived  on  this  land,  but  kept  his 
residence  at  Richmond,  where  he  died.  Franklin 
Hunt  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  February  22, 
1828,  and  as  a young  man  just  turned  of  age  in 
1849  he  left  home  and  on  horseback  made  the  over- 
land trip  to  California.  He  was  in  the  Golden  West 
for  two  years,  and  on  returning  to  Indiana  settled 
in  Whitley  County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
days  as  a successful  farmer.  His  wife,  Martha  J. 
Long,  was  born  in  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  July  10,  1834, 
and  is  still  living  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-four. 
Her  father,  Thomas  Long,  came  to  Indiana  in  1847, 
locating  in  Whitley  County. 

James  W.  Hunt  contented  himself  with  the  en- 
vironment of  the  homestead  farm  in  Etna  Town- 
ship until  after  he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  He  then  started  out  in  the  world,  and  in  the 
course  of  his  travels  reached  the  far  Orient  in 
Korea,  where  he  was  connected  with  a gold  mining 
company  for  a period  of  twelve  years.  Then  after 
other  travels  and  experiences  he  returned  to  Indiana 
and  for  a number  of  years  has  been  giving  all  his 
time  and  energies  to  his  farm  of  160  acres  in  Wash- 


50 


HISTORY  OF  NORTFIEAST  INDIANA 


ington  Township  of  Noble  County.  Mr.  Hunt  has 
never  married.  He  is  affiliated  with  Cromwell 
Lodge  No.  705,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  is  a 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason,  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order 
of  Elks  at  Ligonier  and  in  politics  is  a republican. 

Frank  Gettings.  The  Gettings  family  has  played 
a part  of  unusual  industry  and  enterprise  in  several 
localities  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Frank  Gettings  of 
this  family  was  born  in  Noble  County,  spent  part  of 
his  life  in  LaGrange  County,  and  is  now  a promi- 
nent resident  of  Hamilton  in  Otsego  Township  of 
Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  Noble  County,  January  17,  1859, 
son  of  Adam  and  Lovina  (Repine)  Gettings.  His 
father  was  an  early  settler  in  Noble  County,  first 
locating  about  two  miles  south  of  Kendallville  and 
soon  afterward  buying  a farm  southwest  of  that 
city.  He  also  lived  in  Kendallville,  and  was  pro- 
prietor of  the  Air  Line  Hotel  and  entertained  the 
traveling  public  for  a number  of  years.  He  also 
conducted  a livery  and  sales  stable  and  became 
widely  known  as  a dealer  in  horses.  Finally  selling 
his  Kendallville  interests  he  removed  to  LaGrange 
County,  buying  160  acres  in  Milford  Township. 
Later  he  bought  forty  acres  where  his  son,  James, 
now  lives  in  that  county,  and  on  that  place  he  died 
in  1888,  when  about  sixty-seven  years  of  age.  His 
widow  survived  him  until  January  24,  1917,  and  was 
ninety-two  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  death.  The 
father  was  a democrat,  a member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  his  wife  was  a Method- 
ist. Their  children  were  Frank,  James  and  Alma, 
the  daughter  being  now  deceased.  By  a previous 
marriage  Adam  Gettings  had  three  children : 
Thomas,  William  and  Ella.  Of  these  only  the 
daughter  survives. 

Frank  Gettings  lived  in  Kendallville  until  he  was 
twelve  years  old  and  while  there  attended  the  vil- 
lage schools.  He  also  attended  public  school  at 
Milford  and  for  one  term  was  in  the  college  at 
Angola.  His  first  farm  comprised  40  acres  in 
LaGrange  County,  but  he  sold  that  and  bought  120 
acres  and  in  1909  moved  to  Steuben  County  and 
bought  160  acres  in  Otsego  Township.  This  farm 
is  now  under  the  active  management  of  his  son, 
Clair.  He  also  acquired  ten  acres  near  the  village 
of  Metz,  and  that  is  his  home  and  he  uses  the  land 
and  its  facilities  to  conduct  a dairy.  He  has  been 
an  extensive  cattle  feeder  and  very  successful  in 
handling  all  kinds  of  livestock. 

Mr.  Gettings  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  mar- 
ried Miss  Elsie  Wright,  daughter  of  Elbridge  and 
Martha  Wright,  of  Steuben  County.  They  have 
two  children : Zoa,  at  home,  and  Clair,  who  is 

manager  of  the  farm.  Clair  married  Elsie  Snyder, 
and  has  two  children,  Esther  May  and  Louise. 

Jesse  W.  Camp,  one  of  the  active  and  pushing 
men  in  the  community  of  Smithfield  Township,  De- 
Kalb  County,  has  spent  his  active  career  as  a-  farmer, 
is  prominent  in  fraternal  work,  and  has  been  hon- 
ored by  his  fellow  citizens  with  the  office  of  trustee 
of  Smithfield  Township,  of  which  he  is  the  incum- 
bent today. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives 
near  Ashley  May  10,  1877,  a son  of  Aaron  W.  and 
Amanda  E.  (Husselman)  Camp.  His  father  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  May  17,  1847.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Fairfield  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  and  is  still  living,  an  active  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  Aaron  W.  Camp  was  an  active 
member  and  at  one  time  chancellor  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge  and  was  its  chancellor  when  his 
son  took  the  preliminary  work.  He  was  a democrat 


and  was  serving  as  a member  of  the  county  council 
when  he  died.  He  and  his  wife  had  five  children: 
Jesse  W. ; Maude  B.,  wife  of  Frank  Duncan,  living 
near  Olivet,  Michigan;  Eva  H.,  wife  of  Forest  Mil- 
ler of  Ashley;  Mabel  C.,  who  married  H.  T.  Judson 
of  Auburn,  Indiana;  and  Ethel  V.,  wife  of  Boyd 
Kirkland  of  Kenton,  Ohio. 

Jesse  W.  Camp,  only  son  of  his  parents,  grew 
up  on  the  home  farm,  and  since  early  manhood  has 
been  operating  it.  He  has  acquired  other  business 
interests  and  is  a stockholder  and  director  of  the 
Commercial  Bank  of  Ashley. 

Mr.  Camp  married  for  his  first  wife  Edna  Hart- 
man. After  her  death  he  married  Catherine  Dono- 
van on  September  30,  1917.  She  was  born  in  Wa- 
bash County,  Indiana,  December  24,  1874,  and  her 
first  husband  was  Thomas  W.  Millard.  Mrs.  Camp 
has  a son,  Warren  J.,  who  was  born  September  17, 
1898,  and  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools. 
During  the  war  he  was  in  the  aviation  repair  de- 
partment at  Dallas,  Texas,  and  at  this  writing  is 
still  a Government  employe.  Mrs.  Camp  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  Mr.  Camp  is 
past  chancellor  of  Ashley  Lodge  No.  394,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Pythian  Sisters.  Mrs.  Camp  is  a past  worthy 
matron  of  the  Eastern  Star  and  also  a past  noble 
grand  of  the  Rebekahs.  Mr.  Camp  is  a democrat  in 
politics  and  on  that  ticket  was  elected  to  his  present 
office  as  township  trustee. 

James  Eric  Gifford  has  been  numbered  among 
the  leading  farmers  of  Steuben  County  for  a number 
of  years,  is  a native  of  Northeast  Indiana,  and  he 
took  up  farming  after  a number  of  years  spent  in 
mechanical  trades. 

Mr.  Gifford  was  born  in  Scott  Township,  Septem- 
ber 20,  1859,  a son  of  Job  and  Hannah  (Trobridge) 
Gifford.  His  father  was  born  in  Oswego  County, 
New  York,  and  his  mother  in  Vermont.  They  were 
early  settlers  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and 
from  there  moved  to  Scott  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  buying  a farm  near  the  Gifford  schoolhouse. 
Job  Gifford  died  here  in  1864  and  his  wife  in  1872. 
Their  children  were:  Lois,  wife  of  Albert 

Wheaton;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Henry  Arnold;  Ida,  who 
married  Ed  Hauselman;  Freeman  and  Fremont, 
twins;  Agnes;  and  James  Eric. 

James  Eric  Gifford  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  attended  Gifford  schoolhouse.  He  left  the  farm 
in  early  life  to  go  to  work  as  a machinist,  and  was 
employed  in  machine  shops  for  about  fifteen  years, 
and  since  that  time  has  found  both  profit  and  pleas- 
ure in  farming.  He  is  a republican,  and  also  a 
Mason  and  Odd  Fellow. 

In  June,  1879,  he  married  Ella  Walgemuth.  Their 
three  children,  all  living,  are  Carrie,  Eva  and  Graf- 
ton. Mr.  Gifford  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs. 
Sarah  Jane  (Dygert)  Nisonger.  She  was  born  in 
Scott  Township,  January  6,  1858,  a daughter  of  John 
and  Caroline  Dygert,  representing  an  old  family  of 
this  district.  Mrs.  Gifford  married  for  her  first  hus- 
band on  November  17,  1878,  Jackson  Nisonger.  He 
was  born  in  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  February  3, 
1855,  son  of  Christopher  and  Barbara  (Arnold) 
Nisonger.  His  parents  were  early  settlers  in 
Steuben  County,  and  located  the  land  that  is  now  in- 
cluded in  the  fine  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gifford. 
They  traded  land  in  Kosciusko  County  for  this  place, 
and  developed  a farm  of  107  acres.  Mr.  Nisonger 
died  in  1874  and  his  widow  is  now  living  in  Colorado 
at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  In  the  Nisonger  family 
were  five  children,  Jennie,  Jackson,  Jacob,  Dora  and 
Alice.  Jackson  Nisonger  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  Steuben  County,  had  an  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  was  a successful  agriculturist  until  his 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


51 


death.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Nisonger  had  two  children,  Merle  and  Caro- 
line. 

Thomas  A.  Anderson  is  one  of  the  oldest  resi- 
dents of  Swan  Township,  Noble  County,  his  home 
having  been  in  that  locality  for  over  sixty  years. 
His  life  has  been  spent  quietly  but  profitably  as  a 
farmer,  and  he  still  gives  his  active  supervision  to 
his  farm  of  seventy  acres  lying  adjacent  to  the 
Hopewell  Church. 

Mr.  Anderson  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March 
21,  1847,  son  of  Thomas  A.  and  Jane  (Cooley)  An- 
derson, both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1854  the 
Anderson  family  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
Swan  Township  of  Noble  County,  where  the  parents 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The  father  was  an 
active  churchman  and  served  as  an  elder  in  the  Swan 
Presbyterian  Church.  He  was  a republican.  Of 
eight  children  three  are  still  living : Mary  J.,  wife 

of  Frank  Mills;  Sarah,  widow  of  James  McCoy; 
and  Thomas  A. 

Thomas  A.  Anderson  was  seven  years  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Indiana,  and  he  grew  up  in  a 
rather  frontier  community,  procuring  his  education 
in  a log  school  house.  For  fully  half  a century  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  business  of  farming. 

May  21,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Moore, 
daughter  of  Rev.  J.  P.  Moore.  To  their  marriage 
were  born  three  children,  only  one  of  whom  is  now 
living,  Joseph  M.  Joseph  M.  was  born  August  25, 
1882,  and  married  Miss  Nora  E.  Weimer,  daughter 
of  Samuel  Weimer.  Mr.  Anderson  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  has  served 
as  deacon.  He  is  a republican. 

Frank  Strock.  No  small  part  of  the  business 
enterprise  of  Hudson  moves  to  the  accompaniment 
of  Frank  Strock,  who  is  banker,  elevator  man,  and 
both  a producer  and  a dealer,  well  and  favorably 
known  in  that  community. 

Mr.  Strock  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
August  28,  1881.  His  grandparents  were  George 
and  Mary  (Baumgardiner)  Strock.  His  father, 
Daniel  Strock,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  County  in 
June,  1852,  had  a farm  there  but  did  a large  business 
in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  hay  and  potatoes, 
and  was  owner  of  the  elevator  at  Hudson,  Indiana. 
He  died  in  November,  1909.  Fie  married  Addie 
Troutman,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  a 
.daughter  of  Philip  and  Pleasant  Troutman.  She 
is  still  living  in  Wayne  County.  Her  children  were 
six  in  number:  Frank,  Jay  P.,  Earl  Wayne,  Mary, 

Fannie  and  Florence. 

Frank  Strock  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Wayne  County,  and  when  a young 
man  gained  much  business  experience  working  with 
his  father  in  the  handling  of  hay  and  potatoes.  He 
came  to  Hudson  in  August,  1903,  to  take  the  man- 
agement of  the  Hudson  elevator,  which  was  then 
owned  by  his  father.  He  has  been  continuously  in 
that  business  ever  since,  and  since  about  1908  has 
been  owner  of  the  establishment.  Hudson  is  an 
important  onion  market,  and  Mr.  Strock  has  had 
much  to  do  with  stimulating  that  production,  grow- 
ing onions  himself  and  also  buying  them.  He  is 
president  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Hudson 
and  is  a director  and  stockholder  of  the  Auburn 
Hardware  Company  at  Auburn.  Mr.  Strock  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Hudson,  also 
the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  the  Commandery  at  An- 
gola and  the  Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at  Fort  Wayne 
and  the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Eastern  Star. 

March  20,  1906,  he  married  Ada  Ketchem,  a daugh- 


ter of  Joseph  and  Frances  Ketchem.  They  have 
two  children,  Paul  Wayne  and  Carl  A. 

Carl  J.  Swank,  though  not  yet  thirty  years  of 
age,  is  one  of  the  independent  business  men  of 
Northeast  Indiana,  and  is  active  head  of  the  firm 
Swank  & Company,  proprietors  of  two  first  class 
furniture  and  undertaking  establishments  at  Hudson 
and  Ashley. 

Mr.  Swank,  who  is  a graduate  embalmer  and  a 
man  whose  ability  is  greatly  appreciated  in  his  pro- 
fession, was  born  near  Ligonier  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  September  12,  1890,  a son  of  Jerome  and 
Almira . (Retfrow)  Swank.  His  father  was  born 
near  Ligonier,  and  spent  his  active  life  on  a farm 
there.  He  died  in  1893.  The  mother  is  now  living 
at  Hudson,  Indiana.  They  were  married  in  Noble 
County  and  both  were  active  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  In  the  family  were  two  sons  and  one 
daughter,  Grover,  a barber  at  South  Milford,  In- 
diana; Carl  J. ; and  Gertrude,  wife  of  William  Mar- 
shall of  Noble  County. 

Carl  J.  Swank  lived  on  the  home  farm  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age.  He  attended  the  Topeka 
High  School,  and  for  four  years  followed  the  trade 
of  barber.  In  1910  he  graduated  from  the  Clark 
Embalming  School  at  Cincinnati  and  at  once  re- 
turned to  Hudson,  where  he  followed  his  profession 
for  four  years.  He  then  bought  out  the  business 
of  which  he  is  proprietor.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Hudson  and 
also  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  in  politics  is  a demo- 
crat. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church. 

He  married  Esther  M.  Bidwell,  whose  former 
home  was  near  Rome  City  in  Noble  County.  Their 
two  children  are  June  Adel,  born  in  1913,  and  Wen- 
dall,  born  in  1918. 

Francis  H.  Ramsay  has  had  a long  and  varied 
experience  in  business  affairs  in  several  states,  is 
widely  known  in  Steuben  County,  lives  at  Angola, 
and  owns  and  operates  a fine  dairy  farm  near  that 
city.  He  has  been  a manufacturer,  and  farmer,  and 
in  various  lines  of  business  experience. 

Mr.  Ramsay  was  born  in  Ayrshire,  Scotland, 
March  22,  1848.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in 
1868,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  first  locating  in  New 
\ork  State,  where  he  remained  about  nine  months, 
then  moved  to  Canada,  and  in  1874  to  Michigan.  He 
was  at  Mount  Clemens  for  several  years  and  in  1883 
moved  to  Hillsdale,  and  in  1889  came  to  Angola, 
Indiana.  Here  he  was  in  the  cooperage  business, 
employing  as  many  as  eight  men,  and  he  continued 
that  industry  until  1906.  Since  then  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  dairy  business,  owning  a well 
equipped  farm  adjoining  the  corporation  limits  of 
Angola  and  other  property  in  the  city.  He  has  been 
very  successful  in  his  affairs  since  coming  to 
Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Ramsay  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  is  a 
justice  of  the  peace,  an  office  he  has  filled  capably 
for  thirteen  years.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a 
deep  student  of  Masonry,  is  thoroughly  impressed 
with  its  doctrines,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  most 
of  his  sons  are  also  members  of  the  same  order 
and  some  of  them  have  attained  the  highest  degrees. 
Mr.  Ramsay  retains  his  affiliation  in  Hillsdale  Lodge 
of  Masons,  Angola  Chapter  No.  58,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  Angola  Commandery  No.  45,  Knights 
Templar.  He  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Science 
faith. 

In  1867,  in  Scotland,  he  married  Miss  Armanella 
Hazlett.  Mr.  Ramsay  was  divorced  from  his  first 
wife  and  in  1903  married  Elizabeth  Wolfe,  of 
Angola.  His  first  wife  died  in  1916.  The  present 


52 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mrs.  Ramsay  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  Mr.  Ramsay  by  his  first  marriage  had 
eight  children.  Robert  and  Sarah  Jane  were  twins 
and  Robert  is  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
Mason  and  Shriner  and  a farmer  in  Steuben  County. 
Francis  James,  the  second  son,  died  in  1896.  An- 
drew John,  a farmer  in  Pleasant  Township,  is  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  Samuel  W.  is  also 
a Mason  and  lives  in  Colorado.  Calvin,  a well- 
known  attorney  at  Angola,  has  attained  the  thirty- 
second  degree  of  the  Scottish  Rite  Masonry  and  is 
also  grand  high  priest.  Lillie  lives  in  Pleasant 
Township.  David  V.  joined  the  Engineering  Corps 
of  the  National  army  in  October,  1917,  was  sent 
overseas  about  Christmas  of  that  year  and  saw  a 
great  deal  of  active  service  for  nearly  seventeen 
months,  participating  in  some  of  the  chief  cam- 
paigns, and  while  in  the  front  lines  was  gassed  and 
wounded.  He  returned  home  on  March  10,  1919, 
and  is  still  suffering  from  the  effects  of  the  gas. 

Albert  D.  Sawyer.  The  Sawyer  family  have 
been  residents  of  Noble  County  more  than  eighty 
vears.  It  is  appropriate  that  a representative  of 
this  pioneer  family  should  now  hold  the  office  of 
sheriff,  Albert  D.  Sawyer  having  been  elected  and 
re-elected  to  that  important  office.  Mr.  Sawyer  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  as  a practical  farmer. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Sawyer  homestead  in 
Wayne  Township  of  this  county,  January  28,  1859, 
son  of  Jackson  and  Margaret  (Layering)  Sawyer. 
Jackson  Sawyer  was  born  in  Ohio,  son  of  John  and 
Charlotte  (Pearl)  Sawyer.  Charlotte  Pearl  Saw- 
yer lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two.  John 
Sawyer  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  in  1836  and 
entered  a tract  of  Government  land  in  Wayne 
Township,  this  old  homestead  being  now  owned  by 
his  grandson  Albert.  John  Sawyer  died  in  the  fall 
of  1837,  having  had  little  opportunity  to  improve 
his  land.  His  widow  proved  herself  a noble  pioneer 
woman,  rearing  her  family  of  ten  children,  and  re- 
maining faithful  to  the  memory  of  her  first  husband 
all  the  rest  of  her  life.  All  her  ten  children  are  now 
deceased. 

The  old  homestead  eventually  became  the  property 
of  Jackson  Sawyer,  who  lived  there  and  prospered 
as  a farmer.  He  was  the  father  of  seven  children, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Mervin  D.,  of  Ken- 

dallville,  Indiana ; Agnes,  wife  of  Arthur  Scott,  of 
Defiance,  Ohio;  Harvey,  of  Wolcottville,  Indiana; 
and  Albert  D. 

Albert  D.  Sawyer  grew  up  on  the  old  farm,  at- 
tended the  common  schools  there,  and  in  1882  mar- 
ried Miss  Charlotte  Ream.  They  have  a family  of 
four  sons  and  one  daughter.  Orrie  and  Ottie  are 
twins,  both  graduates  of  the  common  school.  Orrie 
is  now  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  under  his  father 
and  is  married  and  has  one  child.  Ottie  is  a farmer 
east  of  Kendallville  and  has  three  children.  Guy  is 
farming  his  father’s  place.  Another  son,  Harold,  is 
now  with  the  United  States  army.  The  daughter, 
Bertha,  married  Chester  Bowser  and  has  one  daugh- 
ter. 

Mr.  Sawyer  is  a member  of  the  Loyal  Americans. 
He  was  elected  sheriff  the  first  time  by  125  majority, 
and  the  second  time  by  180  votes.  He  is  a democrat 
in  politics.  His  farm,  now  operated  by  his  son, 
comprises  216  acres  in  Wayne  Township,  and  he 
still  retains  an  interest  in  the  livestock. 

John  H.  Oberlin.  The  Oberlins  are  a family 
that  have  been  rather  numerous  and  prominent  in 
DeKalb  County  for  over  seventy  years.  Mr.  John 
H.  Oberlin,  who  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  has 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  active  career  in  Steuben 


County,  and  beginning  life  as  a renter  followed 
farming  successively  and  aggressively  for  many 
years  and  is  now  enjoying  a well  earned  retirement 
at  Hamilton. 

He  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  May  1,  1854,  son  of  John  and  Rachel  (Duck) 
Oberlin.  His  father  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in 
pioneer  times,  developing  a tract  of  wild  land,  and 
later  moved  to  Butler,  where  he  exercised  his  trade 
as  a tanner  by  establishing  a tannery.  He  died  in 
1863.  In  religion  he  was  a Methodist.  He  was  the 
father  of  a large  family  of  children,  named  William, 
Fred,  Philip,  Hiram,  Elijah,  Benjamin,  Joseph, 
Daniel,  Orlando,  Mary,  Lucinda,  Sarah,  Hannah 
and  John  H. 

John  H.  Oberlin,  who  was  only  nine  years  old 
when  his  father  died,  attended  public  school  in 
Otsego  Township,  also  a school  at  Butler,  and  as 
he  inherited  nothing  except  good  character  and  a 
tendency  to  industry,  he  started  out  as  a young  man 
to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  worked  as 
a farm  hand,  and  on  January  23,  1881,  when  still 
possessed  of  little  capital,  he  married  Minerva  J. 
Wilson,  daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mary  J.  Wilson. 
They  established  their  first  home  on  a rented  farm 
in  Otsego  Township,  lived  there  three  years,  then 
in  Richland  Township  four  years,  and  in  1888  Mr. 
Oberlin  took  possession  of  the  County  Farm  and 
lived  there  three  years.  In  1891,  having  in  ten  years 
acquired  some  capital,  he  bought  eighty  acres  in 
Otsego  Township  and  followed  an  uninterrupted 
career  of  industry  and  productive  labor  on  that 
farm  for  twenty-five  years.  In  the  spring  of  1916 
he  left  the  farm  and  has  since  lived  in  Hamilton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oberlin  became  the  parents  of  four 
children : Edgar,  who  married  Grace  Hunt ; Edna 

May,  wife  of  Benjamin  Taylor;  Hiram  W.,  who 
married  Hertha  Weaver;  and  Ethel,  wife  of  Fred 
Haines.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  Nov- 
ember 20,  1913.  In  February,  1916,  he  married 
Rhoda  (Martin)  Houlton,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Catherine  (Davis)  Martin.  Her  father  was  a sol- 
dier in  the  Civil  war.  Rhoda  Martin  was  first  mar- 
ried to  Lewis  Houlton,  of  Franklin  Township, 
DeKalb  County.  The  family  are  conspicuous  as 
being  the  very  first  family  to  settle  in  DeKalb 
County,  locating  there  in  1831.  A number  of  refer- 
ences are  found  to  them  in  the  pages  of  this  pub- 
lication. Mrs.  Oberlin  has  in  her  possession  the 
first  deed  given  for  land  in  DeKalb  County.  It  was 
written  on  parchment  and  is  signed  by  Andrew 
Jackson,  President  of  the  United  States.  Mrs. 
Oberlin  by  her  marriage  to  Lewis  Houlton  had 
three  children:  Vern,  who  married  Rosa  Mills; 

Firm;  and  Leland,  who  married  Jessie  Hathaway. 
Mrs.  Oberlin  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  her  husband  is  a Methodist.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 
From  1908  to  1918  he  served  as  assessor  of  Otsego 
Township. 

Harry  W.  Simmons  is  one  of  the  practical  and 
enterprising  younger  men  of  the  farming  com- 
munity of  Perry  Township  who  have  gone  in  for 
the  more  progressive  phases  in  agriculture  and 
stock  husbandry,  including  registered  horses  and 
cattle,  and  the  results  of  his  enterprise  are  thor- 
oughly apparent,  since  he  has  more  than  a local 
reputation  not  only  for  his  success  but  for  his  en- 
viable qualifications  of  citizenship. 

He  was  born  in  Perry  Township  August  28,  1877, 
a son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Klick)  Simmons,  of 
a well  known  family  in  Noble  County.  His  father 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1829.  Harry  W.  Sim- 
mons left  school  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  since 
then  has  been  practically  dependent  on  his  own 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


53 


efforts  to  promote  him  to  success  in  affairs.  For 
several  years  he  worked  at  wages  of  eight  dollars 
a month.  In  fact  he  labored  and  gave  his  abilities 
to  others  until  he  was  about  thirty-two  years  of  age. 
In  that  way  he  got  his  start,  in  the  shape  of  a modest 
capital,  which  he  used  to  establish  himself  on  an 
independent  footing. 

In  1902  he  married  Ethel  M.  Bowser,  who  was 
born  in  York  Township,  Noble  County,  a daughter 
of  O.  L.  and  Isabel  (Calbeck)  Bowser,  who  are 
now  living  in  Ligonier.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Simmons  moved  to  a farm  in  Perry  Town- 
ship, and  have  lived  in  that  locality  ever  since.  The 
farm  where  he  now  lives  comprises  168  acres,  and 
he  owns  a half  interest  in  all  the  livestock  on  the 
farm.  He  also  owns  a half  interest  in  another 
place  of  no  acres  in  Perry  Township,  and  has  re- 
cently purchased  a tract  of  160  acres  which  joins 
the  farm  on  which  he  resides.  He  is  a breeder  of 
Shorthorn  cattle,  and  his  herd  is  headed  by  one  of 
the  best  males  of  the  type  in  Noble  County,  named 
“Filigree  Lad.”  He  also  has  four  registered  cows 
of  the  same  type.  He  has  several  registered 
Percheron  horses  and  other  good  graded  live  stock. 
Mr.  Simmons  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  Co- 
operative Elevator  Company  at  Ligonier. 

He  and  his  wife  are  the  parents  of  three  sons : 
Harold,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools;  Kermit, 
who  was  born  in  1910;  and  Thad,  born  in  1917. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
at  Ligonier,  and  Mr.  Simmons  affiliates  with  the 
democratic  party. 

William  Henry  Keyes,  a resident  of  Steuben 
County  for  over  seventy  years,  has  had  a career  dis- 
tinguished by  many  notable  services  and  experiences. 
He  was  a brave  and  gallant  soldier  of  the  Union 
during  the  Civil  war,  served  two  terms  as  sheriff, 
and  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  officers  Steuben 
County  ever  had,  and  has  been  variously  identified 
with  farming,  business,  religious  and  social  matters. 
He  is  now  living  retired  in  the  village  of  Hamilton. 

Mr.  Keyes  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 12,  1841,  a son  of  Tolman  and  Mary  (Rich- 
ards) Keyes.  His  father  was  a native  of  Vermont 
and  his  mother  of  Connecticut,  and  they  were  mar- 
ried in  Vermont  shortly  afterward  moving  to  Ohio. 
Tolman  Keyes  served  as  a soldier  in  the  War  of 
1812.  In  1844  this  family  came  to  Steuben  County 
and  settled  in  Richland  Township,  where  they 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  from  Mr.  Gordon,  wh<^ 
had  acquired  it  direct  from  the  government.  Mary 
Keyes  died  at  Alvarado  in  the  spring  of  1863,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-three,  while  the  father  lived  to  the 
age  of  eighty-four,  dying  at  Orland  in  Steuberl 
County.  He  was  a republican  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  active  in  the  Methodist  Church.  Their  chil- 
dren were  David,  Hiram,  Augustus,  Charles,  Wil- 
liam H.,  Harvey  H.,  Elizabeth,  Phoebe  and  Salinda. 
The  only  survivor  now  is  William  H.  Keyes. 

The  latter  was  about  three  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents came  to  Steuben  County,  and  he  grew  up  on  the 
homestead  farm  in  Richland  Township  and  attended 
the  local  schools.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  A of  the  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Infantry, 
under  Col.  John  F.  Miller,  who  later  became  United 
States  senator  from  California.  His  first  battle  was 
that  of  Pittsburg  Landing.  Soon  afterward  he  was 
sent  home  on  a furlough,  but  rejoined  his  regiment 
in  time  to  participate  in  the  battles  of  Liberty  Gap 
and  Chickamauga.  The  regiment  was  then  assigned 
to  post  duty  at  Chattanooga  and  Mr.  Keyes  for  a 
time  was  in  General  Stanley’s  headquarters,  and 
then  detailed  to  the  postal  department.  He  had 
charge  of  the  mail  sent  to  Sherman  after  the  cap- 


ture of  Atlanta,  and'  continued  on  duty  until  his 
discharge  early  in  November,  1864.  Early  in  1865  he 
again  enlisted  as  a recruit,  and  was  with  Company 
B of  the  Fifty-Sixth  Pennsylvania  Infantry  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  Altogether  he  served  three 
years  and  five  months.  Mr.  Keyes  saw  much  of  the 
country  while  a soldier  and  his  travels  have  since 
taken  him  over  most  of  the  United  States.  He  has 
been  in  twenty-nine  states,  from  the  Atlantic  to  the 
Pacific,  and  from  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota,  to  Atlanta, 
Georgia. 

From  his  savings  as  a soldier  Mr.  Keyes  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Richland  Township,  and  was 
one  of  the  hard  working  farmers  in  that  locality 
until  1878,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff.  He  then 
sold  his  farm.  Prior  to  his  election  as  sheriff  he  had 
been  identified  with  the  organization  known  as  the 
Regulators  at  Metz,  and  his  work  in  behalf  of  law 
and  order  had  attracted  attention  to  his  exceptional 
qualifications  for  a peace  officer,  and  went  far  to- 
ward getting  him  the  more  important  position  of 
sheriff.  He  was  re-elected  in  1880,  and  distinguished 
himself  not  only  in  the  routine  duties  of  sheriff  but 
also  as  a detective  officer,  effecting  the  capture  of 
several  well-known  criminals. 

After  retiring  from  the  office  Mr.  Keyes  invested 
his  capital  of  $5,000  in  a farm  of  100  acres  in  sec- 
tion 23  of  Otsego  Township,  and  he  still  owns  that 
place.  He  was  successful  as  a farmer  when  he 
operated  his  own  land  and  has  been  equally  suc- 
cessful in  the  choice  of  his  renters.  William  Lewis 
has  been  running  the  Keyes  farm  now  for  twelve 
years.  In  1900  Mr.  Keyes  moved  to  the  village  of 
Hamilton,  and  has  since  lived  largely  retired. 

In  matters  of  politics  he  has  supported  the  repub- 
lican party  since  voting  for  Lincoln  the  second  time. 
He  was  trustee  of  Richland  Township  in  1876.  Since 
he  was  seventeen  years  old  he  has  been  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  for  a number 
of  years  has  been  a local  minister. 

January  10,  1865,  Mr.  Keyes  married  Melvina 
Cary.  She  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary 18,  1843,  a daughter  of  William  and  Melissa 
Cary.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keyes  were  playmates  in  child- 
hood and  were  rocked  in  the  same  cradle.  The  Cary 
family  were  also  pioneers  of  Steuben  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Keyes  had  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
they  reared  from  the  age  of  eighteen  months  an 
adopted  daughter  known  as  Cora  Keyes,  who  is  now 
the  wife  of  Elza  Dewire,  of  Eaton,  Ohio.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dewire  have  two  living  children,  a son  and  a 
daughter.  Mrs.  Keyes  died  in  1901  and  in  1902  Mr. 
Keyes  married  Mrs.  Eva  Riblett,  widow  of  Samuel 
Riblett.  Her  son,  Victor  Riblett,  whose  home  is  in 
Detroit,  was  in  the  great  war,  serving  in  the  army  at 
Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  and  Fort  Shelby,  was 
made  a corporal  at  Fort  Shelby  and  later  at  Camp 
Taylor  was  promoted  to  second  lieutenant.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Keyes  had  four  children:  Ella  Odessa,  aged 

fifteen,  a high  school  student;  William  Howard, 
aged  thirteen ; Iola,  aged  eleven ; and  Ruth  May, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

In  many  ways  Mr.  Keyes  has  exerted  his  personal 
influence  for  the  good  and  upbuilding  of  his  county. 
He  had  much  to  do  with  getting  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road located  through  the  village  of  Hamilton,  mak- 
ing a visit  to  Detroit  for  a personal  interview  with 
the  directors  of  the  road.  During  his  residence  on 
the  farm  he  also  sold  agricultural  implements,  espe- 
cially the  Champion  Binder  and  Harvester,  and  dis- 
tributed many  of  those  machines  throughout 
Steuben  County.  Mr.  Keyes  was  elected  president 
of  the  Steuben  Sunday  School  Association  and  held 
that  office  six  years.  During  that  time  he  made 
Steuben  one  of  the  banner  Sunday  school  counties  of 


54 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


the  state.  He  was  also  a Sunday  school  field  worker 
for  a number  of  years  and  attended  the  conventions 
regularly. 

Casper  A.  Df.ardorff  is  a well  known  farmer  of 
Noble  County  and  since  his  marriage  has  worked  his 
way  to  independence,  beginning  as  a renter  and 
finally  purchasing  the  farm  which  he  owns  today, 
located  a mile  east  of  Cromwell  in  Sparta  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1862,  a son  of  Abraham  and  Susan  (Kendell) 
Deardorff.  His  father  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  October  17,  1817,  and  died  July  18,  1864,  when 
Casper  was  only  two  years  old.  The  mother  was 
born  in  1828  and  died  in  1888.  Of  their  family  of 
children  only  three  are  still  living:  Ozro,  a farmer 
near  Fort  Wayne;  Ellen,  wife  of  Solomon  Fleck; 
and  Casper  A. 

Casper  A.  Deardorff  spent  his  boyhood  days  in 
Whitley  County  near  Cherubusco,  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools  there  during  the  winter  sessions.  Every 
summer  as  soon  as  his  strength  permitted  he  did  his 
share  of  work  on  the  home  farm,  and  helped  his 
mother  to  provide  the  necessities  of  her  household. 
He  lived  with  his  mother  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 

In  August,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Arie  J.  Gaff. 
She  was  born  in  Greene  Township  of  Noble  County, 
June  4,  1865,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  (Hawk) 
Gaff.  Joseph  D.  Gaff  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  August  11,  1833,  and  his  wife  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  October  15,  1837,  and  is  still 
living.  The  living  children  in  the  Gaff  family  are 
Mary,  Henry,  Arie  J.,  Warren,  Nora,  Minnie,  Cora, 
Lena  and  Oliver  P.  There  are  also  forty  grand- 
children. 

After  their  marriage  Casper  A.  Deardorff  and  wife 
began  housekeeping  near  Cherubusco  as  renters,  sub- 
sequently moved  to  Elkhart  County  and  farmed 
there  fourteen  years  as  renters,  and  by  careful  econ- 
omy and  thrifty  management  secured  the  modest 
capital  which  enabled  them  in  1903  to  buy  their  pres- 
ent farm  of  forty-seven  acres.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dear- 
dorff have  three  children  and  twelve  grandchildren. 
Etta,  the  oldest  child,  is  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools  and  the  wife  of  Harry  Bunger ; Albert  L. 
is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  married 
Leda  Cress ; Edna  M.  is  the  wife  of  Harrison 
Lemon.  Mr.  Deardorff  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  the  Maccabees  and  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Warren  K.  Rosenbury,  a former  commissioner  of 
Noble  County,  is  proprietor  of  the  Pleasant  Hill 
Farm,  three  and  a half  miles  north  of  Kendallville. 
Mr.  Rosenbury  is  a native  of  Noble  County  and  has 
spent  most  of  his  active  career  there  as  a practical 
and  progressive  farmer.  He  was  born  at  a place 
three  miles  northeast  of  where  he  now  lives  May 
17,  1851.  The  Rosenbury  family  has  been  in  Noble 
County  for  over  seventy  years.  His  parents  were 
Andrew  and  Justine  (Metlin)  Rosenbury.  His 
father  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 25,  1811,  and  his  mother  in  Summit  County 
of  the  same  state,  December  5,  1811.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio  and  in  1848  came  to  Indiana  and 
settled  in  Noble  County.  Their  first  settlement  was 
six  miles  northeast  of  Kendallville.  Seven  years 
later  they  sold  that  farm,  after  improving  it  from 
the  wilderness,  and  bought  280  acres  where  Warren 
K.  Rosenbury  now  lives.  The  parents  spent  the  rest 
of  their  days  in  that  locality.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  Of  their  nine 
children  only  two  are  now  living.  The  daughter, 
Tane  M.,  lives  in  Kansas,  the  widow  of  Benjamin 
Devoe. 


Warren  K.  Rosenbury  grew  up  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives,  attended  the  public  schools,  and  was 
with  his  parents  to  the  age  of  twenty-four.  On 
February  13,  1877,  he  married  Lorana  Evans.  She 
was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  March  23,  1855, 
was  educated  there,  and  became  a teacher.  She 
taught  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Indiana  to  teach. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Rosenbury  lived  in  Ohio 
three  years,  and  then  returned  to  Noble  County  and 
settled  in  Allen  Township.  He  sold  his  first  farm 
and  in  1892  bought  200  acres  of  the  old  homestead. 
He  has  made  this  a very  productive  place,  devoted 
to  general  crops  and  stock,  and  has  everything  in 
a well  ordered  prosperity. 

Mr.  Rosenbury  lost  his  first  wife  by  death  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1899.  They  were  the  parents  of  three 
childrerr:  Joseph  A.,  a graduate  of  the  common 

schools  and  now  living  in  Montana ; Lizzie  L.,  a 
graduate  of  high  school  and  wife  of  C.  R.  Nicewan- 
der,  of  South  Bend,  Indiana;  and  Sarah  T.,  wife 
of  Floyd  Dehal.  On  August  12,  1900,  Mr.  Rosen- 
bury married  for  his  present  wife  Carrie  Cothran. 
She  was  born  in  New  York  State. 

Mr.  Rosenbury  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Kendallville.  He  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  in  politics  is 
a republican.  He  was  elected  on  that  ticket  to  the 
office  of  commissioner  from  the  northern  district, 
and  served  three  years  from  January  1,  1905. 

Mahue  A.  Brackney  is  a general  farmer  and 
stockman,  with  a well  ordered  farm  in  Noble  Town- 
ship two  miles  north  of  Miriam.  He  was  born  in 
Jefferson  Township  of  Noble  County,  July  14,  1873, 
son  of  George  W.  and  Lucinda  J.  (Zimmerman) 
Brackney,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Ohio.  After , 
their  marriage  they  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
Jefferson  Township  and  later  moved  to  a farm  in 
Green  Township,  where  the  father  died  after  many 
years  of  industrious  labor.  The  mother  subsequent- 
ly removed  to  Albion,  where  she  is  still  living. 
There  were  five  children : Minnie,  wife  of  Charles 

Sealey;  Mahue  A.;  George  J.,  of  Tulsa,  Oklahoma; 
Edna,  wife  of  Albert  Johnson;  Lulu,  a kindergarten 
teacher. 

Mr.  M.  A.  Brackney  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
his  parents  removed  to  Green  Township,  and  all  his 
early  education  was  acquired  in  the  schools  of  Jef- 
ferson and  Green.  Living  at  home  to  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  acquired  a practical  knowledge  of 
farming  under  the  direction  of  his  father,  and  since 
his  marriage  and  the  establishment  of  a home  of 
his  own  he  has  been  making  sturdy  progress  to- 
wards independence,  and  now  has  a good  farm  of 
eighty  acres. 

He  married  Miss  Nellie  Ott,  who  was  born  in 
Noble  Township,  March  24,  1878,  daughter  of  Cor- 
nelius Ott.  To  their  union  were  born  four  children: 
Marie,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools ; Harry, 
at  home ; Elsie,  who  also  finished  the  common 
school  course;  and  Hubert,  who  is  still  a school 
boy.  Mrs.  Brackney  is  a member  of  the  Burr  Oak 
Baptist  Church.  Politically  Mr.  Brackney  affiliates 
with  the  democratic  party. 

John  William  Mertz.  The  wonderful  changes 
that  have  been  brought  about  by  science  and  the 
ingenuity  of  man,  even  within  the  ordinary  life- 
time of  an  individual,  seem  so  marvelous  that  in- 
telligent and  thoughtful  earth  dwellers  bf  today 
hesitate  about  placing  a limit  to  future  achievement. 
In  these  changes  agricultural  industries  have  had 
place,  and  a modern  American  farm,  in  method  of 
cultivation  and  its  machinery  equipments,  illustrates 


CASPER  A.  DEARDORFF  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


55 


unbelievable  progress.  Such  a farm  is  the  prop- 
erty of  John  William  Mertz,  a highly  respected  and 
substantial  citizen  of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  who 
is  proprietor  of  the  Lone  Pine  Farm  in  Fairfield 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Indiana,  as  were  his 
parents,  Benjamin  and  Johanna  (Auman)  Mertz. 

The  founder  of  the  Indiana  branch  of  the  Mertz 
family  was  John  G.  Mertz,  who  came  to  the  United 
States  before  the  Civil  war.  His  wife,  Mary  Anna 
(Sauer)  Mertz,  was  also  of  German  birth.  They 
lived  at  first  in  Ohio  but  before  the  birth  of  their 
son,  Benjamin,  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana. 
The  latter  was  a farmer  like  his  father,  and  when 
he  grew  to  manhood  was  married  to  Johanna 
Auman,  who  was  one  of  a family  of  six  children 
born  to  William  and  Miss  (Bruns)  Auman.  To 
Benjamin  and  Johanna  Mertz  ten  children  were 
born,  as  follows:  John  W.,  Otto  E.,  Walter  B., 

Edward  J.,  Henry  A.,  Theodore  A.,  Daniel  B., 
Metha  M.,  and  two  who  died  of  diphtheria  in  early 
life.  The  father  of  this  family  died  June  6,  1898, 
and  the  mother  died  on  the  25th  of  July,  1919,  at 
Kendallville,  Indiana. 

The  pioneer  Mertz  family  were  charter 
members  of  Zion  Evangelical  Church  located  in 
Fairfield  Township,  near  their  farm,  as  early  as  1852. 
There  is  a parochial  school  in  connection  with  Zion 
Church,  and  it  was  in  that  school  that  John  W. 
Mertz  secured  his  first  educational  training.  Later 
he  was  graduated  from  the  Kendallville  High  School 
and  for  three  years  pursued  a literary  course  of 
study  in  the  University  of  Michigan,  and  in  more 
recent  years  has  attended  short  courses  on  special 
subjects  at  Purdue  University.  Since  reaching  man- 
hood he  has  been  a farmer  in  Fairfield  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  and  has  taken  great  interest  in  his 
work  and  through  his  progressive  policy  has  brought 
the  Lone  Pine  Farm  into  great  prominence.  As 
indicative  of  the  approval  of  his  methods  by  his 
fellow  agriculturists,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  he 
is  president  of  the  DeKalb  County  Better  Farming 
Association,  which  is  county  wide  in  its  scope,  and 
is  also  president  of  the  DeKalb  County  Breeders  & 
Feeders  Association,  and  of  the  county  branch  of 
the  Indiana  Federation  of  Farmers.  He  is  a mem- 
ber also  of  the  Indiana  Commercial  Growers  Asso- 
ciation. 

On  February  25,  1906,  John  W.  Mertz  was  united 
in  marriage  to  Emma  M.  Krehl,  who  died  January 
11,  1914.  She  was  a daughter  of  William  and  Anna 
(Carl)  Krehl,  a well  known  DeKalb  County  family. 
She  was  the  mother  of  three  children,  namely: 
Selma  Anna,  Margaret  Ethel  and  Arthur  Benjamin. 
On  January  16,  1917,  Mr.  Mertz  was  married  a sec- 
ond time,  Mrs.  Louise  (Schneider)  Bluhm  becoming 
his  wife.  Mrs.  Mertz  has  one  son  born  to  her  for- 
mer marriage,  Erich  Bluhm.  Mr.  Mertz  has  sent 
his  children  to  the  same  parochial  school  in  which 
he  began  his  education  many  years  ago. 

In  politics  Mr.  Mertz,  like  the  older  members  of 
his  family,  has  always  supported  the  democratic 
party  from  principle  and  in  other  ways  is  worthy 
of  ancestors  who  during  long  and  useful  lives  were 
deserving  of  the  general  esteem  in  which  they  were 
held.  As  a man  of  progressive  thought  Mr.  Mertz 
studies  agricultural  questions  intelligently  and  is 
ready,  in  the  light  of  the  pas1,  to  believe  still  more 
wonderful  developments  in  the  future.  He  keeps 
abreast  of  the  times  in  farm  equipment,  carries  on 
a general  farming  line  and  specializes  in  registered 
livestock.  He  can  remember  the  day  of  the  ox- 
team  and  the  gradual  development  of  horse  trans- 
portation, the  coming  of  the  automobile  and  the 
farm  tractor,  and  on  occasion  as  he  is  working  in 
his  fields  an  unusual  noise  above  him  tells  him  that 
the  aerial  aeroplane  is  speeding  as  a bird  with  mail 


and  messages  from  one  frontier  of  his  country  to 
the  other.  He  is  proud  of  his  country’s  achieve- 
ments and  is  proud  of  the  part  his  own  family  has 
taken  in  the  development  of  DeKalb  County. 

Thomas  Edgar  Gundrum,  now  living  retired  at 
Angola,  is  one  of  the  reliable  and  substantial  repre- 
sentatives of  Steuben  County’s  agricultural  life  and 
for  many  seasons  cultivated  a large  farm.  From 
farming  he  received  the  competence  he  now  enjoys. 

Mr.  Gundrum  was  born  in  York  Township  in 
Steuben  County,  April  20,  1863.  His  father,  Larry 
Gundrum,  a son  of  John  and  Charlotte  Gundrum, 
was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  May  26, 
1825,  and  at  the  age  of  six  accompanied  his  parents 
to  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  All  the  schooling  he 
ever  had  in  schoolrooms  was  not  longer  than  seven 
weeks.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  left  home  and 
became  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  for  a 
living  He  learned  the  shoemaker’s  trade,  and 
worked  at  that  occupation  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  after  he  married.  In  August,  1852,  he  brought 
his  family  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  on  100 
acres  which  he  had  bought  the  previous  year  in 
section  18  of  York  Township.  Later  he  bought  an- 
other seventy  acres,  and  he  made  farming  a source 
of  profit  and  pleasure  and  was  one  of  the  influential 
men  in  his  community  for  many  years.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  was  active  in  community 
affairs,  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace,  and  as  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  helped  build  the 
Powers  Church  in  York  Township.  He  died  April 
14,  1887.  May  26,  1847,  he  married  Lovina  Beam, 
who  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
February  29,  1828.  Until  she  was  twelve  years  of 
age  she  could  not  speak  a word  of  English.  She 
died  February  8,  1888,  the  mother  of  six  children: 
Alonzo  R.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years ; Wil- 
liam C.,  John  H.,  Theodore  C.,  Mary  Bell,  wife  of 
Cassius  M.  Thomas,  and  Thomas  Edgar. 

Thomas  Edgar  Gundrum  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  York  and  Fremont 
townships  and  in  the  Angola  High  School.  His 
career  as  a farmer  started  on  the  old  homestead, 
and  after  about  one  year  there  he  moved  to  a farm 
of  100  acres  near  Angola,  and  made  that  his  home 
for  ten  years.  In  1897  he  moved  to  York  Township, 
buying  194  acres,  and  gave  all  his  time  to  its  man- 
agement until  1912,  when  he  retired  and  moved  to 
his  present  comfortable  home  in  Angola.  Mr.  Gun- 
drum has  always  been  interested  in  the  welfare  of 
his  home  community,  is  a republican  in  politics  and 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

October  8,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Lila  A.  Powers, 
who  was  born  in  York  Township,  September  4,  1866, 
and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  lo- 
cality. Her  father,  Calvin  P.  Powers,  was  born  in 
New  York  State  in  1834  and  was  one  of  the  exten- 
■farmer';  an H land  owners  in  York  Township. 
Calvin  Powers  married  in. i860,  Jane  Clark. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gundrum  had  three  children.  Mark 
Duane,  who  was  born  March  26,  1889,  graduated 
from  high  school^  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  afterward 
took  the  course  in  the  University  of  Medicine  at 
Chicago,  and  left  a successful  and  growing  practice 
to  enlist  in  May,  1917,  in  the  Medical  Reserve  Corps. 
He  was  commissioned  a first  lieutenant  and  later 
was  made  captain.  He  served  at  Fort  Oglethorpe, 
Georgia,  until  December,  1917,  was  then  sent  to  Fort 
Clark,  Texas,  and  in  March,  1918,  sailed  for  France 
and  since  then  for  over  a year  has  been  with  the 
army  on  the  western  front,  being  now  with  the 
Army  of  Occupation.  Doctor  Gundrum  married 
Erna  Senkey,  and  they  have  a daughter,  Virginia 
Rozelle.  Mildred  Elizabeth,  the  second  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gundrum,  is  the  wife  of  John  Dorsey 


56 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Folck,  a farmer,  and  has  two  children,  Martha 
Leona  and  Jessie  Marie.  The  third  and  youngest 
child  is  Lolabelle,  now  a resident  of  Washington, 
District  of  Columbia. 

Thomas  J.  Halferty.  One  of  the  oldest  farms 
under  one  continuous  ownership  in  Noble  County 
is  the  Meadow  Brook  Farm,  comprising  179  acres, 
all  in  section  33  of  Orange  Township.  The  present 
proprietor  is  Thomas  J.  Halferty.  Mr.  Halferty 
was  born  there,  and  all  his  life  has  been  familiar 
with  its  scenes,  associations  and  activities. 

He  was  born  August  1,  i860,  son  of  William  and 
Catherine  (Brodebeck)  Halferty.  His  father  was 
born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  May  1,  1819,  and 
died  July  27,  1875.  His  mother  was  born  in  Mary- 
land, April  22,  1820,  and  when  she  was  a girl  her 
family  moved  to  Clark  County,  Ohio,  and  later  to 
Morrow  County,  where  she  was  married.  The  par- 
ents after  a brief  residence  in  Morrow  County 
moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  were  pioneers 
in  the  community  of  Brimfield,  where  they  de- 
veloped a tract  of  raw  land  in  section  33  of  Orange 
Township.  There  the  father  and  mother  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives  on  the  old  farm.  They  were 
among  the  first  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  that  community  and  were  active  support- 
ers of  the  cause.  In  politics  William  Halferty  was 
a democrat.  To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  four 
children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  only 
surviving  daughter  is  Mary  E.,  born  May  11,  i857> 
and  now  the  wife  of  Mason  B.  Faux,  of  Orange 
Township. 

Thomas  J.  Halferty  learned  much  of  the  science 
of  farming  when  a boy.  He  also  acquired  a good 
education  in  the  local  schools.  He  was  about 
fifteen  when  his  father  died,  and  almost  from  that 
time  forward  he  had  an  active  and  responsible  part 
in  the  management  of  the  homestead. 

September  19,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Emma  L. 
Kiser.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  Township  of 
Noble  County,  November  24,  i860,  daughter  of 

Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Stotts)  Kiser.  Michael 
Kiser  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ohio,  grew  up 
and  married  there,  and  in  1858  became  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  in  Jefferson  Township  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Halferty  had  a common 
school  education.  She  and  her  husband  have  two 
children.  Addie  D„  who  was  born  November  22, 
1885,  is  the  wife  of  Ora  Bowen,  and  they  have  a 
daughter,  Talitha,  born  November  22,  1903.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Halferty  are  very  proud  of  this  grand- 
daughter. Their  son,  Thomas  O.,  born  November 
6,  1887,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
now  lives  at  home  and  has  assumed  many  of  the 
responsibilities  of  the  farm.  He  married  Hazel  B. 
Harp.  The  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  Mr.  Halferty  has  been  a 
leader  in  that  denomination.  He  is  a republican  and 
has  served  as  township  supervisor. 

John  W.  Adair.  When  John  W.  Adair  was 
elected  member  of  the  County  Board  of  Commis- 
sioners of  Noble  County  on  November  5,  1918,  to 
represent  the  Southern  District,  he  received  the 
support  of  a large  majority  of  his  neighbors  and 
old  friends,  who  respected  his  integrity  of  character, 
his  good  business  ability  and  judgment,  and  his  long 
standing  as  a successful  farmer  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Adair,  whose  farm  of  160  acres  lies  in  sec- 
tions 18  and  19  in  Noble  Township,  was  born  in 
Washington  Township  of  the  same  county,  Feb- 
ruary 1,  1868,  son  of  John  N.  and  Christina  (Bash- 
ford)  Adair,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  The  respective 
families  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  at  an  early 


day,  and  John  and  Christina  were  married  here  and 
then  settled  on  a farm  in  Washington  Township. 
Later  they  lived  for  a time  in  Wisconsin,  but  on 
returning  to  Indiana  settled  in  Noble  Township, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  John  Adair 
was  active  in  the  republican  party  and  at  one  time 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  in  Whitley  County. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  There  were  four  sons  in  the  family:  Wil- 
liam, of  Whitley  County;  Thomas,  of  Whitley 
County;  Edwin  L.,  of  Albion;  and  John  W. 

John  W.  Adair  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  and 
received  the  advantages  of  the  district  schools  to 
the  age  of  sixteen.  He  then  continued  to  live  at 
home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-one,  and 
on  March  31,  1894,  he  established  a home  of  his  own 
by  his  marriage  to  Ella  E.  Knapp.  She  was  also 
born  in  Washington  Township. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adair  bought 
a farm  in  Washington  Township,  but  after  seven 
years  bought  their  present  home  in  Noble  Township. 
They  have  been  greatly  prospered  as  farmers  and 
in  1915  they  completed  a modern  country  home. 
Mr.  Adair  is  also  a director  in  the  Wolf  Creek 
Bank  and  a stockholder  in  the  Cromwell-Sparta 
State  Bank. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  he  on  its  finance  committee.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Adair  have  four  children : Merle,  a student 

in  Wolf  Lake  High  School;  Helen  F.,  also  a high 
school  girl;  and  Joseph  and  Donald,  both  attending 
the  grade  schools. 

John  D.  Miller,  Jr.,  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
and  stock  men  of  Eden  Township,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  agricultural  enterprise  of  La- 
Grange  County  since  early  manhood. 

He  was  born  on  a farm  in  Elkhart  County,  In- 
diana, July  10,  1885,  a son  of  David  C.  J.  and  Fannie 
Miller.  The  parents  were  both  natives  of  Elkhart 
County,  his  father  born  six  miles  east  of  Goshen. 
David  J.  Miller  spent  his  life  on  the  old  home 
where  he  was  born  and  reared.  He  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church.  In 
their  family  were  eight  children:  Jacob  D.,  John 

D.,  Catherine  deceased,  Lizzie,  Lydia,  Clara,  Amos 
and  Fannie. 

John  D.  Miller  grew  up  on  the  farm  where  his 
father  was  born,  attended  district  schools  and 
worked  for  his  father  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
On  February  22,  1906,  he  married  Katie  Christner. 
They  have  no  children  of  their  own  but  have  an 
adopted  child.  They  are  active  members  of  the 
Amish  Mennonite  Church. 

Mr.  Miller  has  a good  farm  of  ninety-nine  acres 
in  Eden  Township.  He  specializes  in  the  breeding 
of  Hereford  cattle,  his  herd  being  headed  by  Tips 
Star  Light  and  Tips  Cherry  Lass. 

Morton  Friend  is  proprietor  of  a farm  in  Mil- 
grove  Township,  part  of  which  was  acquired  by  his 
maternal  grandfather,  a member  of  the  original 
Vermont  colony  in  that  part  of  Steuben  County. 
Some  of  the  fields  have  been  in  cultivation  eighty 
years,  and  under  its  present  ownership  the  farm  is 
one  of  the  best  in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Morton  Friend  was  born  on  this  farm,  lo- 
cated a mile  north  of  Orland,  July  T3,  1873.  He  is 
a son  of  Jefferson  L.  and  Nancy  (Kidder)  Friend, 
his  mother  having  also  been  born  on  the  same  land. 
She  was  a daughter  of  Alanson  Kidder,  a native  of 
Vermont,  who  married  Alzoa  Chapin.  Alanson 
Kidder  was  with  the  first  settlers  who  came  from 
Vermont  to  Steuben  County  in  1836,  and  was  an  in- 
fluential member  of  the  Vermont  settlement  in  and 
around  Orland.  He  acquired  his  land,  cleared  it, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


57 


and  farmed  it  until  about  1866,  when  he  sold  and 
subsequently  moved  to  Trempealeau  County,  Wis- 
consin, where  he  died.  His  children  were  Mary, 
Laura,  Joseph,  Alzoa  and  Nancy.  Alanson  Kidder 
had  eighty  acres  of  the  farm  now  owned  by  Morton 
Friend. 

Jefferson  L.  Friend  was  a native  of  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  and  as  a boy  during  the  ’50s  went  with  his 
parents  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  making  the 
journey  with  ox  teams.  He  grew  to  manhood  in 
Northwest  Ohio,  and  attended  school  at  Orland. 
He  left  school  to  enter  the  army  and  served  during 
the  last  eleven  months  of  the  war  in  the  Fourteenth 
Michigan  Infantry.  A few  years  afterward  he 
bought  the  eighty  acres  from  Alanson  Kidder,  and 
through  his  energy  as  a farmer  and  good  manager 
increased  his  holdings  to  about  205  acres.  He  lived 
there  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  children  were : Fan- 
nie, wife  of  Dr.  Philip  Quick,  of  Olivet,  Michigan; 
Guy  K.,  who  married  Emma  Barber;  Morton;  Zoa, 
wife  of  Elmer  Hunter;  and  Gretchen,  wife  of  Jesse 
Reek. 

Morton  Friend  acquired  his  education  at  Orland, 
finishing  in  the  high  school.  Since  boyhood  he  has 
been  at  work  on  the  home  farm,  and  since  1900  has 
been  farming  the  place  for  himself.  He  owns  178 
acres  in  sections  17  and  20,  and  as  a stock  man  is  a 
breeder  of  blooded  Holstein  cattle. 

In  1903  he  married  Effie  Freeman,  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Olive  Freeman.  They  have  three 
children,  named  Maynard  J.,  Frances  Josephine  and 
Philip  K. 

Albert  J.  Collins.  There  are  several  communi- 
ties in  Northeast  Indiana  and  Southern  Michigan 
which  are  deeply  appreciative  of  the  services  of 
Albert  J.  Collins,  particularly  as  an  educator.  For 
thirty-eight  years  he  was  a schoolmaster,  school  ad- 
ministrator, and  only  recently  retired  from  his  office 
as  superintendent  of  schools  at  Orland  to  take  up 
his  duties  as  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of  Steuben 
County,  an  office  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1918. 
His  official  duties  require  his  residence  at  Angola,  to 
which  city  he  moved  in  the  summer  of  1919. 

Mr.  Collins  was  born  in  Delaware  Township,  De- 
fiance County,  Ohio,  November  27,  1861.  He  repre- 
sents old  American  stock.  His  grandparents  were 
William  and  Maria  Collins.  The  former  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  moved  in  early  manhood  to  De- 
fiance County,  Ohio,  and  spent  most  of  his  active  life 
as  a farmer  in  Defiance  and  Williams  County.  His 
children  were  named  John,  William,  Jr.,  Jesse  L., 
Mary  and  Nancy.  The  parents  of  the  Steuben 
County  official  were  Jesse  L.  and  Rachel  (Grow) 
Collins,  the  former  a native  of  Lucas  County,  Ohio, 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  Martin 
and  Elizabeth  (Myers)  Grow.  Jesse  L.  Collins 
when  a young  man  took  up  farming  in  Defiance 
County,  moved  to  Williams  County  in  that  state 
in  1864,  and  for  the  rest  of  his  active  life  was 
busily  engaged  with  the  duties  of  his  farm.  He 
spent  his  last  days  on  the  farm  of  his  son  Albert 
in  Millgrove  Township,  where  he  died  August  11, 
1911.  He  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the 
Dunkard  Church.  They  had  a large  family  of 
thirteen  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 
The  other  nine  were  named  Alvaro  S.,  Albert  J., 
Elizabeth  M„  Diantha,  who  died  in  childhood,  Viola 
T.,  Melissa  E.,  Jesse  Elmer,  who  died  when  a boy, 
Ora  E.  and  Chloe  G. 

Albert  J.  Collins  attended  his  first  schools  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio.  He  took  his  high  school 
work  at  Montpelier  and  Pioneer,  Ohio,  and  from 
high  school  entered  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan, 
where  he  completed  the  regular  course  and  grad- 


uated in  1892.  Mr.  Collins  was  a member  of  the 
Alpha  Tau  Omega  Greek  Letter  fraternity  at  Hills- 
dale, and  was  also  well  known  in  athletic  circles. 
He  especially  excelled  as  a wrestler,  and  has  in 
his  possession  six  medals  won  in  contests  held  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Michigan  Intercollegiate  Athletic 
Association. 

Since  his  graduation  from  Hillsdale  Mr.  Collins 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  has  steadily  devoted 
his  time  to  teaching.  In  the  fall  of  1893  he  came 
to  Orland  as  superintendent  of  public  schools.  He 
was  connected  with  the  schools  of  that  town  until 
1901,  and  from  then  until  1907  was  superintendent 
of  schools  at  Hamilton  and  from  1907  to  1912  was 
superintendent  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan.  During 
1912-13  he  was  temporarily  retired  from  school 
work,  and  spent  that  year  on  his  farm  in  Millgrove 
Township.  He  resumed  his  work  with  the  Orland 
schools  in  1913  as  assistant  superintendent,  and  in 
1914  was  made  superintendent.  Orland  has  some 
of  the  best  public  schools  in  Steuben  County,  and 
many  of  the  improvements  and  advances  have  been 
made  while  Mr.  Collins  has  been  in  charge. 

He  owns  a fine  farm  of  120  acres  in  section  32  of 
Millgrove  and  in  section  5 of  Jackson  Township. 
Mr.  Collins  was  therefore  not  without  long  and 
practical  experience  in  official  affairs  when  he  was 
inducted  into  the  office  of  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  at 
Orland. 

November  7,  1891,  he  married  Eva  Jane  Cleve- 
land, a daughter  of  Albertus  B.  and  Rebecca  J. 
Cleveland.  They  have  had  seven  children,  named 
as  follows : Albert  Russell,  Lois  G.,  Gelee,  who 

died  when  four  months  old,  Floiad  G.,  Cleveland  C., 
Rachel  R.  and  Albertus  B. 

Alfred  H.  King.  The  roll  of  prosperous  farmers 
in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County  would  not  be 
complete  without  reference  to  the  name  of  Alfred 
H.  King,  who  for  many  years  has  successfully 
tended  his  acres  and  looked  after  his  interests  as  an 
agriculturist  at  his  home  in  section  12. 

Mr.  King  represents  one  of  the  oldest  established 
families  in  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He  was 
born  in  Swan  Township,  November  1,  1872,  and  is 
a son  of  Ira  M.  and  Catherine  (Haines)  King,  the 
former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Ira  M.  King  was  born  September  18,  1828, 
and  came  to  Indiana  at  an  early  date.  His  parents 
settled  in  Noble  County  as  early  as  1837,  and  were 
among  the  first  to  develop  the  lands  in  Swan  Town- 
ship. He  married  for  his  first  wife  Jane  Perry,  a 
sister  of  George  Perry.  There  were  three  children 
by  that  union,  one  of  whom  is  John  King,  now  a 
resident  of  Michigan.  Ira  King  married  for  his 
second  wife  Catherine  Haines,  who  came  to  Noble 
County  in  1854.  To  their  marriage  were  born  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living:  Frank  E., 

a graduate  of  Purdue  University  with  the  degree 
of  Civil  Engineer,  and  has  attained  prominence  in 
his  profession;  Alfred  H. ; and  Lloyd  E.,  who  grad- 
uated from  Purdue  University  with  the  degree  of 
Electrical  Engineer  and  is  now  connected  with  the 
Western  Electric  Company  at  Peru,  Illinois. 

Alfred  H.  King  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Swan 
Township,  and  chose  agriculture  as  his  vocation. 
After  finishing  the  course  of  the  common  schools 
he  attended  Avilla  High  School,  and  later  graduated 
from  Purdue  University  with  the  degree  Bachelor 
of  Science.  He  has  turned  his  university  training 
to  good  account  as  a farmer.  For  several  years  he 
looked  after  the  home  farm  and  he  now  owns 
ninety-five  acres. 

August  29,  1901,  he  married  Miss  Alberta  Boden- 


58 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


hafer,  daughter  of  Levi  and  Eva  (Morgan)  Boden- 
hafer.  Mrs.  King  is  a graduate  of  the  Avilla  High 
School,  and  before  her  marriage  was  a teacher  at 
Kendallville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  King  have  three  chil- 
dren : Laura  A.,  a graduate  of  the  high  school,  and 
Winston  L.  and  Harry  P.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Avilla  and 
Mr.  King  is  one  of  the  official  board  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

Jacob  C.  Troyer  has  spent  many  years  as  a suc- 
cessful farmer  in  LaGrange  County,  his  home  being 
a mile  north  and  three-quarters  of  a mile  west  of 
Topeka.  He  is  in  Eden  Township  and  owns  a 
seventy-acre  place  in  sections  twenty-three  and 
twenty-four. 

Mr.  Troyer  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
February  4,  1868,  a son  of  Levi  B.  and  Leah  (Zook) 
Troyer.  His  father  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  and  at  the  age  of  four  years  went  to  Wayne 
County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  His 
wife  was  a native  of  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
but  was  married  in  Ohio.  In  the  family  of  Levi 
Troyer  and  wife  were  five  children:  Mennow  Z., 

of  McPherson  County,  Kansas;  Joel  L.,  of  West 
Liberty,  Ohio;  Jacob  C.,  and  Mary  A.  and  Emma, 
the  latter  of  McPherson  County,  Kansas. 

Jacob  C.  Troyer  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Wayne  County  and  lived  there  until  he  was  thirty 
years  of  age.  He  married  in  Indiana  and  then  for 
a brief  time  lived  in  Wayne  County  before  coming 
to  his  present  place  in  LaGrange  County. 

Mr.  Troyer  married  Elizabeth  Hostettler  Decem- 
ber 6,  1892.  She  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  December  7,  1870,  daughter  of 
Moses  and  Mary  A.  (Mehl)  Hostettler.  She  was 
reared  and  educated  in  her  native  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Troyer  have  no  children  of  their  own  but 
have  adopted  a nephew  of  Mrs.  Troyer,  Keith  W. 
Hostettler,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools 
and  is  now  in  the  high  school  at  Goshen.  Mr. 
Troyer  and  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church  at  Maple  Grove.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Topeka  State 
Bank. 

Frank  B.  Deller,  who  has  lived  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty over  sixty  years,  is  the  only  surviving  son  of  a 
rather  large  family,  and  taking  the  old  homestead 
which  had  been  cleared  and  improved  by  his  father 
in  Scott  Township,  he  has  gone  steadily  ahead  im- 
proving and  making  use  of  his  talents,  and  has  in- 
creased his  material  possessions  until  he  is  now 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Deller  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
January  18,  1854,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Hannah 
(Wolf)  Deller.  His  mother  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1823.  Benjamin  Deller,  who  was  born  in 
France  in  1813,  was  fourteen  years  old  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  New  York  City.  He  was 
a son  of  Gotlieb  and  Elizabeth  Deller,  who  soon 
located  in  Pennsylvania,  and  afterward  moved  to 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  where  Gotlieb  died  a few 
years  later  on  his  farm.  His  widow  then  lived  with 
her  children  and  moved  with  them  to  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  during  the  ’40s.  The  Deller  family 
had  a log  house  in  Williams  County.  In  1857  they 
came  to  Steuben  County,  where  Benjamin  Deller 
and  wife  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  their 
son  Frank.  Of  160  acres  not  a stick  of  timber  had 
been  cut,  and  the  first  home  of  the  family  was  a log 
building.  Benjamin  Deller  as  his  means  increased 
put  up  a substantial  barn  in  1859  and  a house  in  i860, 
and  lived  there  in  comfortable  circumstances  until 
his  death  in  1874.  His  wife  died  in  1876.  He  was 


a democrat,  and  they  were  members  of  the  Dunkard 
Church.  Their  children  were  : Lucinda  ; William, 

who  was  a Union  soldier,  was  wounded  in  battle 
and  died  at  Nashville,  Tennessee;  twin  children 
who  died  in  infancy;  Elizabeth;  Jane;  Frank;  Mary; 
and  Lydia. 

Frank  Deller  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead  and 
acquired  a good  education  in  the  district  schools  and 
in  the  Angola  High  School.  In  early  manhood  he 
applied  his  energies  to  farming  on  the  home  place, 
and  had  just  come  to  manhood  when  his  father 
died..  Taking  the  original  160  acres,  he  has  gradu- 
ally increased  its  area  until  he  now  has  358  acres. 
This  land  is  improved  with  modern  buildings,  and 
the  material  for  those  buildings  came  chiefly  from 
timber  grown  and  cut  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Deller  is  a 
general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  has  a pure- 
bred Shorthorn  bull  and  grades  of  Holstein  and 
Jersey  cattle.  He  has  never  sought  any  office,  and  is 
a democratic  voter.  He  gave  the  land  on  which 
the  South  Scott  Union  Church  is  built,  and  there  his 
family  attend  church  and  Sunday  school. 

Mr.  Deller  is  proud  of  his  family  of  children  and 
his  numerous  grandchildren.  March  18,  1877,  he 
married  Miss  Clara  Cleveland,  who  was  born  in 
Steuben  County,  November  11,  1859,  a daughter  of 
Frederick  and  Amelia  (Taylor)  Cleveland.  Her 
parents  were  pioneers  in  the  county,  where  her 
father  died  in  1864.  Her  mother  later  married  John 
Lininger,  and  she  died  August  6,  1901.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Deller  have  six  children : William,  Lowell, 

Ella,  Margie,  Frank  H.  and  Wayne  B.  The  two 
youngest  sons  are  in  the  home  circle.  William, 
whose  home  is  in  Steuben  Township,  married  Lena 
Dutler  and  has  five  children,  named  Ruth,  Maud, 
Helen,  Hershel  and  Lewis.  Lowell,  who  lives  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  Scott  Township,  married  Jennie 
Quance,  and  has  four  children,  Audry,  Russell, 
Roscoe  and  Margaret.  Ella  is  the  wife  of  Cary  E. 
Coveil,  former  county  surveyor  and  chairman  of  the 
Draft  Board,  and  has  two  children,  Lucile  and  Wen- 
dell. Margie  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Sanders  and  the 
mother  of  two  children,  Dorothy  and  Willis.  Margie 
Deller  was  first  married  to  Earl  Beard  and  had  one 
son,  Robert. 

A.  J.  Rich  has  lived  a life  of  varied  experience, 
rich  in  service  and  hard  work,  but  for  the  greater 
part  he  has  been  a successful  farmer  in  Noble 
County.  Mr.  Rich  has  a fine  and  well  improved 
place  of  221  acres  in  section  25  of  Swan  Township, 
and  makes  his  home  in  the  Village  of  Laotto. 

He  was  born  in  Eel  River  Township  of  Allen 
County,  Indiana,  July  27,  1864,  son  of  Byram  L. 
and  Sarmelia  (Brook)  Rich.  His  father  was  born 
in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  July  2,  1833,  and  his  mother 
in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  July  3rd,  of  the  same 
year.  She  came  with  her  parents  to  Noble  County 
and  they  settled  in  Green  Township  as  early  as 
1848,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there. 

The  Rich  family  is  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the 
early  history  of  Allen  County,  Indiana.  They  set- 
tled on  the  Maumee  River,  eight  miles  east  of 
Fort  Wayne,  as  early  as  1837.  Four  years  later 
they  moved  to  Whitley  County,  near  Churubusco. 
The  father  of  Byram  L.  Rich  was  a blacksmith  by 
trade.  He  kept  a well  patronized  shop  on  his  land 
in  Whitley  County.  He  was  a very  skillful  worker 
and  deserved  all  the  patronage  that  came  to  him. 
Later  he  went  to  Mason  County,  Illinois,  but  finally 
returned  to  Whitley  County  and  spent  his  last  years 
in  Churubusco.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  He  was  a republican  and  for  many 
years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace.  The 
death  of  this  old  pioneer  occurred  in  1887. 

Byram  L.  Rich  was  one  of  six  children.  After 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


59 


his  marriage  he  went  to  Illinois,  then  lived  in  Allen 
County,  Indiana,  for  some  years,  and  in  1873  moved 
to  Noble  County.  During  all  his  active  life  he 
was  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  Of 
their  nine  children  five  grew  to  maturity,  and  those 
still  living  are  : Appleton  ; Mrs.  Sloffer,  of  Laotto  ; 

A.  J.  Rich ; and  Mrs.  Dickes. 

A.  J.  Rich  was  nine  years  old  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Noble  County,  and  he  received  some  of 
his  schooling  here.  In  1879  he  went  back  to  Allen 
County,  and  in  1883  he  and  his  brother  went  south 
and  he  was  in  the  South  for  a period  of  eighteen 
months.  On  returning  to  Allen  County  he  worked 
on  his  father’s  farm.  September  20,  1891,  Mr.  Rich 
married  Ida  A.  Zinn.  She  was  born  on  the  farm  in 
section  23  of  Swan  Township  September  1,  1868, 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Her 
father,  Levi  Zinn,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
married  Mary  A.  Fryer.  They  were  married  in 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  then  located  in  DeKalb 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rich  are  the  parents  of  two 
children:  Waldo  A.,  born  July  13,  1892,  has  been 

in  the  service  of  the  United  States  army  during 
the  great  war,  and  Perma  A.,  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  now  a student  in  Indiana  State  Uni- 
versity. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Mr.  Rich  is  a Mason,  and  his  wife  and  children  are 
members  of  the  Eastern  Star.  In  politics  he  is  a 
steadfast  supporter  of  republican  interests. 

George  W.  Geiger  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
Green  Township,  Noble  County,  and  his  position 
and  citizenship  is  the  more  esteemed  because  of  the 
fact  that  he  is  a surviving  veteran  of  the  great  war 
for  the  Union.  He  was  a young  man  when  he  bore 
arms  in  defense  of  the  flag,  and  since  then  for  more 
than  half  a century  he  has  been  identified  with  the 
agricultural  community  where  he  was  born  and 
reared. 

On  the  farm  that  he  now  owns,  comprising  100 
acres,  he  was  born,  March  7,  1841,  son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  J.  (McGuire)  Geiger.  His  parents  were 
born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  his  father  December 
22,  1814,  and  his  mother  in  1815.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Licking  County,  September  18,  1835,  and  a 
few  days  later  they  joined  a party  of  thirty  or  more 
who  started  with  wagons  and  teams  and  after  six 
weeks  of  journeying  over  rough  roads  and  trails 
arrived  on  Eel  River  in  Indiana,  October  20,  1835. 
In  Green  Township,  of  Noble  County,  Thomas 
Geiger  bought  200  acres  of  wild  land.  He  at  once 
began  its  clearing  and  cultivation,  and  continued  one 
of  the  sturdy  citizens  of  that  locality  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  a republican.  Of  eleven  children  born 
to  this  worthy  pioneer  couple  only  four  are  now 
living:  William,  a farmer  in  Green  Township; 

Clara,  wife  of  Horace  McDuffee ; George  W. ; and 
Irene,  widow  of  James  Harter. 

George  W.  Geiger  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  as  a boy  assisted  in  the  work  of  the  fields  and 
in  clearing  more  of  the  land.  He  had  a common 
school  education.  On  August  7,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  E of  the  Eightieth  Indiana  Infantry.  A 
few  weeks  later,  on  the  8th  of  October,  he  partici- 
pated in  the  battle  of  Perryville,  Kentucky.  Decern- - 
ber  29,  1862,  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Murfreesboro 
or  Stone  River,  and  after  that  continued  with  his 
command  until  May  12,  1863,  when  he  was  taken  ill, 
and  after  a period  in  a hospital  was  granted  an  hon- 
orable discharge  November  3,  1863.  He  then  re- 
turned home  and  has  since  applied  himself  to  the 


main  business  of  life,  farming,  of  which  he  has  made 
a notable  success. 

On  August  12,  1862,  a few  days  after  his  enlist- 
ment in  the  army,  Mr.  Geiger  married  Miss  Rebecca 
Russell.  They  had  a long  and  happy  life  together 
for  over  half  a century,  until  their  companionship 
was  terminated  by  her  death  on  August  17,  1913. 
Mr.  Geiger  has  four  children:  Catherine,  wife  of 

William  Hosier;  Dora,  wife  of  C.  V.  Crider;  A.  M. 
Geiger,  of  Allen  County,  Indiana;  and  Herschei 
Geiger,  of  Green  Township,  Noble  County.  June 
27,  1918,  Mr.  Geiger  married  Mrs.  Alice  Robinson, 
who  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Alice  Pratt.  ’ Mr.  Geiger  and 
family  are  members  of  . the  Close  Communion  Bap- 
tist Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a republican. 

John  W.  Low.  The  family  name  of  Low  is  one 
of  the  first  to  occur  in  the  annals  of  Clear  Spring 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  and  the  veteran  farmer 
and  business  man,  proprietor  of  the  Sunnyside  Farm 
in  Eden  Township,  John  W.  Low,  is  a son  of  the 
original  pioneer. 

Mr.  Low,  whose  farm  is  a mile  and  one-quarter 
north  of  Topeka,  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship February  9,  1845,  a son  of  Nicholas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Hendricks)  Low.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Baltimore  County,  Maryland,  where  they 
grew  up  and  on  coming  west  lived  for  a time  in 
Ohio  and  in  1832  entered  three  hundred  twenty 
acres  in  Clear  Spring  Township.  They  were  prob- 
ably the  second  family  to  locate  in  that  township, 
which  then  was  a wilderness  with  the  Indians  still 
roaming  through  the  woods.  Nicholas  Low  cleared  a 
space  among  the  trees  for  his  cabin,  and  gradually 
cleared  up  his  land  and  died  there  about  1885.  His 
wife  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  he 
was  a democrat  in  politics.  In  their  family  were 
nine  children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  one 
at  the  age  of  ten  years,  and  the  others  are : Mary 

J.,  wife  of  Joel  Greenawalt,  of  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship; Thomas,  living  in  California;  John,  and  Mar- 
tha, widow  of  Solomon  Herrington. 

John  Low  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and  had  a 
district  school  education.  In  November,  1867,  he 
married  Elizabeth  Coppes.  She  was  a daughter  of 
Kichard  and  Hannah  Coppes  and  spent  her  girlhood 
m Clear  Spring  Township,  where  she  and  Mr.  Low 
attended  the  same  school.  After  their  marriage 
they  lived  on  the  Coppes  Farm  for  three  years,  and 
in  1872  bought  the.  place  where  Mr.  Low  is  still 
ivmg.  He  has  a ninety-acre  farm  and  many  years 
of  industry  have  brought  their  sure  rewards  in 
comfort  and  a competence  for  his  declining  years 
Air.  Low  lost  his  first  wife  January  20,  1889.  She 
WaS  jh j mother  of  three  children:  Hannah,  who 

attended  the  common  schools  and  Hillsdale  Colle°-e 
and  is  now  the  wife  of  Rudolph  Kenagy,  of  Topeka, 
Inmana;  Martha  J.,  a graduate  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School,  has  been  a very  successful  teacher,  doing 
her  first  work  in  district  schools,  spending  eight 
years  at  Alarion,  Indiana,  for  three  years  was  at  Gary 
Indiana,  two  years  at  Oakland,  California,  and  is  now 
connected  with  the  schools  of  Michigan  City,  and 
Emma,  who  also  attended  the  State  Normal  and 
taught  tor  a number  of  years  in  the  district  schools, 
is  the  wife  of  William  O.  Hostettler  of  Eden  Town- 
ship. . On  May  3,  1891,  Mr.  Low  married  Laura 
Brentiss,  of  Noble  County,  where  she  was  born 
Mrs,  Low  is  a veteran  teacher,  having  thirty-two 
terms  to  her  credit.  She  is  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  at  .Topeka.  . Mr.  Low  was  counted  as  the 
second  active  prohibitionist  in  his  township,  and 
several  times  seryed  as  county  chairman  of  his 
party.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  stockholders  in 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Topeka. 


60 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


William  E.  Butz.  While  he  has  always  gone 
about  his  affairs  quietly  and  with  an  unassuming 
nature,  William  E.  Butz  has  been  identified  with  the 
energetic  and  enterprising  citizenship  of  Noble  Coun- 
ty for  over  thirty  years,  and  is  one  of  its  most 
useful  citizens. 

He  was  born  on  a farm  in  York  Township  adjoin- 
ing the  one  where  he  lives  today  on  May  14,  1868. 
His  father,  Christian  Butz,  was  born  in  Germany 
and  came  to  the  United  States  when  a young  man, 
first  locating  in  York  Township  of  Noble  County 
and  later  buying  land  there.  He  married  Mary  Lee, 
and  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  in  that  locality. 
They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
Christian  was  a democrat.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten 
children,  and  nine  are  still  living:  Minnie,  of  York 
Township;  Ulric,  a farmer,  contractor  and  carpenter 
in  York  Township;  John  G.,  a York  Township  farm- 
er; Anna,  wife  of  John  Shisler ; Lena,  wife  of  Clar- 
ence Wemple;  William  E. ; Ida,  wife  of  George 
Hoffman;  Fred,  of  Kendallville ; and  Clara,  wife  of 
Thorlo  Shaffer,  of  Kendallville. 

William  E.  Butz  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a district  school  education.  After  reaching  man- 
hood he  married  Delma  Renahan.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  six  children : Cleo,  a graduate  of  high  school, 
who  attended  Defiance  College  in  Ohio  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Walter  Wolfe;  Lela,  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  wife  of  Harvey  Hull;  Forest,  a high 
school  graduate;  Harold,  in  the  second  year  of  high 
school;  Walter,  in  the  eighth  grade;  and  Ruby. 

Mr.  Butz  has  been  greatly  prospered  in  his  busi- 
ness affairs  and  is  proprietor  of  the  Walnut  Row 
Farm,  consisting  of  three  hundred  and  forty  acres 
and  one  of  the  best  farms  in  York  Township.  Mr. 
Butz  is  well  known  as  a breeder  of  Belgian  horses 
and  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  is  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Wawaka,  a director  in 
the  Farmers  Telephone  Company,  and  in  politics  is 
a democrat.  He  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church,  while  his  wife  and  children  are  members  of 
the  Christian  Church. 

Claud  D.  Killinger.  Every  progressive  com- 
munity in  order  to  keep  up  its  progress  must  de- 
pend not  only  upon  the  enterprise  of  its  older  fam- 
ilies but  also  the  fresh  blood  and  life  of  new- 
comers. One  of  the  younger  men  who  have 
recently  identified  themselves  with  Steuben  County 
is  Claud  D.  Killinger,  now  the  head  of  a thriving 
business  as  a merchant  at  Metz. 

Mr.  Killinger  was  born  at  Edgerton  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  January  4,  1880,  a son  of  William 
Henry  and  Mary  (Schaffer)  Killinger.  His  parents 
were  both  born  in  Williams  County,  his  father  in 
1849  and  his  mother  in  1851.  The  grandparents, 
John  and  Rebecca  Killinger,  and  John  and  Mary 
Schaffer,  were  identified  with  the  very  early  settle- 
ment and  development  of  Williams  County.  William 
Henry  Killinger  grew  up  on  a farm,  had  a public 
school  education  and  as  the  oldest  son  assumed 
responsibilities  in  advance  of  his  years.  He  con- 
tinued farming  until  1888,  and  since  then  has  been 
engaged  in  the  meat  business  at  Edgerton.  He  is  a 
republican  and  served  for  several  years  as  assessor, 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows.  He  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  His  first  wife  died  in  1888,  the  mother  of 
four  children,  Holly,  Edward,  Claud  D.  and  Georgia. 
For  his  second  wife  William  H.  Killinger  married 
Sarah  Eve,  and  they  have  two  children,  Gola  May 
and  Maurice. 

Claud  D.  Killinger  grew  up  at  Edgerton,  at- 
tended the  high  school  there,  and  while  going  to 
school  was  clerk  and  delivery  boy  with  a local  gro- 


cery firm.  Later  he  learned  more  about  merchandis- 
ing as  clerk  at  Edgerton,  and  in  1913  moved  to  Metz 
to  take  the  management  of  the  Stiefel  store.  Four 
years  later,  when  the  Stiefel  Company  went  out  of 
business,  he  remained  at  the  old  stand,  introducing 
his  stock  of  goods,  and  today  the  C.  D.  Killinger 
Company  supplies  much  of  the  merchandise  con- 
sumed in  that  section  of  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Killinger  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Metz.  In  1905  he  married 
Miss  Glida  Sickels,  of  Steuben  County,  daughter  of 
Ananias  and  Flora  Sickels,  who  were  early  settlers 
here.  The  father  is  still  living  in  Metz. 

Frederick  L.  Bluhm  is  one  of  the  oldest  bankers 
of  Kendallville  in  point  of  active  experience.  He 
is  now  secretary  of  the  Kendallville  Trust  & Sav- 
ings Company  and  has  been  connected  at  different 
times  with  practically  all  the  banks  of  that  city. 

He  was  born  March  20,  1856,  and  in  1871,  at  the 
age  of  fifteen,  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents.  The  family  located  at  Kendallville,  where 
he  finished  his  education.  A poor  boy,  he  went 
to  work  on  the  farm  of  John  Mitchell,  and  was  in 
his  employ  for  about  nine  years.  During  that  time 
he  also  attended  night  school  and  made  himself  pro- 
ficient in  the  English  language  and  other  branches. 
He  also  saved  most  of  his  earnings,  and  had  a 
steady  ambition  to  make  the  best  of  his  opportuni- 
ties. For  a year  he  worked  in  the  great  car  works 
of  Haskell  & Barker  at  Michigan  City,  but  then 
resumed  employment  with  Mr.  Mitchell,  then  pres- 
ident of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Kendallville. 
Mr.  Mitchell  took  much  interest  in  the  young  man, 
gave  him  every  encouragement  and  opportunity  to 
learn  banking  thoroughly,  and  if  there  is  any  de- 
tail in  the  management  of  a bank  in  which  he  has 
not  had  experience  Mr.  Bluhm  does  not  know  what 
it  is.  He  worked  as  a janitor,  as  general  utility 
boy,  and  clerk,  and  from  that  through  all  the 
grades  of  responsibilty.  He  was  with  the  First 
National  Bank  from  1882  to  1893.  He  was  then 
made  cashier,  and  continued  with  the  institution 
until  it  liquidated  May  1,  1894.  After  that  he  was 
with  the  Campbell  & Fetter  Bank  fifteen  years,  and 
resigned  to  become  assistant  cashier  in  the  Noble 
County  Bank.  After  eight  years  there  he  entered 
upon  his  present  duties  as  secretary  of  the  Kendall- 
ville Trust  & Savings  Company. 

Mr.  Bluhm  married  May  29,  1888,  Louise  Lang. 
She  was  born  in  Brooklyn,  New  York,  March  24, 
1859,  and  was  brought  to  Kendallville  by  her  par- 
ents in  1864.  She  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  that  city.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bluhm  have  two  chil- 
dren : Maurice  L„  born  March  25,  1889,  a graduate 
of  the  Kendallville  High  School  and  of  Indiana 
University  with  the  degree  A.  B.,  following  which 
he  entered  the  law  school  of  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago. He  is  now  serving  as  an  interne  in  the  United 
States  navy.  He  married  Clara  Miller,  a teacher 
in  the  public  schools  of  Kendallville.  Edith  Bluhm, 
a daughter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bluhm,  is  a graduate 
of  the  Kendallville  High  School  and  wife  of  John 
F.  Gerwig,  of  Auburn,  Indiana.  The  Bluhm  family 
are  members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and 
politically  he  is  a republican.  He  has  served  as  city 
clerk  three  years  and  was  a member  of  the  City 
Council  from  1899  to  1911. 

Samuel  F.  Harlan  is  one  of  the  older  residents 
of  Green  Township,  Noble  County,  and  for  a num- 
ber of  years  has  been  the  proprietor  of  what  is 
known  as  High  Point  Farm,  situated  on  the  highest 
point  of  land  between  Fort  Wayne  and  Goshen. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


61 


Mr.  Harlan  is  a man  who  has  become  successful 
through  his  own  exertions  and  by  relying  entirely 
upon  himself.  He  started  life  without  capital  beyond 
a pair  of  willing  hands,  and  has  gained  a good  farm, 
provided  for  his  family,  and  enjoys  the  complete 
respect  and  esteem  of  a large  community. 

He  was  born  in  section  17  of  Green  Township 
July  19,  1869,  son  of  James  and  Agnes  (Baker) 
Harlan.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  his 
father  a native  of  Ashland  County.  They  were 
married  in  that  state  and  then  came  to  Indiana  and 
lived  on  a farm  in  Green  Township  of  Noble  Coun- 
ty, where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Both 
were  active  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and 
the  father  was  a republican.  Their  five  living  chil- 
dren are:  Myrtle,  wife  of  John  S.  Friskney;  Jane, 

wife  of  Abraham  Ott;  Fannie,  wife  of  Frederick 
Ott ; Daniel,  of  Noble  Township;  and  Samuel  F. 

Samuel  F.  Harlan  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a limited  district  school  education.  When 
he  was  only  twelve  years  old  a neighboring  farmer 
offered  him  a home  and  wages  of  four  dollars  a 
month.  From  that  as  a beginning  he  steadily  in- 
creased his  abilities  and  in  a few  years  was  getting 
sixteen  dollars  a month  as  a farm  hand.  He  was 
not  a spendthrift  as  a youth  and  by  the  time  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age  had  more  capital  laid 
away  than  most  young  men  at  that  period  of  life. 

On  November  22,  1890,  Mr.  Harlan  married  Miss 
Catherine  Hire.  She  was  born  in  Whitley  County, 
Indiana,  October  22,  1871,  daughter  of  Leonard  and 
Ellen  (Bumbaugh)  Hire.  After  their 'marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harlan  bought  forty  acres,  included  within 
their  present  home,  but  they  have  greatly  extended 
their  possessions  until  they  now  have  180  acres,  all 
well  improved  and  constituting  some  of  the  most 
productive  soil  in  Noble  County.  The  farm  has  a 
good  barn  and  a modern  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harlan  had  four  children : Cleta 

May  married  Omer  Zumbrun  of  Green  Township ; 
Bernice  E.  is  the  deceased  wife  of  Floyd  Shively; 
Elza  J.  is  unmarried  and  living  at  home ; and  Lynn 
H.,  born  in  1908,  is  still  in  school.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren  and  Mr. 
Harlan  is  one  of  its  deacons.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 

William  O.  Hildebrand,  M.  D.  In  the  county 
where  he  was  born  and  reared  Dr.  William  O. 
Hildebrand  has  carried  on  a very  successful  career 
as  a physician  and  surgeon  for  the  past  fifteen  years, 
with  home  and  offices  at  Topeka. 

Doctor  Hildebrand  was  born  in  -Bloomfield  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County  April  29,  1876,  a son  of 
William  and  Derline  (Debow)  Hildebrand.  His 
father  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  in  1841  and  his 
mother  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  1845.  Mr. 
Hildebrand  when  a boy  came  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  with  his  parents,  Moses  and  Maria  (Seig- 
ler)  Hildebrand,  who  located  near  Auburn.  He 
grew  up  there  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Bloomfield  Township.  His  wife  died  there 
in  1884.  They  were  active  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Church. 

Doctor  Hildebrand,  only  son  of  his  parents,  grew 
up  on  a farm  northeast  of  LaGrange,  and  completed 
his  preliminary  education  in  the  common  schools 
there.  He  graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High 
School  in  1898,  and  acquired  his  first  knowledge  of. 
medicines  as  a drug  clerk  at  Kendallville,  where  he 
remained  two  years.  He  paid  his  own  way  through 
the  Indiana  Medical  College,  entering  in  1901  and 
graduating  in  1905.  He  has  done  much  i to  improve 
his  opportunities  not  only  by  experience  but  also  by 
a post-graduate  course  at  Chicago  in  1907  and  one 


at  the  New  York  Post-Graduate  School  in  1912. 
Since  1905  he  has  had  a busy  practice  at  Topeka  and 
is  specializing  in  the  treatment  of  the  eye,  ear  and 
throat.  Doctor  Hildebrand  is  a member  of  the 
County,  State,  Tri-State  and  American  Medical 
Associations. 

November  26,  1902,  he  married  Miss  Edith  M. 
Robbins.  They  have  one  daughter,  Nedra  L.,  born 
November  26,  1909.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Doctor  Hildebrand  is  affiliated 
with  Topeka  Lodge  of  Masons,  the  Ligonier  Chapter 
and  Council,  and  is  a republican  in  politics.  He  and 
his  family  reside  in  a modern  home  completed  in 
1912.  Doctor  Hildebrand  is  a stockholder  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Topeka.  For  two  years  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Town  Council.  He  accepted  that 
post  of  responsibility  largely  in  order  to  push  the 
movement  for  the  installing  of  a waterworks  and 
electric  light  system,  a valuable  improvement  brought 
about  while  he  was  a member  of  the  Council. 

William  A.  Cook,  partner  and  business  associate 
with  his  son-in-law,  Charles  E.  Lingle,  conducting 
the  leading  hardware  business  at  Hamilton,  is  a man 
of  wide  experience  and  has  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  business  affairs  for  over  forty  years. 

He  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 7,  1854,  son  of  George  and  Catherine  (Young) 
Cook  and  grandson  of  George  Cook,  Sr.,  a native 
of  Germany  who  came  to  America  when  a young 
man  and  located  on  a farm  in  Pennsylvania.  George 
Cook,  Jr.,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Craw- 
ford County,  Ohio,  in  the  early  fifties  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  there  as  a farmer.  His  wife, 
Catherine  Young,  died  in  1855,  the  mother  of  ten 
children : David,  George,  Mary,  Sarah  and  Andrew, 
both  of  whom  died  young,  Samuel,  Frederick, 
Rachel,  Elizabeth  and  William  A. 

William  A.  Cook  was  only  seven  months  old  when 
his  mother  died.  His  father  later  married  Mrs. 
Rebecca  Ronk.  William  A.  Cook  grew  up  in  the 
home  of  his  stepmother  and  has  for  her  memory 
only  praise  and  gratitude,  since  she  was  in  every 
respect  a good  and  kind  mother  to  him.  He  attended 
school  in  Crawford  County,  did  some  farming  in 
Whetstone  Township  of  that  county,  and  in  early 
manhood  married  Lottie  Beck,  daughter  of  Adam 
and  Sarah  Beck.  About  four  years  after  his  mar- 
riage he  moved  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  con- 
tinued farming  there  for  a number  of  years.  He 
then  engaged  in  business,  and  coming  to  Hamilton, 
Indiana,  h^  and  his  son-in-law,  Charles  E.  Lingle, 
bought  the  general  hardware  business  which  has 
since  been  conducted  and  has  prospered  under  their 
management. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook  have  one  child,  Iola,  wife  of 
Charles  E.  Lingle. 

Charles  E.  Lingle  is  one  of  the  enterprising 
young  merchants  of  Steuben  County,  and  active 
head  of  the  leading  hardware  business  at  Hamilton. 
He  spent  most  of  his  life  over  the  Ohio  state  line  in 
Williams  County  and  was  born  there  at  Evansport, 
February  12,  1880,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Fannie 
(Eagle)  Lingle,  both  natives  of  Williams  County. 
His  father  was  a farmer.  Charles  E.  Lingle  was 
one  of  twin  brothers,  William  and  Charles.  He 
attended  public  school  in  his  native  county,  and  at 
the  beginning  of  his  independent  career  went  to 
Flint.  Michigan,  and  spent  four  years  in  the  Durant 
and  Dort  carriage  factory,  which  has  since  become 
an  important  auxiliary  of  the  great  automobile  in- 
dustry at  Flint.  He  then  returned  to  his  native 
county,  locating  at  Edon,  and  in  1905  bought  the 
hardware  business  at  Hamilton,  Indiana,  and  has 


62 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


conducted  a flourishing  enterprise  there.  His  busi- 
ness associate  and  partner  is  his  father-in-law, 
William  A.  Cook. 

Mr.  Lingle  married  in  November,  1903,  Iola  Cook, 
daughter  of  W.  A.  and  Lottie  Cook.  They  have 
two  children,  Raymond  and  Isabel.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lingle  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Peter  J.  Miller  is  a hard  working,  industrious 
and  upright  citizen  of  Clear  Spring  Township  in 
LaGrange  County,  diligently  working  his  home  farm 
in  section  10,  in  the  same  community  where  he  was 
born  and  reared. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  March  10,  1872,  a son  of 
Jacob  J.  and  Mattie  (Nisley)  Miller,  the  former  a 
native  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio.  The  grandfather, 
Joni  Miller,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  from  there 
came  to  Ohio,  later  came  to  Indiana,  and  died  in 
LaGrange  County.  Joni  Miller  had  sixteen  chil- 
dren, named  Jacob  J.,  Christ,  Jeremiah,  Joni,  Joseph, 
Emanuel,  Samuel,  John,  Mattie,  Anne,  Lizzie  and 
five  others  that  died  in  infancy.  In  the  family  of 
Jacob  J.  Miller  were  eleven  children,  ten  of  whom 
are  living  today,  named,  John,  Anna,  Joni,  Peter  J., 
Susie,  Lydia,  Fannie,  Eli,  Noah  and  Jatob. 

Peter  J.  Miller  spent  his  boyhood  on  a farm  in 
the  same  section  as  that  in  which  his  present  home 
is  located.  He  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
when  not  in  school  worked  on  the  home  farm  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  December  3,  1892, 
he  married  Elizabeth  Miller,  who  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  she  now  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
attended  the  same  school.  Since  their  marriage  they 
have  lived  in  Clear  Spring  and  Newbury  townships 
and  have  occupied  their  present  well  situated  and 
valuable  farm  of  120  acres  since  February  19,  1901. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  four  children : Emanuel, 
who  married  Lizzie  Yoder  and  lives  in  Clear  Spring 
Township;  Lydia,  who  is  the  wife  of  V.  V.  Lam- 
bright;  and  Amandus  and  Joni,  unmarried  and  at 
home.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Amish 
Mennonite  Church. 

Frank  B.  Phillips.  The  membership  of  the  Phil- 
lips family  in  Steuben  County  comprises  a number 
of  very  successful  farmers,  good  citizens  and  people 
of  all  around  worth  and  ability.  One  of  them  is 
Frank  B.  Phillips,  who  was  born  in  that  county,  and 
is  successfully  identified  with  the  ownership  and 
management  of  a good  farm  in  Salem  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  January  31, 
1864,  a son  of  Addison  and  Elizabeth  (Wade)  Phil- 
lips. His  mother  was  a native  of  Canada,  a daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Jane  (Giles)  Wade,  a family  that 
came  in  early  times  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana. 
Addison  Phillips  was  born  in  New  York  State  Oc- 
tober 21,  ,1821,  and  as  a young  man  worked  on  the 
Erie  Canal.  In  early  manhood  he  came  to  Steuben 
County,  and  arrived  here  practically  penniless  and 
worked  out  by  the  month  on  a farm.  Later  his  par- 
ents came  on  and  settled  at  Hamilton,  where  both  of 
them  now  rest  in  the  cemetery.  Addison  Phillips 
eventually  settled  in  Jackson  Township,  where  he 
acquired  103  acres  of  new  land.  A log  cabin  stood 
on  the  ground,  but  otherwise  there  were  few  im- 
provements worthy  of  the  name.  He  kept  up  the 
work  diligently  for  many  years,  and  before  his 
death  had  good  buildings  and  a farm  thoroughly 
productive.  His  wife  died  on  the  old  farm  Decem- 
ber 29,  1887,  and  he  died  there  in  1899.  He  was  very 
independent  in  politics,  voting  as  a republican,  also 
as  a greenbacker,  and  was  a supporter  of  Bryan 
during  his  first  presidential  campaign.  Addison 
Phillips  and  wife  had  a large  family  of  children, 
namely:  Rollin,  born  December  16,  1854;  Rebecca, 


born  March  19,  1856,  deceased;  Ellen,  born  Sep- 
tember 24,  1857;  Ida  Isabel,  born  August  14,  1859; 
Otis  E,  born  September  20,  1861,  deceased;  Frank; 
Charles,  born  January  29,  1866;  Adelbert,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1868 ; Mary  Elizabeth,  born  September 
20,  1871 ; Anna  Lorene,  born  October  15,  1873,  de- 
ceased; and  Jay  W.,  born  March  14,  1877,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Frank  B.  Phillips  grew  up  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead and  after  getting  his  education  worked  at 
what  has  been  the  chief  business  of  his  life.  For 
three  years  he  rented  and  then  in  1890  bought  eighty 
acres  in  Jackson  Township.  That  was  his  home 
until  1901.  He  sold  his  place  in  February  of  that 
year  and  on  April  3,  1901,  bought  his  present  home 
farm  in  Salem  Township,  He  has  done  much  to  in- 
crease the  value  of  his  160  acres,  erecting  good 
buildings,  and  otherwise  keeping  his  place  in  per- 
fect order  and  in  a high  degree  of  productiveness. 
Mr.  Phillips  is  a democrat  in  politics,  is  a member 
of  the  Lodge  and  Encampment  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Salem  Center,  and  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 
He  and  his  wife  have  their  church  affiliations  with 
the  Latter  Day  Saints. 

On  January  27,  1887,  he  married  Louetta  Cham- 
berlain. She  was  born  in  Tippecanoe  County,  In- 
diana, in  1864,  daughter  of  Sherman  and  Mary 
(Jones)  Chamberlain.  Her  father  was  born  at  Hud- 
son in  Summit  County,  Ohio,  and  her  mother  in 
the  State  of  New  York.  Her  father  died  in  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  in  1877,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four 
and  her  mother  in  1905,  aged  seventy-four. 

Charles  Alfred  Phillips,  a well  known  Steuben 
County  farmer,  whose  home  is  just  across  the  road 
from  his  brother  Frank,  was  born  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship January  29,  1866. 

He  received  a public  school  education  and  has 
been  a farmer  since  early  manhood.  He  has  made 
progress  slowly  but  steadily,  beginning  with  a pur- 
chase of  twenty  acres  of  the  old  homestead.  He 
also  inherited  twenty  acres,  and  finally  had  a farm 
of  fifty-seven  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  He  sold 
that  and  went  to  Noble  County  and  bought  seventy 
acres,  but  after  two  years  found  employment  at  Ken- 
dallville  with  the  Raber  and  Lang  Cement  Tile 
Works.  In  1915  he  acquired  eighty  acres  in  Salem 
Township,  and  since  then  has  been  a successful 
farmer  and  stock  man.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics 
and  his  wife  attends  the  Evangelical  Church. 

In  January,  1895,  he  married  Miss  Lillie  Smith, _ of 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  daughter  of  John  Smith. 
They  have  one  son,  Claud,  born  November  3,  1896,  in 
Jackson  Township.  He  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  married  Delcia  Meeks,  of  Jackson 
Township.  They  have  a daughter,  Arlene,  and  a 
son,  Ned. 

Aaron  M.  Carr.  One  of  the  fine  farms  longest 
under  one  continuous  ownership  and  management  in 
DeKalb  is  the  William  Carr  farm,  two  miles  south 
of  Auburn. 

Its  original  settler,  William  Carr,  is  still  living 
there,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven.  The  re- 
sponsible head  of  the  farming  business  for  many 
years  has  been  his  son,  Aaron  M.  Carr. 

The  latter  was  born  on  this  farm  October  2,  1868, 
and  is  a son  of  William  and  Fannie  (Shuger)  Carr. 
William  Carr  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
June  2,  1832,  and  was  brought  to  DeKalb  County  in 
1839.  He  grew  up  in  a pioneer  environment,  and 
began  the  improvement  of  the  land  comprised  in 
his  present  farm  in  1859.  He  is  the  oldest  member 
of  the  Auburn  Lodge  of  Masons  and  is  a democrat 
in  politics.  His  wife  died  in  1872,  and  of  their  six 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


63 


children  three  are  living : Margaret,  widow  of 

David  Dulany;  Nora,  wife  of  Miles  Osbun,  living 
in  Spokane,  Washington,  and  Aaron  M. 

Aaron  M.  Carr  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  November 
25,  1899,  he  married  Anna  Strebe.  She  was  born 
at  Auburn  March  14,  1871,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  They  have  three  sons:  William 

F.,  the  oldest,  attended  the  Auburn  High  School 
two  years  and  married  Florence  Antrup,  who  lives 
in  Jackson  Township,  and  Walter  A.,  and  George 
A.  have  both  completed  the  work  of  the  common 
schools. 

Aaron  M.  Carr  is  affiliated  with  Auburn  Lodge 
No.  191  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  Lodge  No. 
566  of  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose.  He  is  quite 
active  in  the  democratic  party.  Mr.  Carr  with  the 
aid  of  his  sons  operates  his  farm  of  two  hundred 
acres  and  handles  good  livestock  of  all  kinds. 

Elizabeth  Roush.  No  one  can  tell  more  of  the 
events  and  personalities  of  Washington  Township 
in  Noble  County  than  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Roush,  who 
continuously  since  birth,  a period  of  seventy  years, 
has  lived  in  one  locality  on  the  banks  of  the  Tip- 
pecanoe River,  where  her  father  settled  in  pioneer 
times  and  established  an  institution  widely  known 
for  years  under  the  name  Rider’s  Mills. 

Mrs.  Roush  is  the  widow  of  the  late  Alfred 
Roush,  who  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in 
April,  1849.  When  he  was  a boy  his  parents  moved 
to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  he  grew  up  there 
and  on  December  2,  1868,  he  and  Elizabeth  Rider 
were  married.  She  was  born  on  the  farm  where  she 
now  resides  September  23,  1849,  and  is  a daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Hannah  (Keister)  Rider.  Her  father 
was  a native  of  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  was  born  October  11,  1813,  and  lived  to 
the  venerable  age  of  ninety-seven.  When  he  was 
twelve  years  old  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio,  and 
after  his  marriage  he  came  to  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, in  1845.  At  that  time  he  located  on  the  land 
which  Mrs.  Roush  now  owns.  He  acquired  about 
800  acres  along  the  Tippecanoe  River.  At  that  time 
it  was  covered  with  heavy  timber,  and  Mr.  Rider 
had  to  clear  away  a space  on  which  to  erect  his  log 
cabin  home.  In  that  one  locality  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  years.  He  built  his  grist  mill  about  1854,  and 
it  was  the  favorite  grinding  place  for  farmers  in  the 
neighborhood  for  nearly  half  a century.  He  had 
learned  the  miller’s  trade  in  boyhood.  In  order  to 
dispose  of  the  timber  from  his  land  he  also  con- 
ducted a sawmill  and  a shingle  mill,  and  in  many 
other  ways  distinguished  himself  as  a man  of  great 
enterprise.  He  was  equally  well  known  for  his 
honest  and  upright  character.  In  politics  he  was  a 
democrat.  Jacob  Rider  and  wife  had  ten  children, 
but  only  two  are  now  living,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Roush 
and  Mrs.  Nancy  Wilson. 

Mrs.  Roush  had  the  privilege  of  attending  an  old 
log  schoolhouse  when  she  was  a girl  and  later  she 
herself  became  a teacher  in  the  community.  She  is 
a member  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  of  which  her 
husband  was  an  active  supporter.  Alfred  Roush 
was  a democrat  but  later  became  aligned  with  the 
prohibition  cause.  Mrs.  Roush  owns  300  acres  of 
land,  155  acres  of  which  is  included  in  the  old  Rider 
estate.  She  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  North 
Webster  State  Bank  and  is  executrix  of  the  Roush 
estate. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alfred  Roush  had  nine  children, 
and  the  four  now  living  are : Harry,  unmarried  and 
at  home  with  his  mother;  Alvin  R.,  who  married 
Orra  Seymour;  Nellie,  a high  school  graduate  and 
a former  teacher,  now  the  wife  of  A.  D.  Wilkin- 


son ; and  R.  W.,  who  operates  his  mother’s  home 
farm. 

Harry  L.  Taylor,  of  Fremont,  is  proprietor  of 
the  largest  and  finest  equipped  garage  in  Steuben 
County.  He  has  been  in  the  automobile  business 
for  a number  of  years  and  prior  to  that  was  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  an  extensive  livestock 
shipping  business  with  headquarters  at  Fremont. 
The  Taylor  family  is  an  old  one  in  Northeast  In- 
diana, and  several  of  its  members  are  mentioned 
in  this  publication. 

Harry  L.  Taylor  is  a son  of  John  H.  and  Alice 
S.  (Thomas)  Taylor,  and  a grandson  of  Linus  S. 
Taylor.  Linus  Taylor  was  born  in  Cuyahoga 
County,  Ohio,  near  the  city  of  Cleveland,  in  1830. 
John  Taylor  was  born  in  York  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County  November  7,  1858,  attended  the  public 
schools  in  his  native  locality,  also  the  college  at 
Angola,  and  as  a young  man  followed  teaching  as 
well  as  farming.  In  1880  he  married  Alice  Thomas, 
daughter  of  Richard  and  Minerva  (Townsend) 
Thomas,  and  immediately  after  their  marriage  they 
pioneered  to  northern  Kansas  and  tried  farming 
in  that  state  for  about  two  years.  Returning  to 
Steuben  County  and  locating  in  \ ork  Township, 
John  Taylor  moved  from  there  in  1886  to  Fremont, 
and  has  been  a resident  of  that  city  for  over  thirty 
years.  He  has  become  widely  known  all  over  this 
section  of  the  state  as  a livestock  buyer,  and  is  the 
oldest  man  in  that  business  in  the  county.  He  still 
deals  in  all  kinds  of  livestock  except  horses.  He 
is  a Scottish  Rite  and  Knight  Templar  Mason,  and 
a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  John  Taylor  and 
wife  had  two  children : Harry  L.  and  Berle  E. 

The  latter  is  in  the  oil  business  with  headquarters 
at  Fort  Worth,  Texas. 

Harry  L.  Taylor  was  born  in  Smith  County, 
Kansas,  January  4,  1881,  but  has  no  memory  of 
the  state  of  his  birth.  He  has  lived  in  Fremont 
since  1886,  and  after  finishing  the  high  school 
course  there  became  associated  with  his  father  in 
the  livestock  shipping  business.  In  1913,  in  con- 
nection with  livestock,  he  also  engaged  in  the  auto- 
mobile business,  and  since  1917  has.  given  all  his 
time  to  that  work.  In  1917  he  built  his  garage, 
which  is  a building  60  by  130  feet,  modern  in  every 
respect,  including  a vacuum  vapor  system  of  heat- 
ing. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a republican  in  politics  and  was 
a member  of  the  Town  Council  of  Fremont  four 
years.  He  is  affiliated  with  Northeastern  Lodge 
No.  2T0,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with  the  Chap- 
ter, Council  and  Commandery  and  with  the  Mystic 
Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Elks  Lodge  at  Coldwater,  Michigan.  His  wife  is 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  the  family 
attend  worship  there.  January  14,  1905,  Mr.  Taylor 
married  Miss  Maud  E.  Stroh,  of  Jamestown  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County.  They  have  one  son,  Percy 
Barre,  born  April  23,  1906. 

Frank  Hughes,  a former  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Steuben  County  and  now  a member  of  the 
Indiana  State  Tax  Board,  in  the  inheritance  tax  de- 
partment, has  had  a very  busy  and  useful  career. 
In  early  life  he  was  a successful  teacher,  but  for 
the  past  twenty  years  has  given  his  time  chiefly  to 
farming  in  Salem  Township,  where  he  still  lives. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  born  in  that  township  September 
3,  1866,  a son  of  John  and  Martha  (Meek)  Hughes. 
His  parents  were  both  born  in  Ohio.  His  grand- 
father, David  Hughes,  was  a pioneer  settler  in 
Salem  Township,  and  kept  a store  at  Dutch  Mills 


64 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Corners.  He  also  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  at 
Flint  for  a number  of  years,  and  died  there.  His 
children  included:  Lafayette;  James,  who  died  as 

a Union  soldier;  Eliza;  Mary,  widow  of  Luther 
Hill;  Alice;  and  Nancy. 

John  Hughes  grew  up  and  received  his  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Steuben  County,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  was  employed  in  a saw  mill  at 
Dutch  Mills  Corners.  He  spent  nearly  all  his  life 
in  that  township  and  died  in  1893,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-five.  He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  Lutheran  Church.  His 
widow,  who  died  in  October,  1918,  at  the  age  of  sev- 
enty-two, was  the  mother  of  twelve  children,  named 
Alonzo,  Frank,  Lester,  Lewis,  Emma,  Sumner,  Jo- 
sephine, Porter,  Rachel,  Earl  and  Burl,  twins,  and 
James,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years. 

Frank  Hughes  in  addition  to  the  advantages 
afforded  by  the  local  district  schools  attended  the 
American  Normal  School  at  Logansport,  Indiana, 
also  the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola  and 
the  State  Normal  School  at  Terre  Haute.  He  was 
only  a boy  when  he  taught  his  first  term  of  school 
at  Helmer,  and  was  employed  there  for  a second 
term.  After  that  he  followed  teaching  twenty  years 
and  for  nine  years  was  connected  with  the  schools 
of  Salem  Township.  The  summer  seasons  he  was 
engaged  in  farming  and  about  1897  he  bought  a farm 
in  Salem  Township  of  seventy  acres.  Later  he 
bought  another  ten  acres  and  then  forty  acres, 
giving  him  his  present  well  proportioned  farm  of 
120  acres,  improved  with  two  sets  of  buildings. 

In  1911  Mr.  Hughes  left  his  farm  and  went  to 
Angola  to  perform  his  duties  as  clerk  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court.  He  was  elected  to  that  office  in  1910, 
and  held  it  four  years.  He  then  remained  in  the 
office  as  deputy  for  two  and  a half  years.  Since  then 
his  public  duties  have  been  as  a member  of  the 
state  tax  board.  He  is  a republican  and  a member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Salem 
Center,  while  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Salem  Township. 

March  27,  1901,  Mr.  Hughes  married  Miss  Leona 
E.  Parsed.  She  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  Sep- 
tember 8,  1879,  a daughter  of  Austin  M.  and  Mary 
Adaline  (Weicht)  Parsed.  Her  mother  is  a sister 
of  Eugene  F.  Weicht,  of  Steuben  County.  Austin 
Parsed  and  wife  live  in  Jackson  Township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hughes  have  one  daughter,  Martha  Ada- 
line,  born  March  23,  1905.  She  graduated  from  the 
eighth  grade  of  the  common  schools  in  19x9. 

Jacob  W.  Jennings.  When  the  people  of  Troy 
Township,  DeKalb  County,  chose  Jacob  W.  Jen- 
nings as  trustee  in  1918  it  was  as  a tribute  of  ap- 
preciation of  his  good  business  qualities  and  the 
energy  he  has  displayed  as  a farmer,  and  was  also 
an  honor  bestowed  upon  a family  of  long  and  prom- 
inent standing  in  that  part  of  DeKalb  County. 

His  grandfather  was  Peter  Jennings,  who  settled 
in  Troy  Township  in  1843.  Peter  Jennings  was 
born  in  New  Jersey  September  13,  1802,  a son  of 
Peter,  a native  of  the  same  county  and  of  English 
descent.  In  1821  Peter  Jennings  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  came  to  DeKalb  County  in  1843.  He  settled 
in  section  29,  and  had  to  clear  away  some  of  the 
heavy  timber  before  he  could  build  his  log  cabin. 
Eventually  he  acquired  a good  farm  of  over  200 
acres.  In  1829  he  married  Catherine  Rainsberger, 
a daughter  of  John  Rainsberger.  She  died  in  1881 
and  he  lived  to  be  past  fourscore.  His  children 
were  Elizabeth,  John,  Isaac,  William,  George, 
Phoebe  and  Abraham. 

William  Jennings,  father  of  Jacob  W.,  was  born 
in  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  October  14,  1835,  and 


was  eight  years  old  when  the  family  drove  their 
ox  and  horse  teams  across  the  country  to  DeKalb 
County.  He  had  a useful  part  in  clearing  up  t^ie 
old  homestead,  and  in  i860  he  settled  on  a farm  of 
his  own  in  section  21  and  for  many  years  was  a 
general  farmer,  and  he  also  specialized  in  Merino 
sheep  for  wool  purposes.  In  1859  he  married  Anna 
McCord,  daughter  of  David  McCord,  who  settled  in 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  1840.  Mrs.  Anna  Jen- 
nings died  in  1918.  She  was  the  mother  of  five 
children,  four  of  whom  are  still  living:  H.  S.  Jen- 

nings, of  Corning,  Iowa;  Olive,  unmarried  and  at 
home;  Eldora,  wife  of  D.  E.  McClellan,  of  Will- 
iams County,  Ohio,  and  Jacob  W. 

Jacob  W.  Jennings  was  born  in  Troy  Town- 
ship January  12,  1875,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  attended  district  school  No.  4.  On  March  7, 
1897,  he  married  Ruby  Skelton,  who  was  born  in 
Troy  Township.  After  their  marriage  they  lived 
in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  four  years,  lived  for 
eighteen  months  on  his  father’s  homestead,  and 
since  then  have  occupied  their  present  farm,  com- 
prising eighty  acres  with  good  improvements.  Mr. 
and  Mrs,  Jennings  have  had  two  children,  Glenn 
B„  born  June^  16,  1905,  a student  in  the  public 
schools,  and  Chester  H.,  who  died  aged  fifteen 
years. 

Mr.  Jennings  is  affiliated  with  Butler  Lodge  No. 
!58,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics  and  served  four  years  as  a member  of  the 
Township  Advisory  Board  before  his  election  to  the 
office  of  township  trustee  November  5,  1918.  He 
is  a stockholder  in  the  Cooperative  Association. 

Charles  A.  Werker.  Farm  management  and  the 
business  of  farming  generally  have  found  a man  of 
unusual  enterprise  in  the  person  of  Charles  A. 
Werker,  whose  home  is  two  and  a half  miles  south- 
west of  Kimmeli.  While  Mr.  Werker  is  member  of 
one  of  the  oldest  families  of  Noble  County,  his  own 
career  has  been  a direct  product  of  his  individual 
energies  and  capabilities,  and  his  reputation  shows 
that  he  has  made  good  in  every  particular. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township,  September  22, 
1874,  son  of  Yangulph  and  Clara  (Schlabach) 
Werker.  Yangulph  Werker,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, July  4,  1847,  was  only  five  years  old  when 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  parents.  They 
settled  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  he  grew  up  there, 
receiving  a common  school  education.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  came  to  Indiana,  settling  in  Allen 
County,  then  moved  to  Noble  County,  in  Washing- 
ton Township.  He  married  Clara  Schlabach  in  1872. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Noble  County 
at  the  age  of  five  years.  Yangulph  Werker  after  his 
marriage  settled  on  a farm  in  Sparta  Township, 
and  was  a prominent  farmer  in  that  locality  for 
many  years,  but  is  now  living  retired  in  Cromwell. 
He  is  a democrat,  and  has  never  sought  any  official 
honors.  He  and  his  wife  have  seven  children, 
named  Charles  A.,  William  E.,  Melvin  L.,  Wallace 
O.,  John  Y.,  Orlo  R.  and  Harvey  R. 

Charles  A.  Werker  had  a good  preparation  for 
life  while  living  on  the  home  farm.  This  was  the 
result  not  only  of  attendance  at  the  district  schools 
but  a wise  use  of  his  opportunities  to  learn  farming 
in  a practical  fashion.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
started  out  on  his  own  account.  In  1899  he  married 
Myrta  M.  Earnhart,  who  is  a native  of  Sparta 
Township  and  is  a woman  of  good  education,  having 
attended  both  the  common  and  high  schools. 

Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Werker  has  been  farming 
in  Sparta  Township  and  now  has  390  acres  under  his 
direct  management.  He  also  owns  235  acres  in 
Ohio,  and  is  therefore  one  of  the  larger  land  own- 
ers. He  has  done  an  extensive  business  outside  his 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


65 


farm  in  the  buying,  feeding  and  selling  of  livestock. 
He  is  secretary  of  the  Kimmell  Cooperative  Ship- 
pers’ Association  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Kimmell. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Werker  have  three  children : Coral, 
born  October  27,  1902,  now  a student  in  the  public 
schools;  Kenton  E.,  born  February  27,  1904,  also  a 
schoolboy;  and  Charles  A.,  Jr.,  born  December  13, 
1908.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Sparta  Chris- 
tian Church.  Mr.  Werker  is  affiliated  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  a past  grand 
of  Kimmell  Lodge.  Politically  he  is  a democrat. 

Elza  M.  Huntsman,  present  trustee  of  Noble 
Township,  has  for  many  years  been  successfully 
identified  with  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Noble 
County,  and  is  proprietor  of  the  Lakeside  Farm, 
comprising  sixty-six  acres  in  Noble  Township. 

Mr.  Huntsman  was  born  in  Greene  Township  of 
the  same  county  October  6,  1869,  a son  of  George 
and  Susannah  (Hosier)  Huntsman.  His  father,  who 
was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  August  11,  1837, 
grew  up  and  married  there,  his  wife  being  also  a 
native  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  1861,  and  in 
1864  moved  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Greene  Township 
of  Noble  County,  where  the  father  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life  as  an  industrious  and  progressive  farmer. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Burr  Oak  Baptist  Church, 
with  which  his  wife  was  also  affiliated.  She  died 
January  21,  1904.  Of  their  nine  children  five  are 
still  living:  Elza  M. ; Alice,  wife  of  D.  A.  Harlan; 
William  H.,  a farmer  in  Greene  Township;  Cora, 
wife  of  Vernon  Strouse;  and  Anson,  a Greene 
Township  farmer. 

Elza  M.  Huntsman  spent  the  first  twenty-one 
years  of  his  life  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  during 
that  time  acquired  a good  common  school  education. 
Since  then  he  has  been  a farmer  on  his  own  account 
and  for  about  four  years  he  operated  a threshing 
outfit  over  a large  part  of  Noble  County. 

April  26,  1890,  he  married  Mertuss  V.  Wine- 
brenner,  who  was  born  in  Noble  Township,  July  16, 
1868,  was  reared  there  and  attended  the  district 
schools.  She  is  a daughter  of  James  E.  and  Eliza- 
beth (Rivir)  Winebrenner.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Huntsman  worked  his  father’s  farm  for  a 
time  and  later  bought  forty  acres  in  Greene  Town- 
ship, selling  that  to  secure  their  present  larger  place 
in  Noble  Township,  and  finally  made  the  move  which 
brought  them  to  their  present  farm,  widely  known 
as  Lakeside  Farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huntsman  have  five  children  : Flossie 
F.  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  is  the 
wife  of  Wallace  Edsel.  Bernice  L.  is  the  wife  of 
Clarence  Mawhorter.  Beulah  E.  is  a graduate  of 
the  Wolf  Lake  High  School  and  is  the  wife  of  Ted 
Hile.  Verlin  B.  is  a farmer,  and  married  Marie 
Brackney.  Ruby,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  still 
in  the  home  circle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huntsman  are 
members  of  the  Burr  Oak  Baptist  Church  and  he  is 
one  of  the  trustees.  He  was  elected  on  the  demo- 
cratic ticket  to  his  present  office  as  trustee  of  Noble 
Township  by  a majority  of  fifty  votes.  Normally 
the  township  has  a republican  margin  of  twenty-five, 
but  his  personal  popularity  succeeded  in  overcoming 
this  handicap. 

Elmer  Ritter.  The  Ritter  family  has  been  identi- 
fied with  Steuben  County  over  sixtv-five  years. 
Elmer  Ritter,  who  was  born  and  reared  in  this 
county,  has  been  in  business  at  Fremont  for  a num- 
ber of  years  and  is  the  present  postmaster  of  that 
citv. 

He  was  born  in  Steuben  Township  of  Steuben 
County  August  10,  1867.  His  father,  Philip  Ritter, 


was  born  in  Union  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1820, 
a son  of  John  Ritter,  who  soon  after  the  birth  of 
this  son  moved  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  later 
to  Ashland  County  in  that  state.  Philip  Ritter 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  and  in  July,  1852, 
he  settled  in  section  6 of  Steuben  Township.  He 
bought  128  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land,  and  built 
his  house  of  hewn  logs  the  same  spring.  In  1868 
he  constructed  a more  commodious  residence,  and 
his  success  as  a farmer  gave  him  a place  of  nearly 
200  acres,  most  of  which  was  improved  under  his 
direct  management  and  supervision.  Pie  continued 
to  work  at  his  trade  as  a carpenter  and  was  also 
an  undertaker  in  his  locality  for  nearly  half  a cen- 
tury. He  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

Philip  Ritter  married  for  his  first  wife  Lucy  Ann 
Kope,  who  died  in  1854,  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, Henry,  Mary  and  Jacob.  Philip  Ritter  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Martha  (Gillander)  An- 
derson, who  was  born  in  the  north  of  Ireland.  Of 
their  eight  children  six  are  still  living,  named 
Martha,  Barbara,  Theophilus,  Lavina,  Elmer  and 
Orpha. 

Elmer  Ritter  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Steuben  Township,  attended  the  local  schools  there, 
and  on  moving  to  Fremont  he  engaged  in  the  dray- 
ing  business  for  five  years,  also  sold  meat  for  seven 
years  and  then  resumed  farming  for  three  years. 
He  was  appointed  to  his  present  duties  and  respon- 
sibilities as  postmaster  of  Fremont  May  15,  1916, 
and  has  given  a most  gratifying  administration  of 
his  office. 

Mr.  Ritter  is  a staunch  democrat  and  served  one 
term  as  a member  of  the  City  Council  of  Fremont. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  and  he  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In 
1889  he  married  Miss  Jennie  Saul,  of  Steuben 
County.  Of  their  two  children  a daughter  died  in 
infancy  and  the  son,  Saul  C.,  was  born  January  8, 
1892.  The  son  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  Fremont  and  on  April  26,  1918,  joined  the  army, 
being  assigned  on  account  of  his  previous  expe- 
rience to  the  postoffice  department  and  was  located 
at  Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky.  He  has  recently  re- 
turned from  service  and  is  now  assistant  postmaster 
at  Fremont,  Indiana. 

John  B.  Stumpf  during  his  early  years  was  a man 
of  tremendous  vigor  and  industry,  and  literally  with 
the  work  of  his  hands  laid  the  foundation  for  the 
prosperity  he  enjoyed  as  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Salem  Township  in  Steuben  County.  He  has 
been  a resident  of  Steuben  County  more  than  forty 
years. 

Mr.  Stumpf  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
February  22,  1852,  a son  of  George  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (Breacht)  Stumpf.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Germany.  His  father  was 
born  in  1812,  the  son  of  George  and  Margaret 
Stumpf,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  Ger- 
many. George  Michael  came  to  America  with 
his  widowed  mother,  who  lived  in  Ohio  and  died  in 
Upper  Sandusky  at  the  age  of  ninety-eight.  The 
son  was  married  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1855  moved  to  Putnam  County  of  that  state.  He 
died  at  Upper  Sandusky  in  1895,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two.  His  wife  came  to  this  country  with  her 
parents,  who  also  settled  in  Ohio.  She  died  in 
Steuben  County  in  1884,  when  about  sixty-four  years 
of  age.  She  was  the  mother  of  nine  children : Rosa, 
Magdalena  and  Caroline,  all  deceased;  John  B.^ 
Mary,  Sophronia,  Frances,  Catherine  and  Tina,  who 
is  also  deceased. 


66 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


John  B.  Stumpf  grew  up  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio, 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  old.  He  then  spent 
some  time  in  the  West  and  in  1875  located  in  Steuben 
County,  where  he  worked  by  the  day  or  by  the  job 
and  for  a number  of  employers.  During  that  period 
of  his  life  he  grubbed  out  200  acres  with  a grub 
hoe,  and  it  was  not  unusual  for  him  in  the  fall  of 
the  year  to  cut  100  shocks  of  corn  a day.  Such  in- 
dustry inevitably  had  its  reward.  He  began  as  a 
renter  and  in  1877  bought  fifty-five  acres  where  he 
is  living  today  in  Salem  Township.  He  now  has  a 
well  proportioned  farm  of  eighty-two  acres,  im- 
proved with  good  buildings,  and  it  has  furnished 
him  a living  and  more  during  the  forty  years  he 
has  lived  there.  Mr.  Stumpf  is  a democrat  in  poli- 
tics. 

In  1875  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Tubbs,  whose  home 
was  in  Steuben  County,  two  and  a half  miles  east 
of  Salem  Center.  She  is  a daughter  of  Leroy  and 
Rosa  Jane  Tubbs,  both  early  settlers  in  Steuben 
County.  Her  father  chopped  a place  in  the  woods 
to  build  his  log  cabin  in  Salem  Township,  east  of 
Dutch  sawmill,  and  had  a good  farm  of  eighty 
acres  there.  He  died  when  still  in  the  prime  of  life, 
but  his  widow  survived  until  1915,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-nine.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tubbs  were  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  which  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stumpf  also  attended.  In  the  Tubbs  family  were 
five  children,  named  Elizabeth,  Emaline,  Ira,  Frank 
and  Sarah. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stumpf  had  five  children.  Ira  mar- 
ried Pearl  Middow,  and  their  four  children  are 
Roy,  Charles,  Robert  (deceased),  and  Glena.  Mary 
Evadell  is  the  wife  of  Raymond  Barnett,  lives  at 
Kendallville  and  has  a daughter,  Ruth.  Willie,  the 
third  child,  is  deceased.  Alvah  Eugene  married 
Bertha  Harvey  and  has  a daughter,  Marjorie  Chris- 
tina. Ethel  is  seventeen  years  old. 

E.  F.  Tinney.  The  two  most  strongly  marked  char- 
acteristics of  both  the  East  and  the  West  are  com- 
bined in  the  residents  of  the  section  of  country  of 
which  this  volume  treats.  The  enthusiastic  enter- 
prise which  over-leaps  all  obstacles  and  makes  pos- 
sible almost  any  undertaking  in  the  comparatively 
new  and  vigorous  western  states  is  here  tempered 
by  the  stable  and  more  careful  policy  that  we  have 
borrowed  from  our  eastern  neighbors,  and  the 
combination  is  one  of  peculiar  force  and  power. 
It  has  been  the  means  of  placing  this  section  of  the 
country  on  a par  with  the  older  East,  at  the  same 
time  producing  a reliability  and  certainty  in  business 
affairs  which  is  sometimes  lacking  in  the  West. 
This  happy  combination  of  characteristics  is  pos- 
sessed by  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch,  E.  F. 
Tinney,  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Butler  Basket 
Company  at  Butler,  DeKalb  County,  and  who  is 
assuming  a deservedly  high  place  in  the  business 
circles  of  that  community. 

E.  F.  Tinney  was  born  at  Ypsilanti,  Michigan,  on 
June  12,  1876,  and  is  the  son  of  James  D.  and 
Lottie  (Sharp)  Tinney,  who  are  now  residents  of 
Tucson,  Arizona.  The  youthful  days  of  E.  F. 
Tinney  were  spent  in  Pontiac,  Michigan,  where  he 
received  a common  school  education.  He  supple- 
mented this  training  by  two  correspondence  courses 
and  attended  and  graduated  from  business  college. 
He  then  took  a course  in  drafting,  for  which  he 
had  a natural  aptitude,  and  for  a time  followed  that 
line  of  work  in  a jobbing  shop.  He  had  a strong 
liking  for  machinery,  in  the  handling  of  which  he 
became  an  expert,  and  eventually  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  a carriage  manufactory  in  Butler, 
with  which  he  was  identified  until  1917.  On  July  1, 
1911,  Mr.  Tinney  bought  the  controlling  interest  in 
the  Butler  Basket  Company,  one  of  the  live  and 


prosperous  concerns  of  that  city.  The  company  is 
incorporated  and  the  official  personnel  is  as  follows : 
President,  E.  C.  Miller;  vice  president,  Jesse  Ober- 
lin;  treasurer,  L.  C.  Harding;  secretary  and  manager, 
E.  F.  Tinney;  directors,  in  addition  to  the  fore- 
going officers,  Dr.  A.  A.  Kramer  and  Walter  J. 
Mondhank.  Though  but  a comparatively  recent 
comer  to  Butler,  Mr.  Tinney  has  made  a favorable 
impression  on  the  community  and  is  identified  with 
every  movement  for  the  advancement  of  the  best 
interests  of  his  town  and  county. 

In  February,  1898,  Mr.  Tinney  was  married  to 
Jennie  C.  Capman,  also  a native  of  Michigan.  Mrs. 
Tinney  after  completing  the  high  school  course  at- 
tended a business  college.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tinney 
have  been  born  three  children,  namely:  Homer  C., 

who  is  ^a  high  school  graduate,  was  a participant 
in  the  World  war,  having  served  two  years  in 
France  as  an  observer  in  the  One  Hundred  and 
First  Aviation  Squadron,  and  Ruth  and  Margaret 
are  students  in  the  common  schools. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tinney  are  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church,  of  the  official  board  of  which 
Mr.  Tinney  is  a member.  Politically  he  supports 
the  republican  party  and  takes  an  intelligent  inter- 
est in  the  trend  of  public  events.  His  record  is 
that  of  a man  who  by  his  own  unaided  efforts 
worked  his  way  from  a modest  beginning  to  a posi- 
tion of  influence  in  the  business  world. 

Eugene  Sharp.  In  the  scheme  of  local  govern- 
ment provided  for  Indiana  counties  one  of  the  most 
important  offices  is  that  of  township  trustee.  Prob- 
ably more  care  is  taken  to  select  men  properly 
qualified  to  fill  it,  and  the  place  is  at  once  one  of 
great  responsibility  and  honor. 

The  present  trustee  of  York  Township,  Steuben 
County,  is  Eugene  Sharp,  who  is  now  in  his  second 
elected  term.  Mr.  Sharp  is  a native  of  Steuben 
County,  and  has  been  known  to  his  fellow  citizens 
as  a capable  farmer,  merchant  and  business  man. 
He  was  born  in  Richland  Township,  July  7,  1864, 
son  of  Mortimer  and  Olive  (Jackman)  Sharp.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  a daughter  of  Richard  and  Orilia  (Aldrich) 
Jackman,  numbered  among  the  pioneer  settlers. 
Isaac  Sharp,  grandfather  of  Eugene  Sharp,  was  a 
native  of  New  York,  and  for  many  years  lived  at 
Syracuse  and  managed  the  salt  works  at  Liverpool. 
He  married  Melinda  Schoville,  and  about  1852  came 
to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Richland  Township,  where 
he  acquired  eighty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land. 
He  had  partially  cleared  this  and  improved  it  with 
buildings  before  he  died  five  or  six  years  later.  His 
children  were  George,  Adaline,  Martha,  Mary,  Mor- 
timer and  Volney.  Volney  died  in  childhood. 

Mortimer  Sharp,  who  was  born  at  Syracuse,  New 
York,  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  native  city 
and  also  in  Richland  Township,  where  he  first  put 
his  youthful  strength  to  test  as  a farmer.  In  1865 
he  moved  to  Smithfield  Township  of  DeKalb  Coun- 
ty, ran  a farm  there  five  years,  after  which  he 
bought  the  old  homestead  in  Richland  Township, 
and  lived  on  it  until  his  death,  September  11,  1880. 
His  first  wife  died  in  1872,  the  mother  of  two  chil- 
dren, Eugene  and  Clyde  F.  He  then  married  Amina 
Patterson,  and  had  one  other  child,  Eva.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Eugene  Sharp  made  good  use  of  his  early  ad- 
vantages in  the  schools  of  Otsego  Township  and  at 
Angola,  and  put  his  knowledge  to  work  teaching 
school  for  two  terms.  He  farmed  the  home  place 
five  years,  had  a farm  west  of  Hamilton  in  Otsego 
Township  three  years,  and  for  three  years  was.  a 
general  merchant  at  Hamilton.  His  business  train- 
ing was  supplemented  by  thirteen  months  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


67 


grocery  department  of  a department  store  at 
Angola,  after  which  he  returned  to  his  farm  in 
Otsego  Township,  and  was  busily  engaged  in  its 
management  for  eight  years.  From  there  he  be- 
came a resident  of  York  Township  by  the  purchase 
of  a place  of  120  acres.  He  raised  ten  successive 
crops  on  this  land,  and  then  retired  and  moved  to 
Metz,  where  his  home  is  today. 

Mr.  Sharp  was  first  honored  with  the  responsibili- 
ties of  his  present  office  in  October,  1913,  when  ap- 
pointed to  fill  a vacancy.  He  served  a year  and 
three  months  by  appointment.  In  the  meantime,  in 
the  fall  of  1914,  he  was  regularly  elected  trustee 
and  four  years  later  came  another  recognition  of 
the  adequacy  of  his  work  when  he  was  re-elected. 
Mr.  Sharp  has  filled  all  the  offices  in  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Hamilton  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge. 

October  27,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Lillie  A.  Swift, 
daughter  of  Oscar  F.  and  Dema  A.  (Ball)  Swift. 
Their  children  are  three  in  number:  Guy  B.,  Audra 
L.  and  Olive. 

Joseph  W.  Goodwin  is  one  of  the  most  extensive 
land  owners  and  lumber  men  in  northern  Indiana. 
He  has  been  identified  with  farming  and  lumbering 
the  greater  part  of  his  active  life,  covering  a period 
of  over  forty  years. 

Mr.  Goodwin,  whose  home  is  in  Fremont,  was 
born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  October  18,  1853, 
son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Good)  Goodwin. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  his  fa- 
ther born  in  1817  and  his  mother  in  1820.  In  May, 
1854,  the  family  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  on 
a farm  a mile  west  of  Waterloo,  Indiana,  where 
Samuel  Goodwin  spent  the  rest  of  his  days.  He 
died  in  1889  and  his  wife  in  1865.  In  politics  he 
was  a whig  and  later  a republican,  was  a member 
of  the  Evangelical  Church,  and  finally  became  iden- 
tified with  the  United  Brethren  denomination.  He 
had  the  following  children : Ellen,  Leander,  Lewis 

and  Francis,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  Joseph 
W.,  Lucy,  widow  of  Stephen  George,  a soldier  of 
the  Civil  war,  and  Alice.  Samuel  Goodwin  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Mary  (Prosser)  Bru- 
baker. She  died  in  1917,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine. 
She  was  the  mother  of  three  children,  only  one  of 
whom  is  now  living,  Frank,  of  Cincinnati. 

Joseph  W.  Goodwin  grew  up  at  his  father’s 
home  in  Northeast  Indiana,  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  acquired  very  early  in  life  a practical 
knowledge  of  both  farming  and  lumbering.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  in  the  lumber  business 
under  the  name  of  the  Goodwin'  Lumber  Company, 
both  as  manufacturers  and  as  retailers.  The  com- 
pany has  yards  at  Fremont  and  Pleasant  Lake. 
Mr.  Goodwin  owns  over  600  acres  of  land  in  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana,  and  in  Branch  County,  Michi- 
gan. He  has  been  useful  as  a citizen  as  well  as 
in  business  affairs,  and  has  lent  his  influence  for 
the  promotion  of  every  worthy  movement.  In  poli- 
tics usually  a republican,  he  has  frequently  voted 
for  the  prohibition  ticket  and  has  always  been  a 
staunch  temperance  man.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

November  13,  1877,  Mr.  Goodwin  married  Miss 
Oliva  Brown.  Her  father,  Elder  Joseph  Brown, 
was  one  of  the  early  preachers  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren faith  in  the  North  Ohio  Conference.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Goodwin  have  five  children.  Lillian  is  the 
wife  of  William  Hampton,  superintendent  of  motive 
power  in  the  great  steel  works  at  Gary,  Indiana. 
Charles,  a Young  Men’s  Christian  Association 
worker  still  with  the  army  in  France,  married  Lorain 
Dalmage,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  Alta,  the  third 


child,  is  unmarried.  Olie  is  the  wife  of  Wallace 
Pirrington  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children, 
named  Wallace,  Jr.,  Joseph  and  Mary  June.  War- 
ren, the  youngest  child,  married  Louise  Powers,  and 
has  one  daughter,  Margaret. 

Isaiah  Alleshouse  came  to  Northeast  Indiana 
when  a boy,  grew  up  in  LaGrange  County,  and 
after  varied  experiences  as  a farmer  in  different 
localities,  including  a trial  at  homesteading  in  Ne- 
braska, he  has  lived  for  many  years  and  propered 
as  a farmer  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  March 
11,  1855,  a son  of  Adam  and  Rebecca  (Lint)  Al- 
leshouse. His  parents  were  natives  of  the  same 
county,  were  married  there,  and  in  1862  brought 
their  family  to  LaGrange  County,  buying  in  Milford 
Township  what  is  now  the  Cornell  farm.  They  sold 
this  land  to  its  present  proprietor,  Mr.  William  Cor- 
nell. Their  next  purchase  was  a farm  in  Spring- 
field  Township,  and  Adam  Alleshouse  spent  his  last 
days  in  Michigan  with  his  son  George,  where  he 
died  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  His  wife 
died  in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 
They  were  members  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and 
in  politics  he  was  a republican  from  the  time  that 
party  was  organized.  Their  children  were : Ben- 

jamin, Isaiah,  John,  Lucy  Ellen  and  Mary  Jane, 
twins;  George  Washington,  and  Daniel. 

Isaiah  Alleshouse  .attended  the  public  schools 
of  LaGrange  County  after  he  was  seven  years  old, 
and  in  early  manhood  he  made  his  independent  start 
by  buying  forty  acres  in  Springfield  Township.  Sell- 
ing that  he  came  to  Steuben  County,  rented  the  farm 
, of  his  father-in-law  two  years,  and  lived  in  La- 
Grange County  two  years  on  his  own  farm,  and 
•for  two  years  rented  the  Newton  farm  in  Greenfield 
Township.  After  this  came  his  western  experience 
in  Nebraska,  where  he  took  up  a forty-acre  home- 
stead and  went  through  all  the  trials  and  vicissitudes 
of  homesteading  and  farming  in  the  West  for  eight 
years.  Selling  out,  he  returned  to  Indiana,  and  has 
since  been  well  contented  with  the  climate,  soil  and 
opportunities  of  this  section  of  the  state.  In  Steuben 
County  he  located  on  forty  acres  which  Mrs.  Alles- 
house had  inherited  from  her  parents,  and  they  also 
bought  forty-five  acres  more,  giving  them  the  place 
which  is  still  his  workshop  as  a farmer  and  the  home 
where  his  children  have  grown  up  and  where  he  is 
content  to  pass  his  declining  years.  Mr.  Alleshouse 
is  a prohibitionist  in  politics  and  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

August  28,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Olive  Eleanor 
Ransburg,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  she 
is  now  living  June  8,  1862,  a daughter  of  Leander 
and  Harriet  (Spangle)  Ransberg,  the  father  a na- 
tive of  Frederick,  Maryland,  and  the  mother  of 
Seneca  County,  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  in 
Ohio  the  parents  moved  to  Steuben  County,  and  her 
father  became  one  of  the  very  prosperous  farmers 
of  this  section,  owning  320  acres.  He  died  in  Henry 
County,  Ohio,  in  1904,  and  the  mother  of  Mrs. 
Alleshouse,  who  was  born  in  1833,  died  January 
2,  1909.  Leander  Ransburg  first  married  Rachael 
Mithour  and  had  one  daughter,  Rachael  E.  By  his 
second  wife  his  children  were  Chloe,  Ella,  Edith, 
Lewis  W.  and  Olive  Eleanor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alleshouse  had  five  children,  and 
now  have  numerous  grandchildren.  Their  youngest 
child,  Cecil  Dale,  died  in  1905,  aged  two  years  one 
month  and  two  days.  The  oldest,  Charlotte  Estella, 
is  the  wife  of  Albert  Ulmer,  and  her  children  are 
Vivialeen  Frances,  Wellington  W.,  Kenneth  Roy, 
Velma  Lucile,  Maynard,  Gayland,  Iona  Pearl,  Law- 
rence and  Wilbur.  Ottomer  Amos  Alleshouse  mar- 
ried Ulah  Woodford,  and  their  children  are  Russell 


68 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Raymond,  Gladys,  Dorothy,  Gerald  W.  and  Wood- 
ford W.  Carl  Sherman  Alleshouse  married  Francis 
Courtwright  and  has  four  children,  Donald  J.,  Rus- 
sell I.,  Dale  Wesley  and  Berdina  Gay.  Rollie  Roy, 
the  youngest  of  the  family  now  living,  was  in  the 
army  about  six  months  during  the  World  war,  and 
was  assigned  to  duties  as  a cook  at  Camp  Taylor, 
Louisville,  Kentucky.  He  married  Lovisa  Anstett 
and  has  a son,  Burton  Rollie. 

Aaron  J.  Moore.  Three  generations  of  the  Moore 
family  in  Wilmington  Township  have  been  regis- 
tered stock  breeders.  As  a family  they  have  some 
of  the  oldest  herds  of  registered  stock  in  the  state, 
and  the  value  of  their  enterprise  in  raising  the 
standards  of  livestock  husbandry  is  incalculable. 

Aaron  D.  Moore,  grandfather  of  the  present  gen- 
eration, had  his  Durham  Shorthorn  cattle,  Spanish 
Merino  sheep  and  Poland  China  hogs  registered 
in  the  books  of  the  official  associations  of  those 
breeds.  Aaron  D.  Moore  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  January  17,  1831,  son  of  a shoemaker,  and  he 
grew  up  in  a home  of  very  modest  comforts  and 
early  had  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He 
worked  as  a boatman  on  an  Ohio  canal,  and  in  1854 
came  to  DeKalb  County  and  settled  in  the  big  woods 
of  Wilmington  Township.  He  built  his  log  cabin 
and  used  his  skill  as  a hunter  to  provide  meat  for 
his  family.  It  is  said  that  he  paid  his  first  taxes 
with  hides  and  furs.  Besides  clearing  a hundred 
sixty  acres  of  his  own  he  helped  others  to  clear 
land  and  was  in  every  sense  a valiant  pioneer,  and 
had  few  equals  as  an  axe  man.  In  1851  he  married 
Rebecca  J.  Caldwell,  of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Their 
children  to  grow  up  were  Hiram  M.,  Margaret  A., 
Ella,  A.  Alvin,  George  M.  and  John  R. 

A grandson  of  this  veteran  stock  breeder  is  Aaroft 
J.  Moore,  who  makes  a specialty  of  Shropshire 
sheep  and  Poland  China  hogs.  He  was  born  in 
Wilmington  Township  November  24,  1896,  and  is 
a son  of  John  R.  Moore  and  Cora  B.  (Shanklin) 
Moore.  John  R.  Moore  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
his  son,  Aaron  J.,  now  resides  October  30,  1869, 
and  died  there  December  7,  1918.  He  continued  the 
stock  breeding  enterprise  of  his  father.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  January  3, 
1874,  and  died  February  12,  1919.  They  had  three 
children : Aaron  J.,  Gladys,  who  died  while  in  high 

school,  and  John  R.,  Jr.,  who  is  a high  school  grad- 
uate, took  normal  "'training  in  the  Tri-State  College 
and  is  a teacher. 

Aaron  J.  Moore  has  spent  all  his  life  on  the  home 
farm.  He  attended  high  school  two  years  at  Water- 
loo and  he  has  done  much  to  continue  the  family 
tradition  and  profession  as  a stockman.  He  owns 
eighty  acres  of  the  old  farm  and  has  a herd  of 
forty  head  of  Shropshire  sheep,  all  pure  bred,  the 
herd  being  headed  by  A.  J.  Moore’s  Best  No.  63. 
His  big  type  Poland  China  hogs  also  contain  some 
of  the  finest  representatives  of  their  class.  For 
several  years  his  animals  have  been  exhibited  at 
state  and  county  fairs. 

November  18,  1915,  Mr.  Moore  married  Estella  M. 
Quaintance.  They  have  two  children : Phyllis  E., 

born  September  2,  1916,  and  Aileen,  born  February 
12,  1918.  Mr.  Moore  is  a member  of  the  Ancient 
Order  of  Gleaners  and  a democrat  in  politics. 

Hugh  W.  Dirrim  is  one  of  the  honored  veterans 
of  the  Civil  war,  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  North- 
east Indiana,  and  for  nearly  forty  years  was  a suc- 
cessful farmer  of  Otsego  Township  in  Steuben 
County.  He  is  now  enjoying  the  comforts  of  life 
in  his  home  at  Hamilton. 

Mr.  Dirrim  was  born  in  Harrison  Township  of 
Carroll  County,  Ohio,  April  13,  1837,  a son  of  James 


Dirrim  and  a grandson  of  Richard  Dirrim.  Richard 
Dirrim  was  born  in  Delaware,  served  in  the  War 
of  1812,  and  in  September,  1815,  moved  to  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  James  Dirrim  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  11,  1809,  but  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio.  In  May,  1845,  he  brought 
his  family  to  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  and  settled  on  a tract  of  heavily  timbered 
land  in  section  n.  He  made  a good  farm  there,  and 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  that  locality.  He  was 
twice  married.  April  15,  1835,  he  married  for  his 
second  wife  Hannah  Gillespie,  a native  of  Ireland. 
They  had  a family  of  eleven  children,  and  several 
of  the  sons  fought  in  the  ranks  of  the  Union  army. 
The  children  were:  William,  Sarah,  Hugh  W., 

James,  Isaac,  Richard,  Margaret  E.,  Hannah  D., 
Elizabeth  Ann,  John  and  Milton. 

Hugh  W.  Dirrim  was  about  eight  years  old  when 
he  came  to  DeKalb  County,  and  he  received  his  edu- 
cation in  the  schools  there.  In  November,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry, 
and  was  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Chickamauga 
and  several  other  engagements.  He  was  in  the  army 
until  the  close  of  hostilities  in  April,  1865.  He  re- 
turned home  to  take  up  farming  and  in  1873  re- 
moved to  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
where  he  acquired  133  acres.  He  developed  that 
land,  putting  on  the  building  improvements,  and 
lived  there  with  increasing  prosperity  for  many 
years.  In  1901  he  retired  and  moved  to  Hamilton, 
and  in  1908  sold  his  farm. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Catherine  Spiece, 
daughter  of  John  Spiece.  She  died  in  October,  1900, 
the  mother  of  six  children,  Orlando,  Lincoln,  Clar- 
ence, Jordan,  Nettie  and  Emma.  Nettie  is  now 
deceased.  Mr.  Dirrim  married  for  his  second  wife 
Mary  Spiece,  sister  of  his  first  wife. 

Earl  L.  Hall  has  had  an  active  share  in  the  busi- 
ness affairs  of  Fremont  for  a long  period  of  years, 
and  has  been  chiefly  identified  with  the  management 
of  the  local  milling  interests.  He  is  manager  of 
the  Hammel  Milling  Company  there,  and  is  widely 
known  among  the  grain  raising  farmers  over  a 
large  surrounding  territory. 

Mr.  Hall  was  born  at  Fremont,  October  6,  1866,  a 
son  of  Joseph  H.  and  Delia  (Beach)  Hall.  His 
father  was  born  in  Washington  County,  New  York, 
August  24,  1824,  went  to  Michigan  at  the  age  of 
twenty  and  about  ten  years  later  came  to  Fremont, 
Indiana,  where  he  opened  a harness  shop  and  was 
one  of  the  first  business  men  in  that  town.  He 
died  April  23,  1904.  His  first  wife  was  Mary 
Beach,  by  which  union  there  are  two  living  daugh- 
ters, Effie  and  Ida.  His  second  wife,  Delia  Beach, 
was  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Irene  (Lawrence) 
Beach.  They  came  from  New  York  to  Saline,  Mich- 
igan, about  1833,  and  in  1836  settled  in  Branch 
County,  that  state,  and  took  up  government  land 
there.  Samuel  Beach  died  there  when  about  forty 
years  of  age  and  his  wife  also  died  young.  Their 
children  were  named  Cephus,  Charles,  Frank,  Wil- 
liam, Edward,  Emily,  Sarah,  Delia  and  Catherine. 
Samuel  Beach  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace  in 
three  different  townships  in  Michigan,  though  all 
the  time  living  in  the  same  house.  That  was  due 
to  the  fact  that  the  county  was  rapidly  settling 
and  the  large  townships  were  being  cut  up  and 
subdivided. 

Earl  L.  Hall  was  reared  in  Fremont  and  attended 
the  local  schools  and  also  worked  on  the  farm 
with  his  father  for  nine  years.  He  was  also  with 
his  father  in  business  for  a time,  afterward  was 
engaged  in  the  meat  business  for  about  eight  years, 
and  then  engaged  in  the  milling  trade,  working  for 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


69 


Otis  Hammel.  After  a year  and  a half  he  took 
still  a different  line,  the  lumber  trade,  and  followed 
that  a year  and  a half.  But  for  the  past  ten  years 
Mr.  Hall  has  been  steadily  engaged  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Hammel  Milling  Company  at  Fremont. 

In  politics  he  is  a prohibitionist,  though  formerly 
a republican.  Mr.  Hall  owns  sixteen  acres  of 
land  adjoining  the  corporation  limits  of  Fremont, 
which  is  known  as  a part  of  the  Erastus  Farnham 
farm.  Mr.  Farnham  built  the  Hammel  mill,  also 
the  railroad  depot  and  the  house  in  which  Mr.  Hall 
and  family  reside.  Mr.  Hall  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  liberal  in  his  religious 
views. 

October  n,  1903,  he  married  Miss  Ida  Bailey. 
She  was  born  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County 
January  4,  1869,  a daughter  of  John  and  Jane  (Dy- 
gert)  Bailey.  Her  father  was  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  October  8,  1830,  and  her 

mother  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1844.  Mrs.  Hall’s  maternal  grandparents 
were  Abraham  and  Abigail  (Barnes)  Dygert,  who 
came  to  New  York  State  and  were  among  the  ear- 
liest settlers  of  Steuben  County.  John  Bailey  came 
to  Steuben  County  with  his  parents,  Michael  and 
Catherine  (Weaver)  Bailey.  John  Bailey  died  Sep- 
tember 30,  1903,  and  his  wife  on  March  23,  1906. 
They  have  had  two  daughters,  Lucy  and  Mrs.  Hall. 
Lucy  was  born  December  14,  1866,  and  died  in 
May,  1867. 

Frank  T.  Dole.  The  family  of  Dole  has  many 
relationships  with  Steuben  County  people  and  affairs. 
Frank  T.  Dole  of  Angola  is  former  county  treas- 
urer and  has  been  an  intelligent  and  influential  factor 
in  the  business  life  of  the  community  for  over 
thirty  years. 

Mr.  Dole  was  born  in  York  Township,  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  June  1,  1858,  a son  of  John  and 
Susannah  (Kirkwood)  Dole.  His  parents  arrived 
in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County  in  the  spring 
of  1861  and  settled  in  the  midst  of  the  woods  where 
the  wild  deer  and  wild  turkey  disported.  They 
bought  101  acres  and  improved  much  of  it  into 
fields.  Later  this  farm  was  rented  to  his  son,  Lewis 
Dole,  and  John  Dole  moved  to  Hudson,  lived  there 
six  years,  was  then  retired  at  Salem  Center  with 
his  daughter,  Mrs.  W.  E.  Kinsey,  and  died  at  the 
Kinsey  home  in  1907,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  eighty.  John 
Dole  was  a son  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Stratton) 
Dole,  who  also  came  to  Steuben  County.  They  were 
natives  of  Columbiana  County,  Ohio.  Elizabeth 
Stratton  Dole  died  in  1889,  at  the  venerable  age  of 
ninety-six  years.  Her  children  were  John,  Hannah, 
Elwood,  Mary,  Joel  and  Lewis.  John  Dole  along 
with  farming  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter  for 
many  years.  He  was  a democrat,  served  as  trus- 
tee of  Salem  Township  several  years,  and  he  and 
his  wife  attended  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 
Susannah  Kirkwood  was  born  in  Lancaster  County, 
Pennsylvania,  of  Irish  extraction,  one  of  her 
brothers  being  a native  of  Ireland.  John  Dole  and 
wife  had  a family  of  six  children;  Frank  being  the 
youngest.  Daniel  M.  lives  at  Hudson,  Indiana; 
Lewis,  who  died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  sixty-two, 
left  a widow,  Mrs.  Kate  Ann  (Greeno)  Dole,  now 
a resident  of  Angola ; the  third  child,  Charles,  died 
in  infancy;  the  fifth  in  the  family  was  Sarah,  who 
died  in  1891,  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Woodford,  of  Salem 
Township.  Special  interest  attaches  to  the  fourth 
child,  Elizabeth  Dole,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  W. 
E.  Kinsey,  now  living  in  Arizona.  W.  E.  Kinsey 
was  a son  of  Dr.  Joseph  E.  Kinsey,  and  together 
they  were  merchants  at  Salem  Center  for  a number 


of  years.  William  E.  Kinsey  and  Elizabeth  Dole 
were  married  in  1872  and  their  daughter,  Lois  I., 
was  married  in  1895  to  Thomas  R.  Marshall,  then 
a rising  young  Indiana  lawyer,  later  governor  of 
the  state,  and  now  vice  president  of  the  United 
States. 

Frank  T.  Dole  received  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Salem  Township  attended  the  Angola 
High  School,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  was  working 
as  a carpenter.  He  followed  that  mechanical  trade 
until  1891.  After  that  for  a few  years  he  was  a 
merchant  at  Salem  Center,  and  on  moving  to  Angola 
entered  the  employ  of  Mr.  L.  C.  Steifel,  with  whom 
he  remained  seventeen  years.  He  then  resumed  the 
role  of  an  independent  merchant  and  in  1912  was 
called  to  the  duties  of  county  treasurer,  an  office 
he  filled  with  signal  usefulness  and  efficiency  for 
four  years.  Since  retiring  from  office  he  has  been 
connected  with  several  business  enterprises  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  canning  business.  He  owns  a 
beautiful  home  on  North  Wayne  Street  in  AngoliL 

A republican  in  politics,  he  served  six  years  in 
the  City  Council  of  Angola.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  and  Rebekahs,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1878  Mr.  Dole  married  Miss  N.  Ellen  Kinsey. 
She  was  born  in  Salem  Township  November  6, 
1857,  is  a sister  of  William  E.  Kinsey,  above  noted, 
and  a daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  and  Mary  (Dill) 
Kinsey.  Doctor  Kinsey  was  an  early  settler  in 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  moved  from  there  to  De- 
Kalb  County  and  in  1855  to  Salem  Center,  where 
he  established  a large  practice  as  a physician  and 
was  also  associated  with  his  son  in  the  general  mer- 
cantile business.  He  and  his  wife  spent  their  last 
years  in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dole,  where 
Doctor  Kinsey  died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two, 
and  his  wife  in  1905,  aged  seventy-eight. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dole  have  four  children.  William 
Earl,  born  in  1883,  has  for  a number  of  years  been 
clerk  in  the  Angola  postoffice.  He  married  Edna 
Cowen,  a daughter  of  Elmer  Cowen,  and  has  a 
son,  William  Earl,  Jr.  Floyd  J.  Dole,  born  in  1886, 
is  manager  of  the  express  office  at  Continental, 
Ohio.  He  spent  about  eighteen  months  in  the  army, 
being  head  cook  for  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty- 
Seventh  Field  Artillery,  and  going  overseas  to 
France  in  December,  1918,  returning  to  this  country 
in  February,  1919.  The  third  child,  Cora  Mildred, 
was  born  in  1890,  and  is  the  wife  of  Wayne  Mc- 
Killen,  and  has  a son,  James  Franklin.  Lewis  Pyrl 
Dole,  born  in  1894,  spent  three  and  a half  months 
in  training  at  Camp  Grant  toward  the  close  of  the 
war. 

John  Moughler  is  a well  known  DeKalb  County 
resident,  his  home  being  in  the  southwest  corner 
of  Troy  Township.  He  is  one  of  a rather  numerous 
group  of  farmers  who  earned  their  prosperjtfy 
largely  as  renters.  He  farmed  rented  land  for 
thirty  years  or  more  and  in  that  time  reared  and 
provided  for  his  family,  and  his  later  years  are  now 
being  spent  quietly,  prosperously  and  busily  on  a 
farm  of  his  own. 

Mr.  Moughler  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
February  9,  1850,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Hannah 
(Bordner)  Moughler,  the  former  a native  of  Lucas 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania.  They  grew  up  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  were  married  there  and  in  the  fall 
of  1852  came  to  DeKalb  County,  settling  a mile  and 
a half  south  of  Butler  in  Wilmington  Township. 
They  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  on  that  farm 
and  the  father  cleared  up  and  put  in  cultivation  most 
of  the  land.  The  mother  was  a member  of  the 


70 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Christian  Church.  Jacob  Moughler  was  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at 
Butler  and  was  a democrat  in  politics.  In  the  fam- 
ily were  seven  children:  Amanda,  deceased;  John; 

Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  Orlando  Bratton; 
Emma,  deceased ; Daniel,  of  Butler ; Amos,  de- 
ceased, and  Charles,  who  died  when  two  years  old. 

John  Moughler  grew  up  on  the  homestead  south 
of  Butler  and  attended  the  common  schools.  One 
of  the  schools  he  attended  was  kept  in  a log  house. 
He  played  an  industrious  part  helping  his  father 
clear  and  cultivate  the  farm,  and  lived  at  home  to 
the  age  of  thirty-one. 

September  23,  1880,  he  married  Alice  Hendershot. 
She  was  born  March  6,  1857,  a daughter  of  B.  F. 
and  Susanna  (Miller)  Hendershot,  the  former  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ashland 
County,  Ohio.  The  parents  were  married  in  Will- 
iams County,  Ohio,  and  began  housekeeping  in  De- 
fiance County,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives 
there. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Moughler 
rented  the  old  Yoey  Farm  not  far  from  his  father’s 
home.  Two  years  later  they  moved  to  another 
farm  in  Wilmington  Township  and  from  there  came 
to  Troy  Township.  A distinctive  feature  of  Mr. 
Moughler’s  career  as  a farmer  is  that  for  twenty- 
two  years  he  lived  on  and  rented  one  farm.  This 
farm  during  this  time  had  three  different  owners. 
He  reared  his  family  there  and  eventually  put  away 
enough  to  enable  him  to  buy  his  present  place  of 
forty  acres  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Troy  Town- 
ship. He  keeps  good  grades  of  livestock,  and  is 
still  busy  with  farming.  Mr.  Moughler  is  a demo- 
crat in  politics. 

He  and  his  wife  have  two  sons,  Burl  and  Glenn. 
Burl  is  one  of  the  leading  young  farmers  of  Troy 
Township,  while  Glenn  has  an  eighty-acre  farm  six 
miles  east  of  Auburn. 

L.  A.  Kintner  is  one  of  the  most  progressive  of 
the  modern  farmers  of  Steuben  County.  He  has 
Worked  hard,  has  made  several  changes,  each  one 
for  the  better,  has  adapted  himself  and  his  methods 
to  changing  conditions,  and  his  place  in  Richland 
Township  reflects  well  ordered  prosperity  at  every 
turn. 

He  has  lived  most  of  his  life  in  this  county,  but 
was  born  at  Edon  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1868.  His  father  was  George  Kintner,  who 
was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  September  24, 
1830.  When  a young  man  he  moved  to  Williams 
County  and  located  in  a rather  wild  and  primitive 
district  southwest  of  Edon,  where  he  improved  a 
tract  of  land  bought  direct  from  the  Government. 
He  had  previously  operated  a sawmill  at  Edon. 
About  1872  he  sold  his  Ohio  property  and  came  to 
Steuben  County,  buying  ninety-three  and  a fraction 
acres  in  Richland  Township.  This  is  the  land  now 
owned  and  occupied  by  his  son  L.  A.,  and  it  has  been 
under  cultivation  by  members  of  the  Kintner  fam- 
ily nearly  fifty  years.  In  1880  George  Kintner  built 
the  large  brick  house  which  is  still  in  a good  state 
of  repair  and  furnished  an  excellent  home  for  the 
son  and  family.  George  Kintner  retired  and  rented 
his  farm  in  1890,  and  lived  in  Angola  until  his  death 
in  1907.  He  married  Almira  Garwood,  who  was 
born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  January  30,  1840. 
She  died  in  1915,  the  mother  of  three  children, 
H.  P.,  L.  A.  and  E.  M.  Kintner. 

L.  A.  Kintner  attended  public  school  at  Metz 
and  took  commercial  courses  in  the  Tri-State  Nor- 
mal College  at  Angola.  All  the  time  he  was  also 
acquiring  practical  experience  as  a farmer.  One 
winter  term  he  was  teacher  of  a district  school,  and 
for  three  years  or  so  worked  out  at  monthly  wages. 


January  30,  1895,  was  an  important  date  in  his 
career,  marking  his  marriage  to  Miss  Permilie  M. 
Bockey,  daughter  of  Sylvester  Bockey.  The  fol- 
lowing eight  years  he  rented  his  father’s  farm.  Mov- 
ing to  Fremont,  he  became  a partner  in  the  Fre- 
mont Lumber  & Coal  Company,  but  in  January, 
1906,  left  town  to  resume  farming  on  the  old  Aleck 
McClue  place  south  of  Fremont,  where  he  lived 
about  a year  and  a half.  In  February,  1907,  he  made 
a formal  purchase  of  the  old  Kintner  homestead. 
His  ownership  has  brought  him  prosperity  and  has 
resulted  in  many  notable  improvements,  the  building 
of  good  barns  and  other  facilities,  and  everything 
is  now  well  arranged  and  equipped  for  the  general 
purpose  farm.  He  feeds  a number  of  stock  every 
season. 

Mr.  Kintner  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge 
and  Chapter  at  Angola  and  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  and  his  wife  have  two  children  and 
one  grandchild.  Mildred  A.,  the  daughter,  is  the 
wife  of  Peter  Dick,  and  their  son  is  named  Robert. 
The  son  is  Maurice  G.  Kintner. 

Seth  Dunham.  If  any  man  has  a thorough  and 
authoritative  knowledge  of  changing  conditions  in 
Otsego  Township  from  pioneer  times  to  the  present 
it  is  Seth  Dunham,  a farmer  there  for  over  sixty 
years,  and  a witness  of  passing  events  and  circum- 
stances for  fully  three  quarters  of  a century. 

Mr.  Dunham,  who  is  still  living  on  his  farm  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven,  was  born  in  the 
City  of  Buffalo,  Erie  County,  New  York,  August  7, 
1832,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Sophia  (Wilber)  Dun- 
ham. His  mother  was  born  in  New  York  State 
and  died  there  at  the  age  of  thirty-two.  The  father 
was  born  in  Delaware  County,  New  York.  Samuel 
Dunham  brought  his  children  to  Indiana  in  1844, 
traveling  overland  with  wagons  and  two  yoke  of  oxein. 
After  a journey  of  four  weeks  he  reached  Steuben 
County  and  settled  in  Otsego  Township.  He  bought 
160  acres  of  land  from  his  brother,  Charles  Dun- 
ham, a previous  settler,  and  during  the  next  ten 
years  did  a great  deal  to , make  his  land  productive 
and  a part  of  the  growing  community  of  homes  and 
farms.  He  died  at  Hamilton  April  28,  1856,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-two.  He  was  a whig  in  politics  and  he 
died  about  the  time  the  republican  party  was  or- 
ganized. He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children,  Pan- 
ama, Seth,  Mary,  Oliver  and  Oliva,  twins,  Harriet, 
Sophia  and  Ella. 

Of  this  large  family  Seth  Dunham  is  the  only 
survivor.  He  was  in  his  twelfth  year  when  brought 
to  Steuben  County.  Prior  to  that  time  he  had  at- 
tended public  schools  in  New  York  State,  and  he 
also  went  to  school  some  in  the  backwoods  schools 
of  Otsego  Township.  He  adapted  himself  to  the 
pioneer  conditions,  and  became  a good  hunter  as 
well  as  a good  farmer.  As  late  as  1852  Mr.  Dun- 
ham killed  fifteen  deer  in  Otsego  Township  besides 
a large  number  of  wild  turkeys.  At  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  where 
he  lives  today,  and  his  increasing  resources  enabled 
him  to  improve  his  possessions  until  today  he  owns 
280  acres.  Along  with  good  crops  he  has  for  many 
years  handled  livestock,  not  only  raising  cattle 
and  hogs  but  buying  and  selling  and  feeding.  Mr. 
Dunham  has  lived  an  interesting  though  not  a 
conspicuous  life,  has  done  his  duty  quietly  by  his 
family  and  his  neighbors,  but  has  never  sought  the 
distinction  of  public  office.  He  is  a republican, 
having  been  identified  with  that  party  from  > the 
time  of  its  organization,  and  his  wife  is  a member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunham  are  one  of  the  oldest 
married  couples  in  Steuben  County.  The  date  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


71 


their  marriage  was  November  io,  1859.  Her  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Ann  McEntarfer.  She  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  August  2,  1837,  and  was  an 
infant  when  her  parents,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Getel)  McEntarfer,  accomplished  a pioneer  over- 
land journey  with  ox  team  and  conveyance  to  In- 
diana in  1838.  They  settled  in  Franklin  Township 
of  DeKalb  County,  where  her  father  died  in  i860, 
at  the  age  of  sixty.  Her  mother  spent  her  last 
days  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunham  and 
passed  away  in  1872.  Five  children  were  born  to 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dunham.  Caroline,  the  oldest,  is 
the  wife  of  Clark  Tingler  and  had  three  children, 
Guy,  Lloyd  and  Mabel.  Ellen  is  the  wife  of  Free- 
man Cary,  and  her  family  consists  of  Irina,  Seth 
and  Irvin.  The  son  Seth  married  Zelma  Teegarain, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Teegardin.  Viola  Dunham  is 
the  wife  of  Edward  Hand,  and  has  six  children, 
named  Dorris,  Kenneth,  Dunham,  Artis,  Theodore 
and  Donald. 

Alexander  Thompson  came  to  Steuben  County 
during  the  Civil  war,  enlisted  shortly  afterward  in 
an  Indiana  regiment,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
returned  and  resumed  his  civic  status  as  a farmer. 
He  gave  nearly  half  a century  to  the  management 
of  his  business  affairs,  and  is  now  retired. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  September  27,  1846,  a son  of  William  Cannon 
and  Harriet  (Ferguson)  Thompson.  William 
Cannon  Thompson  was  born  in  Indiana  County, 
Pennsylvania,  April  2,  1807,  a son  of  Hugh  S. 
Thompson.  He  married  April  16,  1844,  Harriet  Fer- 
guson, who  was ' born  in  Richland  County,  near 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  April  10,  1819.  After  their  mar- 
riage in  Richland  County  they  settled  in  Crawford 
County,  and  in  1864  moved  -to  Steuben  County, 
locating . on  the  farm  which  their  son  Alexander 
now  owns  in  Clear  Lake  Township.  William  C. 
Thompson  died  there  May  31,  1890,  and  his  widow 
at  the  home  of  her  daughter  Harriet  in  Hillsdale 
County,  Michigan,  in  December,  1899.  William  C. 
Thompson  was . a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  United  Presbyterians.  Their  children  were : 
Hugh  F.,  who  was  killed  by  a horse  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  six  years ; Alexander ; 
Mary  Elizabeth;  Harriet  F. ; John  Franklin;  and 
Effie,  who  was  killed  by  a horse  in  Steuben  County 
at  the  age  of  eight  years. 

Alexander  Thompson  lived  in  Crawford  County 
until  he  was  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  acquired 
his  education  there.  When  he  came  to  Steuben 
County  in  1864  he  rode  horseback,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing February  he  enlisted  at  Fremont  in  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  Indiana  Infantry,  in 
Company  C.  He  was  with  that  regiment  in  serv- 
ice until  the  close  of  hostilities.  On  returning  to 
Steuben  County  he  bought  sixty  acres  in  Clear  Lake 
Township.  He  farmed  for  many  years,  owned  con- 
siderable property  in  Ray,  where  he  had  his  home 
for  twenty  years,  and  he  also  owns  the  old  home- 
stead of  eighty-five  acres.  Mr.  Thompson  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  For  a time 
he  lived  in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  and  while 
there  served  as  deputy  sheriff  of  Branch  County 
under  William  H.  Herendeen. 

In  1875  Mr.  Thompson  married  Alice  Ellis,  of 
Branch  County,  a daughter  of  Daniel  Ellis,  now 
deceased.  Mrs.  Thompson  died  in  1901.  She  was 
the  mother  of  six  children,  and  a number  of  grand- 
children now  survive  her.  The  oldest  was  Effie, 
who  died  when  six  years  old.  Madge  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Lee  H.  Dugand,  of  Ludington,  Michigan, 
and  they  have  two  children,  named  Muriel  Margaret 
and  George.  Irene  Thompson  married  C.  S. 


Stephens,  of  Portland,  Oregon,  and  has  a son,  Ken- 
neth. Ross  A.  is  a railroad  agent  at  Rose  Lawn 
in  Newton  County,  Indiana.  He  married  Rose 
Swartzel.  John  Rollo  Thompson  is  a well  known 
citizen  of  Fremont  and  has  a son,  John  R.,  Jr. 
The  youngest  of  the  family,  Kenneth,  died  when 
six  years  old. 

Francis  Leason.  In  the  early  days  of  DeKalb 
County  a substantial  English  family  was  established 
in  Troy  Township  by  the  name  Leason.  A number 
of  its  representatives  are  still  found  in  that  vicinity, 
one  of  them  being  Mr.  Francis  Leason,  who  still 
goes  about  his  daily  vocation  as  a farmer  on  the 
east  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  8. 

He  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Ohio,  February  2, 
1854,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Sharp)  Leason. 
His  father  was  born  in  England  December  2,  1810, 
a son  of  Francis  Leason,  while  the  mother  was  born 
March  2,  1819,  in  the  same  country.  The  father 
grew  up  in  Derbyshire  and  the  mother  in  Notting- 
ham, and  they  were  married  in  June,  1848.  The 
following  week  they  set  out  for  the  United  States 
and  at  once  located  in  Erie  County,  Ohio.  Joseph 
Leason  rented  a farm  there  a short  time,  then  re- 
turned to  England  for  two  years,  after  which  he 
again  became  an  Erie  County  farmer  and  in  1856 
made  his  second  return  to  England.  In  1862  he 
was  again  in  Erie  County,  Ohio,  and  continued 
farming  there  until  1867,  when  he  removed  to 
Indiana  and  bought  sixty  acres  in  section  8 of 
Troy  Township.  He  lived  there  until  his  death  in 
1879  his  wife  having  passed  away  in  1872.  He 
was  one  of  the  leading  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  in  the  community.  He  never  took 
out  his  papers  to  become  an  American  citizen. 

Francis  Leason  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents 
and  since  he  was  thirteen  years  of  age  has  lived  in 
Troy  Township.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  and  on  December  5,  1879,  married 
Mary  E.  Stearns.  She  was  born  in  Troy  Town- 
ship July  20,  1859,  a daughter  of  John  and  Nancy 
(Ward)  Stearns.  Her  father  was  born  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  December  3,  1829,  and  her  mother 
April  11.  1833,  in  Ashtabula  County  of  the  same 
state.  They  were  married  July  13,  1856,  and  Mrs. 
Leason  is  their  only  daughter. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leason  have  three  children:  John, 

Charles,  born  February  17,  1883,  married  and  living 
at  Monroe,  Michigan;  and  Carrie,  born  February 
6,  1887.  still  at  home  with  her  parents.  The  latter 
are  active  members  of  the  Zion  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  Mr.  Leason  is  a republican.  He  and 
his  wife  have  six  grandchildren. 

John  Leason,  son  of  Francis  and  Mary  (Stearns) 
Leason,  is  a member  of  the  third  generation  of  this 
family  and  has  a valuable  farm  in  section  8 of 
Troy  Township.  He  was  born  May  6,  1881,  on  a 
farm  adjoining  his  present  home,  and  he  grew  up 
and  received  his  education  in  that  locality.  June 
8,  1904,  he  married  Mildred  C.  Hammond.  She 
was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County 
October  29,  1883,  a daughter  of  George  and  Caro- 
line Hammond.  She  was  reared  in  her  native 
township  and  received  a common  school  education. 
After  their  marriage  John  Leason  and  wife  lived 
on  the  home  farm  for  about  five  years  and  then 
came  to  their  present  place,  where  they  have  eighty 
acres  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
They  are  active  members  of  the  West  Zion  United 
Brethren  Church,  Mr.  Leason  being  on  the  official 
boards  and  finance  committee.  Fie  is  a republican 
in  politics.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five 
children,  Violet,  Martin,  Mildred  and  Dorothea  and 
Doris,  twins. 


72 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


William  Gorsuch  has  the  reputation  of  being  the 
wealthiest  citizen  of  Sparta  Township  in  Noble 
County.  He  is  a very  extensive  land  owner,  and 
during  his  long  life  has  used  his  industry  and  energy 
to  such  good  advantage  that  accumulations  have 
followed  as  a matter  of  course.  An  interesting  fact 
and  one  that  is  significant  is  that  he  had  only  $30 
when  he  came  to  this  county  more  than  fifty-six 
years  ago. 

He  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 25,  1842,  son  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (Crager) 
Gorsuch.  His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in  Dela- 
ware County.  Of  their  six  children  only  three  are 
now  living:  Noah  and  John  E.,  of  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  William. 

William  Gorsuch  grew  up  in  his  native  county  and 
had  little  opportunity  to  attend  school.  He  came  to 
Noble  County  in  1863  to  look  after  a tract  of  240 
acres  of  land  in  Sparta  Township.  He  has  made  that 
county  his  permanent  home.  April  1,  1866,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  E.  Smith.  She  was  born  in  Scotland 
County,  Missouri,  and  came  to  Noble  County  with 
her  parents  during  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gorsuch  had  three  children,  and  the  two  still  living 
are  Thomas  A.  and  John  F.,  both  farmers  in  Sparta 
Township.  Mrs.  Gorsuch,  who  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  died  April  16,  1915. 

Mr.  Gorsuch  at  the  present  time  owns  458  acres  of 
land  in  Sparta  Township,  and  for  many  years  has 
been  a successful  trader  in  land  and  other  property. 
He  has  been  a director  in  the  Cromwell  State  Bank 
since  it  was  organized,  also  a stockholder  in  the 
Kimmell  State  Bank,  and  in  politics  is  a democrat. 

George  B.  Maxton  has  lived  in  Steuben  County 
since  he  was  about  four  years  old.  He  has  led  a 
quiet,  unostentatious,  but  exceedingly  busy  and  use- 
ful life,  mainly  on  one  farm  in  Otsego  Township, 
and  is  raising  crops  today  on  the  same  land  that 
his  father  cultivated  half  a century  ago. 

Mr.  Maxton  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
August  30,  1856,  a son  of  John  and  Christina  (Rals- 
ton) Maxton.  His  parents  were  both  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania, his  father  October  22,  1822,  and  his  mother 
December  iq,  1826.  His  grandparents,  John  and 
Anna  (Clark)  Maxton,  spent  most  of  their  lives  in 
Green  County,  Ohio.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children.  All  these  children  were  living  and  at- 
tended the  funeral  of  their  father,  and  at  that  time 
their  combined  ages  were  709  years.  John  and 
Christina  Maxton  brought  their  family  to  Otsego 
Township,  April  1,  i860,  and  settled  on  a farm  of 
1404  acres.  John  Maxton  cleared  much  of  this 
land,  put  up  some  good  buildings,  saw  his  efforts 
prosper,  his  children  grow  to  useful  manhood  and 
womanhood,  and  in  these  peaceful  surroundings  he 
died  January  2,  1900,  his  wife  passing  away  October 
20,  1902.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics  and  in 
religious  views  adopted  a liberal  attitude.  The 
children  were:  Mrs.  Jane  Burch;  Mrs.  Lydia  Gil- 

bert, deceased;  Mrs.  Martha  Beebe;  George  B.; 
Mrs.  Mary  Tasker;  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy; 
and  Mrs.  Anna  Sheffler. 

George  B.  Maxton  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
acquired  a common  school  education  and  as  a boy 
assisted  his  father  in  clearing  more  land  for  fields 
and  tending  the  fields  already  in  cultivation.  He 
has  always  lived  on  the  same  place  and  is  now 
proprietor  of  a farm  with  splendid  improvements 
and  of  great  productiveness.  Mr.  Maxton  is  a 
democrat,  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Angola 
and  is  a member  of  the  Hamilton  Co-operative  Ship- 
pers Association. 


In  1880  he  married  Miss  Cassie  Tingler.  She 
was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  May  25,  1858, 
and  was  about  four  years  old  when  her  parents, 
Michael  and  Nellie  (Opp)  Tingler,  came  to  Steuben 
County  and  settled  in  Otsego  Township.  Her  par- 
ents lived  here  upwards  of  half  a century.  Her 
mother  died  in  1906  and  her  father  in  1910.  Mrs. 
Maxton  has  one  sister,  Mrs.  Phoebe  Badger.  Two 
children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maxton,  Hugh 
and  Nellie.  Hugh,  born  May  16,  1881,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  in  recent  years 
has  assumed  many  of  the  responsibilities  of  man- 
aging his  father’s  farm.  He  married  Miss  Georgia 
Boyles,  and  their  four  children  are  Carroll,  Denver, 
Lewis  and  Ruth.  The  daughter  Nellie,  who  was 
born  June  29,  1883,  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Orewiler,  a 
son  of  Adam  Orewiler,  of  Steuben  County.  Two 
sons  comprise  the  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy 
Orewiler,  named  Russell  and  Keith. 

Adolph  E.  Lambright,  member  of  an  old  family 
of  LaGrange  County,  has  in  his  own  right  and  in 
his  own  career  achieved  a dignified  success  as  a 
farmer  and  good  citizen,  and  while  he  has  never 
been  in  politics  has  exercised  a good  influence  in 
the  community  where  he  lives.  His  farm  is  in 
Johnson  Township,  three  and  a half  miles  north 
and  one  half  mile  west  of  Wolcottville. 

He  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township  of  the 
same  county  January  2,  1866,  son  of  Michael  and 
Augusta  (Snitzer)  Lambright.  His  father  was 
born  in  Germany  March  g,  1839,  and  came  to  the 
United  States  with  his  father  in  1847,  being  one  of 
eight  children,  all  of  whom  grew  up  in  Holmes 
County,  Ohio.  Holmes  County  was  the  birthplace 
of  Augusta  Snitzer,  who  was  born  October  18, 
1839.  She  and  Michael  Lambright  were  married 
in  August,  i860,  and  in  1865  brought  their  family 
to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Clear  Spring  Township, 
two  and  a half  miles  southwest  of  LaGrange.  In 
1871  he  moved  to  Johnson  Township  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  active  years  as  a farmer  there,  but 
late  in  life  moved  to  Wolcottville  and  died  there. 
He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  Of  their  eight  children  six  are  still  living: 
William  J.,  of  Wolcottville;  Adolph  E. ; Ella,  wife 
of  William  Rowe;  Miles,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana; 
Carrie,  wife  of  Frank  Eddy;  and  Alvin  E.,  of  John- 
son Township. 

Adolph  E.  has  spent  all  his  life  in  LaGrange 
County.  He  supplemented  the  advantages  of  the 
common  schools  by  work  in  the  Normal  School  at 
LaGrange  and  for  twelve  years  was  a teacher,  and 
his  former  pupils  credit  him  with  being  one  of 
the  best  teachers  of  Johnson  Township.  Whde 
teaching  he  also  engaged  in  farming.  In  April, 
1898,  after  his  marriage,  he  bought  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  consisting  of  140  acres.  Mr.  Lam- 
bright is  well  known  locally  as  a breeder  of  Duroc 
hogs.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  in  politics  he  is  a democrat. 

Mr.  Lambright  was  married  April  21,  1891,  to 
Emma  Shuman,  and  they  have  six  children.  Agnes 
is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School  and 
a graduate  dietitian  of  the  Battle  Creek  Sani- 
tarium and  is  now  the  wife  of  Edgar  Vasser. 
Mildred  is  a graduate  of  high  school,  and  had  a 
two-year  college  course.  Harold  graduated  from 
high  school  and  is  now  a student  of  electrical  en- 
gineering in  Purdue  University.  Clyde  finished 
his  high  school  course  and  was  also  a student  of 
the  Fort  Wayne  Business  College.  Lois  is  now 
in  the  high  school  at  Wolcottville,  while  Julia  is 
in  the  grade  school. 


MR.  AND  MRS.  WILLIAM  GORSUCLI 


■ 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


73 


Roy  A.  Van  Fossen,  though  identified  with 
Steuben  County  only  a few  years,  is  a member  of 
a family  which  has  been  related  with  the  com- 
munities of  Northeast  Indiana  and  across  the  state 
line  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  since  pioneer  times. 

Mr.  Van  Fossen,  whose  farm  is  in  Millgrove 
Township,  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  July 
12,  1874,  a son  of  John  W.  and  Eliza  J.  (Gillis) 
Van  Fossen.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Wil- 
liam and  Mar3r  (Sloss)  Van  Fossen.  More  than 
eighty  years  ago  they  removed  from  Ohio  to  Dear- 
bornville,  Michigan,  and  in  1838  returned  to  Ohio 
and  settled  in  Williams  County.  Williams  County 
at  that  time  was  practically  a wilderness.  William 
Van  Fossen  took  up  Government  land  in  Florence 
Township.  He  was  identified  with  the  clearing  and 
improvement  of  that  land  the  rest  of  his  life.  He 
and  his  wife  had  six  children,  named  Elizabeth, 
Rachel,  William,  Margaret,  Jane  and  Thomas. 

John  W.  Van  Fossen,  who  was  born  at  Newark, 
Ohio,  February  11,  1834,  grew  up  from  the  age 
of  four  years  in  Williams  County,  acquired  his 
education  in  public  schools,  and  after  attending  the 
Northeastern  Indiana  Institute  at  Orland  went 
west  to  Iowa  and  was  one  of  the  early  teachers  in 
that  state.  Returning  to  Williams  County  about 
the  beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  he  enlisted  October 
31,  1862,  in  the  Fifth  Independent  Company  of  Ohio 
Sharpshooters.  After  that  until  the  close  of  hos- 
tilities he  was  with  the  Army  of  the  Cumberland 
and  was  never  absent  a single  day  from  duty.  He 
participated  in  many  engagements  and  after  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga  he  was  detailed  for  duty  for 
six  weeks  in  gathering  up  and  burying  the  dead. 
The  war  over  he  returned  to  Williams  County,  and 
on  February  22,  1866,  married  Eliza  Jane  Gillis. 
Her  parents  were  William  and  Jane  (McLaren) 
Gillis,  the  latter  a native  of  Ireland.  Mary  Sloss, 
noted  above  as  the  wife  of  William  Van  Fossen, 
was  also  born  in  Ireland.  William  Gillis  and  wife 
were  early  settlers  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1845  moved  to  Williams  County,  spending  the  rest 
of  their  days  in  Florence  Township,  where  their  in- 
dustry cleared  up  a homestead. 

After  his  marriage  John  W.  Van  Fossen  bought 
a farm  in  Florence  Township,  then  moved  to  an- 
other place  in  Northwest  Township  in  the  same 
county,  and  in  1891  came  to  Northeast  Indiana,  set- 
tling in  LaGrange  County,  on  the  Dr.  Thomas  B. 
Sloss  farm.  He  made  his  last  move  in  1900,  when 
he  came  to  Orland,  where  he  died  November  2, 
1912.  His  widow  survived  him  until  November  27, 
1918.  The  late  Mr.  Van  Fossen  was  a republican 
and  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  Presbyterians,  though 
in  LaGrange  County  they  worshipped  in  the  Con- 
gregational Church  at  Orland.  He  was  at  one  time 
ruling  elder  of  the  West  Eagle  Creek  Church  in 
Williams  County.  Their  children  were  seven  in 
number:  Arthur  A.,  deceased;  Harvey  G. ; Floy; 

Roy  A. ; Dr.  William  S.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio ; 
Jeanette;  and  Ella. 

Roy  A.  Van  Fossen  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Northwest  Township  in  Williams  County  until  he 
was  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  LaGrange  County.  He  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  Orland  High  School.  Since 
leaving  school  the  burden  of  his  activities  has  been 
as  an  agriculturist.  He  bought  a farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Millgrove  Township  in  1911,  and  for  the 
past  eight  years  has  done  much  to  give  that  place 
modern  improvements,  and  he  has  it  well  stocked 
and  equipped  for  general  farming  purposes.  He 
has  a number  of  pure  bred  Duroc  Jersey  hogs.  Mr. 
Van  Fossen  is  a republican  and  attends  the  Con- 
gregational Church. 


In  1900  he  married  Miss  Alice  Casebeer,  of  James- 
town Township,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Gelain 
(Lucas)  Casebeer,  of  Millgrove  Township.  Two 
children  were  born  to  their  marriage : Arline,  born 

November  10,  1902,  graduated  with  the  class  of  1919 
from  the  Orland  High  School.  Wayne,  born  June 
7,  1906,  was  just  enjoying  the  promise  of  youth  and 
the  prospects  of  manhood  when  he  died  July  27, 
1918. 

William  M.  Diggins  has  lived  all  his  productive 
years  in  Noble  County,  and  his  interests  in  farming 
and  as  a public  spirited  citizen  of  Wayne  Township 
have  made  him  well  known  and  highly  esteemed  in 
that  community. 

Mr.  Diggins,  whose  fine  farm  is  a mile  and  a half 
west  of  Kendallville,  was  born  June  14,  1859,  son 
of  Artemus  and  Caroline  (Ottman)  Diggins,  the 
former  a native  of  New  York  State  and  the  latter 
of  Ohio.  Artemus  Diggins  came  to  Indiana  when 
a boy,  his  people  locating  four  miles  north  of  Ken- 
dallville. The  Ottman  family  came  to  Indiana  from 
Ohio,  the  parents  of  Caroline  Ottman  having  been 
born  in  Germany.  Artemus  Diggins  and  wife  were 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  in  politics  he 
was  a republican.  There  were  five  children : Wil- 
liam M. ; Elmer  E.,  a farmer  on  the  old  home- 
stead ; Carrie,  unmarried,  now  living  in  Los  Angeles 
and  formerly  a teacher ; Linford  W.,  a railway 
mail  clerk  on  the  New  York  Central  Lines;  and 
George  F.,  a contractor  at  Kendallville. 

William  M.  Diggins  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
Noble  County,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  lived  at  home  until  he  reached  his  maturity. 
After  two  years  in  North  Dakota  Territory  he  re- 
turned to  Indiana  and  bought  a farm.  September 
29,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Tillie  M.  Pierce.  She 
was  born  in  Noble  County  February  10,  1862, 
daughter  of  E.  Clark  Pierce.  Her  father  was  born 
in  New  York  State  and  her  mother  in  Ohio,  and 
both  families  were  early  settlers  in  Indiana.  E. 
Clark  Pierce  was  brought  to  this  state  when  only 
a year  old. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Diggins  began  house- 
keeping on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and  he 
has  made  all  the  improvements.  His  place  com- 
prises 196  acres,  and  is  the  home  of  good  live  stock 
and  of  thrifty  enterprise  in  every  direction. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Diggins  have  two  children  and  one 
grandchild.  Frank  C..  born  in  July,  1887,  married 
Inez  C.  Black  and  they  live  on  the  home  farm. 
Harold  H.,  born  September  4,  1892,  attended  the 
Kendallville  High  School  and  spent  two  years  in 
Purdue  University.  He  married  Ruth  Needham. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Diggins  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge 
No.  276,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and 
is  a republican. 

Ray  Clark  is  one  of  the  progressive  farmers  of 
Scott  Township  in  Steuben  County,  having  a fine 
farm  of  140  acres  in  that  locality. 

He  was  born  in  Scott  Township,  June  22,  1876, 
a son  of  Arby  and  Louisa  J.  (Dygert)  Clark.  His 
mother  was  born  in  York  Township,  September  2, 
1850,  a daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Phoebe  Anne 
(Carpenter)  Dygert,  one  of  the  old  and  very  prom- 
inent families  in  Steuben  County.  Arby  Clark  was 
'born  near  Jamestown,  New  York,  October  29,  1843, 
and  was  not  yet  eighteen  years  old  when  the  Civil 
war  broke  out.  He  went  all  through  that  struggle  as 
a member  of  Company  A of  the  Forty-Ninth  New 
York  Infantry.  After  many  battles  he  was  cap- 
tured and  was  a prisoner  of  war  for  three  months 
in  Libby  prison,  was  then  transferred  to  Bell  Isle, 
and  two  weeks  later  made  his  escape  and  swam 


74 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


down  the  James  River  all  night  and  after  many 
perils  and  adventures  reached  safety  within  the 
Union  lines.  Soon  after  the  war  he  came  back  and 
settled  in  York  Township  of  Steuben  County  and 
in  1877  took  his  family  to  Arkansas,  where  he  lived 
five  years.  On  returning  to  Steuben  County  he  set- 
tled on  forty  acres  in  Scott  Township,  a tract  of 
land  that  is  now  included  in  the  farm  of  his  son 
Ray.  He  continued  farming  there  the  rest  of  his 
life  and  died  in  December,  1915.  His  wife  passed 
away  June  30,  1915.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children:  Clara,  who  was  born  in  York  Township 

in  1873;  Ray;  Nina,  who  was  born  January  6, 
1879,  in  Arkansas  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
years,  three  months  and  eight  days ; Ina  May,  born 
October  12,  1881,  in  Arkansas ; Leah,  born  in  Scott 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  June  20,  1883;  and 
Aria,  born  in  Scott  Township,  March  14,  1888. 

Ray  Clark  had  his  first  recollections  of  his  parents’ 
home  in  Arkansas  and  was  about  six  years  old  when 
the  family  returned  to  Steuben  County.  He  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  local  schools,  and  even- 
tually acquired  the  homestead  of  his  father  and  has 
added  to  its  area  100  acres,  giving  him  the  140  acres 
as  above  noted.  He  has  made  good  improvements, 
has  tiled  much  of  the  land,  and  devotes  his  enter- 
prise to  general  crops  and  livestock.  He  feeds  hogs, 
cattle  and  sheep  every  year.  He  is  a republican 
voter,  is  affiliated  with  North  East  Lodge  of  the 
Masonic  Order  and  Steuben  Lodge  No.  231  of  the 
Odd  Fellows  at  Fremont. 

April  4,  1914,  Mr.  Clark  married  Miss  Luella  Mc- 
Clue.  She  was  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Helen 
(Farnham)  McClue  and  granddaughter  of  Erastus 
Farnham,  one  of  the  very  early  settlers  of  Steuben 
County. 

Wesley  Weaver,  whose  affairs  as  a farmer  of 
Noble  County  have  long  prospered,  is  a member 
of  one  of  the  old  families  of  that  section  of  North- 
east Indiana,  and  his  people  have  always  done  more 
than  merely  make  a living,  and  have  upheld  all 
those  moral  forces  which  give  character  to  a com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Weaver  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  lives  in  section  30  of  Orange  Township  July  8, 
1861.  His  parents  were  Christian  and  Susanna 
(Towns)  Weaver.  Christian  Weaver  was  born 
in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  January  1,  1826.  In 
1849,  when  twenty-three  years  of  age,  he  journeyed 
overland  to  Northeastern  Indiana  and  bought  180 
acres  in  Noble  County,  now  the  home  farm  of 
Wesley  Weaver.  After  making  the  purchase  he 
returned  on  foot  to  Ohio,  and  the  following  year 
came  to  Indiana  with  the  Tow'ns  family.  He  went 
to  work  in  the  woods,  cleared  away  a spot  and 
built  a log  house,  and  on  September  20,  1851.  mar- 
ried Susanna  Towns.  She  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio;  February  11,  1824.  The  Towns 
family  settled  in  Steuben  County  in  1850.  Chris- 
tian Weaver,  though  starting  life  with  limited 
means,  has  prospered  far  above  the  ordinary,  and 
at  the  same  time  was  extremely  liberal  of  time  and 
means  in  behalf  of  church  and  other  worthy  causes. 
His  prosperity  was  represented  by  the  ownership 
of  about  300  acres  of  land.  Soon  after  coming  to 
this  county  he  and  his  family  joined  the  Spring- 
field  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  in  1835  he  was 
elected  an  elder  in  this  church.  He  was  a deep 
student  of  the  Bible,  and  as  a preacher  was  un- 
remitting in  his  devotions  and  work.  During  his 
life  he  officiated  at  many  marriages  and  preached 
many  funerals.  He  was  a stanch  democrat  but 
never  held  any  office.  Christian  Weaver  died  March 
16,  1907.  His  good  wife,  who  was  the  soul  of 


generosity,  died  January  10,  1897.  Six  children  were 
born  to  them,  and  two  are  still  living,  Sylvanus, 
of  Orange  Township,  and  Wesley. 

Wesley  Weaver  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  and 
was  well  educated  in  the  district  schools.  He  lived 
at  home  until  his  marriage. 

Mr.  Weaver  married  Miss  Barbara  Frick.  She 
was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County 
and  was  educated  in  the  local  schools.  Since  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  have  occupied  the 
old  Weaver  homestead,  containing  108  acres,  and 
he  also  has  180  acres  in  Elkhart  Township.  He 
followed  general  farming  and  has  good  grades  of 
livestock  of  all  kinds.  Mr.  Weaver  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Kendallville  Motor  Truck  Com- 
pany. He  is  a democrat,  keeps  well  informed  on 
all  current  affairs,  and  with  his  family  is  active  in 
the  Church  of  the  Brethren. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weaver  have  three  children:  Grover 
is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  married 
Mary  Pickett;  Olive  is  the  wife  of  Lee  Franks; 
and  Wilber  married  Mary  Chapman. 

Ralph  A.  Morse,  a prominent  young  farmer  of 
Steuben  County,  is  the  active  manager  of  the  Morse 
farm  in  Jamestown  Township,  where  his  father  lived 
for  many  years.  The  family  came  to  Steuben  County 
over  sixty-five  years  ago,  and  the  name  has  always 
been  associated  with  industry  and  sound  citizen- 
ship. 

Mr.  Morse  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  Sep- 
tember 15,  1883,  a son  of  Orrin  L.  and  Alice  (Cor- 
bett) Morse,  and  a grandson  of  John  Morse,  who 
came  in  1852  to  Steuben  County,  first  settling  in 
Pleasant  and  later  in  Jackson  Township,  where  he 
died.  The  children  of  John  were  George,  Sanford, 
Francis,  Hortense,  Louisa,  Jerome,  Orrin  and  John. 

Orrin  L.  Morse  was  born  in  Michigan  June  5> 
1847,  and  his  wife  was  born  the  25th  of  June  of 
the  same  year.  He  grew  up  in  Pleasant  and  Jackson 
townships,  and  after  getting  his  education  went  west 
to  Nebraska  and  homesteaded  a quarter  section. 
Later  he  returned  to  his  home  county  and  first  had 
a farm  of  forty  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  He 
sold  that  and  in’  the  spring  of  1884  bought  eighty 
acres  in  Jamestown  Township,  where  his  son  Ralph 
now  lives.  He  made  many  good  improvements  on 
this  farm,  building  a substantial  brick  house  in 
1892.  He  lived  on  the  farm  and  was  active  in  its 
work  until  1911,  when  he  moved  to  Hamilton.  In 
later  years  he  has  made  his  home  at  Mason,  Mich- 
igan. His  wife  died  on  the  old  farm  May  3,  1907. 
Orrin  Morse  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  two  daugh- 
ters and  one  son : Lillie,  wife  of  C.  W.  Hertz,  of 

Michigan;  Daisy,  wife  of  Ira  Bowerman,  of  Jack- 
son  Township;  and  Ralph  A. 

Ralph  A.  Morse  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a public  school  education,  supplemented 
by  courses  in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  He 
has  since  been  a farmer  and  now  leases  the  home 
farm  from  his  father.  He  handles  good  live  stock. 
Mr.  Morse  is  a republican  and  his  wife  is  a Meth- 
odist. August  27,  1908,  he  married  Miss  Eva  Tubbs, 
a native  of  Branch  County,  Michigan. 

John  F.  Cameron,  M.  D.  A native  of  Steuben 
County,  Doctor  Cameron  chose  this  county  as  the 
scene  of  his  life  work,  and  as  a physician  and  sur- 
geon for  thirty  years  he  has  gained  real  distinction 
in  his  profession  and  rendered  a service  that  is 
appreciated. 

Doctor  Cameron  was  born  in  Richland  Township 
May  8,  1855,  a son  of  John  and  Mary  (Carlin) 
Cameron.  His  maternal  grandfather  was  Robert 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Carlin.  John  Cameron  was  born  in  Scotland,  son 
of  George  and  Janet  Cameron.  George  Cameron 
brought  his  family  from  Scotland  in  1834,  and  after 
several  years  in  Canada  three  of  his  children  came  to 
Indiana.  John  Cameron  came  to  America  six  months 
previous  to  the  family’s  immigration.  He  was 
nineteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  America, 
and  on  leaving  Canada  he  went  to  the  State  of 
New  York  and  took  some  sub-contracts  for  work 
on  the  Erie  Canal.  Later  the  same  business  brought 
him  to  Indiana  as  a contractor  on  the  Wabash 
Canal.  During  a year  and  a half  at  that  work  he 
saved  money  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  take  up  a 
homestead  in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben 
County  in  1841.  He  acquired  160  acres  of  timbered 
land,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1878.  He 
was  a man  of  prominence  in  that  locality,  serving 
twelve  years  as  a justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  in 
his  second  term  as  a county  commissioner  when  he 
died.  He  was  also  trustee  of  Richland  Township  two 
terms,  and  was  very  active  and  made  his  experience 
as  a contractor  count  for  public  benefit  in  laying 
out  and  surveying  public  roads. 

Doctor  Cameron  received  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Richland  Township,  graduated 
from  the  academy  at  Angola,  and  spent  one  term 
in  Hillsdale  College  of  Michigan.  He  paid  his  way 
and  earned  the  money  for  his  medical  course  by 
teaching  school.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine 
with  his  brother,  Dr.  J.  G.  Cameron,  at  Edon,  Ohio, 
and  then  entered  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago, 
where  he  graduated  in  1880.  On  December  12,  1880, 
he  married  Elnora  Powers,  daughter  of  Hon.  Clark 
Powers.  She  died  in  1886,  and  her  only  child,  J. 
Clark,  died  in  infancy. 

Doctor  Cameron  began  practice  at  Hamilton  on 
April  29,  1880,  and  has  practiced  medicine  steadily 
in  Steuben  County  ever  since  with  the  exception  of 
the  time  he  has  been  in  school  during,  post-graduate 
work.  He  still  enjoys  a large  professional  business 
at  Hamilton  and  the  surrounding  country.  He  took 
post-graduate  courses  in  the  Medical  School  of  New 
York,  and  was  in  Columbia  University  Medical  Col- 
lege during  the  winter  of  1886-87.  Doctor  Cameron 
was  one  of  the  first  directors  after  the  organization 
of  the  First  National  Bank  at  Angola,  and  has 
been  steadily  on  the  board  of  that  institution  ever 
since.  Since  1887  he  has  frequently  attended  annual 
clinics  in  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  County,  State  and  American  Medical 
associations.  He  is  a charter  member  of  Hamilton 
Lodge  Knights  of  Pythias,  which  was  organized  in 
1889. 

On  November  6,  1887,  Doctor  Cameron  married 
Mary  Jane  Haughey.  Don  Franklin,  the  older  son 
of  Doctor  Cameron,  is  a graduate  of  the  Hamilton 
High  School,  the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  An- 
gola, received  his  Bachelor  of  Arts  degree  from 
the  Indiana  State  University  at  Bloomington,  and 
took  his  Master’s  degree  at  Chicago  University,  and 
has  a Fellowship  in  the  University  of  Minnesota. 
His  major  studies  were  chemistry  and  physics.  He 
finished  his  undergraduate  medical  course  in  Johns 
Hopkins  University,  where  he  graduated  in  1913 
with  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Medicine.  He  had 
one  year  as  interne  in  St.  Luke’s  Hospital  at  Chi- 
cago. He  then  served  as  an  interne  in  Johns  Hop- 
kins University,  and  there  took  examination  for  a 
medical  officer  in  the  navy,  receiving  a reserve  com- 
mission. For  one  year  and  a half  he  worked  under 
the  direction  of  Doctor  Young,  an  eminent  urologist 
at  Brady  Institute.  He  also  did  three  years  of 
post-graduate  work  in  the  Minnesota  State  Univer- 
sity, but  in  the  meantime,  before  receiving  his  degree, 
was  called  into  the  navy  and  at  present  is  at  the 


75 

Kansas  City  Recruiting  Station  with  the  rank  of 
first  lieutenant. 

Angus  Lavern,  the  second  son,  completed  the 
high  school  work  in  Hamilton,  attended  the  State 
Normal  at  Terre  Haute  two  years,  and  is  also  a 
graduate  of  the  Indiana  State  University,  taking 
one  year  of  his  medical  work  there.  He  received  the 
degree  Bachelor  of  Arts  from  Indiana  University, 
and  has  his  Master’s  degree  from  the  University 
of  Chicago,  where  he  did  special  work  in  pathology 
and  bacteriology.  He  graduated  in  medicine  from 
Rush  Medical  College  in  1916.  For  one  year  he 
was  connected  with  the  staff  of  the  Children’s 
Memorial  Hospital,  and  the  second  year  was  con- 
nected with  the  Presbyterian  Hospital  in  Chicago 
in  the  capacity  of  assistant  house  surgeon.  He  went 
to  France  as  a first  lieutenant  with  Base  Hospital 
No.  13,  one  of  the  first  units  of  the  American 
forces  to  go  overseas.  At  present  he  is  serving  a 
three-year  surgical  fellowship  at  the  University  of 
Minnesota. 

Mrs.  Cameron’s  father  was  Timothy  Haughey, 
who  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  November 
5,  1824,  and  died  June  28,  1914.  Her  mother  was 
Mary  Catherine  Gerst,  who  was  born  November 
29,  1823,  in  North  Bavaria,  Germany.  Timothy 
Haughey  was  a pioneer  of  Steuben  County,  locat- 
ing in  Otsego  Township  in  1843.  He  spent  prac- 
, tically  all  the  rest  of  his  life  there  as  a farmer. 
During  his_  first  years  in  the  county  he  also  taught 
school  during  the  winter  terms.  He  and  his  wife 
had  _ the  following  children  : Christiana,  Hannah 

Louise,  William  D.,  Phoebe  Eliza,  Mary  Jane, 
Emily,  Laura  Rumina  and  Frances  G.  Mrs.  Cam- 
eron is  a graduate  of  Valparaiso  University,  and  for 
eight  years  before  her  marriage  taught  school  in 
Steuben  County.  She  is  a granddaughter  of  Robert 
and  Hannah  (Wyckoff)  Haughey,  both  natives  of 
eastern  states.  They  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in 
1846. 

Sherman  O.  Cole.  The  ability  with  which  he 
has  directed  his  private  affairs  as  a farmer  and  all 
around  good  citizen  has  commended  him  so  strong- 
ly to  the  confidence  and  good  will  of  his  fellow 
citizens  in  Scott  Township  that  Mr.  Cole  is  by 
choice  of  the  people  serving  as  township  trustee. 
He  is  a native  of  his  present  township  and  repre- 
sents one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of 
Steuben  Township.  Other  references  to  the  Cole 
family  are  found  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

Mr.  Cole  was  born  in  Scott  Township,  September 
24,  1867,  a son  of  Nelson  and  Eliza  (Phenacie)  Cole. 
He  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  the  advantages 
of  the  public  schools  were  supplemented  by  courses 
in  the  Tri-State  College.  From  college  he  returned 
home  and  began  farming,  and  his  independent  career 
was  started  with  a small  place  of  thirty  acres.  After 
keeping  that  for  several  years  he  sold  it  and  bought 
a larger  place  of  eighty  acres  situated  just  east 
of  the  farm  of  his  brother,  Frank  Cole.  He  sold 
that  in  1904  and  then  bought  the  160-acre  Kinney 
farm.  Mr.  Cole  is  in  every  way  progressive  and  has 
given  his  farm  some  high  class  modern  improve- 
ments. In  1916  he  built  a large  barn  40x100  feet 
and  also  a hay  and  straw  barn  40x60  feet.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
he  owns  two  other  farms  in  Scott  Township,  eighty 
.acres  in  each  and  both  improved  with  good  build- 
ings. 

Mr.  Cole  has  interested  himself  in  local  affairs 
and  was  elected  township  Trustee  in  1918  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  He  is  a republican,  is  affiliated 
with  the  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Metz  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Fremont.  He  attends  the 
Christian  Church. 


76 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


November  27,  1890,  he  married  Mary  Dotts,  who 
was  born  in  Scott  Township,  March  7,  1870,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Louisa  (Sage)  Dotts.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  March 
28,  1835,  and  her  mother  in  Lorain  County  of  the 
same  state  July  12,  1842.  John  Dotts  was  brought 
to  Steuben  County  in  1847  by  his  father  and  step- 
mother, and  he  grew  up  here  and  was  long  well 
known  in  the  citizenship  of  northeast  Indiana.  He 
died  August  30,  1915,  and  his  wife  April  21,  1915. 
Mrs.  Cole  is  one  of  four  living  children,  the  others 
being  Elmer,  Lena  and  Carl. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cole  also  have  four  children.  Wavel, 
born  July  29,  1891,  died  February  13,  1900.  Ora 
Nelson,  born  February  13,  1897,  went  to  the  com- 
mon schools  through  the  eighth  grade,  attended  the 
Angola  High  School  two  years,  and  is  now  at  home. 
Wilma,  born  April  20,  1901,  graduated  from  the 
Tri-State  College.  Joyce,  born  March  15,  1908,  is 
now  in  the  grammar  school. 

Reuben  B.  Walb.  One  of  the  hard  working 
farmers  and  respected  citizens  of  LaGrange  County 
is  Reuben  B.  Walb,  who  has  spent  nearly  fifty 
years  in  cultivating  crops  and  raising  livestock,  and 
now  has  a fine  farm  and  country  home  in  Johnson 
Township,  in  section  17. 

He  was  born  in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania, 
November  21,  1850,  a son  of  Reuben  and  Eliza 
(Beaver)  Walb.  The  Walb  family  originated  in 
Switzerland.  On  coming  to  America  they  settled 
in  Pennsylvania.  Reuben  Walb  after  his  marriage 
to  Eliza  Beaver  moved  to  Huntingdon  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Reuben  B.  Walb  grew  up  there  and 
became  acquainted  with  Susanna  Norris.  They 
were  married  July  22,  1875,  and  continued  to  live 
in  Pennsylvania  several  years. 

April  5,  1878,  Mr.  Walb  came  to  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Clay  Township. 
He  owns  forty  acres  of  land  there  and  worked  it 
at  the  same  time  he  followed  his  trade  as  a car- 
penter. In  1898  he  moved  his  family  to  Johnson 
Township,  where  he  has  lived  now  for  over  twenty 
years.  Mr.  Walb  is  a republican,  and  is  a trustee 
of  the  Valentine  Methodist  Church,  where  all  his 
family  attend  worship. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walb  have  five  children : Ira  B., 

who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  is  now  living 
at  LaGrange,  Indiana ; Clyde  A.,  who  was  born  in 
Clay  Township,  is  a former  county  surveyor  and  a 
banker  and  contractor;  Bertha  P.,  born  July  16, 
1880,  is  a deaconess  in  the  Methodist  Church  in 
Chicago;  Vera,  born  in  April,  1882,  is  the  wife  of 
Irvin  Cook,  of  Johnson  Township;  and  Ray,  born 
June  8,  1885,  is  helping  his  father  farm.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Walb  also  have  nine  grandchildren. 

Zeotus  P.  Keeslar,  whose  home  is  in  Millgrove 
Township,  is  a member  of  the  rather  numerous 
and  specially  prominent  and  influential  Keeslar  fam- 
ily, whose  name  is  identified  with  the  early  settle- 
ment and  affairs  not  only  of  Steuben  County  but 
of  Branch  County,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Keeslar  was  born  where  Dan  Pocock  now 
lives  in  Millgrove  Township,  April  29,  1855.  His 
grandfather  was  Peter  Keeslar.  Some  more  extended 
reference  to  members  of  the  family,  including  Peter, 
is  made  on  other  pages.  The  parents  of  Zeotus 
were  Dr.  George  and  Mary  (Green)  Keeslar.  Mary 
Green  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  New  York,  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Maranda  Green.  David 
Green,  who  died  in  Coldwater,  Michigan,  was  one 
of  the  eminent  citizens  of  Branch  County.  His 
wife  died  at  Orland,  at  the  home  of  her  son,  Dr. 
George  Keeslar.  Dr.  George  Keeslar  was  born  in 
New  York  in  1829  and  was  a small  child  when  he 


went  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  with  his  parents. 
He  had  a public  school  education,  studied  medi- 
cine with  a physician  at  Orland,  and  in  1854  began 
a busy  and  successful  practice  at  Auburn.  His  suc- 
cess and  reputation  as  an  able  physician  continued 
after  he  returned  to  Orland  in  1869,  and  altogether 
he  put  in  fifty  busy  and  useful  years  in  his  pro- 
fession. He  died  in  1905,  having  retired  from 
practice  about  a year  previous.  He  was  a repub- 
lican and  a Knight  Templar  Mason.  Doctor  Kees- 
lar’s  wife  died  in  1898.  Their  children  were  Zaida, 
who  died  in  1918 ; Zeotus,  and  George  C. 

Zeotus  P.  Keeslar  attended  school  in  Auburn,  also 
the  Orland  Academy,  and  since  early  manhood  his 
time  and  energies  have  been  taken  up  with  the  prac- 
tice of  agriculture.  He  owns  a good  farm  of  eighty- 
two  acres  in  Millgrove  Township,  and  has  paid  much 
attention  to  stockraising,  particularly  the  breeding 
of  draft  horses.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

March  10,  1885,  Mr.  Keeslar  married  Mary  Alice 
Gamble,  widow  of  Richard  W.  Gamble,  and  daugh- 
ter of  Evan  A.  and  Elizabeth  E.  (Philips)  Rogers. 
The  Rogers  family  came  to  Steuben  County,  and 
her  parents  both  died  there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keeslar 
had  one  son,  George  Evan,  born  in  1888.  He  lived 
only  eleven  months. 

David  A.  Borntrager.  It  is  by  no  means  an  in- 
dividual opinion  but  one  based  upon  the  consensus 
of  a community  that  David  A.  Borntrager  is  an  ex- 
ceptionally good  farmer  and  an  equally  high  class 
citizen.  The  offices  of  honor  and  trust  he  has  filled 
in  his  township  and  county  show  that,  while  his  farm 
is  a model  in  arrangement  and  business  like  effi- 
ciency. This  farm  where  he  lives  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship was  the  scene  of  his  birth  December  30,  1864. 
He  is  a son  of  Amos  and  Lydia  (Miller)  Born- 
trager. The  Borntragers  are  an  old  and  numerous 
family  in  Northeast  Indiana  and  several  of  the 
branches  have  been  described  in  this  publication. 
Amos  Borntrager  was  born  in  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  November  20,  1826. 

David  A.  Borntrager  attended  public  school  in 
Newbury  Township  and  when  a young  man  rented 
his  father’s  farm  for  three  years  and  then  bought 
the  old  home  place.  All  his  activities  have  been 
centered  around  the  farm  where  he  was  born.  He 
now  owns  240  acres  comprising  the  homestead  and 
has  acquired  additional  land  until  his  total  holdings 
aggregate  355  acres.  On  this  land  he  has  built  a 
new  modern  home,  has  rebuilt  the  barn,  and  his 
buildings  are  very  substantial  and  well  arranged 
for  all  the  demands  made  upon  them.  During  the 
past  twelve  years  Mr.  Borntrager  has  been  a breeder 
of  pure  bred  Duroc  Jersey  hogs  and  Hereford 
cattle.  His  farm  is  known  as  the  Sunny  Ridge 
Stock  Farm. 

In  1887  Mr.  Borntrager  married  Mary  Hostetler, 
a daughter  of  Jacob  Hostetler.  The  children  are 
four  in  number:  Earley,  a farmer  in  Newbury 

Township,  married  Delcie  Mishler  and  has  two 
daughters,  Alice  Hilda  and  Glenola  Ruth ; Flora 
Amcda,  who  is  the  wife  of  Neri  Borntrager  and  has 
three  children,  named  Ruby  Minerva,  Lorene  Mar- 
jorie and  Glenden  Lamar;  Amos  Timothy,  who  has 
served  with  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in 
France  and  at  present  is  engaged  in  reconstruction 
work,  being  still  in  service  there ; and  Fannie  Anna. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager  also  took  into  their  home 
Lester  Paul  Hostetler  when  he  was  three  years 
old,  and  he  is  still  with  the  family,  being  fourteen 
years  of  age.  The  son,  Earley,  was  educated  in 
the  high  school  at  Shipshewana,  in  the  Goshen  Nor- 
mal College  and  for  five  years  was  a teacher  in 
Newbury  Township.  The  son,  Amos  Timothy, 
likewise  graduated  from  the  Shipshewana  High 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


77 


School  and  did  normal  work  at  Goshen,  after  which 
he  taught  for  two  years  in  his  home  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager  are  members  of  the 
Mennonite  Church.  Active  in  public  affairs,  he 
served  twelve  consecutive  years  as  a member  of 
the  Township  Advisory  Board  and  for  four  years 
was  a member  of  the  LaGrange  County  Council. 

Frank  M.  Tuttle.  The  conditions  surrounding 
the  operation  of  land  in  the  fertile  regions  embraced 
in  northeastern  Indiana  are  so  satisfactory  that 
many  of  the  most  representative  citizens  have  prac- 
tically spent  their  lives  here,  being  perfectly  con- 
tent with  the  results  accruing  from  their  investments 
in  land  and  time.  One  of  these  alert  farmers  is 
Frank  M.  Tuttle  of  Pleasant  Lake,  who  owns  and 
operates  a fine  farm  of  120  acres  one  mile  west  of 
town.  He  was  born  near  Pleasant  Lake  in  Steuben 
Township  October  31,  1857,  a son  of  Lemon  Tuttle, 
born  in  New  York  State  in  1813.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Felora  Gould,  was  born 
in  New  York  State  in  1818,  a daughter  of  Keah 
and  Mehitable  (Sturges)  Gould.  In  1838  Lemon 
Tuttle  came  to  Indiana  and  in  1840  located  in  Steu- 
ben Township,  Steuben  County,  where  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  June,  1881.  His  wife  died  De- 
cember 25th  of  the  same  year.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  Lorana,  Emeret,  Chester  V.,  Frank, 

Alptha,  Sylvester,  Arad  and  Byron,  the  last  three 
dying  in  infancy. 

Frank  M.  Tuttle  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Steuben  Township,  and  was  then  given  the  addi- 
tional advantage  of  two  terms  at  Angola  Academy. 
After  attaining  his  majority  he  began  farming  on 
the  old  Tuttle  homestead,  where  he  remained  until 
1902,  leaving  it  in  that  year  to  go  to  Colorado. 
Since  then  he  has  made  five  trips  to  that  state, 
crossing  the  Rocky  Mountains  ten  times.  With  the 
exception  of  these  trips  Mr.  Tuttle  has  spent  his 
entire  life  in  Steuben  Township.  In  the  spring  of 
1919  he  sold  the  Tuttle  homestead  and  bought  his 
present  farm,  one  mile  west  of  Pleasant  Lake, 
which  he  is  devoting  to  general  farming. 

In  1882  Mr.  Tuttle  was  married  first  to  Dora 
Lower,  a daughter  of  Jacob  Lower,  and  they  had 
three  children,  Clair  V.,  Carrol  H.,  and  Lower,  the 
latter  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  three  months. 
Mrs.  Tuttle  died  in  1901,  and  Mr.  Tuttle  was  later 
married  to  Mildred  Lemon,  a daughter  of  Bert 
Lemon.  Mr.  Tuttle  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church 
of  Pleasant  Lake  and  gives  it  a generous  support 
of  time  and  money.  He  is  prominent  as  a Mason 
and  Knight  of  Pythias,  taking  a sincere  interest  in 
both  fraternities.  Since  locating  at  Pleasant  Lake 
he  has  become  one  of  its  representative  citizens, 
and  is  ready  to  lend  his  influence  to  bring  about 
any  necessary  improvements.  An  experienced 
farmer,  he  has  known  how  to  make  his  efforts  yield 
him  a good  profit,  and  at  the  same  time  raise  the 
standard  for  his  neighborhood. 

Walter  A.  Ross  has  spent  his  life  in  Northeast 
Indiana  and  owns  one  of  the  many  excellent  farms 
found  in  this  part  of  the  state.  While  he  never 
attended  a scientific  school  of  agriculture.  Mr.  Ross 
has  made  a thorough  study  of  agricultural  methods, 
illustrated  in  the  splendid  farm  of  which  he  is 
proprietor,  known  as  Maple  Shade  Stock  Farm, 
comprising  187  acres.  This  farm  is  two  and  a 
half  miles  west  of  Wolcottville  on  the  county  line, 
with  thirty  acres  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County. 

Mr.  Ross  was  born  in  Noble  County,  near  Brim- 
field,  November  13,  1870,  son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Bear)  Ross.  His  father  was  born  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  in  1833,  while  his  mother  was  a na- 


tive of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in  Mor- 
row County,  then  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
and  settled  near  Brimfield,  and  the  father  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  there  as  a farmer.  The  mother 
is  still  living  on  the  old  homestead.  She  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Mennonite  Church  and  the  father  was 
a democrat.  Of  their  six  children  three  died  young. 
Frank  is  a farmer  in  Orange  Township,  and  Jennie 
is  the  wife  of  George  Strater,  of  Wayne  Township, 
Noble  County. 

Walter  A.  Ross  grew  up  on  the  old  farm,  at- 
tended country  schools  and  the  schools  at  Brim- 
field,  and  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
He  worked  out  by  the  year  and  by  hard  work, 
thrifty  saving  and  good  management  accumulated 
the  capital  which  finally  enabled  him  to  purchase 
eighty  acres  of  his  present  splendid  farm,  where 
he  has  lived  since  April,  1905. 

In  1892  Mr.  Ross  married  Addie  E.  Dallas.  She 
was  born  on  the  farm  where  she  now  lives,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Eliza  E.  (Young)  Dallas. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ross  have  five  children,  who  are  an 
honor  to  their  parents.  Cecil  D.,  the  oldest,  grad- 
uated from  high  school,  spent  three  years  in  the 
Indiana  State  University,  and  was  a teacher  in 
the  high  school  in  Iowa  when  he  enlisted,  in  June, 
1917,  in  the  Army  Ambulance  Service.  He  was 
assigned  to  duty  with  the  French  army  and  was 
overseas  for  sixteen,  months.  He  received  his 
honorable  discharge  April  15,  1919.  He  saw  real 
fighting,  and  was  in  the  battle  of  Argonne,  where 
the  Americans  gained  the  greatest  triumph  of  the 
war,  and  in  the  Champagne  offensive  and  defensive. 
Elmer,  the  second  son,  is  a graduate  of  Purdue  and 
has  taken  a mechanical  engineering  course  in  Pur- 
due University.  The  three  youngest  children  are 
Robert,  Margaret  and  Raymond,  the  two  former 
in  the  grammar  schools.  Mr.  Ross  is  affiliated  with 
Ionic  Lodge  No.  380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
of  which  his  sons  Cecil  and  Elmer  are  also  mem- 
bers. He  is  a past  master  of  this  lodge  and  is 
past  worthy  patron  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which 
his  wife  is  a member.  The  Maple  Shade  Stock 
Farm  has  gained  considerable  local  note  for  its 
spotted  Poland  China  hogs. 

Frank  F.  Lewis  is  the  fortunate  owner  of  one 
of  the  well  cultivated  and  valuable  farms  of  Steuben 
County,  land  that  has  responded  to  his  efforts  as  an 
agriculturist  for  a number  of  years.  He  was  for- 
merly a traveling  man,  but  in  the  environment  of 
his  farm  has  found  that  true  contentment  and  pros- 
perity that  is  associated  with  the  ownership  of  a 
portion  of  Indiana  soil. 

He  was  born  at  Orland  August  29,  1869,  and  is 
a son  of  Hiram  and  Sallie  Jeanette  (Fuller)  Lewis 
and  grandson  of  Harvey  and  Elizabeth  (Bassett) 
Lewis.  His  grandparents  were  early  settlers  in 
Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County,  the  land  they 
owned  and  developed  being  now  owned  by  the  widow 
of  their  son,  Dwight  Lewis.  Harvey  Lewis  returned 
to  New  York  State  for  a time,  but  after  1855  lived 
in  Steuben  County  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children:  Hiram  M.,  Newel 

Pomeroy,  Laura  Ann,  Frank  B.  and  Dwight  B. 

Hiram  Lewis  was  born  in  Coventry  County,  New 
York,  in  1834.  He  acquired  his  education  in  New 
York  and  also  in  the  Northeastern  Indiana  Institute 
at  Orland.  He  was  a teacher  in  the  early  days  at 
Orland.  By  trade  he  was  a carpenter,  and  he  con- 
structed the  old  boarding  hall  connected  with  the 
academy  at  Orland,  and  was  a carpenter  for  the 
Kimball  buildings  on  East  Street,  the  two  buildings 
now  the  hotel  and  bakery,  and  the  homes  of  Hib- 
bard Roberts,  Ziba  Roberts  and  John  Roberts.  A 


78 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


very  busy  man  always,  he  lived  a brief  but  simple 
life  and  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  thirty-nine.  He 
was  a republican  and  his  wife  was  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Orland.  His 
wife  was  born  in  1842  in  Branch  County,  Michigan, 
in  a log  house  along  the  banks  of  Gilead  Lake.  She 
survived  her  husband  forty  years,  passing  away  in 
1913,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one.  He  had  two  sons, 
Homer,  who  died  at  the  age  of  six  months,  and 
Frank. 

Frank  F.  Lewis  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Orland,  graduated  from  the  high  school  in  1887,  and 
soon  took  up  the  business  of  traveling  salesman. 
For  fifteen  years  he  sold  buggies  and  did  business 
in  twenty-six  states  and  in  parts  of  Canada.  In  1911 
he  returned  to  Steuben  County  and  resumed  farming 
and  stock  dealing.  In  1904  he  bought  fifty  acres, 
erected  a good  farm  home  in  1907,  and  also  a barn, 
which  was  subsequently  burned  and  replaced  by  a 
large  and  well  appointed  structure  in  1915.  Mr. 
Lewis  now  owns  176  acres  in  Millgrove  Township. 
He  is  a republican  in  politics  and  has  been  affiliated 
with  the  lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Orland  for  the 
past  twenty-four  years. 

November  27,  1890,  he  married  Anna  Carrie 
Twitched.  She  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  September  22,  1869,  a daughter 
of  George  and  Laura  (Scoville)  Twitched,  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Benjamin  and  Sabria  (Rogers) 
Twitched,  the  former  born  in  1805  and  the  latter  in 
1804,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  Rogers.  Benjamin 
Twitched  and  wife  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1836, 
being  among  the  earliest  pioneers.  He  was  a brother 
of  Jonas  Twitched,  Sr.,  one  of  the  very  first  set- 
tlers in  the  county.  Benjamin  Twitched  was  a 
blacksmith  in  Orland  and  also  bought  forty  acres 
of  land  in  Millgrove  Township  and  another  farm  of 
120  acres  in  Jackson  Township,  and  died  at  Orland 
in  1868.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Mary  Jane,  Henry,  William,  Homer,  Betsy 

Ann,  George  Warren  and  Julia  Viola.  Betsy  Ann 
Twitched  was  the  first  white  girl  born  in  Steuben 
County. 

George  Twitched  was  born  in  Steuben  County  in 
1840,  in  Millgrove  Township.  His  wife,  Laura  Sco- 
ville,  was  born  in  Richland  Township  in  1843.  He 
was  educated  in  the  Northeast  Indiana  Institute  at 
Orland,  was  a farmer  and  bought  the  old  homestead 
of  120  acres  in  Millgrove  Township.  His  wife  died 
there  in  1899,  and  he  passed  away  in  1911.  He  was 
a republican  and  a Mason,  and  his  wife  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Orland.  Mrs. 
Lewis  was  one  of  four  children,  named  Clyde  Sco- 
ville,  Anna  Carrie,  Cora  Bell  and  Bertha  Laura. 

Mrs.  Lewis  graduated  from  the  Orland  High 
School,  and  she  and  her  husband  were  the  first 
graduates  from  that  school  to  be  married.  For 
some  years  she  was  a teacher  and  she  comes  of  a 
family  of  teachers,  her  brother  and  sisters  having 
taught,  as  wed  as  their  mother. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lewis  became  the  parents  of  five 
children.  Anna  Laura  was  born  December  29, 
1891,  graduated  from  the  Orland  High  School  in 
1911,  attended  Hillsdale  College  in  1912-13  and  is 
a milliner  by  profession,  spending  two  and  a half 
years  in  her  work  at  Bronson,  Michigan.  Marion 
was  born  in  1893,  and  died  when  six  and  a half 
years  old.  Ella  Marie  was  born  in  December,  1896, 
and  died  ten  weeks  later.  Hiram  Twitched,  born 
January  22,  1898,  is  a graduate  of  the  Orland  High 
School,  and  lives  at  home  with  his  father.  Clyde 
Scoville  was  born  January  5,  1901,  and  has  a fine 
record  as  an  athlete  in  the  Orland  High  School, 
having  won  prizes  for  running  and  being  a good 
baseball  player. 


John  W.  Long.  One  of  the  rural  places  that 
stands  out  conspicuous  for  its  improvements,  extent 
of  acreage,  and  wed  ordered  management  in  Noble 
County  is  the  Ideal  Farm  in  York  Township.  The 
farm  proper  comprises  400  acres,  and  its  proprietor, 
John  W.  Long,  also  owns  an  additional  152  acres  in 
another  part  of  the  township.  His  home  is  a mile 
west  of  Albion. 

That  Mr.  Long  is  a very  successful  farmer  and 
business  man  needs  no  proof  beyond  what  has  al- 
ready been  stated,  but  it  is  interesting  to  know  that 
he  has  gained  that  prosperity  practically  through 
his  own  unaided  efforts.  He  was  born  in  Shelby 
County,  Ohio,  January  30,  i860,  son  of  John  S. 
and  Delila  (Harvey)  Long,  his  father  a native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of  Maryland.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio  and  on  December  23,  1863, 
located  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County.  The 
father  bought  land  there  and  spent  the  rest  of  his 
days  in  that  community.  The  mother  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son  John  W.  John  S.  Long  had  a farm 
of  a 120  acres.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  In  their  family  were  fourteen  children, 
divided  equally  between  sons  and  daughters.  The 
five  still  living  are:  Sarah,  wife  of  Henry  Conway; 
Permelia,  widow  of  Daniel  Whitmore;  John  W. ; 
George,  of  Detroit,  Michigan;  and  Frank,  of  Gar- 
rett, Indiana. 

John  W.  Long  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Noble 
County,  acquired  a district  school  education,  and  at 
the  age  of  nineteen  started  out  without  a dollar  and 
put  in  the  next  five  years  at  hard  work  and  monthly 
wages.  In  that  time  he  had  saved  and  accumulated  a 
modest  capital  of  $600. 

Thus  fortified  and  with  some  degree  of  assurance 
for  the  future  he  married  Catherine  A.  Stokes.  Mrs. 
Long  inherited  forty  acres,  and  they  at  once  moved 
on  that  land  and  began  farming.  With  that  excep- 
tion and  with  the  money  Mr.  Long  had  saved  before 
his  marriage,  all  the  subsequent  prosperity  has  only 
been  a just  reward  for  their  efforts  and  good  judg- 
ment. Mr.  Long  has  always  been  a stock  raiser.  He 
has  also  traded  a number  of  farms  and  has  made 
money  in  every  such  transaction.  As  a stockman  he 
is  a breeder  of  Shorthorn  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs 
and  Percheron  horses.  Besides  his  farm  he  is  vice 
president  of  the  Albion  Bank,  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Albion  Roller  Mills,  and  has  a number  of  other 
interests  that  identify  him  prominently  with  his 
locality.  On  November  5,  1918,  he  was  elected  a 
member  at  large  of  the  County  Council.  In  politics 
Mr.  Long  is  a republican. 

He  and  his  wife  have  four  children:  Fred  is  a 

graduate  of  high  school  and  is  a farmer  on  his  own 
account;  Orlando  is  also  an  independent  farmer; 
Reed  has  a farm  at  Albion ; and  Ecil  is  still  attend- 
ing school. 

James  C.  Wicoff,  of  Clear  Lake  Township,  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Steuben  County  as  a pros- 
perous farmer,  a member  of  one  of  the  old  families 
identified  with  Northeast  Indiana  and  Northeastern 
Ohio. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  September  4,  1871, 
a son  of  Peter  Bruce  and  Jane  (Hathaway)  Wicoff. 
Jane  Hathaway  was  born  at  Bryan,  Ohio,  in  1840, 
a daughter  of  Richard  and  Lurinda  (Bates)  Hatha- 
way, both  natives  of  Morrow  County,  Ohio.  Richard 
Hathaway  was  born  in  1813  and  his  wife  in  1818. 
When  their  daughter  Jane  was  a small  child  they 
moved  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  where  Richard 
Hathaway  died  in  1885  and  his  wife  in  1893.  The 
Hathaway  children  were:  Doctor  Calvin;  Jane; 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JOHN  W.  LONG 


. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


79 


Doctor  Albert,  of  Ohio;  Sarah,  wife  of  Burton 
Donovan,  of  Fremont,  Indiana;  Charles,  who  was 
a railroad  engineer  and  was  killed  while  building 
a road  in  New  Mexico;  Horace,  of  Fremont,  In- 
diana; Caroline,  deceased;  and  Judson,  deceased. 

The  grandfather  of  James  C.  Wicoff  was  John 
Wicoff,  who  married  Margaret  Castle.  John  Wicoff 
located  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  in  1844,  and  in 
1864  moved  to  Berrien,  Michigan,  where  Margaret 
Wicoff  died  November  21,  1865,  at  the  age  of  sixty. 
John  Wicoff  lived  to  advanced  years  and  was  long 
a resident  of  Steuben  County. 

Peter  Bruce  Wicoff  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  March  12,  1837,  went  as  a boy  with  his  parents 
to  Williams  County  and  was  married  on  June  2, 
1864.  He  and  his  wife  at  once  removed  to  Berrien 
Springs,  Michigan,  and  after  one  year  returned  to 
Williams  County  and  settled  in  Northwest  Town- 
ship. Four  years  later  they  moved  to  Missouri  and 
then  to  Kansas.  In  1874  they  settled  in  Steuben 
County  on  a farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in  York 
Township.  They  later  resumed  their  residence  in 
Kansas,  where  Peter  B.  Wicoff  owned  160  acres 
of  land.  In  1880  they  located  permanently  on  a 
farm  in  York  Township,  where  Peter  Bruce  Wicoff 
died  in  1907.  His  widow  is  now  living  at  Fremont 
with  a daughter.  Peter  B.  Wicoff  was  a republi- 
can, and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  had  a record  as 
a Union  soldier,  having  enlisted  in  1861  in  Com- 
pany H of  the  Third  Ohio  Cavalry.  He  was  in 
service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  The  record  of 
the  children  of  Peter  Bruce  Wicoff  and  wife  is.  as 
follows : Lurinda  is  the  wife  of  William  Hutchins, 

of  Steuben  County.  Zoa  E.,  a prominent  educator, 
completed  her  work  in  the  public  schools  of  Williams 
County,  also  attended  school  in  Jewel  City,  Kansas, 
the  Angola  High  School,  took  the  scientific  course 
in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola,  and  for  a num- 
ber of  years  taught  in  the  country  school  district  of 
Steuben  County,  was  in  the  grade  school  at  Crystal, 
Michigan,  and  for  fourteen  years  has  been  con- 
nected with  the  schools  at  Fremont.  She  owns  a fine 
home  in  that  city.  Her  mother  lives  with  her. 
Charles  A.  Wicoff  is  a farmer  in  York  Township. 
He  married  Mary  Reed,  and  they  have  seven  chil- 
dren, named  Helen,  Harold  J.,  Lucile,  John,  Milton, 
Arthur  and  Dale.  The  fourth  of  the  family  is 
Sarah  Wicoff,  who  attended  the  State  Normal 
School  at  Terre  Haute,  taught  in  Steuben  County 
and  at  Angola  for  six  years,  and  finally  went  to 
Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  where  she  took  the  nurse’s 
training  course  and  for  the  past  five  years  has 
been  a trained  nurse  in  the  Battle  Creek  Sanitarium. 
John  R.  Wicoff  after  finishing  his  work  in  the 
Tri-State  College  taught  three  years  and  then  took 
up  railroading,  and  was  killed  in  a railroad  accident 
at  Logansport  in  1899.  He  married  Sylvia  Shertz. 
The  sixth  of  the  family  is  Harry  J.,  unmarried  and 
owner  of  a large  ranch  in  Alberta,  Canada.  Archie 
B.  died  at  the  age  of  two  years. 

James  C.  Wicoff  is  the  youngest  of  the  family. 
He  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  York  Township, 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  devoted  his  best  energies  to  farming. 
He  bought  a farm  of  seventy-five  acres  in  York 
Township  and  recently  sold  that  and  on  March  1, 
1918,  bought  the  Sam  Bailey  place  of  100  acres 
in  Clear  Lake  Township.  This  is  one  of  the  good 
farms,  and  under  his  management  its  resources 
are  completely  devoted  to  crops  and  livestock. 
Mr.  Wicoff  is  a republican  and  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

In  1908  he  married  Miss  Vera  Hall.  She  was 
born  in  Hillsdale  County,  Michigan,  October  21, 


1876,  a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Keziah  (Weaver) 
Hall,  formerly  residents  of  York  Township,  Steu- 
ben County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wicoff  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Esther,  born  September  21,  1910. 

Jonathan  A.  Hontz.  The  ownership  of  no 
acres  of  land  in  northeast  Indiana  constitutes  a 
competence  which  would  satisfy  the  man  of  ordinary 
ambition.  In  the  case  of  Jonathan  A.  Hontz  the 
ownership  of  that  body  of  land  in  Washington 
Township  of  Noble  County  is  the  product  of  his 
own  energies  and  labors  carried  on  through  a period 
of  thirty  years  or  more,  since  he  left  home  to  take 
up  the  battle  of  life  on  his  own  account.  His  farm 
is  nine  miles  south  of  Cromwell. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  the  same 
county  November  11,  1862,  and  has  been  a lifelong 
resident  of  Noble  County.  The  parents,  Jacob  and 
Hannah  (Hoak)  Hontz,  were  both  born  in  Ohio, 
his  father  in  Stark  County  and  his  mother  in  Cham- 
paign County.  Both  families  came  to  Noble  County 
in  early  days,  and  Jacob  and  Hannah  grew  up  and 
married  here  and  then  settled  on  a farm  north  of 
Cromwell,  but  in  1882  moved  to  the  southeastern 
part  of  Washington  Township,  where  they  spent 
the  rest  of  their  lives.  They  were  good  Christian 
people,  hard  working  and  honest,  and  reared  a fam- 
ily worthy  of  their  names.  The  father  was  a demo- 
crat and  quite  active  in  the  party.  Of  eleven 
children  eight  are  still  living:  William,  of  North 

Webster,  Indiana;  Jonathan;  Jennie,  widow  of 
Horace  Scott;  Daniel  S.,  a dentist  at  North  Web- 
ster; Harriet  A.,  wife  of  Noah  S.  Stump;  Lewis 
C,  of  Washington  township ; Effie,  wife  of  Norvel 
Metz;  and  Mabel,  wife  of  Joseph  Luckey. 

Jonathan  Hontz  attended  the  district  school  near 
his  father’s  home,  and  after  his  education  took  his 
place  in  the  fields,  and  lived  on  the  home  farm 
most  of  the  time  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years 
old.  In  September,  igoo,  he  married  Pearl  C.  Todd, 
who  was  born  in  Dallas  County,  Iowa,  but  came  to 
Indiana  before  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hontz 
have  seven  children : Mary  O.,  wife  of  Leroy 

Ringenberg;  Mildred  M.,  who  is  a student  in  the 
high  school  at  Etna,  Indiana;  Ermel  L.,  Sedrick  D., 
Neva,  Mabel  L.  and  Thomas  M.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  Mr.  Hontz  is 
affiliated  with  Etna  Lodge  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  he  and  his  wife  both  being  mem- 
bers of  the  Rebekah  Lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a 
democrat. 

William  W.  Hosler.  Good  citizenship  is  not 
measured  altogether  by  a man’s  success  in  his  own 
business,  but  also  by  the  interest  he  shows  and  the 
part  he  takes  in  the  larger  and  broader  affairs  of 
the  community  in  which  he  lives.  While  William 
W.  Hosier  is  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers 
of  Orange  Township,  Noble  County,  his  name  is 
known  and  respected  in  that  community  fully  as 
much  for  the  valuable  part  he  has  taken  at  differ- 
ent times  in  the  promotion  of  schools,  good  roads, 
and  the  raising  of  the  standards  of  country  life. 

Mr.  Hosier  is_  the  proprietor  of  what  is  known 
as  the  Maple  Hill  Farm,  comprising  210  acres,  lo- 
cated two  and  a half  miles  east  of  Brimfield.  He 
has  lived  in  Noble  County  nearly  all  his  life  but 
was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  April  22,  1846, 
a son  of  Samuel  R.  and  Barbara  (Kifer)  Hosier. 
His  parents  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  in  1850 
came  to  Noble  County  and  located  in  Orange  Town- 
ship, where  they  were  among  the  industrious  and 
respected  citizens  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The 
mother  died  in  1910,  and  the  father,  who  was  a re- 
publican, died  in  1915.  There  were  four  children: 


80 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


J.  H.  Hosier,  deceased;  William  W. ; Catherine 
M.,  wife  of  Thomas  L.  Imes;  and  Ella  B.,  wife 
of  Admiran  Imes. 

William  W.  Hosier  was  four  >ears  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Noble  County.  As  a boy  he  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  which  were  then  far 
below  the  state  of  efficiency  found  in  the  country 
schools  of  this  day  and  age.  He  also  attended  a 
commercial  college  in  Chicago.  For  about  a year 
he  was  employed  as  a clerk  and  bookkeeper  at 
Brimfield,  and  then  returned  to  the  old  farm.  On 
December  io,  1874,  Mr.  Hosier  married  Mary  E. 
Imes.  She  was  born  in  Noble  County  in  1856, 
and  died  in  1916,  at  the  age  of  sixty  years.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hosier  had  only  one  daughter,  Maude, 
who  was  a graduate  of  high  school  and  spent  three 
years  in  Oberlin  College.  She  is  now  the  wife 
of  Edward  H.  Rhoades,  of  Toledo,  Ohio.  Mrs. 
Hosier  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Brimfield.  Mr.  Hosier  is  a 
republican.  One  item  of  his  public  service  which 
deserves  especial  record  was  his  term  as  trustee 
of  Orange  Township.  He  was  in  that  office  four 
years,  from  1884  to  1888.  He  was  one  of  the 
original  stockholders  of  the  East  Indiana  Agricul- 
tural Fair  Association  when  it  was  organized  in 
1883,  and  for  many  years  has  been  a director  and 
is  now  its  general  superintendent. 

Stillman  L.  Collins  is  a grandson  of  the  first 
permanent  white  settler  in  Jamestown  Township, 
and  his  individual  record  has  been  in  keeping  with 
that  of  the  two  preceding  generations.  Mr.  Collins, 
formerly  a merchant  at  Jamestown,  is  now  looking 
after  the  old  homestead  place  where  he  was  born. 

Many  of  the  interesting  early  chronicles  of  James- 
town Township  might  be  described  as  the  experi- 
ences of  the  Collins  family.  His  grandfather,  Bar- 
ton Collins,  was,  like  many  other  early  settlers  of 
Steuben  County,  a Vermonter.  He  was  born  in 
Richland  County,  Vermont,  February  23,  1794.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Rhode  Island  January  2,  1797,  and 
they  were  married  in  1820.  Barton  Collins  first 
came  to  the  West  in  1834,  visiting  LaPorte,  Indiana. 
In  the  spring  of  1835  he  sold  his  property  in  the 
East,  and  with  his  wife  and  six  daughters  and  three 
sons  came  west  by  wagon  and  team,  shipping  his 
goods  by  water  to  Detroit  and  not  recovering  them 
for  a number  of  weeks.  He  traveled  through  South- 
ern Michigan  to  Coldwater  and  to  Bronson,  and  then 
came  south  to  the  Vermont  settlement  at  Orland. 
He  was  attracted  to  what  is  now  Jamestown  Town- 
ship, and  on  the  third  of  July,  1836,  entered  land 
at  the  Fort  Wayne  land  office.  Some  days  later  all 
the  men  from  the  Vermont  settlement  came  and 
helped  him  put  up  the  first  log  house  in  Jamestown 
Township.  He  and  his  family  lived  isolated  from 
neighbors,  and  when  their  supply  of  provisions  ran 
out  they  had  nothing  to  subsist  upon  except  pota- 
toes and  salt.  The  nearest  milling  point  was  Burr 
Oak,  Michigan,  and  Barton  Collins  before  raising 
a crop  of  his  own  had  to  pay  $2  a bushel  for  wheat 
and  $1  a bushel  for  corn.  Late  in  the  fall  of  1836 
he  bought  an  ox  team  and  went  to  Detroit  to  get 
his  goods.  Barton  Collins  was  a hard  worker,  a 
man  of  fine  influence  in  the  community,  but  his  life 
was  spared  only  a few  years  after  coming  to  Steuben 
County.  He  died  in  January,  1849.  His  widow 
survived  him  many  years  and  was  one  of  the  best 
known  of  the  early  settlers.  She  died  July  16,  1882, 
when  past  eighty-five  years  of  age.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eleven  children,  and  undoubtedly  derived 
a great  deal  of  satisfaction  from  the  worthy  places 
her  sons  and  daughters  attained  in  life. 

The  old  homestead  in  Jamestown  Township  be- 
came the  property  of  George  W.  Collins.  He  was 


born  in  Vermont  in  1829  and  was  six  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Steuben  County.  He  at- 
tended some  of  the  first  log  cabin  schools,  and  for 
over  half  a century  was  identified  with  the  social 
and  business  life  of  Jamestown  Township.  In  1856 
he  married  Avis  Walter,  whose  parents,  Seymour 
W.  and  Orra  (Coe)  Walter,  came  from  Vermont 
to  Steuben  County  in  1846.  George  W.  Collins  died 
m 1912,  and  his  wife  in  March,  1918.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children:  Stillman  L.,  Seymour 

B.,  Orra,  Lydia  (who  became  the  wife  of  Fred 
Baker),  and  Bert  L. 

Stillman  L.  Collins  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Jamestown  Township,  also  at- 
tended school  at  Orland  and  Angola  and  remained 
at  home  with  his  parents  assisting  in  the  work  of 
the  farm  until  he  was  twenty-six  years  old.  For 
about  twelve  or  fourteen  years  Mr.  Collins  con- 
ducted a general  merchandise  business  at  James- 
town. In  1914  he  retired  to  the  old  home,  where 
he  owns  gil/2  acres  and  is  giving  his  time  to  its 
management,  and  has  it  equipped  with  all  the  facili- 
ties for  general  farming  and  stockraising. 

September  15,  1880,  Mr.  Collins  married  Frances 
J.  Wooster,  a daughter  of  Dennis  K.  and  Sarah 
Jane  (Hammond)  Wooster.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Onondaga  County,  New  York,  March  30,  1824, 
and  her  mother  was  born  in  England  May  1,  1828. 
Dennis  K.  Wooster  moved  to  Branch  County,  Mich- 
igan, about  1869,  and  a year  later  settled  in  Mill- 
grove  Township  of  Steuben  County  and  spent  his 
last  years  in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange 
County.  He  died  in  December,  1917.  He  and  his 
wife  had  eight  children:  John,  Frances  J.,  Lyman 

H.  (who  died  in  childhood),  Rupert  L.,  Herbert 
and  Helen,  twins ; Jennie  E.,  and  Dennis  C. 

Mr.  Collins  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  261  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Fremont,  and  Mrs.  Collins 
is  a member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters  of  the  same 
place.  To  their  marriage  were  born  four  children, 
and  they  also  have  four  grandchildren.  Lois  M., 
the  oldest  of  their  children,  was  a successful  teacher 
for  about  twelve  years  and  is  a graduate  nurse  from 
the  Homeopathic  Hospital  at  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan. 
Mamie  L.  also  taught  school  for  about  twelve  years 
and  is  now  a clerk  in  the  War  Department  at  Wash- 
ington. Una  is  the  wife  of  Clyde  Berry,  and  her 
three  children  are  named  Thelma,  Elmore  and  Owen. 
Grover,  the  only  son,  married  Elva  Darr  and  has 
one  child,  Dale. 

George  F.  Ott  is  a well  known  farmer  of  Green 
Township,  Noble  County,  lives  on  and  has  the  active 
management  of  the  Jesse  Lock  Farm,  and  is  also  an 
aggressive  business  man  and  especially  active  in 
the  field  of  insurance. 

Mr.  Ott  was  born  in  Preble  County,  twelve  miles 
north  of  Eaton,  Ohio,  June  1,  1870,  son  of  John  A. 
and  Susanna  (Gangler)  Ott,  both  of  whom  were 
born  and  reared  in  Preble  County,  Ohio.  The 
grandfather.  John  Ott,  though  he  spent  most  of 
his  active  life  in  Preble  County,  came  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  at  an  early  day  and  invested  heavily 
in  the  new  lands  of  that  district.  Mrs.  John  A. 
Ott  died  in  1874  in  Noble  County  and  her  husband 
afterward  spent  his  last  years  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  John  A.  Ott  by  his  first  marriage  had  three 
children : Matilda,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen ; 
George  F. ; and  Minnie,  born  December  29,  1873, 
is  the  wife  of  Carious  Lock,  of  Ligonier,  Indiana. 

George  F.  Ott  was  eight  years  old  when  brought 
to  Noble  County  and  received  his  education  here  in 
the  public  school.  On  December  13,  1890,  he  married 
Corilla  Locke.  Mrs.  Ott  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  she  now  resides  August  31,  1873,  a daughter 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


81 


of  Jesse  A.  and  Sarah  A.  (Moore)  Locke.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ott  lived  in  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  during  1894-95,  and  then  returned 
to  Green  Township  and  have  since  had  their  home 
on  the  Locke  farm.  Mr.  Ott  in  addition  to  farming 
is  solicitor  in  Green  Township  for  the  Farmers 
Mutual  Insurance  Company.  He  is  a democrat,  is 
present  township  assessor,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  Chapel.  His  sons  Willard  and  Carl  are 
both  active  members  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ott  had  six  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Carl,  who  is  now  serving  in  the 

United  States  Navy;  Willard,  unmarried  and  liv- 
ing in  Illinois ; Lulu,  wife  of  Alfred  H.  Rider,  of 
Whitley  County,  Indiana;  Jessie  and  Harley,  both 
at  home. 

Orlando  Fifer.  The  agricultural  interests  of 
Steuben  County  are  many  and  varied,  and  the 
farmers  of  this  and  other  counties  in  northeastern 
Indiana  are  justly  numbered  among  the  most  repre- 
sentative citizens  of  the  state.  One  of  these  de- 
serving of  special  mention  is  Orlando  Fifer  of 
Otsego  Township,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, this  county,  March  14,  1873,  a son  of  Lewis 
Fifer  and  grandson  of  Adam  Fifer.  The  birth  of 
Adarn  Fifer  occurred  in  Pennsylvania  in  1817,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  Germany  February 
15,  1821.  She  was  brought  to  the  United  States 
by  her  parents,  who  located  in  Ohio  in  1826.  The 
marriage  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  Fifer  occurred  in 
Ohio,  and  on  March  28,  1861,  they  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Steuben  Township, 
where  he  died  November  2,  1883.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children : Elizabeth,  Lewis, 

Margaret,  Lydia,  Mary  J.,  Justinna,  William,  Hattie, 
Addison,  Loretta,  Franklin  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Lewis  Fifer  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  October  13,  1842.  On  March  22,  1865,  he  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Martha  (Harpman)  George,  and 
they  had  five  children,  as  follows : Elva  Jane, 

Margaret  Leonora,  John  Adam,  Orlando  and  Jessie 
A.  Lewis  Fifer  became  a landowner  of  Otsego 
Township  when  he  bought  100  acres  in  section  18, 
in  1873,  and  on  it  he  erected  good  buildings  and 
made  other  substantial  improvements.  He  and  his 
wife  were  consistent  members  of  the  United  Berth- 
ren  Church,  and  active  in  its  good  work.  His 
political  views  made  him  subscribe  to  the  policies 
and  support  the  candidates  of  the  republican  party. 
A man  of  the  utmost  probity,  Lewis  Fifer  carried 
on  all  of  his  business  operations  with  scrupulous 
uprightness,  and  was  known  far  and  wide  as  a man 
of  his  word. 

Orlando  Fifer  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm,  mak- 
ing himself  useful  from  boyhood,  and  at  the  same 
time  he  attended  the  local  schools.  When  he 
attained  to  sufficient  years  he  began  farming  for 
his  father,  and  in  March,  1904,  he  bought  his  father’s 
farm  and  owns  100  acres  of  fertile  land,  on  which 
are  excellent  buildings.  Here  he  carries  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  noted  for  the 
efficient  manner  in  which  he  carries  on  his  work. 

On  March  1,  1904,  Mr.  Fifer  was  married  to 
Minnie  Swift,  born  in  Otsego  Township,  a daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Anna  (Strubble)  Swift.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fifer  have  the  following  children : Lewis  D., 

Grace  A.  and  Leona  L.  Mr.  Fifer  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  order  of  Moose  and  the 
Gleaners.  Always  interested  in  public  matters,  he 
has  rendered  valuable  aid  in  securing  improvements 
in  his  township,  and  holds  the  confidence  and 
esteem  of  his  neighbors. 


Walter  J.  Needham  is  one  of  the  older  residents 
of  Noble  County,  having  come  here  when  a boy, 
and  is  a prosperous  farmer  with  a home  on  Maple 
Street,  two  miles  east  of  the  Sanitarium,  in  section 
11  of  Orange  Township. 

Mr.  Needham  was  born  in  Chicago,  Illinois,  No- 
vember 2,  1869,  son  of  Walter  and  Martha  (Clews) 
Needham.  His  parents  were  both  born  in  Eng- 
land and  were  married  there.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  emigrated  to  Australia  and  lived  there 
several  years,  where  the  father  followed  his  trade 
as  a butcher.  He  then  went  back  to  England,  and 
soon  afterward  sought  a new  home  in  Canada, 
going  from  there  to  Chicago,  and  not  long  after- 
ward coming  to  Noble  County,  Indiana.  The  fa- 
ther died  in  Noble  County,  and  his  widow  is  still 
living  at  Wolcottville.  Of  their  thirteen  children 
seven  are  still  living:  William  B.,  who  was  born 

in  Australia  and  is  now  living  in  Kendallville ; 
Emma,  wife  of  Carson  Marker;  Jennie,  wife  of 
Allen  Hassinger;  Anna,  wife  of  George  Holsinger ; 
A.  L.  Needham;  Walter  J.;  and  Fannie,  wife  of 
Armel  Gault. 

Walter  J.  Needham  was  brought  to  Noble  County 
when  a boy  and  grew  up  on  a farm  and  attended 
district  schools.  He  helped  farm  the  home  place, 
and  afterward  bought  the  >160  acres  contained 
therein. 

November  1,  1892,  he  married  Miss  Julia  B.  Dye. 
Mrs.  Needham  was  born  in  Orange  Township,  a 
mile  east  of  Brimfield,  and  is  a graduate  of  the 
Rome  City  High  School.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needham  lived  for  five  years  in 
Rome  City,  where  he  was  a railroad  man,  being  a 
brakeman'on  the  Lake  Shore.  He  then  moved  to 
the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  and  has  his  large 
place  well  cultivated,  improved  and  managed  as  a 
valuable  farm  property.  . 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Needham  have  two  sons.  Basil  E. 
is  a graduate  of  the  Rome  City  High  School  and 
married  Inez  Rimmel  and  lives  near  his  father  s 
home.  Bruce  B.  was  born  August  15.  I909-  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  at  Rome  City  and  Mr.  Needham  is  a re- 
publican. Mrs.  Needham  is  affiliated  with  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter  at  Rome  City. 

Charles  S.  Shutts,  a former  assessor  and  trus- 
tee of  Jamestown  Township,  was  born  in  that  local- 
ity of  Steuben  County,  and  has  been  successfully 
identified  with  farming  there  for  the  past  thirty 
years. 

Mr.  Shutts  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township 
August  24,  1866,  a son  of  Herman  C.  and  Mary 
(Collins)  Shutts.  His  mother  was  born  Novem- 
ber 28,  1844,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Betsie 
(Bush)  Collins.  Herman  C.  Shutts  was  born  in 
Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  June  6,  1839,  a son  of 
Charles  S.  and  Susanna  (Richey)  Shutts.  Charles 
S.  Shutts  was  born  July  6,  1809,  died  November  30, 
1859,  and  was  married  January  19,  1832.  Susanna 
Richey  was  born  in  1808.  They  spent  most  of  their 
lives  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  and  their  children 
were  Mary  Jane,  Eliza,  Herman  C.,  Almira  and 
Lucy  S.  Herman  C.  Shutts,  only  son  of  his  parents, 
moved  from  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  to  Jamestown 
Township  in  i860,  buying  a farm  in  sections  19  and 
.18.  All  the  improvements  on  that  land  were  put 
there  by  his  hands  or  at  his  direction,  and  he  made 
a good  farm  out  of  the  120  acres,  and  resided  there 
until  his  death.  His  children  were : Charles  S. ; 

Lucy  M.,  wife  of  Charles  Turner;  Jennie,  wife  of 
Horace  Davis ; and  Erva  L.,  who  was  married  to 
Frank  Mallory. 


Vol.  II— 6 


82 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Charles  S.  Shutts  attended  public  school  in  James- 
town Township,  and  was  a little  past  twenty-two 
years  of  age  when  on  March  12,  1889,  he  married 
Libbie  M.  Rubley.  She  is  a graduate  of  the  Collins 
District  School,  also  attended  the  Tri-State  College 
at  Angola,  and  afterward  taught  school.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Frick)  Rubley,  her 
father,  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  September 
8,  1837.  John  Rubley  came  with  his  parents,  J.  J. 
and  Margaret  Rubley,  to  Jamestown  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1848,  and  during  his  mature  life 
was  known  as  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  this 
section.  He  died  September  27,  1911,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four.  John  Rubley  and  wife  had  two 
children:  John  H.  and  Libbie  M. 

Soon  after  his  marriage  Mr  Shutts  removed  to 
his  present  farm  in  section  29  of  Steuben  Township. 
He  owns  120  acres,  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stockraising,  and  has  made  most  of  the  improve- 
ments which  give  the  land  value,  including  a set  of 
substantial  buildings.  His  public  record  includes  his 
four-year  term  of  service  as  assessor  from  1900  to 
1904,  while  from  1904  to  1908  he  was  trustee  of  the 
township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shutts  have  two  children, 
Harry  C.  and  Helen  E. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Griffith,  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  was  for  upwards  of  half 
a century  successfully  engaged  in  farming  in  Otsego 
Township,  Steuben  County,  and  is  now  a retired  resi- 
dent of  Hamilton. 

He  was  horn  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  May 
16,  1846,  a son  of  John  and  Jemima  (Gossage) 
Griffith.  Further  reference  to  his  parents  and  their 
pioneer  efforts  at  home-making  in  Northeast  In- 
diana are  made  on  other  pages.  The  family  came  to 
Indiana  in  1850,  when  Benjamin  Franklin  was  four 
years  old.  He  lived  in  their  pioneer  home  in  De- 
Kalb  County  until  1857,  when  his  parents  moved 
to  Otsego  Township  in  Steuben  County.  In  these 
localities  he  acquired  his  education  in  the  common 
schools,  and  in  February,  1864,  at  the  age  of  eighteen, 
enlisted  in  Company  K of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-Second  Indiana  Infantry.  He  saw  some  hard 
service  during  the  last  year  of  the  war,  most  of  the 
time  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  He  returned  from 
the  army  to  take  charge  of  the  homestead  and  cared 
for  his  widowed  mother  until  her  death  in  1884.  He 
bought  a part  of  the  old  farm,  128  acres,  and  had 
a busy  life  as  an  agriculturist  until  1911,  when  he 
moved  to  Hamilton,  where  he  owns  a comfortable 
home.  Mr.  Griffith  is  a republican,  has  been  stanch 
in  his  party  affiliations  for  over  half  a century,  and 
at  one  time  was  trustee  of  Otsego  Township.  For 
a number  of  years  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  at  Angola  and  is  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post. 

December  25,  1868,  he  married  Miss  Julia  Car- 
penter. She  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ohio, 
April  28,  1850,  and  was  a small  child  when  her 
parents,  Harlow  J.  and  Fanny  (Merry)  Carpenter, 
moved  to  Indiana  in  the  fall  of  1851  and  settled  in 
the  woods  of  Otsego  Township,  just  across  from  the 
old  Seth  Dunham  place.  Her  father  did  much  to 
improve  his  land  there  and  died  in  1883,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight.  Her  mother  passed  away  in 
1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Mr.  Carpenter  was 
a republican,  though  in  early  life  he  had  voted  as 
a democrat.  In  the  Carpenter  family  were  six 
children:  Jesse,  former  auditor  of  Steuben  County; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Robert  Humphreys;  George;  Betsey, 
widow  of  Lewis  Griffith,  of  Hamilton ; Julia  A. ; 
and  Caroline,  wife  of  Levi  Brown. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  have  had  the  following 
children : Eugene,  died  in  1894.  Harlow,  a resident 


of  Hamilton,  married  Samantha  McClish,  and  they 
have  four  children,  named  Walter,  Eugene,  Isabel 
and  Don.  Walter  was  a soldier  in  the  World  war, 
spending  most  of  his  time  at  Fort  Bliss,  Texas,  and 
Fort  Jackson  in  North  Carolina.  He  was  in  the 
service  from  May,  1918,  until  February,  1919.  Maud 
the  third  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith,  is  the  wife 
of  Owen  Garver,  of  Montana,  and  has  two  children, 
Valti  and  Fred.  Lee  is  a resident  of  Tipton,  In- 
diana. He  married  Nellie  Knouse  and  has  one 
son,  Frank. 

Ferdinand  Knappe,  who  has  passed  the  age  of 
fourscore  and  has  been  a resident  of  Noble  County 
for  over  sixty  years,  has  been  one  of  the  most 
active  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  useful  citizens  of 
his  community.  He  has  built  a solid  structure  of 
community  esteem  by  his  work  and  influence,  and 
no  one  has  more  sturdily  upheld  the  elements  of 
Christianity,  education  and  morality  than  this  octo- 
genarian citizen. 

Mr..  Knappe,  who  is  still  living  on  his  farm  in 
Washington  Township,  six  miles  south  of  Kimmell, 
was  born  in  Pike  County,  Pennsylvania,  March  9, 
1838,  a son  of  August  and  Anna  M.  (Wetzel) 
Knappe.  His  father  was  born  in  Prussian  Poland 
and  his  mother  in  Baden,  Germany.  Both  came  by 
diverse  routes  to  America  about  1830,  landed  in 
New  York  City,  and  there  became  acquainted  and 
married.  They  remained  there  about  seven  years, 
where  August  followed  his  trade  as  a cabinet  maker. 
Later  he  followed  the  same  occupation  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, then  moved  to  New  Jersey  and  lived  in 
Sussex  County  until  1850,  when  he  pioneered  into 
the  western  country  and  located  in  Washington 
Township  of  Noble  County,  Indiana.  Here  he 
acquired  eighty  acres,  and  his  first  home  was  a 
cabin  in  the  midst  of  the  woods.  He  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  as  a practical  farmer,  and  acquired  con- 
siderable land  in  that  section.  He  was  a man  of 
distinctive  leadership  in  his  community.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  for  many  years  were  active  members 
of  the  Christian  Church,  though  August  was  reared 
a Lutheran  and  his  wife  a Catholic.  He  was  also 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  began  voting  as  an  American  citizen  with 
the  whig  party,  later  becoming  a republican.  In  a 
family  of  nine  children  five  are  still  living:  Ferdi- 
nand; Joseph  E.,  of  Washington  Township;  Amelia, 
wife  of  Aaron  King;  Cecelia,  twin  sister  of  Amelia, 
wife  of  Jasper  Gerken ; and  William,  a farmer  on 
the  old  homestead. 

Ferdinand  Knappe  was  about  twelve  years  old 
when  brought  to  Indiana.  He  grew  up  here,  and 
since  boyhood  has  sustained  a career  of  active  use- 
fulness. In  1862  he  married  Eliza  A.  Long,  and 
they  had  a long  married  companionship  of  more 
than  fifty  years,  broken  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Knappe 
on  July  7,  1918.  To  their  marriage  were  born  two 
children.  Joseph  A.,  the  older,  died  at  the  age  of 
six  years.  Sarah,  the  only  surviving  child,  was 
born  October  25,  1864,-  and  is  the  wife  of  George 
W.  Stults.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stults  have  five  children, 
namely:  Nellie  M.,  wife  of  Lester  Sechrist;  Ernest 
R.,  who  is  the  present  assessor  of  Washington 
Township;  Flosse,  wife  of  James  Sparrow;  Nona, 
wife  of  Glen  Bailey;  and  Florence,  unmarried. 

Mr.  Knappe  has  been  a member  of  the  Christian 
Broadway  Church  since  1863,  as  was  also  his  wife, 
and  he  has  been  one  of  its  most  active  leaders. 
He  began  teaching  in  the  Sunday  school  when  only 
fourteen  years  old,  in  1852,  and  steadily  served  as 
teacher  and  superintendent  and  at  one  time  was 
president  of  the  Christian  Sunday  School  Associa- 
tion of  the  Eel  River  Conference.  Mr.  Knappe 
owns  a good  farm  of  a hundred  acres  and  still 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


83 


gives  this  his  active  superintendence.  He  is  re- 
membered as  one  of  the  veteran  school  teachers 
of  the  pioneer  days  of  Noble  County.  He  began 
teaching  in  1858,  and  did  his  last  work  in  the 
schoolroom  in  1880.  At  one  time  his  wages  were 
$16  a month,  and  he  boarded  around  among  the 
families  of  his  pupils.  His  highest  wages  as  a 
teacher  was  $30  a month.  His  terms  of  school 
were  usually  three  or  four  months.  He  was  elected 
and  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  a number 
of  years  and  for  two  terms  he  was  trustee  of  his 
township,  from  1884  to  1888.  Mr.  Knappe  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

Owen  L.  Iddings  is  one  of  the  prosperous  and 
successful  farmers  of  Orange  Township,  Noble 
County,  and  has  one  of  the  most  interesting  homes 
in  that  locality.  His  farm  is  on  the  Fort  Wayne 
road,  five  miles  northwest  of  Kendallville,  and  com- 
prises 100  acres.  It  is  known  as  the  Seldom  Rest 
Farm.  The  farm  has  much  local  history  connected 
with  it.  In  the  early  days  it  was  the  haunt  of  a 
gang  of  counterfeiters  and  thieves,  who  made  it 
their  headquarters,  from  which  they  conducted 
raids  upon  the  surrounding  country,  stealing  horses 
and  disposing  of  the  spurious  coin  which  they 
manufactured.  All  traces  of  these  early  uses  have 
long  since  disappeared,  and  under  Mr.  Iddings’ 
proprietorship  it  is  a peaceful  and  productive  land- 
scape, the  farm  being  devoted  to  general  crops  and 
livestock. 

Mr.  Iddings  was  born  in  Green  Township  of 
Noble  County  January  10,  1851,  son  of  Jackson 
and  Barbara  (Dingman)  Iddings.  His  people  were 
pioneers  and  helped  found  the  City  of  Kendall- 
ville and  County  of  Noble.  His  father  was  born 
near  Cleveland,  Ohio,  January  13,  1813.  His  mother 
was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  was  a member 
of  the  prominent  Dingman-Forker  family,  who  for 
a number  of  years  has  held  family  reunions  and 
makes  up  one  of  the  largest  family  relationships 
in  this  section  of  Indiana.  The  Dingman  family 
came  to  Noble  County  in  1833,  and  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  section  33  of  Wayne  Township, 
now  within  the  city  limits  of  Kendallville.  The 
first  frame  residence  within  the  city  limits  was 
built  by  that  family.  Jackson  Iddings  arrived  at 
Kendallville  September  10,  1836,  with  his  father, 
Henry  Iddings.  Henry  Iddings  entered  a tract  of 
land  on  which  a part  of  Kendallville  has  since  been 
built,  and  he  developed  it  as  a farm  and  lived  there 
the  rest  of  his  life.  All  his  children  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

Jackson  Iddings  after  his  marriage  bought  eighty 
acres  two  miles  south  of  Kendallville,  and  after 
living  there  two  or  three  years  and  making  a num- 
ber of  improvements  lost  the  land  by  reason  of  a 
defective  title.  He  then  removed  to  Green  Town- 
ship, buying  160  acres  near  Green  Center,  and 
cleared  up  that  land  and  made  it  his  home  until 
1853.  He  then  moved  a mile  and  a half  northeast 
of  Albion  in  Jefferson  Township,  where  he  ac- 
quired eighty  acres,  but  after  nine  years  sold  that 
and  bought  a place  two  and  a half  miles  west  of 
Kendallville  in  Wayne  Township.  It  was  on  that 
farm  that  Jackson  Iddings  spent  his  last  days. 
He  was  a democrat  and  served  as  a justice  of  the 
peace  in  Green  Township.  His  wife  was  a devout 
Baptist.  In  their  family  were  thirteen  children, 
six  sons  and  seven  daughters,  and  the  four  still 
living  are : Asa,  a farmer  in  Missouri ; Owen  L. ; 

Ruth,  wife  of  Willis  Eckles;  and  Ida,  widow  of 
Fred  Strater. 

Owen  L.  Iddings  lived  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  about  thirty-five  years  of  age.  He 


acquired  a district  school  education  and  was  well 
versed  in  farming  before  he  made  it  his  independ- 
ent vocation. 

December  30,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Ida  Johnson. 
She  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 19,  1861,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  that  county.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Iddings  rented  his  father’s  farm  and 
later  bought  it,  and  it  has  been  under  his  proprietor- 
ship for  the  past  eighteen  years.  Mrs.  Iddings  is 
an  active  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Four  children  were  born  to  their  marriage:  Scott 
is  manager  for  the  Indiana  Oil  Company  at  Ken- 
dallville, and  married  Gladys  Newman.  Bessie  is 
a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  is  the  wife 
of  Holly  Leemaster,  of  Wayne  Township.  Nellie, 
the  third  child,  died  at  the  age  of  two  years  and 
twenty-one  days.  Russell  is  a graduate  of  the 
Rome  City  High  School  and  is  now  handling  most 
of  the  responsibilities  of  the  home  farm.  Mr.  Id- 
dings is  a democrat  in  politics. 

George  M.  Rowley  has  figured  not  only  as  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  Millgrove  Town- 
ship in  Steuben  County,  but  also  for  his  usefulness 
in  public  affairs.  He  has  been  township  trustee  and 
is  present  township  assessor,  and  is  proprietor  of 
one  of  the  finest  farms  around  Lake  Gage. 

Mr.  Rowley  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  New 
York,  November  15,  1850,  but  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Steuben  County.  He  is  a son  of  Francis  A. 
and  Almira  A.  (Rockwell)  Rowley,  both  natives  of 
New  York  State,  and  a grandson  of  Abner  Rowley, 
who  in  the  early  days  entered  a tract  of  land  in 
Steuben  County  but  never  came  here  to  make  his 
permanent  home.  The  land  which  he  took  up  was 
a tract  of  timber  around  Lake  Gage.  Its  develop- 
ment was  left  to  his  son,  Francis  A.  Rowley,  who 
reached  Millgrove  Township  in  May,  1856.  He 
made  the  first  opening  among  the  trees  on  the  north 
side  of  Lake  Gage,  put  up  a frame  house,  gradually 
cleared  land  for  cultivation,  and  he  and  his  wife 
lived  there  the  rest  of  their  days.  His  first  farm 
comprised  ninety-six  acres,  and  the  property  grew 
under  his  management  until  he  owned  an  adjoining 
160  acres.  Frances  A.  Rowley  and  wife  had  three 
children : Charles  J.,  who  married  Alice  Birce  and 

has  four  children,  named  Frank  B.,  James,  Lee  and 
Servetus.  George  M.  is  second  in  age.  Cora  B.  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at  Los  Angeles,  California. 

George  M.  Rowley  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  schools  of  Millgrove  Township,  where  he 
has  lived  since  he  was  six  years  old.  He  also  at- 
tended the  Orland  Academy  and  for  one  term  was 
a teacher.  His  youthful  strength  was  given  to  farm- 
ing his  father’s  place,  and  in  1872  he  married  Ella 
M.  Hastings,  a daughter  of  John  and  Lydia  (Sher- 
wood) Hastings. 

After  his  marriage  he  bought  a farm  adjoining 
the  old  homestead  near  Lake  Gage,  and  his  land  has 
been  wonderfully  improved  under  his  ownership  of 
forty-five  years.  Practically  all  the  buildings  have 
been  put  there  by  him.  His  original  farm  comprised 
sixty-nine  acres.  He  inherited  ninety-eight  acres 
of  the  old  homestead,  and  has  the  complete  tract  of 
165  acres  devoted  to  general  farming  purposes. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rowley  have  four  children : Iva 

M.  is  the  wife  of  Ralph  Sperry,  lives  in  Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  has  one  daughter,  Ruth ; Matie 
is  unmarried  and  lives  in  Detroit;  Ned  married  Ella 
Haskins,  and  his  family  consists  of  Harold.  Helen 
and  James;  Nellie  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Gay,  of 
Angola. 

For  twenty  years  or  more  Mr.  Rowley  has  given 
part  of  his  time  to  public  affairs  in  public  office. 
From  1895  to  1901  he  was  assessor  of  Millgrove 


84 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Township.  From  the  duties  of  that  office  he  gave 
his  time  to  the  trusteeship  of  Millgrove  Township 
from  1901  to  1905.  In  1914  he  was  again  honored 
with  election  as  assessor,  and  was  re-elected  in 
1918. 

Benjamin  Smith  Grogg.  The  traveler  through 
Richland  Township  whose  attention  is  caught  by 
the  name  “Progressive  Farm”  on  substantial,  well 
kept  buildings,  is  not  surprised  to  find  in  the  owner 
of  this  property  an  unusually  intelligent,  well  edu- 
cated, thoughtful  man  whose  farming  enterprises  are 
successful  and  profitable.  Benjamin  Smith  Grogg, 
owner  and  proprietor  of  Progressive  Farm,  was 
born  November  1,  1848,  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and 
was  brought  to  DeKalb  County  a babe  in  his 
mother’s  arms  in  1849.  His  parents  were  Peter  and 
Eliza  (Smith)  Grogg,  whose  other  children  were 
as  follows : Amy  Ann,  who  died  in  early  woman- 

hood; Lucinda,  who  is  the  wife  of  David  Feagler; 
Jacob  W.,  who  married  Mary  Fair;  James  H.,  who 
married  Ida  Showers ; Mary,  who  is  the  wife  of 
J.  A.  Whittington ; Daniel  S.,  who  is  deceased, 
married  Elizabeth  Imler;  Ellen,  who  is  the  wife 
of  George  Rakestrow ; and  Elmer  E.,  who  is  de- 
ceased, married  Ida  Smith.  The  family  of  the 
last  named  live  where  Peter  Grogg  located  when 
he  first  came  to  Indiana. 

While  there  is  a combination  of  French,  Scotch, 
Irish  and  German  blood  in  the  Grogg  ancestry,  the 
history  of  the  family  in  the  United  States  centers 
in  Pennsylvania,  Ohio  and  Indiana.  Peter  Grogg, 
father  of  Benjamin  S.,  was  born  March  2,  1821,  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  was  the  seventh  son  born 
to  Solomon  and  Mary  (Snyder)  Grogg,  and  his 
brothers  were:  John,  Abraham,  Solomon,  George, 
Jacob  and  Daniel,  and  he  had  a sister,  Catherine. 
On  September  2,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Eliza 
Smith,  who  was  the  fifth  in  a family  of  nine  chil- 
dren born  to  Benjamin  and  Rachel  (Bender)  Smith, 
whose  other  children  were  as  follows : Aaron  B., 
Lucinda,  Harriet,  Susan,  Caroline,  Ephraim,  Hiram 
and  Catherine.  Two  children  were  born  to  Peter 
and  Eliza  Grogg  before  they  took  up  their  residence 
in  DeKalb  County.  When  Mr.  Grogg  located  on 
his  first  quarter  section  of  land  there  were  only 
two  acres  cleared,  and  it  was  through  his  industrial 
efforts  that  the  wild  land  was  changed  into  one  of 
the  most  productive  farms  in  this  county. 

The  parents  of  Benjamin  S.  Grogg  belonged  to  the 
English  Reformed  Church  at  Tamarack,  near  their 
home,  but  they  contributed  to  the  building  of 
churches  at  Waterloo  and  Fairfield  Center,  but 
later,  under  changed  conditions,  they  united  with 
the  Lutheran,  known  to  all  as  Sixteen  Church,  in 
Richland  Township,  a present  day  old  landmark  of 
the  county.  The  old  family  burying  place  was  in 
Union  Cemetery,  the  younger  members  of  the 
family  owning  crypts  in  the  mausoleum  in  Wood- 
lawn  Cemetery. 

As  indicated  above,  Benjamin  Smith  Grogg  is  a 
man  of  progressive  ideas,  many  of  which  he  has 
introduced  in  the  management  of  his  farm.  He 
merely  superintends,  however,  having  a capable 
tenant,  for  Mr.  Grogg  has  not  been  an  agriculturist 
all  his  life,  in  fact  has  been  something  of  a traveler 
and  perhaps  has  seen  more  of  the  western  part  of 
the  United  States  than  the  majority  of  his  neigh- 
bors. He  has  been  in  every  state  west  of  the  Missis- 
sippi River  and  has  traveled  the  whole  length  of 
Canada  from  Detroit  to  Vancouver,  spending  time 
in  both  mining  and  logging  camps.  He  made  the 
round  trip  from  DeKalb  County  to  the  Pacific 
Coast  four  times  while  his  parents  were  living.  In 
these  years  of  travel  he  has  met  with  accident  and 
adventure.  At  one  time  he  was  confined  in  a hos- 


pital at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  for  eighty-four 
days.  Like  most  men  who  have  really  done  brave 
things,  he  is  modest  in  telling  of  them.  On  one  oc- 
casion he  undertook  the  dangerous  task  of  crossing 
the  Columbia  River  on  thin  ice  in  order  to  carry 
a telegram  to  a family  announcing  the  death  of  a 
soldier  son  in  the  barracks  at  Vancouver,  being  the 
only  man  to  volunteer  for  this  hazardous  mission. 
He  succeeded  in  crossing  the  cracking  ice  on  Nor- 
wegian snow  shoes,  but  had  to  remain  at  his  des- 
tination for  a week  on  account  of  the  breaking  ice, 
and  then  returned  by  means  of  a row  boat. 

Mr.  Grogg  owns  a well  tilled  farm  with  excep- 
tional improvements.  His  residence  is  of  cement 
blocks,  with  sanitary  plumbing  and  a heat,  light  and 
water  system  and  with  separate  apartments  for 
himself  and  for  his  tenant  and  family,  the  latter 
being  Guy  Myers,  who  married  Gladys  Grogg,  a 
relative.  They  make  Mr.  Grogg  exceedingly  com- 
fortable and  he  passes  the  most  of  his  time  at 
Progressive  Farm.  By  careful  plan  he  has  the 
barn  basement  adapted  to  the  care  of  livestock, 
having  ample  room  and  crib  capacity,  with  a stor- 
age tank  for  water  in  the  bank  driveway,  gravity 
forcing  the  water  in  a constant  stream  by  the  open- 
ing of  a valve.  When  the  wind  pump  fails,  there 
is  a gasoline  engine  to  use  in  emergency,  hence 
water  is  plentiful  at  all  times,  which  is  one  of  the 
greatest  desideratums  in  successful  agricultural  in- 
dustries. 

Mr..  Grogg’s  interest  in  public  affairs  is  that  of  a 
well  informed,  public-spirited  citizen.  In  national 
matters  he  is  a zealous  republican  in  his  political 
views,  but  in  local  campaigns,  when  some  specific 
issue  is  at  stake,  he  allows  himself  to  follow  his 
own  good  judgment  and  consider  the  man  rather 
than  the  party. 

Seth  S.  Avery.  Every  community  has  several 
families  which  are  regarded  as  most  representative 
of  its  best  characteristics,  generally  because  of  the 
lives  of  the  founders  of  them,  who  by  setting  up 
high  standards  have  so  shaped  the  morality  of  the 
neighborhood.  Steuben  and  Otsego  townships 
claim  the  Avery  family  as  belonging  to  this  class 
and  to  them,  and  no  one  living  here  disputes  the 
fact  that  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  and  his  beloved 
wife,  Eliza  (Shumaker)  Avery,  exerted  a powerful 
influence  for  good  in  this  part  of  Steuben  County. 
They  were  quiet,  unostentatious  people,  who  by  the 
very  simplicity  and  sincerity  of  their  lives  impressed 
their  assoicates  with  their  goodness  and  natural 
wisdom,  and  they  so  brought  up  their  children  that 
the  present  generation  are  being  trained  in  the  same 
admirable  manner. 

Seth  S.  Avery,  the  third  born  in  their  family,  is 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  his  community,  and 
is  numbered  among  the  reliable  farmers  and  business 
men  of  Otsego  Township.  He  was  born  in  this 
township,  July  28,  1859.  A man  of  unusual  intel- 
lectual development,  Mr.  Avery  realized  the  im- 
portance of  placing  in  definite  form  some  record 
of  the  several  old  families  from  which  he  sprung, 
and  in  1905,  while  both  his  parents  were  in  full 
possession  of  their  faculties,  he  led  them  to  talk 
of  their  ancestors,  setting  down  all  the  facts  as 
he  learned  them.  These  facts  he  has  embodied  in 
a very  interesting  pamphlet  from  which  the  fol- 
lowing has  been  gleaned. 

The  Avery  family  is  of  English  descent,  and 
documents  in  the  family  prove  that  it  was  located 
in  the  American  Colonies  many  years  ago.  The 
first  of  the  Averys  of  whom  there  is  definite  men- 
tion is  Samuel  Avery,  who  died  in  Dearborn  Town- 
ship, Kennebec  County,  Maine,  where  he  had  been 
married  to  Sarah  Fall,  and  where  their  four  children 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


85 


were  born.  These  children  were  as  follows : John 

Hutcherson,  of  whom  mention  is  made  below; 
Amanda,  who  married  Alexander  Britton,  and  they 
had  two  daughters,  Betsy  and  Emily ; Dolly,  who 
married  David  Chard,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  George,  Sarah,  Susan,  Amanda,  Lydia 
and  Rhoda;  and  Sarah,  who  married  John  K. 
Van  Fleet,  and  they  had  the  following  children : 
Joshua,  Samuel,  John,  Elizabeth,  Anna,  Ruth,  Mal- 
vina and  Thomas.  Mrs.  Sarah  (Fall)  Avery  was 
a woman  of  strong  character,  and  after  the  death 
of  her  husband  she  sought  better  opportunities  for 
her  children,  first  in  Marion  County,  Ohio,  and 
later  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  arriving  in  the 
latter  during  the  fall  of  1836.  Not  long  after  she 
had  located  in  Otsego  Township  she  was  married 
to  George  Quick,  and  they  had  two  sons,  Avery 
and  Henry.  Mrs.  Avery  was  a sister  of  the  mother 
of  Aaron  Taylor,  another  of  Steuben  County’s 
prominent  men. 

John  H.  Avery,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah 
(Fall)  Avery,  was  married  first  to  Maria  Whit- 
comb, and  after  her  death,  at  the  age  of  twenty-five 
years  from  dropsy,  caused  by  the  birth  of  her 
second  child,  Maria,  who  died  _ at  birth,  he  was 
married  to  his  sister-in-law,  Louisa  Whitcomb.  In 
addition  to  the  infant  daughter  who  did  not  sur- 
vive, John  H.  Avery  had  by  his  first  marriage  a 
son,  Jesse  Whitcomb,  and  he  was  the  father  of  Seth 
S.  Avery,  and  was  born  February  18,  1833,  at  Big 
Island,  Marion  County,  Ohio. 

The  Whitcomb  family  is  another  old  established 
one  of  this  country,  Major  Benjamin  Whitcomb 
having  served  his  country  during  the  American 
Revolution,  and  as  he  was  the  father  of  Maria 
(Whitcomb)  Avery,  and  consequently  the  grand- 
father on  the  maternal  side  of  Jesse  Whitcomb 
Avery,  he  was  entitled  to  a life  pension  from  the 
government.  In  fact  his  papers  were  placed  in 
order  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  outbreak  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  its  long  continuance,  he  would  have 
doubtless  received  it.  As  it  was  this  still  remains 
an  unpaid  claim. 

Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  lost  his  father  in  1840, 
and  as  his  stepmother  received  all  the  money  left 
by  him  Mr.  Avery  only  had  as  his  portion  an  out- 
lawed quit  claim  deed  to  real  estate  which  had 
belonged  to  his  paternal  grandfather,  Samuel  Avery, 
and  the  west  half  of  section  18,  township  36,  north, 
range  14,  east,  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  Although 
he  was  early  bereft  of  a father’s  protection,  his 
grandmother  looked  after  little  Jesse  Whitcomb 
Avery  until  a guardian  was  appointed,  and  through 
the  latter,  Elder  Miner,  an  excellent  home  was 
secured  for  the  lad  with  James  Johnson,  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Mina  (Johnson)  Sutherland,  of 
Otsego  Township. 

On  February  19,  1854,  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Eliza  Shumaker,  and 
they  located  on  the  farm  his  father  had  entered 
from  the  government  many  years  before,  and  which 
constituted  practically  his  only  inheritance.  Here 
they  resided  for  nearly  sixty  years,  and  on  this 
farm  all  of  their  children  were  born  and  reared, 
they  being  as  follows : Edward,  Amro,  Seth  S., 

Mary,  who  is  deceased,  Emma,  Lida  and  Jesse 
Whitcomb,  who  is  also  deceased.  Mr.  Avery  and 
his  wife  were  born  in  the  same  year,  and  they  went 
to  school  together.  Their  tastes  were  similar,  and 
they  both  held  in  the  highest  reverence  truth,  honor 
and  upright  living.  Such  a couple  could  not  help 
but  diffuse  a highly  moral  atmosphere  that  was 
felt  by  all  who  came  within  the  family  circle. 
Children  brought  up  in  such  a home  could  not  help 
but  develop  into  desirable  citizens,  for  these  parents 
did  not  simply  teach  the  various  virtues,  they  prac- 
ticed them,  and  never  by  word  or  deed  lowered 


themselves  in  the  estimation  of  their  children  or 
neighbors.  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  preceded  his 
wife  into  the  other  world,  but  they  lie  side  by  side 
in  the  beautiful  cemetery  of  Circle  Hill.  He  died 
at  his  home  in  Otsego  Township  April  28,  1912, 
aged  seventy-nine  years,  two  months  and  ten  days, 
and  she  died  November  19,  1915,  aged  eighty-one 
years,  eleven  months  and  fourteen  days.  Having 
been  for  forty-seven  years  active  in  the  Odd  Fellows 
Lodge  of  Angola,  his  fraternity  was  in  charge  of 
the  funeral  services.  He  was  a brunette,  with 
brown  eyes  and  straight  black  hair  and  had  a 
Roman  nose.  His  height  was  five  feet,  seven 
inches,  and  his  weight  was  about  145  pounds.  He 
died  of  hardening  of  the  arteries.  No  man  of 
Steuben  County  ever  commanded  more  respect,  and 
he  was  recognized  as  the  epitome  of  honesty, 
sobriety  and  fair  dealing. 

His  wife,  Eliza  (Shumaker)  Avery,  was  equally 
notable  and  is  remembered  with  tender  affection 
by  many  outside  her  own  family  who  are  indebted 
to  her  for  innumerable  acts  of  kindness.  She  was 
born  in  Hardy  County,  West  Virginia,  December  5, 
1833,  and  when  she  died  she  was  the  only  survivor 
of  the  nine  children  born  to  her  parents,  Michael 
and  Elizabeth  (Myers)  Shumaker.  These  children 
were  as  follows:  Lydia,  who  became  Mrs.  John 
Baker;  Sarah,  who  became  first  the  wife  of  Tohn 
Mills  and  later  of  Henry  Secoir;  John,  who  mar- 
ried Amanda  Chard,  mentioned  in  the  records  of 
the  Avery  family;  Katie;  Rosana;  Amanda,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Aaron  Taylor,  also  mentioned 
in  the  Avery  records ; George,  who  became  the 
husband  of  Katherine  Lininger,  was  married  first  to 
Mary  Bland;  Eliza,  who  became  Mrs.  Avery;  and 
Betsy,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Secoir,  men- 
tioned above. 

A brother  of  Michael  Shumaker,  John  Shumaker 
married  and  had  five  children,  namely:  Margaret, 
Rachael,  John,  James  and  Harvey.  A sister  of  these 
two  brothers,  Mrs.  Mary  (Shumaker)  McClain,  had 
two  children,  George  and  Dorcas. 

The  Shumaker  family,  finding  the  confines  of 
the  old  home  in  West  Virginia  too  small  for  the 
young  life  growing  up  in  it,  set  forth  across  the 
country,  stopping  for  a time  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  which  they  left  in  1845  intending  to  go  to 
the  Rock  River  region  in  Illinois.  However,  by 
the  time  they  reached  Steuben  County  the  good 
father  was  so  ill  that  they  were  forced  to  stay  in 
a little  log  cabin  schoolhouse  which  stood  on  the 
present  farm  of  Frank  Jackson,  but  then  on  the 
old  Peter  Russell  Farm  in  Steuben  Township.  Here 
Michael  Shumaker  died  a few  days  after  his  arrival, 
but  his  widow  survived  him  many  years,  finally 
passing  away  in  Steuben  County  in  1863.  With  his 
death  the  plans  of  his  family  were  changed,  and  it 
was  decided  that  they  remain  in  Steuben  County. 
They  were  poor  and  they  worked  hard,  the  girls 
going  into  the  fields  and  woods  and  wresting  a 
living  from  nature.  Eliza  Shumaker  became  noted 
for  her  skill  in  dropping  corn,  being  able  to  keep 
up  with  the  horse  drawing  the  marker,  something 
all  men  did  not  accomplish,  and  she  also  dug  for 
ginseng  and  other  roots  which  were  used  for 
medicinal  purposes.  She  also  performed  all  of  the 
arduous  household  tasks  of  her  day,  many  of  which 
are  scarcely  known  to  the  present  generation,  and 
developed  into  one  of  the  finest  women  God  ever 
made.  Sweet  of  disposition,  her  sunny  temperament 
never  allowed  her  to  show  temper,  if  she  ever  even 
felt  it.  Under  the  most  discouraging  circumstances 
she  could  always  detect  the  silver  lining,  and  she 
did  not  possess  a single  selfish  thought.  With  her 
her  home  and  family  came  first,  but  she  had  such 
a superabundance  of  Christian  charity  and  kindly 


86 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


affection  that  she  was  a beneficent  presence  in  her 
community,  and  children  and  grandchildren  rose  up 
to  call  her  blessed.  During  the  last  nine  years  of 
her  life  she  could  not  be  induced  to  leave  her  home, 
although  no  one  would  have  been  more  welcome 
in  the  families  of  her  children,  and  her  thoughts, 
freed  from  domestic  burdens,  dwelt  on  beautiful 
subjects,  showing  that  had  she  been  spared  some 
of  the  hardships  which  fell  to  her  lot  she  would  no 
doubt  have  developed  artistic  or  literary  talents 
of  no  mean  order.  Indeed  there  is  no  doubt  but 
that  her  son  Seth  S.  Avery  inherits  his  undoubtedly 
clever  ideas  and  literary  tastes  from  his  mother. 
When  she  was  a girl  educational  opportunities  were 
not  many,  and  the  schools  were  wide  apart,  but 
this  undaunted  young  soul  would  walk  two  and 
one-half  miles  each  way  to  school,  and  then  in  the 
evening  repeat  the  walk  in  order  to  participate  in 
the  old-fashioned  spelling  matches,  many  of  which 
she  won,  for  she  was  a speller  hard  to  “down.”  In 
her  younger  years  she  is  described  as  being  a 
blonde,  with  grey  eyes  and  brown  curly  hair.  In 
height  she  was  five  feet,  four  inches,  and  weighed 
about  the  same  as  her  husband,  145  pounds.  Her 
death  was  caused  by  valvular  trouble  of  the  heart. 

Seth  S.  Avery  first  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Otsego  Township,  but  his  parents  realizing  that 
this  son  possessed  unusual  attainments  sent  him  to 
the  Angola  High  School,  from  which  he  was  grad- 
uated in  1880.  Mr.  Avery  then  began  teaching 
school  during  the  winter  season  and  attended  Hills- 
dale College  in  the  spring  and  fall  for  two  years. 
Then  he  turned  all  of  his  attention  to  his  educa- 
tional work  and  was  one  of  the  popular  instructors 
of  the  young  in  Steuben  County  until  1892.  He 
then  began  selling  fencing  for  the  Peerless  Fence 
Company,  and  is  still  its  representative  in  this 
locality.  He  is  a member  of  the  Delta  Tau  Delta 
fraternity  of  his  alma  mater. 

Mr.  Avery  and  his  sister,  Mrs.  Swift,  live  together, 
as  he  never  married,  and  her  late  husband,  Carl 
Swift,  is  deceased.  Mrs.  Lida  Swift  was  born 
January  10,  1867,  and  she  superintends  the  operation 
of  the  farm.  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  and  his  wife 
have  passed  from  this  life,  but  the  weight  of  their 
upright  and  honorable  lives  remains,  and  their 
effect  upon  their  contemporaries  is  going  to  be  felt 
to  the  third  and  fourth  generation. 

J.  Burton  Lemmon  is  member  of  an  old  and 
prominent  family  of  Steuben  County,  and  the 
family  has  an  interesting  military  record.  Mr. 
Lemmon  himself  fought  as  a Union  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  had  a son  with  the  colors  in  the  World 
war,  while  his  grandfather  was  in  the  War  of  1812 
and  his  own  father  was  a captain  of  militia  in  the 
early  days. 

Mr.  Lemmon  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
in  Green  Creek  Township,  March  22,  1838,  a son 
of  Morris  and  Lucinda  (Rathburn)  Lemmon.  His 
father  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1813  and 
his  mother  in  the  same  state  in  1820.  Their  settle- 
ment in  Steuben  County  dates  from  1843.  The 
land  they  located  on  is  now  owned  by  Martin  Lem- 
mon in  Otsego  Township,  comprising  sixty-two  and 
a half  acres.  Morris  Lemmon  increased  his  hold- 
ings here  until  he  had  210  acres.  Morris  Lemmon 
was  accompanied  on  his  migration  to  Indiana  by 
his  father,  John  Lemmon,  whose  wife,  a member  of 
the  Tuttle  family,  died  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio. 
John  Lemmon  died  in  1847.  His  four  children 
were  Morris,  David,  Laura  and  Mrs.  Luretta  Wick- 
wire.  Mr.  Lemmon  did  not  live  long  after  coming 
to  Steuben  County,  passing  away  in  1845.  His 
widow  survived  until  1868.  Their  four  children 


were  J.  Burton,  David  Riley,  Chaplin  Brace  and 
Henry  Clay,  the  last  two  now  deceased.  The 

widowed  mother  married  for  her  second  husband 
David  Lemmon,  a brother  of  her  first  husband, 
and  by  that  union  had  four  children,  Lavina,  Mor- 
ris A.,  Mildred  and  Saxton  B.  Morris  Lemmon 
was  a whig  in  politics  and  liberal  in  his  religious 
views. 

J.  Burton  Lemmon  grew  up  on  the  homestead 
farm,  acquired  such  educational  advantages  as  were 
available,  and  from  youth  upward  has  been  a factor 
in  the  farming  affairs  of  Steuben  County.  On 
August  7,  1862,  at  Angola,  he  enlisted  in  Company 
H of  the  Seventy-fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was 
in  the  army  until  honorably  discharged  June  14, 
1865.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga, 
Missionary  Ridge,  Jonesboro  and  many  of  the  skir- 
mishes in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  taken 
prisoner  in  Georgia  in  1864  and  for  six  months  was 
confined  at  Andersonville.  Mr.  Lemmon  has  been 
a stanch  republican  in  his  political  views. 

November  20,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Celestia  Car- 
ter, a native  of  Steuben  County  and  daughter  of 
Samuel  Carter.  She  died  November  22,  1879,  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Mildred,  Zoa  and  Frank. 
October  20,  1883,  Mr.  Lemmon  married  Miss  Ma- 
linda  Fee.  She  was  born  on  the  farm  where  she 
and  her  husband  now  reside  in  Otsego  Township 
February  28,  1866,  and  is  a daughter  of  Richard 
and  Zilla  (Avery)  Fee.  Her  parents  came  from 
Ohio  and  settled  in  Otsego  Township  in  1856,  and 
the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Lemmon  and  wife 
has  been  in  the  ownership  of  the  Fee  family  for 
over  sixty  years.  Mrs.  Lemmon’s  mother  died  in 
1916,  at  the  age  of  eigthy-three,  while  Mr.  Fee 
passed  away  in  January,  1870.  There  were  six 
children  in  the  Fee  family:  Maria,  Almina,  Dwight, 
Clarinda,  Horace  G.  and  Malinda. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemmon  have  three  children: 
Ruth  is  the  wife  of  Melvin  Updyke  and  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Mildred  and  Keith.  Err  married 
Edna  Mnsser,  and  their  children  are  Harvey  Bur- 
ton, Gertrude,  Richard  Wier,  Isabel  and  Dwight. 
Riley  Avery,  the  youngest  child,  married  Edith 
Rettabaugh  and  has  a daughter,  Reva.  Riley  A. 
was  the  soldier  representative  of  the  family  in  the 
World  war,  going  into  the  army  in  August,  1918, 
and  serving  at  Camp  Sherman. 

John  W.  Palmer  began  life  about  the  same  place 
that  many  young  men  of  the  present  day  have  to 
begin,  with  hardly  better  circumstances  and  with  no 
better  prospects,  and  his  success  is  measured  in  the 
ownership  of  the  Palmer  Stock  Farm,  comprising 
385  acres  in  York  Township,  one  mile  west  and  one 
mile  north  of  Albion  in  Noble  County.  All.  of  this 
he  has  made  by  his  hard  work  and  good  judgment, 
and  when  taken  in  connection  with  his  high  standing 
as  a citizen  there  are  few  who  would  deny  that  it  is 
a complete  measure  of  success  and  achievement. 

Mr.  Palmer  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  September  15,  1854,  son  of  Henry  and  Hannah 
(Peffer)  Palmer.  His  father  was  born  in  West- 
moreland County,  Pennsylvania,  August  30,  1828. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  March 
3,  1835.  They  were  married  on  January  11,  1852, 
and  five  years  later,  in  1857,  arrived  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana.  Henry  Palmer  was  one  of  the  well-to-do 
and  well  thought  of  men  of  his  generation,  and 
before  his  death  owned  a farm  of  185  acres  in  Noble 
County.  He  died  January  8,  1894,  and  his  wife 
passed  away  December  3,  19x4.  He  was  a republican 
in  politics.  Of  the  five  children  only  two  are  now 


ALMER  AND  WIFE  AND  SON  C.  C.  PALMER  FAMILY  GROUP 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


87 


living,  John  W.  and  Saloma.  The  latter  is  the 
widow  of  J.  G.  Steele  and  lives  in  York  Township. 

John  W.  Palmer  was  between  three  and  four  years 
old  when  brought  to  Noble  County,  and  he  has  spent 
practically  all  his  life  within  its  limits.  As  a boy 
he  attended  the  district  schools,  and  learned  farming 
under  the  eye  and  direction  of  his  father.  On 
November  15,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Alice  Flanagan. 
Mrs.  Palmer  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
February  27,  1858,  daughter  of  John  and  Alice 
( Murphy)  Flanagan.  She  spent  her  early  girlhood 
near  Ligonier,  and  had  a district  school  education. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  moved 
to  the  old  Palmer  homestead,  and  in  1882  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  this  farm  and  has  since  kept  his 
possessions  growing  and  expanding  until  he  now  has 
a well  proportioned  farm  of  385  acres,  and  has  built 
the  comfortable  house  and  the  barns  and  other  stock 
buildings.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  a breeder 
of  Shorthorn  cattle.  Mr.  Palmer  is  a stockholder 
in  the  Farmers  Bank  at  Albion.  He  is  an  active 
republican,  has  served  as  committeeman  and  as  dele- 
gate to  state  conventions,  and  for  four  years  was 
trustee  of  York  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Palmer  had  two  children : Carlos 

C.  and  Mabel.  Carlos  is  a graduate  of  the  Albion 
High  School  and  the  Fort  Wayne  Business  College, 
spent  one  year  at  Purdue  University  and  is  now 
field  man  representing  the  Iowa  Homestead  and 
lives  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  He  married  Addie  Kitt 
and  has  two  children,  John  and  Jane.  The  daughter 
Mabel  graduated  from  the  Albion  High  School  and 
married  Carl  R.  Cobbs.  She  died  in  July,  1914. 
She  became  the  mother  of  one  child,  Kenneth  P. 
Cobbs. 


by  profession,  has  been  a farmer,  is  present  trustee 
of  Millgrove  Township,  and  is  one  of  the  best 
known  and  influential  citizens  of  Orland. 

He  was  born  in  Gilead  Township  of  Branch 
County,  Michigan,  January  8,  1862,  a son  of  Melvin 
and  Orsena  P.  (Brown)  Thompson,  both  natives 
of  New  York  State.  His  grandfather,  James 
Thompson,  brought  his  family  from  New  York  to 
Southern  Michigan  and  settled  in  Branch  County 
in  the  early  days.  Melvin  Thompson  after  reaching 
manhood  moved  over  the  state  line  from  Branch 
County  to  Millgrove  Township  in  1867,  and  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  in  that  township  as  a farmer. 
He  died  in  1907.  Milo  Thompson  has  a younger 
sister,  Della,  wife  of  Moses  Latta. 

. Mr;  Hilo  Thompson  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Millgrove  Township,  attended  the  district  schools 
there  and  later  the  public  schools  at  Orland.  One 
of  his  early  experiences  was  teaching,  a vocation  he 
followed  for  three  terms.  After  that  he  was  a 
farmer  m Millgrove  township  and  in  1896  left  the 
farrn  and  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law  at  Bron- 
son m his  native  Michigan  county.  He  remained 
there  five  years  and  in  1901  returned  to  the  farm  in 
Millgrove.  His  home  . has  been  at  Orland  since 
1909,  and  he  is  the  man  consulted  by  most  of  the 
people  in  that  community  in  matters  of  law  and 
he  has  developed  a good  practice.  Mr.  Thompson 
was  elected  trustee  of  Millgrove  Township  in  igo8 
and  served  a term  of  six  years,  until  1914.  Then 
alter  an  interim  of  four  years  he  was  again  elected 
trustee  in  1918  Besides  the  duties  of  that  office 
he  is  clerk  of  the  Village  of  Orland.  Mr.  Thomp- 
son is  unmarried,  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge, 

Malons  agt'0ri°,„d“S’  AnC'""  F"'  “d  Ac“pted 


John  Wagner  has  been  a resident  of  DeKalb 
County  for  over  half  a century,  spent  many  industri- 
ous years  as  a farmer,  and  is  now  enjoying  his 
well  merited  comfort  and  retirement  on  his  home 
place  in  Franklin  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Germany  October  8,  1842,  a son 
of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Jacobs)  Wagner.  His 
parents  on  coming  to  America  spent  a short  time 
in  Ohio  and  then  settled  in  Indiana,  north  of  Water- 
loo, and  their  last  years  were  spent  in  Franklin 
Township.  They  were  buried  at  Hamilton,  Indiana. 
Both  were  active  members  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
and  the  father  voted  as  a democrat. 

John  Wagner  is  the  only  one  of  eight  children  still 
living.  He  was  twelve  years  old  when  he  came 
to  this  country  and  received  most  of  his  education 
in  the  common  schools  of  Germany.  He  began 
earning  his  own  living  as  a youth  in  DeKalb  County 
and  has  pursued  a straightforward  and  industrious 
career. 

In  1869  he  married  Catherine  Anthony,  who  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  there.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner  settled  on  a farm  in  DeKalb 
County,  and  their  home  life  was  uninterrupted  until 
her  death  more  than  thirty  years  later,  in  igoi.  Mr. 
W agner  still  lives  on  the  home  farm  of  eighty  acres. 

There  were  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still 
living:  Sarilla,  wife  of  John  Timbleson;  Lewis; 

Minnie  E„  wife  of  William  Sanders,  of  Fort  Wayne; 
Charles;  Clarence,  who  married  Lottie  Walter  and 
has  five  children,  named  Homer,  Frank,  Bessie,  John 
and  Dorothy,  and  Vernie,  wife  of  Glenn  Moughler, 
of  Wilmington  Township.  Mr.  Wagner  is  a demo- 
crat in  politics  and  has  served  as  a member  of  the 
Township  Advisory  Board  of  Franklin  Township. 

Milo  Thompson  has  played  a varied  and  useful 
part  in  the  affairs  of  Steuben  County,  is  a lawyer 


Alfred  Hantz  has  been  a resident  farmer  of 
Steuben  County  forty-five  years,  and  since  1890  his 
farm  operations  have  been  conducted  on  a place 
across  the  township  line  between  Scott  and  York 
townships.  He  is  enjoying  a well-earned  prosperitv 
is  a man . of  substantial  character,  and  his  work 
and  activities  have  commended  him  to  a large 
group  of  fellow  citizens. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  December 
20,  1852,  a son  of  Jesse  and  Mary  Ann  (Gorman) 
Mantz  His  father  was  born  in  Wilkesbarre, 
Pennsylvania.  His  mother  was  the  daughter  of 
Abraham  Gorman.  Jesse  Hantz  was  a Williams 
County  farmer  but  in  the  spring  of  1865  moved 
to  ocott  Township,  Steuben  County,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  there.  He  was  the  owner  of  240 
acres.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
German  Reformed  Church.  He  had  a family  of  six 

a ,rdr!in  V SarT  who  married  Joshua  Metz; 
A fred;  Jane,  wife  of  Nicholas  Bontrigger-  George- 
Eh;  and  Anna,  who  died  in  childhood. 

Alfred  Hantz  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Scott  Township  and  learned  his  business  as  a 
tarmer  while  on  his  father’s  home.  He  remained 
at  home  until  the  age  of  twenty-five. 

In  1871  he  married  Maria  Lahman,  who  died  in 
August,  1874.  Her  only  child,  Martha,  is  wife  of 
Sherman  Goodrich.  They  had  a large  family  of 
eight  children,  named  William,  Gertrude  Maude 
Jessie,  Ford,  Edith,  Herman  and  Martha’ 

March  21,  1875,  Mr.  Hantz  married  Mary  A 
Kaufman,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Anna  Kaufman.’ 
He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children:  Jesse  James 
Fred,  Anna,  Charles,  Ella,  Robert  and  Irvin.  The 
son  Jesse  was  drowned  July  4*  1898.  James  died 
at  the  age  of  fourteen.  Fred  married  Ethel  Hemry 
and  they  have  five  children,  Clarence,  Orville’ 
Dorothy,  Cecil  and  Clinton.  Anna  is  the  wife  of 
Nelson  Barron  and  the  mother  of  two  children. 


88 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mildred  Mary  and  Roscoe  A.  Charles  married 
Ethel  Krantz,  and  they  have  a son,  Robert.  Irvin 
married  Olie  Teegardin  and  has  two  children,  Earl 
W.  and  Lois  Mary. 

Mr.  Alfred  Hantz  in  1873  moved  to  a farm  m 
the  south  part  of  Scott  Township  and  lived  there 
until  1890.  In  that  year  he  removed  to  his  present 
place,  where  he  has  175  acres,  ninety-five  acres 
being  in  York  Township  and  eighty  acres  in  Scott 
Township.  His  house  is  in  York  Township  while 
his  barn  is  across  the  road  in  Scott  Township. 
Mr.  Hantz  does  general  farming  and  stock  raising, 
has  remodeled  the  house  and  put  up  many  sub- 
stantial buildings. 

George  H.  Webb.  The  records  of  the  Webb  fam- 
ily in  Steuben  County  runs  back  for  over  seventy 
years.  George  Webb,  representing  the  third  gen- 
eration, has  for  many  years  been  a successful  farmer 
in  Jamestown  Township,  where  he  was  born,  and 
beginning  with  little  more  than  his  bare  hands  and 
with  a rented  farm  he.  has  achieved  a position  of 
prestige  and  influence  in  that  community. 

Mr  Webb  was  born  March  3,  1872,  son  of  Henry 
and  Nancy  (Parker)  Webb,  and  a grandson  of  John 
and  Grace  (Harrison)  Webb.  His  grandparents  as 
well  as  his  father  were  natives  of  England.  His 
grandfather  was  a pioneer  in  Steuben  County.  He 
brought  his  family  from  England  in  1830,  lived  tor 
several  years  in  Michigan,  and  in  about  1845  came 
to  Steuben  County,  where  he  acquired  a laJ^e 
amount  of  land  and  was  very  successful  in  all  his 
business  affairs.  Henry  Webb  came  to  manhood  in 
Steuben  County  and  in  1850  went  with  his  brother 
Arthur  to  California.  They  traveled  west  by  mule 
team,  and  on  returning  came  back  by  way  of  the 
Isthmus  of  Panama.  He  was  in  the  gold  mines 
and  other  districts  of  California  for  about  five  years. 
On  returning  to  the  States  Henry  Webb  began  farm- 
ing in  Jamestown  Township,  lived  here  many  years, 
and  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  at 
Angola,  where  he  died  in  May,  I9J4-  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1916.  The  children  were : Ida,  who 

married  Theron  Summers;  Grace,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Silas  Bressler;  George;  and  Edna,  who 
married  Frank  Wert.  . . , 

George  Webb  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Millgrove  Township,  also  attended 
school  at  Angola,  and  for  thirty  years  has  occupied 
his  present  farm  in  Jamestown  Township,  begin- 
ning  his  independent  career  as  a renter  and  now 
owning  160  acres.  . . 

He  has  followed  general  farming  and  stockrais- 
ing, and  all  the  improvements,  comprising  a set  of 
substantial  farm  buildings,  were  made  under  his  per- 
sonal direction.  ..  . T 

Mr.  Webb  married  April  3,  1895,  Vinme  Lucas, 
a daughter  of  Thomas  Lucas.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren : Helen  Arlene,  born  in  1904,  and  died  April 
10  1909,  and  George  Harley,  born  April  16,  1910. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Webb  are  Methodists  and  members 
of  the  church  at  Nevada  Mills. 

Thomas  Lucas,  a retired  resident  of  Orland,  was 
for  many  years  a man  of  conspicuous  enterprise  in 
the  farming  and  stockraising  interests  of  Steuben 
County.  He  has  been  progressive,  has  sought  to 
better  conditions  in  the  community  as  well  as  those 
affecting  his  own  life  and  circumstances,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  among  the  most  respected  members 
of  that  community. 

Mr.  Lucas  was  born  in  Ohio  March  21,  1849,  a son 
of  Israel  and  Betsey  Elizabeth  (Bailey)  Lucas.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Ireland.  Israel  Lucas  was  born 
July  5,  1795,  and  his  birthplace  is  of  special  interest. 
He  was  born  in  the  stockade  at  Marietta,  Ohio. 


Marietta  was  the  first  point  of  settlement  in  the 
State  of  Ohio  when  the  emigrants  from  New  Eng- 
land floated  down  the  Ohio  River  and  established 
their  first  foothold  in  the  Northwest  Territory  there. 
When  at  the  age  of  fourteen  his  father  died  the 
responsibility  of  looking  after  the  rest  of  the  family, 
including  two  younger  brothers  and  two  sisters, 
devolved  upon  him.  He  bound  out  these  children 
and  then  bound  himself  out.  In  1854,  when  well 
advanced  in  years,  he  moved  to  Waterhouse  Cor- 
ners, Kinderhook  Township,  Branch  County,  Mich- 
igan, and  in  1864  located  in  Jamestown  Township 
of  Steuben  County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children : James 

H.,  Robert,  Zevolenia,  Theodore,  Israel,  Girard  and 
Thomas  E. 

Thomas  E.  Lucas  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Kinderhook,  Michigan,  also 
attended  school  at  Nevada  Mills  in  Steuben  County, 
and  during  his  youth  learned  the  miller’s  trade. 
He  worked  five  years  in  the  grist  mill  at  Nevada 
Mills,  and  after  that  engaged  in  farming  in  Mill- 
grove  Township.  He  was  on  his  farm  until  Feb- 
ruary, 1915,  since  which  date  he  has  made  his  home 
in  Orland.  Mr.  Lucas  still  owns  382  acres  in  Mill- 
grove  Township.  For  a number  of  years  he  was 
recognized  as  one  of  the  leading  sheep  raisers  in 
Northeastern  Indiana,  making  a specialty  of  the 
blooded  Delaine  and  Merino  sheep.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  American  Sheep  Growers’  Association. 
It  is  his  distinction  to  have  introduced  the  culture 
of  peppermint  in  Steuben  County,  one  of  the  big 
money-making  crops  in  that  part  of  the  state.  Mr. 
Lucas  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  bodies  at  Or- 
land, including  Lodge  No.  225,  and  the  chapters  of 
the  Royal  Arch  and  Eastern  Star. 

November  27,  1870,  Mr.  Lucas  married  Sarah 
Helen  Chrystler,  a daughter  of  Abraham  and  Martha 
Chrystler.  To  their  marriage  were  born  five  chil- 
dren: Vinnie,  wife  of  George  Webb;  Ora  D.,  who 
married  Ella  Showater ; Ella,  wife  of  Elmer  Grabell ; 
Jesse  E.,  who  married  Mattie  Murray;  and  Harley 
S.,  who  married  Libby  Murray. 

John  Oesch.  On  leaving  home  and  venturing 
upon  his  own  responsibilities  John  Oesch  had  about 
$300.  His  active  career  as  a farmer,  spent  chiefly 
in  LaGrange  County,  has  brought  him  much  to  sat- 
isfy his  ambition,  and  he  has  no  fear  of  the  wolf 
at  the  door  nor  even  of  the  tax  collector.  His 
farm  in  Eden  Township  is  often  called  the  home 
of  the  Percherons,  and  his  breeding  stock  of  those 
horses  represent  some  of  the  finest  in  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ontario,  Canada, 
January  29,  i860,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Barbara 
(Roth)  Oesch,  the  former  a native  of  Canada 
and  the  latter  of  Germany,  but  brought  to  Canada 
by  her  parents  when  only  seven  years  old.  They 
were  married  in  Waterloo  County,  Canada,  and  in 
1869  moved  to  Hickory  County,  Missouri.  They 
bought  land,  but  after  living  there  four  years 
through  some  technicality  lost  title.  Daniel  Oesch 
then  brought  his  family  to  Howard  County,  In- 
diana, locating  and  living  near  Kokomo  for  a year 
and  a half.  He  next  moved  fifteen  miles  northeast 
of  Fort  Wayne  and  bought  forty  acres,  where  he 
spent  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
eighty-one.  He  and  his  family  were  Mennonites 
in  religion  and  in  politics  after  coming  to  the 
United  States  he  was  aligned  with  the  democratic 
party.  There  are  three  living  children:  Christian, 
of  Allen  County,  Indiana;  Leah,  wife  of  Joseph 
Delegrange,  of  Allen  County;  and  John. 

John  Oesch  lived  with  his  father  during  the  dif- 
ferent moves  above  recorded  and  acquired  a com- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


89 


mon  school  education.  On  leaving  home  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five  he  possessed  the  modest  fortune 
above  noted.  December  18,  1884,  he  married  Mary 
A.  Troyer.  For  a year  he  rented  a farm  and  then 
bought  thirty-four  acres,  across  the  road  from 
where  he  lives  today.  He  traded  this  thirty-four 
acres  for  seventy-five  acres  included  in  his  present 
farm.  He  bought  fifteen  acres  adjoining  and  also 
has  eighty-two  and  a half  acres  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Oesch  has  been  a horse  breeder  for  thirty- 
three  years.  He  began  with  the  Clyde  horses, 
changing  to  the  Shire,  and  now  for  many  years 
has  been  a specialist  in  the  Percheron.  In  the 
spring  of  1919  he  had  six  registered  mares,  three 
registered  stallions  and  other  young  stqck,  giving 
him  thirteen  head  of  full  bloods.  He  is  regarded 
as  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  Eden  Township.  He 
is  a stockholder  in  the  State  Bank  of  Topeka  and 
also  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  the  same  place. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oesch  had  fourteen  children,  one 
of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  still  living  are: 
Levi,  Jennetta,  Daniel,  Amanda,  William,  Lester, 
Freeman,  Artie,  Erma,  Chauncey,  John  and  Tru- 
man. The  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church.  Mr.  Oesch  is  a republican  in  political 
affiliation. 

Ira  Schlotterback.  One  of  the  historic  colonies 
planted  in  Noble  County  in  the  earliest  pioneer  days 
comprised  several  families  from  the  vicinity  of 
Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  including  the  Engles, 
Hostetters,  Wolfes  and  Teals,  all  of  whom  came 
in  1832  and  all  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood, 
living  in  the  midst  of  wild  conditions,  with  Indians 
as  neighbors,  and  enduring  with  the  patience  typical 
of  real  frontiersmen  the  hardships  of  their  time. 

One  of  this  group  of  early  settlers  was  Gideon 
Schlotterback,  who  was  born  near  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1812.  He  was  about  twenty  years 
of  age  when  he  came  to  Noble  County,  and  shortly 
afterward,  in  the  same  year,  he  married  Mary  Engle, 
member  of  one  of  the  families  just  mentioned. 
They  settled  on  a farm,  and  were  long  prominent 
and  substantial  residents  of  Noble  County.  Gideon 
Schlotterback  as  a result  of  his  long  continued 
labors  accumulated  an  estate  of  440  acres.  He  and 
his  wife  had  twelve  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living:  Amelia,  wife  of  C.  G.  Fait,  living  in 

North  Dakota;  Amy,  wife  of  A.  B.  Koontz,  of 
Goshen,  Indiana,  and  Ira. 

Ira  Schlotterback  was  born  in  Perry  Township, 
a mile  east  of  where  he  now  lives,  February  10, 
1850.  For  over  forty  years  he  has  borne  his  share 
of  responsibilities  as  a farmer  in  that  locality.  His 
farm  is  located  in  section  33  of  Perry  Township 
on  the  line  between  that  and  Sparta  Township, 
where  he  own  136  acres.  The  first  school  he  at- 
tended was  kept  in  a log  schoolhouse,  and  he  lived 
with  his  parents  and  helped  with  the  farm  work 
until  after  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  On 
February  11,  1875,  he  married  Sarah  J.  John.  She 
was  born  at  Ligonier,  Indiana,  November  19,  1854, 
and  grew  up  in  Perry  Township.  After  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slotterback  managed  the  old 
farm,  and  he  now  lives  on  what  is  known  as  the 
Engle  Farm.  He  is  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  stock  raising. 

He  and  his  wife  have  the  following  children : ' 
Leon  is  married  and  lives  at  Ligonier ; Lulu  is  the 
wife  of  Eugene  Swinehart  and  lives  near  Mongo 
in  LaGrange  County;  Thomas  is  married  and  lives 
near  Noblesville,  Indiana;  Willis  is  managing  the 
old  home  place  of  136  acres  in  Sparta  and  Perry 
townships,  is  married  and  is  a republican  in  politics; 


and  Ina,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is  the  wife  of 
O.  G.  Bowen,  an  electrician  at  Ligonier. 

Pharaoh  Honess.  Steuben  County  with  its 
beautiful  topography  is  an  attractive  place  for 
people  to  spend  their  declining  years  as  well  as  a 
country  that  repays  effort  and  youthful  enthusiasm. 
Pharaoh  Honess  spent  many  years  of  his  life  in 
the  service  of  the  New  York  Central  Lines.  When 
he  retired  from  railroading  he  sought  a home  in 
the  country,  and  selected  his  present  place  in  Scott 
Township,  where  he  is  carrying  on  a systematic 
business  as  a farmer.  Mr.  Honess  is  a man  of 
interesting  personality,  and  is  father  of  a very 
brilliant  and  scholarly  family. 

He  was  born  in  Kent  County,  England,  February 
22,  1852,  a son  of  William  and  Margaret  (Seeley) 
Honess.  His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in  Eng- 
land, and  in  their  family  of  twelve  children  Pharaoh 
was  the  third  of  age.  The  latter  remained  at  home 
until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  is  largely 
self-educated.  Arriving  in  New  York  without 
money,  he  had  to  make  shift  to  earn  a living  at 
different  occupations  for  a time,  and  soon  went  to 
the  vicinity  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  While  working 
there  in  1875  he  studied  music  in  night  classes  at 
Baldwin  University,  and  spent  part  of  his  time 
composing  two  pieces  of  music  each  week  for  the 
Baldwin  University.  In  1880  Mr.  Honess  went  to 
work  for  the  New  York  Central  Lines,  was  night 
yard  master,  was  soon  made  check  clerk  in  the 
"freight  house,  later  was  waybiller  in  the  office,  and 
then  bookkeeper  and  collector  and  chief  clerk.  He 
collected  millions  of  dollars  for  the  railroad  com- 
pany and  never  filed  a bond.  After  twenty  years 
of  faithful  and  efficient  service  he  resigned  and  in 
April,  1900,  came  to  Steuben  County  and  bought 
thirty-eight  and  one-half  acres  of  land  where  he 
lives  in  Scott  Township.  He  has  since  added  ten 
acres,  and  has  made  a good  home  and  made  a 
living  as  a farmer  and  stock  raiser.  He  keeps  a 
small  herd  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  Mr.  Honess  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

July  5,  1884,  Mr.  Honess  married  Anna  Riddles. 
She  was  born  at  Cuyahoga,  near  Cleveland,  August 
20,  1863,  a daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 

(Nichols)  Ford.  Her  father  was  born  in  Kent 
County,  England,  in  1804,  and  her  mother  in  Broome 
County,  New  York,  in  1822.  The  family  settled  in 
Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  where  her  father  died  in 
1886  and  her  mother  in  1894.  Both  were  laid  to 
rest  in  the  Monroe  Street  Cemetery  of  Cleveland. 
Mrs.  Honess’  father  was  in  the  meat  business  at 
Cleveland  for  many  years  and  later  was  a farmer. 
Mrs.  Honess  was  one  of  four  children:  Charles, 
deceased ; Edward,  of  Lorain,  Ohio ; Mary,  de- 
ceased; and  Anna.  A half  sister  of  Mrs.  Honess 
is  Mrs.  Sarah  Dunham,  of  Angola. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Honess  have  five  children.  Charles, 
the  oldest,  born  June  28,  1885,  was  educated  at 
Berea  in  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  also  at  the  Angola 
High  School,  and  graduated  from  Oberlin  College, 
Ohio,  in  1912.  He  won  a scholarship  in  Cornell 
University,  where  he  took  his  Master’s  Degree  in 
1913.  He  also  won  scholarships  at  Yale  and  the 
University  of  Chicago  and  received  a Fellowship 
in  Columbia  University.  He  is  now  geologist  for 
the  State  of  Oklahoma.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Sigma  Psi  Chi  Fraternity.  Arthur  P.  Honess,  the 
second  son,  was  born  August  10,  1887,  is  a graduate 
of  the  Angola  High  School,  finished  his  work  at 
Oberlin  College  in  1914,  and  won  a Fellowship  in 
Princeton  University,  valued  at  $1,000  a year.  He 
remained  in  Princeton  three  years,  receiving  his 
Master  of  Arts  Degree.  He  has  since  been  con- 


90 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


nected  with  the  Pennsylvania  State  College,  where 
he  is  now  professor  of  mineralogy  and  of  other 
subjects.  The  third  child,  Edith,  born  January  21, 
1893,  is  a graduate  of  Angola  High  School,  grad- 
uated from  Oberlin  College  in  June,  1918, . and  is 
now  teacher  of  science  in  the  Scott  Township  High 
School.  Thus  Mr.  Honess’  three  oldest  children 
have  achieved  when  still  young  noteworthy  dis- 
tinction in  the  field  of  scholarship.  The  fourth 
child,  Clayton,  was  born  March  19,  1895,  completed 
the  grammar  school  work  and  is  a mechanic.  He 
was  drafted  in  the  World  war,  went  into  the  army 
in  July,  1918,  as  a private  and  was  promoted  to 
top  sergeant  in  the  Heavy  Artillery.  He  received 
his  honorable  discharge  in  January,  1919.  Leon 
Honess,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
November,  1904,  and  is  now  in  the  freshman  year 
of  the  Scott  Township  High  School. 

Herbert  Fenton  Newnam.  It  has  been  said  that 
at  no  time  in  history  has  opportunity  been  so  bounti- 
ful to  the  tenant  farmer  and  renter  as  within  the 
last  two  or  three  years.  The  estate  of  Herbert 
Fenton  Newnam  is  one  which  shows  what  was 
possible  to  the  industrious  and  capable  farm  tenant 
in  the  years  of  more  restricted  opportunity,  since 
he  made  steady  progress  and  while  a tenant  bought 
and  paid  for  a farm  of  his  own,  which  he  still  oc- 
cupies and  which  gives  him  a place  among  the  fore- 
most agriculturists  of  Noble  County. 

Mr.  Newnam,  whose  home  is  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  Wayne  Township  in  that  county,  has  a 
large  amount  of  land  under  cultivation,  and  has  a 
home  equipped  with  all  the  modern  improvements, 
including  a lighting  plant  and  heating  system.  He 
was  born  on  a farm  in  Milford  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  November  10,  1872.  His 
parents  were  Joseph  E.  and  Isadora  (Spaulding) 
Newnam.  His  father  was  born  in  Wayne  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County  and  his  mother  in  Brushy 
Prairie.  After  their  marriage  they  settled  on  a 
farm  across  the  road  from  where  Herbert  now 
lives,  later  lived  in  Ohio  two  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Noble  County.  They  now  reside  at 
South  Milford.  The  father  is  affiliated  with  Lodge 
No.  380  of  Masons,  of  which  he  is  a past  master, 
is  also  a Knight  of  Pythias,  and  is  a republican 
in  politics.  There  were  just  two  sons,  Herbert  F. 
and  Vern  I.  The  latter  is  a machinist  with  the 
Alliance  Steel  Foundry  at  Alliance,  Ohio. 

Herbert  Fenton  Newnam  grew  up  on  a farm 
joining  the  one  where  he  now  lives,  and  attended 
the  public  schools  at  South  Milford.  For  three 
years  he  clerked  in  a store.  On  April  1,  1895,  he 
married  Miss  Mattie  I.  Gross.  She  was  born  near 
the  center  of  Milford  Township  in  LaGrange 
County  April  21,  1870,  daughter  of  William  and 
Isabelle  (Frances)  Gross.  She  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newnam 
started  housekeeping  at  Greenfield  Mills,  lived  there 
two  years,  and  at  Brushy  Prairie  one  year,  and 
then  came  to  the  farm  which  they  now  own.  For 
twenty  years  they  worked  and  saved  as  renters, 
and  used  the  proceeds  of  this  long  period  to  buy 
and  construct  the  splendid  farm  of  334  acres  which 
they  now  own. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newnam  have  one  daughter, 
Grossie  Joe,  born  February  18,  1897.  She  grad- 
uated from  the  South  Milford  High  School  with 
the  class  of  1915,  and  in  December  of  that  year 
married  John  Wible.  Mr.  Wible  was  born  in  Ken- 
dallville,  Indiana,  graduated  from  the  South  Mil- 
ford High  School  in  1911,  and  he  and  his  young 
wife  lived  happily  together  for  only  a little  more 


than  a year,  until  their  marriage  was  broken  by 
his  death  on  January  7,  1917. 

Mr.  Newnam  is  affiliated  with  Wolcottville  Lodge 
No.  380,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with 
South  Milford  Lodge  No.  619,  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  B'ellows,  of  which  he  is  a past  noble  grand, 
and  has  been  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and 
is  also  a member  of  the  Encampment.  Mrs.  New- 
nam is  a Rebekah  and  has  held  all  the  chief  offices 
in  that  order.  The  daughter  Grossie  Joe  belongs 
to  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  at  Wolcottville  and 
to  the  Rebekahs  at  South  Milford.  Mr.  Newnam 
in  politics  is  a republican. 

Samuel  A.  Stout.  His  friends  and  neighbors 
regard  Samuel  A.  Stout  as  one  of  the  fortunate  men 
of  Steuben  County,  though  his  good  fortune,  repre- 
sented in  the  ownership  of  what  is  known  as  the 
“Otter  Lake  Stock  Farm,”  has  been  the  product  of 
long  years  of  capable  management  and  labor,  good 
judgment  and  that  all  around  character  which  the 
good  farmer  represents. 

Mr.  Stout  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  now 
owns  in  section  32  of  Jackson  Township,  September 
11,  1859.  He  is  a son  of  Hervey  B.  and  Sarah 
(Alcott)  Stout,  his  mother  a native  of  Ohio  and  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  Alcott,  who  married  a Miss 
Collins.  Mr.  Stout’s  grandfather,  George  Stout, 
married  for  his  first  wife  a Miss  Bliss.  He  was 
an  early  settler  in  Michigan,  and  from  that  state 
came  to  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County  and 
settled  on  a farm  along  the  county  line  between 
Steuben  and  DeKalb  counties,  but  spent  his  last 
years  in  Jackson  Township.  The  children  of  his 
first  marriage  were  Aaron,  Orville,  Hervey  B., 
George,  Edward,  Caroline  and  Nancy.  He  married 
for  his  second  wife  Cassie  Shaddock,  and  they  had 
four  daughters,  named  Mary,  Anna,  Olive  and 
Emma. 

Hervey  B.  Stout,  who  was  born  in  Lenawee 
County,  Michigan,  in  December,  1827,  and  died  in 
1880,  began  his  career  as  a farmer  in  Salem  Town- 
ship, lived  there  several  years,  and  then  bought  the 
land  in  Jackson  Township  comprised  in  the  Otter 
Lake  Stock  Farm.  When  it  came  into  his  posses- 
sion it  was  practically  all  wild  land.  He  cleared 
away  a space  for  his  log  cabin  house  and  barn 
and  made  many  good  improvements  before  his 
death.  He  cleared  up  eighty  acres  out  of  the  120. 
He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children:  Ellen,  wife 

of  T.  K.  Miller;  Charles  L. ; Jane,  who  married 
William  Lock;  Orville  M. ; Samuel  A.;  Lydia  A., 
who  married  M.  K.  Hall;  Dora  B.,  who  became 
the  wife  of  James  Parsed;  and  Frank  B. 

Samuel  A.  Stout  had  the  educational  advantages 
supplied  by  the  district  schools  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship. When  a young  man  he  went  out  to  work 
on  farms  at  monthly  wages,  and  continued  in  that 
way  for  eleven  years,  gaining  experience  and  also 
some  meager  capital  which  enabled  him  to  start  for 
himself. 

In  April,  1892,  Mr.  Stout  married  Miss  Kate  Velie, 
a daughter  of  Tunis  and  Margaret  (Kroutz)  Velie. 
In  August  following  his  marriage  Mr.  Stout  came  to 
his  present  farm,  and  during  his  proprietorship  of 
more  than  a quarter  of  a century  has  erected  all  the 
substantial  buildings,  has  equipped  his  place  espe- 
cially for  stockraising,  and  now  has  the  ownership 
and  supervision  of  303  broad  acres. 

He  and  his  wife  have  three  daughters,  Clara  B., 
Ruth  M.  and  Mabel  G.  The  two  older  daughters 
are  both  graduates  of  the  Flint  High  School,  and 
Clara  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College  at  Angola,  and  Ruth  has  spent  two  terms 
in  that  institution. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


91 


James  D.  Rowley  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  Butler  Township,  DeKalb  County,  and  for  nearly 
half  a century  has  been  identified  with  its  farming 
interests.  His  home  place  is  in  section  36  of  that 
township. 

Mr.  Rowley  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Ohio, 
March  23,  1845,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Ellen  (Davis) 
Rowley.  His  father  and  mother  were  born  in 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  after  their  marriage 
came  to  the  United  States.  They  made  their  first 
home  in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  where  the  father 
worked  in  the  construction  of  the  canal  between 
Lake  Erie  and  the  Ohio  River,  and  his  wife  boarded 
other  workmen.  Later  he  followed  different  lines 
of  employment  in  Illinois  and  Southwestern  Indiana, 
and  eventually  settled  in  Jackson  Township  of  De- 
Kalb  County,  where  he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest 
of  their  years.  As  a farmer  he  cleared  up  eighty 
acres  of  land.  He  was  a democrat,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  faithful  Catholics.  Of  their  eight  children 
three  are  still  living:  James  D.,  Catherine,  wife  of 
Samuel  Surface,  and  John,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

James  D.  Rowley  grew  up  from  early  boyhood 
in  Jackson  Township,  attended  public  schools,  and 
has  made  industry  the  keynote  of  his  life  and  by 
that  means  has  found  prosperity  sufficient  for  all 
his  requirements.  He  is  still  engaged  in  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  and  owns  215  acres  in 
Jackson  and  Butler  townships.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Catholic  Church. 

Mr.  Rowley  married  Ella  Surface  on  February 
23,  1871.  They  have  nine  living  children,  named, 
Thomas,  Charles,  Carl,  Elizabeth,  Catherine,  Mabel, 
Grace,  Walter  and  Ralph.  The  son,  Carl,  is  a phy- 
sician at  Boston,  Massachusetts ; Elizabeth  is  the 
wife  of  Martin  Schaaf,  of  Fort  Wayne;  Catherine 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Kavanaugh,  and  Mabel  is 
the  wife  of  Forest  Sheets. 

Eugene  Van  Auken.  Some  of  the  thrifty  char- 
acter of  his  ancestors  has  been  exemplified  by 
Eugene  Van  Auken  in  the  management  of  his  farm- 
ing enterprise  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  He  is  one  of  the  men  who  make  farming 
pay,  and  does  so  by  able  and  progressive  manage- 
ment of  every  detail. 

Mr.  Van  Auken  was  born  in  Steuben  Township 
September  23,  1872,  and  is  a son  of  Elton  and  Sarah 
(Dutter)  Van  Auken  and  a grandson  of  Everet 
Van  Auken.  This  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
prominent  family  names  in  Steuben  County.  Elton 
Van  Auken  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and 
his  wife  in  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  George  and 
Anna  Dutter.  Elton  Van  Auken  as  a young  man 
worked  in  a freight  house  at  Angola,  but  aside 
from  that  experience  spent  his  life  as  a farmer  in 
Steuben  Township.  His  children  were  Lena, 
Eugene,  Paul  and  Carl  E.  Only  Eugene  and  Carl 
are  now  living. 

Eugene  Van  Auken  attended  public  school  at 
Angola  and  the  district  schools  of  Steuben  Town- 
ship, and  has  been  farming  steadily  since  early 
manhood.  In  1897  he  moved  to  Otsego  Township, 
and  for  seven  years  rented  land.  Flis  present  pros- 
perity is  the  more  creditable  for  the  fact  that  he 
began  with  a minimum  of  capital  and  proved  his 
ability  as  a renter  before  he  became  an  independent 
owner.  In  1904  he  bought  his  present  place  of  120 
acres  in  sections  1 and  12.  He  has  kept  improve- 
ments steadily  going  forward,  and  even  in  the 
midst  of  war  times  in  the  summer  of  1918  he  built 
a large  bank  barn,  40  by  80  feet,  one  of  the  best 
barns  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Van  Auken  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Metz.  He  married  No- 
vember 2,  1893,  Dora  George,  a daughter  of  Robert 


and  Ann  (Smith)  George.  They  have  two  children, 
Ralph  and  Mildred. 

Otis  G.  Gates  is  proprietor  of  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township  of  Steuben  County  around  which  the 
associations  of  the  Gates  family  center  covering  a 
period  of  over  three  quarters  of  a century.  Mr. 
Gates  is  able  to  appreciate  the  remarkable  changes 
and  transformations  made  in  the  seven  decades 
since  his  grandparents  settled  here.  As  he  goes 
about  his  fields  he  doubtless  often  thinks  and  is 
grateful  for  the  labors  done  by  the  earlier  genera- 
tions, and  his  own  career  has  been  a part  of  the 
substantial  character  of  the  Gates  family. 

He  was  born  on  this  farm  October  25,  1864,  a 
son  of  Ransom  and  Abbie  (Ellis)  Gates  and  a 
grandson  of  Levi  and  Sallie  Gates.  Levi  Gates 
brought  his  family  from  New  York  State  in  1840. 
Their  place  of  settlement  was  in  the  midst  of  the 
heavy  woods  of  Otsego  Township.  Indians  were 
still  found  in  that  locality,  and  wild  animals 
abounded  in  the  woods.  Levi  Gates  built  a log 
house  for  the  shelter  of  his  family.  On  the  east 
side  of  a big  tree  he  put  up  a shelter  which  he 
called  a barn,  the  trunk  of  the  tree  forming  one 
side  of  that  structure.  He  pursued  his  industrious 
labors  until  called  away  by  death  a few  years  after 
coming  to  the  county.  His  wife  survived  to  a good 
old  age.  Ransom  Gates  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1834.  He  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
attended  the  primitive  district  schools,  and  during 
his  mature  career  followed  a busy  life  as  a farmer 
and  thresherman.  He  owned  130  acres  of  the  farm 
now  occupied  by  his  son  Otis.  He  died  in  1911. 
He  was  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1837,  died  in  1913.  Their  children,  were 
five  in  number:  Van  Rennselaer,  who  died  in  in- 

fancy, Blanche,  Otis,  Pearl  and  Burr. 

Otis  G.  Gates  attended  the  public  schools  when 
a boy,  learned  farming  under  his  father,  and  is  now 
proprietor  of  170  acres,  devoted  to  good  crops  and 
good  livestock.  Mr.  Gates  is  a republican  and 
attends  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

August  22,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Den- 
man. She  was  born  near  Rome  City  in  Noble 
County,  a daughter  of  Smith  and  Nancy  Denman, 
early  settlers  in  that  section  of  Indiana.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gates  have  two  children,  Blanche  and  Glenn. 
Blanche  is  the  wife  of  Blaine  Willoughby,  living 
on  the  Gates  farm,  and  their  children  are  Celeta, 
Gaylor  and  Ivan.  Glenn,  who  is  also  on  the  farm 
with  his  father,  married  Gladys  Burkhart,  of  Wil- 
liams County.  Ohio,  and  their  two  children  are 
Otto  and  Max. 

Harvey  C.  Knight.  While  not  the  wealthiest 
man  in  Steuben  County,  Harvey  C.  Knight  enjoys 
the  ownership  of  a good  farm,  has  paid  for  it  out 
of  his  own  efforts,  and  his  record  proves  that  he  has 
been  thoroughly  able  to  fight  his  own  battles  and 
take  care  of  himself  and  those  dependent  upon  him. 
What  he  has  he  has  earned,  and  beginning  as  a 
farm  laborer  he  has  steadily  progressed  toward  the 
goal  of  independence. 

Mr.  Knight  was  born  in  Steuben  Township  of 
Steuben  County  March  8,  1867,  a son  of  Austin  and 
Mary  Ann  (Dahoff)  Knight.  His  mother  was  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Dahoff.  Austin  Knight  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Steuben  County 
about  1858.  For  several  years  he  was  employed 
grubbing  stumps  and  splitting  rails.  He  then  fol- 
lowed the  carpenter’s  trade  until  1872,  and  since  then 
has  been  a busy  blacksmith,  being  proprietor  of  a 
well  patronized  shop  at  Pleasant  Lake.  He  and  his 


92 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


wife  had  six  children : Ella,  who  died  in  child- 

hood; Harvey;  Emma;  Elizabeth;  Herman,  who 
died  when  about  five  years  old;  and  Charles,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  six  months. 

Harvey  C.  Knight  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Pleasant  Lake  and  was  a boy 
helper  to  his  father  in  the  blacksmith  shop,  though 
he  never  took  up  that  as  a regular  trade  or  occu- 
pation. For  about  twelve  years  he  worked  for 
farmers  and  other  employers  at  monthly  wages,  and 
his  next  advancement  was  to  renting  farms,  and  in 
November,  1891,  he  bought  his  first  property  in 
Pleasant  Lake.  Five  years  later  he  bought  sixteen 
and  two-thirds  acres  in  Steuben  Township.  This 
land  had  no  improvements  or  buildings.  He  built 
a barn  there  in  1898  and  about  the  same  time  ac- 
quired another  forty  acres.  He  had  several  other 
deals  in  real  estate  and  in  1906  sold  his  property  in 
Steuben  Township  and  bought  his  present  place  of 
120  acres  in  Millgrove  Township.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily lived  there  since  1907,  and  he  has  used  his  land 
for  general  farming  and  stockraising  purposes.  His 
farm  is  in  sections  27  and  28  of  Millgrove  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Knight  married  in  1901  Rosa  Webb,  a daugh- 
ter of  Arthur  and  Rosa  (Case)  Webb.  Her  father 
was  born  in  England  and  came  to  Steuben  County 
about  1845.  Some  further  reference  to  the  Webb 
family  will  be  found  on  other  pages.  Mrs.  Knight 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  She  was 
the  mother  of  five  children : Bertice,  who  died  at 

the  age  of  four  months ; Walter,  Vira,  Myrlen,  and 
Albert. 

Albert  S.  Hill.  No  man  in  Noble  County  stands 
higher  in  general  esteem  than  Albert  S.  Hill,  a sub- 
stantial farmer  of  Wayne  Township  and  with  many 
interests  that  identify  him  with  the  life  and  affairs 
of  that  community.  Mr.  Hill’s  farm  is  in  section  13 
of  Wayne  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Noble  County  November  16,  1865, 
son  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  (Kinney)  Hill.  Nich- 
olas Hill  was  born  in  Germany  in  1824  and  was  six- 
teen years  of  age  when  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Simon  Hill  immigrated  to  America  and  established 
their  home  in  the  wilderness  of  Noble  County,  In- 
diana. Nicholas  Hill  grew  up  there  and  spent  his 
life  as  a successful  farmer.  He  died  April  5,  1902. 
He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : Mary, 

unmarried ; Lawrence,  deceased ; Arvilla,  wife  of 
William  Wright,  of  Kendallville ; Orange  L.,  a 
farmer  on  the  old  homestead;  Wilbur  H. ; Charles 
R.,  of  Richmond,  Indiana ; Albert  S. ; Rilla,  who 
died  in  1918,  the  wife  of  Gottlieb  Snyder.  The 
father  married  for  a second  wife  Frances  Zim- 
merman, but  her  only  child  is  deceased. 

Albert  S.  Hill  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  which 
was  entered  by  his  grandfather  from  the  Govern- 
ment. He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
was  at  home  until  after  his  marriage.  September  30, 
1886,  he  married  Miss  Emma  C.  Hovarter.  She 
was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  November  11, 
1866,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Hovarter,  the 
former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Germany,  but  brought  to  the  United  States  when 
only  eight  years  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  realized  their  ambitions  after 
much  denial  and  struggle  and  hard  work.  For  seven 
years  they  were  farm  renters  and  moved  to  their 
present  well  kept  farm  in  1904.  Mr.  Hill  owns  180 
acres,  and  all  of  it  represents  what  he  and  his 
wife  have  gained  since  their  marriage.  They  have 
two  children:  Verne  R.,  born  October  22,  1889,  is 

a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  is  a farmer  in 
Noble  County,  but  by  his  marriage  to  Cora  M. 
Uhl  has  two  children,  Ruth  May  and  Don  A.  Rus- 


sell J.,  the  second  child,  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  married  September  11,  1918,  Leone 
Lasho. 

Mrs.  Hill  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Wayne  Center.  Mr.  Hill  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees  Tent  No.  52.  Politically 
he  has  always  been  a steadfast  republican.  He  uses 
his  farm  as  a means  of  extensive  operations  in  cattle 
buying  and  feeding.  He  buys  carloads  of  sheep  and 
cattle,  feeds  them  for  market  on  his  farm,  and 
thus  does  a larger  stock  business  than  the  size  of  his 
farm  would  justify  if  he  handled  his  animals  through 
every  stage  of  growth  and  development.  He  is  also 
a stockholder  in  the  Kendallville  Fair  Association. 

Joseph  M.  Shew  was  one  of  the  citizens  of  Noble 
County  whose  memory  deserve  to  be  cherished  long 
among  his  former  associates  and  in  the  permanent 
records^  of  the  county.  He  was  a man  of  great 
enterprise  and  usefulness,  though  physically  a crip- 
ple, and  did  a great  service  as  a teacher,  an  occupa- 
tion he  followed  many  years,  and  also  at  one  time 
held  the  office  of  county  treasurer. 

He  was  born  in  Ohio  May  21,  1841,  and  came 
with  his  parents  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  when  a 
boy.  The  family  located  in  York  Township,  three 
miles  north  of  Albion,  and  in  that  locality  he  grew 
up,  attending  the  common  schools  and  also  the 
college  at  Wolcottville.  He  had  a well  trained  mind, 
and  used  it  as  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
this  county  for  twenty-eight  terms.  All  the  time 
he  was  teaching  he  lived  on  the  farm.  In  1889  he 
was  elected  county  treasurer,  and  filled  that  office 
with  signal  ability  for  four  years.  He  was  always 
active  as  a republican  and  was  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  at  Albion. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Melissa  A.  Niles, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  children : Clarence  W.,  cashier  in 

Campbell  & Felters  Bank  at  Kendallville,  and 
Bertha,  wife  of  Clyde  Bowman,  a resident  of  Chi- 
cago. Mr.  Shew  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs. 
Almeda  (Deater)  Spencer,  widow  of  Clifford 
Spencer.  Mrs.  Shew,  who  is  still  living  in  Washing- 
ton Township,  on  the  farm  of  no  acres,  which  is 
cultivated  by  renters,  was  born  at  Albion,  Indiana, 
in  i860.  By  her  first  husband,  Clifford  Spencer,  she 
had  one  son,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen  months. 
Mrs.  Shew  is  the  mother  of  three  children:  Paul 

N.,  a mechanic  at  Warsaw,  Indiana;  Leila,  wife  of 
Floyd  Fetters,  of  Noble  County;  and  William  B., 
who  lives  with  his  mother.  Mrs.  Shew  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Rebekah  Lodge. 

Jorden  Priest,  owner  of  a good  farm  in  section 
17  of  Washington  Township  in  Noble  County,  was 
thrown  upon  his  own  resources  at  an  early  age, 
has  fought  the  battles  of  life  for  himself  ever  since, 
and  has  earned  material  success  and  at  the  same 
time  the  substantial  esteem  of  a large  community. 

He  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  June  11, 
1855,  son  of  George  and  Mary  (Smith)  Priest. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Licking  County, 
and  George  Priest  spent  all  his  life  in  Ohio  as  a 
farmer.  After  his  death  his  widow  married  Mat- 
thew Wright,  and  they  came  to  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  where  she  died.  She  was  an  active  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  George  Priest 
and  wife  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  de- 
ceased, and  the  four  living  are : Allen,  a farmer 

in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble  County;  George,  a 
retired  farmer  at  Kimmell ; Jorden ; and  Olive,  wife 
of  Lewis  Schlabach. 


JOSEPH  M.  SHEW 


s 


0 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


93 


Jorden  Priest  had  opportunities  to  attend  school 
in  Ohio  until  he  was  about  thirteen  years  old.  At 
that  age,  in  1868,  he  left  home  and  coming  to 
Indiana  accepted  any  opportunity  for  honorable 
employment  that  would  give  him  a livelihood.  He 
worked  out  on  farms  and  continued  in  that  way 
until  past  thirty  years  of  age. 

On  November  28,  1889,  he  married  Luella  Pren- 
tice. She  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble 
County  December  16,  i860,  daughter  of  Nathaniel 
and  Catherine  (Rice)  Prentice.  Her  father  was 
born  in  New  York  State  July  8,  1808,  and  her 
mother  in  Pennsylvania  in  1822.  Both  the  Rice 
and  Prentice  families  were  early  settlers  in  Noble 
County,  and  Nathaniel  and  Catherine  after  their 
marriage  settled  on  a farm  in  Sparta  Township  and 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there.  Both  were 
active  church  members  and  Nathaniel  Prentice  for 
many  years  dispensed  local  justice  as  a justice  of 
the  peace.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics. ' 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priest  settled 
on  their  present  farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  have 
since  achieved  independence  and  prosperity.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Mary  C.,  who  is  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools  and  of  the  Cromwell  High 
School.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Oscar  Correll,  of 
Washington  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Priest  have 
one  grandchild,  Charles  Edward.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  Mr. 
Priest  is  a steward,  while  his  wife  has  been  super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  school  for  nearly  thirty 
years.  Politically  he  votes  as  a democrat,  but 
never  interests  himself  in  politics  beyond  that. 

Tobias  V.  Yoder.  At  one  time  Tobias  V.  Yoder 
was  known  as  a diligent  and  ambitious  young  farm 
hand,  but  long  since  he  raised  himself  above  that 
status  into  that  of  an  independent  farm  owner 
and  today  he  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  largest  land 
owners  and  most  extensive  farmers  and  stock  men 
in  LaGrange  County.  His  home  place  is  in  section 
2 of  Eden  Township,  known  as  the  General  Grain 
Farm,  a place  of  231  acres.  That,  however,  is  only 
part  of  his  extensive  holdings. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  April  9,  1870,  a 
son  of  Valentine  T.  and  Catherine  (Schrock)  Yoder. 
His  parents  were  both  born  at  Johnstown,  Penn- 
sylvania. his  father  September  23,  1842,  and  his 
mother  in  March,  1843.  His  father  died  April  10, 
1913,  and  his  mother  July  23,  1918.  Both  the  Yoder 
and  Schrock  families  came  to  Indiana  in  early 
days,  the  former  settling  in  Newbury  Township 
and  the  latter  in  Eden  Township  of  LaGrange 
County.  Valentine  Yoder  after  his  marriage  set- 
tled in  section  4 of  Eden  Township,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  there.  He  and  his  family  were 
members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church.  Of  nine 
children  eight  are  still  living:  John  H.,  a farmer 

in  Clear  Spring  Township;  Tobias  V.;  Daniel  V., 
a farmer  in  Clay  Township;  Joseph  E.,  of  Eden 
Township;  Moses  V.  and  Levi  L.,  both  of  New- 
bury Township;  Henry  H.,  of  Eden  Township; 
and  Gertie,  wife  of  Joseph  Hooley,  of  Newbury 
Township. 

Tobias  V.  Yoder  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools  to  the  age  of  fifteen. 
The  following  six  years  he  worked  as  a hand  for 
his  father,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  had  a. 
team  and  some  other  property,  which  he  used  to 
run  his  father’s  farm  for  seven  years.  He  then 
bought,  rented,  and  for  many  years  has  lived  at 
his  present  location.  He  began  his  land  accumula- 
tions with  184  acres,  and  now  owns  805  acres  in 
LaGrange  County,  besides  160  acres  in  Kansas  and 
240  acres  in  Oklahoma.  Through  all  the  years  he 


has  made  much  of  his  income  by  livestock.  Mr. 
Yoder  is  a democrat  and  he  and  his  family  are 
active  in  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church. 

To  him  and  his  wife  were  born  ten  children, 
and  the  eight  now  living  are : Lydia  A.,  wife  of 

David  Christner;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Emanuel  P.  Mil- 
ler; Rosa,  widow  of  Brice  Elliott;  Rufus  T.,  Valen- 
tine T„  Mina  E„  Milo  T.  and  Amsey  T.,  all  of 
whom  are  at  home. 

George  W.  Logan.  The  record  of  George  W. 
Logan,  of  Clear  Lake  township,  Steuben  County, 
is  that  of  a successful  farmer,  a man  who  has  made 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  out  of  his  industry 
and  good  management  has  achieved  material  circum- 
stances and  civic  esteem  worthy  of  his  many  years 
of  well  directed  efforts. 

Mr.  Logan  was  born  in  Clear  Lake  Township 
October  26,  1870,  a son  of  Robert  and  Caroline 
(Ovenhouse)  Logan.  His  father  was  born  in  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio,  in  1827,  and  his  mother  in 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  in  1838.  They  were  married 
in  that  state  and  in  1869  came  to  Clear  Lake  Town- 
ship, where  they  established  a home  on  fifty  acres 
of  land.  The  father  died  there  in  the  midst  of  his 
labors  in  1877,  and  his  wife  in  1874.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics.  Their  children  were  Lizzie, 
Samuel,  Maggie  (deceased),  Thomas,  Lettie,  George 
W.,  and  Clyde. 

George  W.  Logan  was  only  four  years  old  when 
his  mother  died  and  seven  when  his  father  passed 
away.  After  that  he  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his 
sister  Maggie,  wife  of  Frank  McElhenie.  From  the 
McElhenie  home  he  attended  the  neighboring  dis- 
trict schools  and  was  early  schooled  in  habits  of 
industry  and  thrift.  For  a number  of  years  he 
earned  monthly  wages.  In  1894  he  went  out  to 
Nebraska,  worked  there  for  three  years  and  then 
bought  160  acres  and  rented  other  land.  He  was 
in  Nebraska  about  seven  years,  and  on  returning  to 
Steuben  County  in  1901  bought  forty  acres.  He 
has  since  added  another  forty  and  has  his  farm 
well  improved  with  good  buildings  and  is  doing  a 
prosperous  business. 

Mr.  Logan  is  a republican,  and  while  living  in 
Nebraska  was  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  On  October  26,  1893,  he  married  Miss 
Alma  Court.  She  was  born  in  Salem  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  February,  1870,  a daughter  of 
Orrin  and  Mary  (Brinker)  Court.  Her  parents 
came  to  Steuben  County  from  Marion  County,  Ohio, 
during  the  ’60s.  They  settled  in  Salem  Township 
and  in  1873  moved  to  York  Township,  where  her 
father  died  in  1887,  at  the  age  of  fifty-four.  Mrs. 
Logan’s  mother  is  still  living  and  is  now  eighty-one 
years  of  age.  In  the  Court  family  were  ten  chil- 
dren, named  Fannie,  Emma,  John,  Mary,  Martha, 
Alma,  George,  William,  Isora  and  Curtis.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Logan  have  one  son,  Robert  Q.,  born  May  4, 
1907. 

Greely  M.  Zimmerman.  Probably  no  one  name 
has  been  longer  or  more  continuously  associated  with 
the  mercantile  enterprise  of  Ligonier  than  that  of 
Zimmerman.  Sixty  years  ago  one  of  the  leading 
stores  of  the  village,  it  was  conducted  by  Jacob  C. 
Zimmerman,  and  until  recently  one  of  the  largest 
establishments  patronized  by  the  general  public  had 
as  one  of  the  proprietors  Greely  M.  Zimmerman.  In 
this  enterprise  he  was  associated  with  his  brother 
and  sister.  In  September,  1918,  they  closed  out  the 
business  and  are  now  engaged  in  real  estate  opera- 
tions and  looking  after  various  properties  they  own. 
In  many  other  ways  he  has  been  actively  identified 
with  the  social  and  civic  affairs  of  his  home  city,  and 
is  one  of  the  most  popular  citizens. 


94 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


He  was  born  in  Albion,  Indiana,  October  23,  1855, 
a son  of  Jacob  C.  and  Sarah  J.  (Brown)  Zimmer- 
man. His  father  was  born  in  Switzerland  in  1827, 
and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  when  four 
years  old,  growing  up  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio. 
He  first  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Elkhart 
Township  in  1849,  and  was  married  in  this  county. 
His  wife  was  a native  of  Ohio.  For  about  five 
years  Jacob  Zimmerman  was  clerk  in  a store  at 
Albion,  Indiana,  and  in  1857  moved  to  Ligonier, 
where  he  engaged  in  business  for  himself.  He  was 
a merchant  almost  half  a century,  until  his  death 
in  1903.  In  politics  a republican,  at  one  time  he 
represented  the  counties  of  Elkhart  and  Noble  in 
the  State  Legislature.  He  is  the  type  of  citizen 
who  is  frequently  selected  for  places  of  trust  and 
responsibility.  He  served  eight  years  as  trustee  of 
Perry  Township,  and  was  also  a member  of  the  town 
council.  He  was  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish 
Rite  Mason,  and  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  Jacob  Zimmerman  and  wife  had  seven 
children,  four  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  three 
still  living  are  : Greely  M. ; Frank  W. ; and  Venona 
J.,  wife  of  S.  C.  Sackett. 

Greely  M.  Zimmerman  was  two  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Ligonier,  and  he  grew  up  in  that 
city,  acquiring  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  took  his  place  in  his 
father’s  store,  and  had  an  uninterrupted  career  of 
business  activity  for  nearly  fifty  years.  He  owns 
one-third  of  all  the  Zimmerman  estate  properties, 
also  has  other  real  estate,  and  has  two  farms  aggre- 
gating 346  acres  in  Noble  County.  Like  his  father 
he  has  always  affiliated  with  the  republican  party. 
He  served  sixteen  years  as  treasurer  of  the  City 
of  Ligonier.  He  is  prominent  in  Masonry,  being 
affiliated  with  the  lodge,  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  Coun- 
cil and  Commandery,  and  also  the  Scottish  Rite  Con- 
sistory. He  is  a past  illustrious  master  of  Ligonier 
Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  No.  59,  and  for 
the  past  twenty-six  years  has  been  treasurer  of  his 
lodge,  council  and  chapter.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

. Mr.  Zimmerman  has  two  children  by  his  first  mar- 
riage : Beulah  Z.,  a graduate  of  high  school  and 

wife  of  Henry  D.  Stone,  living  in  Los  Angeles, 
California;  and  Bonnie,  wife  of  Capt.  Charles  A. 
Green,  of  Tampa,  Florida.  In  1909  Mr.  Zimmer- 
man married  for  his  present  wife  Mrs.  Sarah  A. 
Baker  Ward,  a daughter  of  William  H.  Baker,  of 
Goshen,  Indiana. 

Charles  E.  Piper.  For  over  thirty  years  Charles 
E.  Piper  has  been  working  his  way  steadily  toward 
prosperity  and  improved  conditions  for  himself  and 
family,  and  is  noted  as  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
in  Washington  Township  of  Noble  County.  He 
owns  a fine  farm  in  section  11  of  that  township, 
his  acreage  comprising  eighty-eight  and  twelve-one 
hundredths,  devoted  to  the  staple  crops  and  live- 
stock. 

Mr.  Piper  was  born  in  the  same  township  October 
3,  1862,  son  of  George  and  Samantha  (Shelpman) 
Piper.  His  father  was  born  in  Springfield,  Ohio, 
in  1828,  and  his  mother  in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio, 
in  1839.  Her  parents  died  when  she  was  a small 
girl,  and  her  uncle,  Doctor  Jones,  brought  her  to 
Noble  Township  and  gave  her  all  the  advantages 
of  his  home,  sending  her  to  school,  and  she  re- 
mained with  the  Jones  family  until  her  marriage. 
George  Piper  and  wife  settled  on  a farm,  and 
remained  identified  with  agriculture  until  his  death 
on  September  14,  1907.  His  widow  is  still  living. 
George  Piper  was  at  one  time  one  of  the  largest 
farmers  in  Noble  County,  his  operations  being  con- 


ducted on  600  acres.  He  was  especially  a stock 
farmer.  He  finally  divided  his  land  among  his 
children.  He  was  active  in  every  moral  and  religious 
cause,  served  for  a number  of  years  as  a trustee 
of  Washington  Township,  and  one  term  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  and 
during  that  term  the  present  courthouse  was  con- 
structed. He  was  also  prominent  in  republican 
politics.  He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children,  six 
of  whom  are  still  living:  Charles  E. ; William  H., 

of  Washington  Township ; Addie,  wife  of  Harry 
Miller ; George  P.,  of  Whitley  County,  Indiana ; 
Dora,  wife  of  Clarence  Shew;  and  Della,  wife  of 
Harry  Beasley. 

Charles  E.  Piper  grew  up  in  the  atmosphere  of 
his  father’s  large  farm  and  early  became  acquainted 
with  farm  management  and  stock  raising  on  an 
extensive  scale.  He  contented  himself  with  a com- 
mon school  education,  and  on  January  10,  1885, 
established  a home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  to 
Viola  Breninger.  She  was  a daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  Breninger,  who  died  when  she  was  a 
small  girl,  and  she  lived  in  the  home  of  her  sister 
until  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Piper  after  their 
marriage  lived  on  a place  south  of  their  present 
home,  and  since  the  fall  of  1885  have  had  their 
home  associations  in  one  spot,  and  from  that  home 
and  farm  have  radiated  many  influences  and  efforts 
that  have  been  of  benefit  to  the  community.  Mr. 
Piper  is  a stockholder  in  the  Sparta  State  Bank, 
in  the  Kimmell  State  Bank  and  in  the  Ligonier 
Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company.  He  is  a 
republican,  is  serving  as  township  assessor,  and  is 
a member  of  the  Township  Advisory  Board.  Mrs. 
Piper  is  a member  of  Stringtown  Christian  Church. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Wolf  Lake  and  with  Cromwell 
Lodge  of  Masons. 

They  have  two  children.  Ray,  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools,  married  Ethel  Humes  and  lives 
on  the  farm  with  his  father.  Jennie  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  H.  Galloway,  of  Sparta  Township. 

Andrew  J.  Rarer  is  one  of  the  quiet,  unassuming 
citizens  but  thoroughly  successful  farmer  in  Noble 
County.  He  has  acquired  by  dint  of  much  exertion 
and  long  continued  years  of  good  management  one 
of  the  good  farms  of  Orange  Township,  located 
south  of  Rome  City. 

He  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  in  June, 
1849,  son  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Dice)  Raber.  Both 
parents  were  born  in  Ohio,  the  mother  in  Trum- 
bull County.  After  their  marriage  in  that  state 
they  came  to  Indiana  in  1854  and  identified  them- 
selves with  the  new  community  of  Orange  Town- 
ship in  Noble  County.  Here  the  father  after  ten 
years  of  hard  work  in  making  a farm  passed  away 
in  1864  at  the  age  of  fifty.  His  widow  survived 
him  many  years  and  died  in  Minnesota  at  the  age 
of  ninety-two.  They  had  four  children:  Joel  D., 

of  California ; Andrew  J. ; Saloma,  widow  of  Carl 
Risch ; and  Amos  O.,  of  California. 

Andrew  J.  Raber  was  five  years  old  when  brought 
to  Noble  County,  and  his  memories  of  Orange 
Township  go  back  fully  fifty  years.  He  attended 
the  district  schools  of  those  days,  and  also  com- 
pleted a course  in  the  National  Normal  University 
at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  For  a time  he  was  a teacher, 
doing  his  first  work  in  that  line  in  LaGrange 
County  and  later  for  four  terms  conducted  a 
school  in  Noble  County.  With  that  exception  his 
career  has  been  that  of  a practical  and  progressive 
farmer.  March  29,  1877,  Mr.  Raber  married  Miss 
Clara  M.  Dyer.  After  their  marriage  they  rented 
for  several  years  in  Orange  Township,  and  by  hard 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


95 


work  and  careful  saving  then  negotiated  the  pur- 
chase of  sixty  acres.  Later  they  traded  this  for 
the  farm  where  they  now  live  and  which  contains 
eighty  acres  of  well  cultivated  land. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Raber  have  five  living  children : 
Schuyler  M.,  a graduate  of  the  Huntington  Business 
College  in  Indiana  and  now  a traveling  salesman 
with  headquarters  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan ; 
Henry  F.  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Huntington  Busi- 
ness College  and  is  now  manager  of  a business 
college  at  Huntington;  Leona  is  a graduate  of 
high  school,  was  formerly  a teacher,  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Grant  Burkett,  of  Rome  City;  Nellie 
and  Ronald  E.  are  both  unmarried.  Ronald  is  a 
graduate  of  high  school,  and  served  during  the 
war  in  the  United  States  Navy.  He  was  discharged 
in  June,  1919.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Rome  City.  Mr. 
Raber  is  a republican. 

Charles  Motsolf.  In  a period  of  about  fifty-five 
years  a tract  of  land  in  Salem  Township  has  under- 
gone great  transformation  and  improvement  under 
the  ownership  of  the  Motsolf  family.  Charles  Mot- 
solf was  onlty  an  infant  when  his  father  moved 
there,  and  under  his  ownership  he  has  carried  for- 
ward the  work  which  his  father  begun,  and  is  now- 
one  of  the  prosperous  and  well  circumstanced  citi- 
zens of  his  locality. 

Charles  Motsolf  was  born  at  Ontario  in  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  September  12,  1862,  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Noll)  Motsolf.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  a daughter  of  George 
and  Nancy  (Hall)  Noll.  George  Noll  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1796  and  came  to  Steuben  County 
in  1839,  living  on  a farm  in  section  11  of  Salem 
Township  until  his  death  in  1862.  The  Nolls  there- 
fore are  one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  Steuben 
County.  Jacob  Motsolf  was  born  in  Germany  and 
left  that  country  when  a young  man  in  1844.  He 
was  a cooper  by  trade  and  found  employment  in  a 
brewery  at  Cincinnati.  Later  he  moved  to  Steuben 
County  and  after  his  marriage  went  to  Ontario. 
His  wife  died  there  in  1864,  leaving  seven  children : 
Mary,  Debold,  Eva  Jane,  Peter,  Charles,  George 
and  Lennie.  Of  these  only  two  are  now  living, 
Mary  and  Charles. 

In  the  year  of  his  wife’s  death  Jacob  Motsolf 
brought  his  children  to  Steuben  County  and  bought 
the  farm  where  his  son  Charles  now  lives.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  he  owned  sixty-seven  and  a half 
acres.  He  had  begun  with  a log  house,  and  had 
cleared  up  and  put  in  cultivation  a considerable  part 
of  the  land. 

In  that  locality  Charles  Motsolf  grew  to  manhood 
and  after  his  education  went  to  work  helping  his 
father  and  eventually  succeeding  to  the  ownership  of 
the  homestead.  His  father  a short  time  before  his 
death  had  built  the  good  home  which  now  adorns 
the  farm,  and  Mr.  Motsolf  himself  has  added  a 
substantial  barn  to  the  improvements.  Politically  he 
is  independent  and  a member  of  the  Reformed  Luth- 
eran Church,  the  same  faith  which  his  father  prac- 
ticed. 

March  20,  1883,  he  married  Ida  Zimmerman,  of 
LaGrange  County,  daughter  of  Oliver  Zimmerman, 
formerly  of  Noble  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Motsolf 
have  one  daughter,  Effie,  born  February  5,  1885,  and 
now  the  wife  of  David  Ritter.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ritter- 
have  a daughter,  Opal,  born  May  22,  1907.  David 
Ritter  is  a son  of  David  Ritter  and  grandson  of 
Henry  Ritter  and  member  of  one  of  the  old  and 
prominent  pioneer  families  of  Steuben  County. 

Clement  G.  Routsong  is  proprietor  of  the  only 
dry  goods  store  at  Wolcottville,  and  has  been  a 


popular  and  successful  merchant  of  that  town  for 
many  years.  He  is  a thorough  business  man  and  has 
earned  the  trust  and  confidence  of  his  entire  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Routsong  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of 
Noble  County  September  13,  1874,  a son  of  Benja- 
min and  Julia  (Routsong)  Routzahn.  His  father 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  his  mother  in 
Noble  County,  Indiana.  Benjamin  came  to  Noble 
County  when  a young  man,  bought  a farm  in  Orange 
Township,  and  after  selling  it  moved  to  Elkhart 
Township  and  acquired  a place  near  Rome  City. 
His  last  days  were  spent  in  Rome  City,  where  his 
widow  is  still  living.  Both  were  active  members  of 
the  German  Lutheran  Church.  Benjamin  Routzahn 
was  a democrat  and  served  as  director  of  schools. 
Of  his  seven  children  the  following  brief  record  is 
given : Emory  E.,  now  retired  from  business  and 

spending  his  summers  in  New  Jersey  and  his  win- 
ters in  Florida;  Sadie,  wife  of  W.  A.  Hoke,  of 
Hammond,  Indiana ; Ella,  wife  of  Freemont  Col- 
dren,  of  Canton,  Ohio ; Clement  G. ; Rose,  wife  of 
W.  A.  Myrick,  of  Newport,  Arkansas;  Tilla,  wife  of 
Ned  Jennings,  of  Rome  City;  and  Oscar,  of  Ham- 
mond, Indiana. 

Clement  G.  Routsong  grew  up  at  his  father’s 
home  in  Noble  County  and  acquired  a good  prepara- 
tion for  his  business  career.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools,  and  finished  with  a business 
course  at  Fort  Wayne.  While  he  has  given  closest 
attention  to  his  business  affairs  Mr.  Routsong  has 
also  been  active  in  the  democratic  party.  He  received 
the  nomination  from  his  party  for  joint  state  sen- 
ator from  LaGrange,  Noble  and  Steuben  counties, 
but  that  year  the  democratic  ticket  was  defeated. 

Mr.  Routsong  married  Lura  De  Owen,  daughter 
of  M.  F.  Owen,  of  Rome  City,  where  she  was  edu- 
cated, being  a graduate  of  the  high  school.  They 
have  two  children,  Pauline  De,  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  now  attending  Defiance  College  in  Ohio ; 
and  Maxine  Jeannette,  a high  school  girl. 

Mr.  Routsong  is  affiliated  with  Ionic  Lodge  No. 
380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  is  a past  noble 
grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

John  H.  Wilson.  In  Washington  Township, 
Noble  County,  one  tract  of  land  and  farm  bears 
evidence  of  the  labors  and  occupation  of  three 
generations  of  the  Wilson  family.  John  H.  Wilson, 
of  the  third  generation,  is  still  living  on  a fine  farm 
that  was  entered  by  his  grandfather  direct  from 
the  Government.  The  Wilson  farm  is  six  miles 
south  of  Cromwell. 

His  _ grandfather  was  Thomas  H.  Wilson,  who 
came  into  the  county  in  pioneer  times  and  acquired 
379  acres.  He  built  a log  cabin  in  the  midst  of  the 
woods  and  for  many  years  was  busily  engaged  in 
making  a home.  All  his  efforts,  however,  were  not 
confined  to  his  farm,  since  he  was  one  of  the 
organizers  and  most  active  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children, 
all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

Thomas  J.  Wilson,  father  of  John  H.,  was  also 
born  on  the  Wilson  farm  in  Washington  Township. 
He  grew  up  there,  had  a common  school  education, 
and  spent  his  life  as  a practical  farmer.  He  died 
in  1892.  He  was  a democrat  and  served  one  term 
as  township  trustee.  He  married  Nancy  Rider,  and 
both  were  very  active  members  of  the  church.  Mrs. 
Thomas  J.  Wilson  is  still  living.  She  was  the 
mother  of  three  children,  one  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  two  survivors  are : John  H. ; and 

Stella,  wife  of  John  P.  Beasley,  and  they  still 
occupy  a part  of  the  old  Wilson  farm. 

John  H.  Wilson  was  born  at  his  present  home 


96 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  1862  and  has  spent  his  entire  life  in  that  one 
locality.  He  owns  239  acres,  and  in  addition  to 
his  extensive  farming  interests  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Sparta  State  Bank  and  in  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  at  North  Webster.  He  is  a democrat,  but 
has  never  taken  much  part  in  politics.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Church  of  God, 
and  he  is  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  church  at 
Wilmot. 

In  October,  1885,  Mr.  Wilson  married  Barbara 
A.  Huber.  She  was  born  in  Washington  Township 
March  29,  1865,  daughter  of  Tira  and  Nancy  E. 
(Black)  Huber,  the  former  a native  of  Virginia 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio 
and  were  early  settlers  in  Washington  Township 
of  Noble  County.  Mrs.  Wilson’s  parents  are  both 
now  deceased.  They  were  loyal  church  members, 
and  her  father  was  a Mason,  a democrat,  and  for 
many  years  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace. 
He  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  two  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  The  four  still  living  are : Lewis 

C.,  of  Ohio;  Nancy  E.,  wife  of  John  W.  Bouse; 
Barbara  A.,  Mrs.  Wilson;  and  Jennie  A.,  wife  of 
Bert  Himes.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  had  two  chil- 
dren, one  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  and  the  other, 
Mary  E.,  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 

Richard  Hlrrick  is  a native  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship, is  still  living  there,  a prosperous  and  energetic 
farmer,  and  for  nearly  forty  years  has  given  the 
best  of  his  energies  and  talents  to  his  duties  on 
the  farm  and  in  his  community. 

He  was  born  June  10,  1854,  son  of  W.  C.  and 
Lucy  (Avery)  Herrick.  His  father  was  born  in 
Armenia  Township  of  Dutchess  County,  New  York, 
January  1,  1812,  and  died  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  son  Richard  April  7,  1872.  His  wife  was 
born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  March  18, 
1813.  W.  C.  Herrick  was  a son  of  James  and  Abi- 
gail (Castle)  Herrick,  who  moved  from  Dutchess 
to  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  where  Abigail  died. 
In  1833  James  moved  west  to  Sandusky  County, 
Ohio,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  years  there.  W.  C. 
Herrick  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1840,  settling 
in  Otsego  Township,  on  a tract  of  government  land. 
Altogether  he  had  120  acres,  and  his  individual 
labors  cleared  away  the  woods  and  made  it  produc- 
tive. His  first  home  was  a log  house.  He  and  his 
wife  spent  their  last  years  there.  She  died  in 
1882.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics,  but  during 
Lincoln’s  time  became  converted  to  republicanism. 
His  three  children  were  Malinda,  Rufus  and  Rich- 
ard. 

Richard  Herrick  lived  at  home  with  his  parents 
to  the  age  of  twenty-four,  and  then  went  west 
and  spent  four  years  in  different  states  and  territo- 
ries. In  1881  he  returned  to  Steuben  County  and 
located  on  his  present  farm,  where  he  has  done 
much  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  land  and 
erect  new  buildings.  He  and  his  wife  together 
have  100  acres,  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  is  a raiser  of  Shorthorn  cattle. 
Mr.  Herrick  has  been  quite  active  in  republican 
politics,  though  never  a candidate  for  office  him- 
self. 

In  December,  1881,  he  married  Margaret  Ann 
Willenner.  She  was  born  in  Wood  County,  Ohio, 
in  1844,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Crumb) 
Willenner.  Her  parents  came  to  Otsego  Township 
about  1863,  and  spent  their  last  years  here.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Herrick  have  two  children.  Cordia  is 
the  wife  of  Earl  Allwood,  of  Edgerton,  Ohio,  and 
she  has  three  children,  named  Zeda,  Bernice  and 
Dorothy.  Rufus  Grant,  who  lives  at  Morley,  Michi- 


gan, married  Nettie  Halverson,  and  they  have  three 
sons,  named  Richard  M.,  Donaldson  and  Herbert. 

James  M.  Schlabach  is  a member  of  a prominent 
and  rather  numerous  family  that  has  been  identified 
with  Noble  County  for  over  half  a century.  He  has 
spent  many  years  of  his  life  as  a practical  and  pro- 
gressive farmer,  and  is  a stockman  of  good  repute, 
well  known  as  a horse  buyer.  His  home  is  in  Sparta 
Township,  in  section  33. 

Mr.  Schlabach  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April 
20,  1865,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  A.  (Young)  Schla- 
bach, both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  parents 
came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  1866,  locating  in 
Sparta  Township.  His  father  bought  forty  acres 
of  land  at  first  and  later  had  a farm  of  seventy 
acres.  He  was  for  two  years  a Union  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  but  was  always  a democrat  in  politics,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  in  Kimmel.  Henry  Schlabach  and  wife  had 
a large  family  of  ten  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
still  living,  namely:  Emma,  wife  of  Henry  Sparrow; 
John,  of  Goshen,  Indiana;  Samuel,  of  Kimmel; 
Sarah,  wife  of  Elmer  Williams,  of  Fort  Wayne; 
Ella,  wife  of  Stephenson  Schlantz,  of  Kimmell ; 
James  M. ; and  George,  of  Sparta  Township. 

James  M.  Schlabach  has  lived  in  Noble  County 
since  early  infancy,  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  attended  the  district  schools,  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty  started  out  to  make  his  own  living. 
For  several  years  he  worked  on  neighboring  farms 
at  monthly  wages.  January  23,  1886,  he  married 
Ida  A.  McFarren.  She  was  born  in  Wabash  County, 
Indiana,  and  had  a public  school  education.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Schlabach  have  had  two  children : Sylvia 

Schlabach,  who  was  born  October  28,  1886,  died 
August  24,  1888,  age  twenty-two  months.  Walter  E., 
born  April  1,  1895,  married  Minnie  Saltz  and  had  one 
daughter,  Alecia,  who  was  born  in  March,  1916,  and 
died  March  27,  1919. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlabach  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  and  in  politics  he  is  a republican. 
His  home  farm  comprises  fifty-four  acres. 

Monroe  Kemery,  owner  of  one  of  the  good  farms 
of  Salem  Township,  is  a member  of  an  old  and  well 
known  famly  of  Steuben  Township.  They  came 
to  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  more  than  sixty 
years  ago  and  have  been  participants  in  business 
and  public  affairs  as  well  as  in  agriculture. 

Monroe  Kemery  was  born  at  Angola  January  19, 
1869,  a son  of  Absalom  and  Rowena  (Robbins) 
Kemery,  and  grandson  of  Jacob  Kemery.  Jacob 
Kemery  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  died  in 
1838.  His  wife,  Mary  Loubert,  was  a native  of 
Germany.  Jacob  and  Mary  had  a family  of  six 
sons,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy,  one  killed  at  the 
battle  of  Jonesboro  in  the  Civil  war,  while  all  are 
now  gone.  One  of  them  was  Israel  Kemery,  long 
prominent  in  Angola  as  a landlord  and  also  one  of 
the  county  officials.  He  established  the  second  har- 
ness shop  at  Angola  in  1856. 

Absalom  Kemery  was  born  at  Lancaster,  Ohio, 
and  in  1855,  on  moving  to  Steuben  County,  settled 
on  a farm  3J4  miles  northeast  of  Angola  in  Pleas- 
ant Township.  About  i860  he  left  the  farm  and 
moved  to  Angola,  and  in  1861  enlisted  in  the  Fourth 
Michigan  Infantry.  He  was  in  service  one  year  and 
was  then  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  After 
the  war  he  farmed  until  about  1872,  and  from  that 
time  until  his  death  lived  on  a small  place  about 
a mile  north  of  Angola.  He  died  in  January,  1919, 
and  his  wife  in  May,  1916.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children : Monroe,  Carl,  Lettie  and  Ernest  D. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


97 


Absalom  Kemery  was  affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic. 

Monroe  Kemery  attended  school  at  Angola  and 
when  a young  man  went  to  work  in  the  sawmill 
of  Croxton  & Butz.  He  was  with  that  firm  for 
twelve  years.  Since  then  his  activities  have  been 
directed  to  agriculture.  In  1904  he  bought  forty 
acres  of  section  24,  Salem  Township,  and  in  1909 
sold  that  and  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  23. 
He  has  improved  his  farm  with  good  buildings, 
and  is  making  steady  progress  toward  independence 
and  prosperity.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1889  Mr.  Kemery  married  Olive  Huffman, 
daughter  of  Wilson  and  Maggie  Huffman.  They 
have  two  children,  Odessa  and  Wilson.  Odessa  by 
her  marriage  to  Arch  Parker  has  two  children, 
Monroe  and  Ulamda.  Her  second  husband  is  Noah 
Angemyer. 

Emmet  W.  Black  is  a member  of  one  of  the  best 
known  families  of  Noble  County,  and  his  own 
efforts  and  enterprise  have  been  chiefly  directed 
along  the  lines  of  farming  and  today  he  is  pro- 
prietor of  what  is  known  as  the  Old  Home  Farm, 
comprising  156  acres  located  three  miles  southwest 
of  Albion  in  York  Township.  Besides  the  home 
farm  he  also  has  a tract  of  sixty-two  acres  in  the 
same  township.  This  gives  him  all  the  land  that 
he  can  handle,  and  he  has  kept  this  farm  producing 
maximum  crops  for  a number  of  years. 

Mr.  Black  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Noble 
County  but  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 14,  1862.  His  father,  J.  W.  Black,  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio.  His  mother,  Matilda  M. 
Tyler,  was  born  in  Michigan.  They  were  married 
in  Ohio  and  in  1866  came  to  Noble  County  and 
located  five  miles  southwest  of  Albion,  on  the  land 
now  owned  by  their  son  Emmet.  J.  W.  Black  was 
one  of  the  diligent  pioneers,  a hard-working  farmer, 
and  spent  many  useful  years  on  the  farm  where  his 
son  now  lives.  He  was  a republican  and  for  six 
years  served  as  assessor  of  York  Township.  In 
the  family  were  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living:  John  W.,  of  Canton,  Ohio;  Emmet 

W. ; Charles,  of  Noble  County;  Calvin,  of  York 
Township;  and  Jennie,  wife  of  David  Young. 

Emmet  W.  Black  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  After 
reaching  his  majority  he  bought  ninety  acres  and 
farmed  that  for  several  years,  finally  selling  it  and 
buying  the  old  home  farm. 

April  19,  1894,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Blackman, 
daughter  of  Sylvester  Blackman.  Mrs.  Black  was 
reared  on  the  old  Blackman  farm  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  common  schools.  They  have  three  daughters : 
Gladys,  who  has  taken  one  year  in  high  school, 
and  Alma  and  Mary,  both  graduates  of  the  common 
schools.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  Mr.  Black  is  a trustee.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Albion  and 
in  politics  is  a republican.  Besides  his  extensive 
farming  interests  he  is  a stockholder  in  the  Albion 
Grist  Mill. 

Virgil  S.  Goodsell.  There  is  no  difficulty  in 
identifying  Virgil  S.  Goodsell  as  a resident  of  Mil- 
ford Township,  LaGrange  County.  He  has  been 
a public  official,  a live  business  man,  a farmer,  and 
altogether  associated  with  the  best  interests  of  the 
community  for  many  years.  He  is  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  Cannon  & Goodsell  Lumber  Com- 
pany at  South  Milford,  and  has  recently  closed 
a splendid  term  as  township  trustee. 

He  was  born  in  Milford  Township  October  18, 

Vol.  II— 7 


1872,  a son  of  William  M.  and  Catherine  (Stoehr) 
Goodsell.  His  father  was  born  in  Milford  Town- 
ship in  December,  1840,  and  his  mother  was  also  a 
native  of  LaGrange  County.  Both  are  still  living 
in  Milford  Township.  The  father  is  a democrat 
in  politics.  There  were  six  children  in  the  family, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Augusta,  wife  of 

Frank  Cochran;  Treat  M.,  deceased;  Virgil  S. ; 
Nellie  G.,  wife  of  A.  E.  Fraas;  one  that  died  in 
infancy;  and  Clara,  wife  of  O.  P.  Newnam,  of 
Milford  Township. 

Virgil  S.  Goodsell  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
is  a graduate  of  the  district  schools,  and  so  far  has 
been  content  with  the  status  of  a bachelor.  He 
operates  the  old  homestead,  known  as  the  Wigwam 
Farm,  comprising  140  acres,  situated  five  miles 
north  and  one  mile  east  of  South  Milford.  This 
farm  is  well  known  for  its  livestock,  especially  its 
thoroughbred  Red  Polled  cattle.  The  Goodsells 
have  produced  some  of  the  finest  animals  of  this 
class,  and  their  private  sales  are  largely  attended. 

Mr.  Goodsell  is  affiliated  with  South  Milford 
Lodge  No.  619,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  also  a member  of  the  Encampment.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a democrat.  He  is  a former  secretary 
of  the  Mercantile  Association  of  Mount  Pisgalia, 
the  oldest  association  of  its  kind  in  the  United 
States.  This  is  a co-operative  farmers’  club  or 
association  and  handles  a general  stock  of  mer- 
chandise. Mr.  Goodsell  was  elected  trustee  of  Mil- 
ford Township  in  November,  1914,  and  closed  up  his 
term  of  office  January  1,  1919.  Many  commenda- 
tions have  been  paid  his  record  as  trustee,  and  all 
of  them  have  been  deserved.  The  accountants  ap- 
proved his  books  without  a flaw,  and  he  was  espe- 
cially successful  in  keeping  up  the  schools  of  the 
township  to  a high  standard  and  paid  higher  wages 
than  many  other  townships  in  this  part  of  the 
state. 

Alva  Hite.  For  over  fifty  years  Alva  Hite  has 
been  numbered  among  the  best  and  most  useful 
citizens  of  Perry  Township  in  Noble  County.  With 
the  exception  of  four  years  he  has  lived  all  his  life 
on  one  farm,  which  is  located  five  and  a half  miles 
northwest  of  Ligonier. 

He  was  born  there  January  13,  1867,  son  of 
Thomas  W.  and  Harriet  (Teaford)  Hite.  His 
father  was  born  in  Jay  County,  Indiana,  March  31, 
1839.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  serving 
nine  months.  Both  families  moved  to  Noble  County 
in  early  days,  and  Thomas  and  Harriet  were  married 
there  and  then  located  on  the  land  now  contained 
in  farm  of  their  son  Alva.  Thomas  Hite  was  a man 
of  much  enterprise,  good  business  judgment,  and 
acquired  214  acres.  He  also  earned  a great  wealth 
of  community  esteem,  was  an  active  republican,  and 
a liberal  supporter  of  the  church.  He  and  his  wife 
had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Nelson,  of  Perry  Township;  Alva;  Clara  B.,  wife 
of  Frank  Baker,  of  Detroit;  Laura  M.,  wife  of  Har- 
vey Hartzler;  Luella,  wife  of  Robert  Cooper,  of 
Albion ; Bessie,  wife  of  Harry  Pincheon,  of  Al- 
bion; Nona,  wife  of  John  Baker,  of  Ligonier;  J. 
C.,  of  Ligonier ; and  Homer,  a farmer  in  Perry 
Township. 

Alva  Hite  attended  the  district  schools  during  his 
youth  and  learned  all  the  principles  of  good  farming 
during  the  lifetime  of  his  father.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-four  he  married  Cora  Crockett.  She  died 
in  July,  1897,  mother  of  one  child,  Faye,  who  was 
born  March  28,  1897,  and  is  now  a clerk  in  the 
Stansberry  store  at  Ligonier.  Mr.  Hite  married 
for  his  second  wife  Inez  A.  Milner.  They  have  five 
children : Anna,  attending  high  school.  Dean,  Dora, 


98 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Thomas  and  Robert,  all  of  whom  are  living  except 
Robert.  The  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Mr.  Hite  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. While  he  had  as  a start  toward  an  independent 
career  a capital  of  about  two  thousand  dollars,  he 
has  earned  and  made  all  the  rest  of  his  prosperity. 
He  owns  the  old  homestead  of  134  acres  and  also 
thirty-nine  acres  in  LaGrange  County.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  Ligonier  Elevator  Company  and 
was  a member  of  the  Township  Advisory  Board 
when  the  township  graded  school  was  built. 

Jasper  B.  Gerkin  is  a representative  of  one  of 
the  old  and  substantial  families  of  Washington 
Township  in  Noble  County,  and  has  spent  practically 
all  his  life  there.  He  owns  a good  farm  and  is  a 
man  of  most  substantial  citizenship.  His  home  is  in 
section  4 of  Washington  Township,  five  miles 
southeast  of  Cromwell. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  the  same 
county  in  November,  1853,  a son  of  Harmon  and 
Mary  (Beamblossom)  Gerkin.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States 
when  a young  man,  locating  in  Ohio,  where  he 
married,  his  wife  being  a native  of  that  state.  They 
then  came  to  Noble  County  and  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days  in  Sparta  Township,  living  in  different 
localities  there.  Harmon  Gerkin  was  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Broadway  Christian  Church.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  again  and  had 
five  children  by  that  union.  By  his  first  marriage 
there  were  four  children,  and  the  three  still  living 
are : Sarah,  wife  of  George  Gunder,  of  Albion, 

Indiana;  William,  of  Texas;  and  Jasper  B. 

Jasper  B.  Gerkin  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Sparta  Township,  attended  district  school  there, 
and  since  early  manhood,  a period  of  nearly  fifty 
years,  he  has  been  closely  identified  with  the  farm- 
ing interests  of  that  county.  He  is  a general  farmer 
and  stock  raiser,  still  giving  active  management  to 
his  farm  of  ninety  acres. 

Mr.  Gerkin  married  Cecelia  Knappe.  She  is  a 
member  of  the  old  and  prominent  Knappe  family  of 
Washington  Township  and  was  born  in  Branchville, 
New  Jersey,  April  4,  1848,  coming  to  Noble  County 
with  her  parents  in  the  spring  of  1850.  Mrs.  Gerkin 
was  well  educated,  and  like  her  brothers  taught 
school  in  this  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gerkin  had 
only  one  child,  who  died  in  infancy.  They  are 
prominent  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  and 
Mr.  Gerkin  is  one  of  the  trustees  and  his  wife  clerk 
of  the  church.  He  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated 
with  Cromwell  Lodge  No.  4°8>  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Charles  Hagerty  is  the  business  partner  and  as- 
sociate of  his  brother  Emmet  B.  Hagerty  in  the 
mercantile  firm  of  Hagerty  Brothers  at  Scott.  Both 
brothers  are  veteran  merchants,  and  Charles  Hagerty 
in  early  life  had  much  practical  experience  as  a 
farmer. 

He  was  born  at  Scott  in  Van  Buren  Township 
June  28,  1858,  a son  of  James  and  Amanda  (Bond) 
Hagerty.  He  attended  public  school  at  Scott  and 
in  early  manhood  began  farming  in  his  native  town- 
ship. In  1887  he  bought  the  interest  of  Charles 
Munger,  then  associated  with  his  brother  Emmet, 
and  has  since  been  an  active  partner  in  the  firm  of 
Hagerty  Brothers. 

Mr.  Hagerty  married  Clara  L.  Moak  on  January 
11,  1881.  She  is  a daughter  of  Peter  and  Lovica 
(Satchel)  Moak.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hagerty  have  a 
family  of  five  children : Ethel,  wife  of  Henry 

Ringler  and  mother  of  Oriel ; Loa  L.,  who  was  mar- 
ried to  Fred  Walton,  and  they  have  a daughter, 
Frances;  Harold,  who  married  Elizabeth  Eash; 


Dewey;  and  Wreta.  Harold  enlisted  December  n, 

1917,  in  Company  Eighteen,  Second  Regiment,  Air 
Service  Mechanics,  and  left  for  overseas  March  4, 

1918.  He  saw  service  in  France  fourteen  months, 
being  discharged  June  n,  1919.  He  was  married 
after  coming  back  from  the  war. 

Ferm  Bowman.  Of  one  of  the  most  important 
institutions  in  the  county,  the  Noble  County  In- 
firmary, Ferm  Bowman  is  by  virtue  of  appointment 
from  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  superin- 
tendent. He  is  a young  man  of  many  qualifications 
for  the  office  and  his  administration  has  already 
been  productive  of  many  of  the  results  which  his 
friends  predicted. 

Mr.  Bowman  was  born  in  York  Township  of 
Noble  County  September  28,  1879,  son  of  Ream  and 
Alvira  (Saltzgaber)  Bowman.  His  father  is  still 
living  in  Fort  Wayne.  Mr.  Bowman  was  only  eight 
months  old  when  his  mother  died,  and  he  grew  up 
at  the  home  of  his  maternal  grandfather  in  York 
Township.  He  had  an  education  in  the  common 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  left  home 
and  since  then  has  been  making  his  own  way  in  the 
world,  dependent  entirely  upon  his  own  efforts. 

In  January,  1913,  he  married  Nora  Jones,  of 
Wayne  Township,  daughter  of  Edward  Jones  of 
Rome  City.  They  have  three  children : Bulah, 

Karl  and  Merton.  Mr.  Bowman  is  a republican  in 
politics  and  was  appointed  superintendent  of  the 
County  Infirmary  on  January  1,  1918.  He  took  up 
his  duties  March  1st  of  the  same  year,  and  holds 
the  office  for  a period  of  four  years.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  before  entering  upon  his  present  duties 
he  farmed  in  Allen  Township. 

Minor  S.  Perkins  is  one  of  four  brothers  who 
are  well  known  in  the  business,  agricultural  and 
civic  life  of  LaGrange  County.  Minor  S.  has  a 
well  improved  and  valuable  farm  a mile  west  of 
Stroh. 

He  was  born  in  Milford  Township  August  14, 
1874,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Emma  (Mains)  Per- 
kins. Some  of  the  interesting  particulars  in  this 
old  and  well  known  family  are  found  on  other 
pages.  Minor  Perkins  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
located  a mile  south  of  where  he  now  lives,  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  and  in  1903  married  Etta 
Ringler.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  In- 
diana, and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
Since  his  marriage  Mr.  Perkins  has  lived  on  his 
present  farm  and  has  cultivated  and  improved  it  so 
as  to  win  a livelihood  and  constantly  increase  its 
value.  In  1911  he  built  a modern  home,  one  of 
the  best  in  the  township. 

Mr._  and  Mrs.  Perkins  have  two  children:  Bertha, 
born  in  1905,  and  Floyd,  born  in  1907.  Mr.  Perkins 
is  affiliated  with  Philo  Lodge  of  Masons  and  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

Like  his  brothers  he  has  been  prospered  in  busi- 
ness affairs.  He  is  a member  of  the  firm  Perkins 
Brothers,  owners  of  the  Stroh  Grain  Company  at 
Stroh.  Individually  he  owns  a half  section  of  land 
and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  at  Stroh. 

John  M.  Weimer,  whose  farm  home  is  two  miles 
north  and  one  mile  east  of  Avilla  in  Noble  County, 
is  an  example  of  those  straight  thinking,  upright 
and  hard  working  Americans  who  begin  life  with  no 
special  advantages,  without  capital,  and  who  by  an 
unlimited  expenditure  of  labor,  thrift  and  intelli- 
gence win  good  homes  and  independence. 

Mr.  Weimer  was  born  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble 
County,  July  29,  1857,  and  has  lived  in  that  locality 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


99 


practically  sixty  years.  His  parents  were  Adam 
and  May  (Hess)  Weimer,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
They  came  with  their  respective  families  to  the 
United  States  on  the  same  vessel  in  1848.  Adam 
Weimer  located  at  Toledo,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade,  was  also  employed  in  the  same  line  at  Fort 
Wayne,  and  afterward  married  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  and  located  on  a farm  near  Avilla,  where 
he  spent  his  last  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Lutheran  church  and  he  was  a democrat. 
Of  eight  children  six  are  still  living:  John  M., 

Adam,  Charles  J.  and  Henry  P.,  all  farmers  in 
Allen  Township,  Elizabeth,  unmarried,  and  Paul, 
also  in  Allen  Township. 

John  M.  Weimer  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  as  a youth  started 
to  learn  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  acquired  much 
skill  in  that  line,  and  worked  not  only  as  a journey- 
man but  also  took  individual  contracts  and  followed 
the  business  for  about  thirty  years.  During  that 
time  he  built  a large  number  of  barns  and  other 
structures  throughout  Noble  County.  From  the  age 
of  eighteen  until  he  reached  his  majority  ML 
Weimer  gave  all  his  wages  to  his  parents,  and  then 
started  out  even  with  the  world  to  win  his  own 
fortune.  He  has  had  the  cooperation  of  his  good 
wife  through  all  the  years,  and  they  have  secured 
and  developed  a valuable  farfn  of  eighty  acres,  rep- 
resenting to  them  a good  home  and  also  an  invest- 
ment for  their  future  years.  Mr.  Weimer  has  the 
farm  well  stocked. 

January  1,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Susanna  Diehm. 
She  was  born  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  One  son 
was  born  to  their  marriage,  Carl  G.,  born  March  10, 
1890.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
for  five  years  was  a mail  clerk  in  the  United  States 
Railway  postoffice,  having  a run  on  the  Wabash 
Railroad.  He  left  that  service  to  enter  the  army 
and  remained  with  the  colors  until  recently,  now 
being  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weimer  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  in  politics  he  is  a 
democrat. 

Thomas  Curtis  is  one  of  the  men  who  are  carry- 
ing some  of  the  active  burdens  of  farming  and 
animal  husbandry  in  Lima  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  he  has  been  a factor  in  that  com- 
munity for  nearly  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  born  at  London,  England,  De- 
cember 19,  1871,  and  was  only  a few  weeks  old 
when  his  parents,  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Curtis, 
located  in  LaGrange  County  in  February,  1872.  He 
grew  up  at  Howe,  attended  the  grammar  schools 
there  and  also  the  high  school,  and  from  early 
manhood  has  been  identified  with  farming  as  his 
vocation.  He  bought  his  present  farm  in  Lima 
Township,  consisting  of  ninety-six  acres,  in  1906.  It 
was  well  improved  land  but  he  has  remodeled  the 
house  and  barn  and  added  a silo,  and  is  doing  a 
prosperous  business  as  a general  farmer  and  stock- 
ra'iser.  Mr.  Curtis  is  a republican  and  a member  of 
the  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1897  he  married  Miss  Ada  Abey,  of  Van  Buren 
Township,  daughter  of  Jacob  Abey.  She  was  reared 
in  the  home  of  her  grandfather,  Jacob  Abey.  Mr. 
Curtis  died  in  1910,  at  the  age  of  thirty-three.  She 
left  one  son,  Leland  H.  J.,  born  in  October,  1898. 
He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  high 
school  at  Howe,  and  is  still  at  home  with  his 
father. 

Rufus  C.  Fuller  is  a native  of  Noble  County, 
has  had  a busy  and  useful  life  as  a farmer,  and 
today  owns  one  of  the  good  farms  of  Washington 


Township,  located  in  section  1,  three  miles  west  of 
Wolf  Lake. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  October  15,  1861, 
son  of  Cornelius  and  Mary  (Grimes)  Fuller,  both 
natives  of  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  they  located 
in  York  Township  of  Noble  County  and  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days  in  that  county.  Cornelius  Fuller 
was  a carpenter  and  contractor,  and  built  many 
houses  and  other  structures  that  still  stand  to  attest 
his_  skill.  His  wife  was  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  Their  children  were  named 
Melissa,  Jacob,  Samantha,  Amanda  and  Rufus. 

Rufus  C.  Fuller  lived  in  York  Township  until  he 
was  six  years  old,  when  his  parents  removed  to 
Noble  Township,  and  since  coming  of  age  he  has 
given  his  years  to  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  His 
present  farm  comprises  120  acres,  and  it  is  well 
equipped  and  well  stocked  and  represents  a com- 
fortable competence. 

Mr.  Fuller  married  May  Richmond,  who  was 
born  at  Wolf  Lake  November  23,  1866,  daughter 
of  William  and  Lete.cia  A.  (Bethel)  Richmond. 
Her  parents  were  born  in  Ohio,  were  married  at 
Wolf  Lake,  and  her  father  was  well  known  as  a 
teacher,  carpenter,  contractor  and  farmer.  Mrs. 
Fuller  was  reared  on  a farm,  and  attended  school 
m Wolf  Lake,  Ligonier  and  Spring  Hill.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fuller  had  five  children:  Bird,  now  deceased; 
Gertrude,  wife  of  Roy  Salmon;  Letecia,  wife  of 
Don  Braden;  Ralph,  a farmer;  and  Schuyler.  Mr. 
Fuller  is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  at  Kimmell  and  in  politics  is  a re- 
publican. 

Sherman  Morris.  One  of  the  oldest  and  most  val- 
ued farm  homes  in  Sparta  Township  is  that  of 
Sherman  Morris,  comprising  240  acres  of  rich  and 
well  cultivated  soil  which  has  been  in  the  owner- 
ship of  the  Morris  family  since  pioneer  days.  Sher- 
man Morris  was  born  on  this  farm  July  15,  1868,  has 
lived  there  all  his  life  and  has  been  a man  of  public 
affairs  as  well  as  a capable  farmer. 

His  father,  Andrew  Morris,  was  born  in  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  November  6,  1828,  and  when  ten 
years  old,  in  1838,  the  family  moved  to  Kosciusko 
County,  Indiana,  and  entered  government  land  in 
Turkey  Creek  Township.  The  grandfather  spent 
the  rest  of  his  days  there.  Andrew  Morris  mar- 
ried at  Pleasantville,  Indiana,  March  17,  1859,  La- 
vina  Morrow,  whose  family  were  among  the  first 
pioneers  of  Noble  County.  She  was  born  in  Perry 
Township  of  that  county  in  1836,  and  died  Jan- 
uary 20,  1917.  Andrew  Morris  and  wife  after 
their  marriage  settled  in  Sparta  Township  and 
spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there.  His  wife  was 
a member  of  the  Universalist  Church,  and  he  was 
a liberal  supporter  of  that  cause.  He  was  very 
active  and  prominent  as  a republican  and  for  three 
years  was  a member  of  the  County  Board  of  Com- 
missioners and  also  assessor  of  Sparta  Township 
There  were  four  children  in  the  family:  John  C., 

of  Sparta  Township;  Jennie,  wife  of  J.  F.  Eagles; 
Sherman;  and  Manford,  of  Turkey  Creek  Town- 
ship. 

Sherman  Morris  received  a common  school  edu- 
cation, and  for  thirty  years  applied  himself  to  the 
practical  business  of  farming  the  old  homestead. 
He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Trust  Company  at  Ligonier. 

On  November  10,  1898,  he  married  Rena  Buchtel, 
who  was  born  in  Perry  Townshio  of  Noble  County 
January  27,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Morris  have  no 
children  of  their  own  but  are  rearing  a daughter, 
Pauline  Knapp,  who  was  born  March  29,  1905,  and 


100 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


is  now  attending  the  public  schools.  Mr.  Morris 
is  affiliated  with  Cromwell  Lodge  No.  729,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  is  past  chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  and  has  been  a member 
of  the  Grand  Lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 
During  his  four  years’  term  as  trustee  of  Sparta 
Township  he  made  a creditable  record,  and  handled 
all  the  affairs  entrusted  to  him,  particularly  the 
schools,  in  a way  to  satisfy  the  wishes  and  desires 
of  a great  majority  of  the  people  of  the  township. 

William  Pieper  has  for  many  years  been  one  of 
the  most  industrious  and  capable  farmer  citizens  of 
Noble  County.  His  life  has  been  productive  in  many 
ways,  and  among  men  in  whom  the  people  have  con- 
fidence and  who  carry  into  private  and  public  life 
every  mark  of  esteem  perhaps  no  one  is  better 
known  than  Mr.  Pieper,  whp  has  been  successful 
as  a farmer  and  has  held  many  of  the  offices  of  trust 
in  his  county. 

He  was  born  in  Westphalia,  Germany,  November 
IS,  1847,  son  of  Casper  and  Elizabeth  (Simon) 
Pieper.  His  mother  died  in  Germany,  and  his  father 
spent  his  last  years  in  the  United  States.  William 
Pieper  grew  up  in  his  native  land  and  lived  there 
to  the  age  of  twenty.  His  education  was  the  result 
of  attending  the  common  schools  to  the  age  of  six- 
teen. After  that  he  spent  four  years  selling  hard- 
ware on  the  road  during  the  winter  seasons  and 
helping  his  father  on  the  farm  in  summer.  He  pur- 
sued this  business  so  energetically  that  he  was  able 
to  accumulate  about  $1,000. 

With  this  capital,  which  made  him  a rather 
wealthy  immigrant,  he  started  on  August  5,  1868, 
for  his  future  home  in  the  United  States.  He  was 
nineteen  days  on  the  ocean  and  landed  at  Baltimore 
October  5,  1868,  and  soon  afterward  arrived  in  Ken- 
dallville  and  from  there  went  to  Avilla,  in  which 
locality  he  has  lived  now  for  half  a century.  The 
first  three  months  he  was  employed  as  a farm  la- 
borer, and  then  bought  eighty  acres  three  miles 
northeast  of  Avilla.  There  he  built  his  first  home 
in  the  county,  and  two  years  later  he  married  Miss 
Rosa  Vogeding.  She  was  born  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pieper  lived  on  their  farm  near  Avilla 
for  forty-four  years,  and  then  moved  to  his  present 
place,  where  he  has  160  acres  in  Allen  Township 
and  also  owns  a business  house  in  Avilla. 

Mrs.  Pieper  died  September  7,  1917,  after  thirty- 
five  years  of  married  companionship.  Five  of  her 
children  are  still  living:  Henry  E.,  who  graduated 

from  Valparaiso  College,  taught  in  Noble  County 
and  for  seven  years  was  a teacher  in  the  Philip- 
pines, and  is  now  a teacher  of  Spanish  at  Valparaiso ; 
Frank  J.,  who  is  a hay  inspector  with  the  United 
States  government  at  Toledo,  Ohio;  William,  now 
living  at  Washburn,  Wisconsin;  Charles  J.,  a grad- 
uate of  high  school  and  of  Wabash  College,  was  for 
four  years  a teacher  in  the  University  School  at 
Chicago  Heights  and  is  now  a chemist  in  Govern- 
ment service  at  Washington;  and  Lillie,  a graduate 
of  the  Kendallville  High  School  and  keeping  up  the 
home  for  her  father.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pieper  also  took 
into  their  household  an  adopted  child,  Hilda  Heck- 
man. 

Mr.  Pieper  and  family  are  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic Church  at  Avilla.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics. 
In  1884  he  was  elected  trustee  of  Allen  Township, 
and  gave  a competent  direction  to  his  official  affairs 
for  six  years.  He  was  elected  a member  of  the 
County  Council  and  served  four  years.  For  nine 
years,  three  successive  terms,  he  was  a county  com- 
missioner of  the  Middle  District  of  Noble  County. 

Amos  C.  Schrock  is  trustee  of  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship in  LaGrange  County,  and  the  good  work  he 


is  doing  in  that  office  is  what  was  anticipated  by 
his  fellow  citizens,  who  have  long  known  him  as  a 
practical  farmer  and  business  man  identified  with 
every  movement  in  the  community  for  advancement 
and  progress. 

Mr.  Schrock  lives  today  on  a farm  where  he 
was  born  December  12,  1873.  He  is  a son  of  Cor- 
nelius Schrock,  who  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  in  1830,  and  a grandson  of  Peter  and  Fannie 
(Plank)  Schrock,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Peter 
Schrock  settled  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  in  1842, 
and  lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  children 
were  John,  Abraham,  Rachel,  Mary,  Peter,  David, 
Joseph  and  Cornelius.  Cornelius  Schrock  married 
Magdalena  Bontrager,  who  was  born  in  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  June  11,  1832,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Martha  Bontrager.  In  1871  Cornelius 
Schrock  bought  the  farm  in  Van  Buren  Township 
now  owned  by  his  son,  and  was  busy  with  its  care 
and  superintendence  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  owned 
eighty  acres.  His  death  occurred  January  27,  1913. 
He  and  his  wife  had  a large  family  of  children, 
named  Peter,  Cyrus,  Joseph,  Anna,  Daniel,  Isaac, 
John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  Henry,  Eli, 
who  died  when  two  years  old,  Christ,  David,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  Amos  and  Andrew, 
who  died  in  childhood. 

Amos  Schrock  acquired  a district  school  education 
in  Van  Buren  Township  and  when  sixteen  left  home 
and  began  earning  his  living  as  a monthly  laborer. 
He  followed  this  line  of  employment  until  he  was 
twenty-three  years  of  age.  In  1893  Mr.  Schrock 
left  Indiana,  spent  one  year  in  Nebraska,  and  after 
that  lived  in  Kansas  until  1900.  He  then  returned  to 
Van  Buren  Township  and  in  1902  bought  the  home- 
stead of  eighty  acres  in  section  33.  He  also  owns 
thirty-one  acres  in  Newbury  Township. 

Mr.  Schrock  married  Laura  Marhofer  April  4, 
1898.  She  is  a daughter  of  Valentine  Marhofer,  of 
Greenwood  County,  Kansas.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  three  children : Marion  V.,  a student  in 

the  Indiana  State  University;  Jesse  E.,  and  Glendon 
L.  Mr.  Schrock  was  elected  and  began  his  duties 
as  township  trustee  in  January,  1919.  During  the 
four  preceding  years  from  January,  1915,  he  held 
the  office  of  township  assessor. 

Alvin  R.  Roush.  This  is  a family  name  that  has 
been  identified  with  the  good  citizenship  and  agri- 
cultural activities  of  Washington  Township  in  Noble 
County  for  a great  many  years.  Alvin  R.  Roush  is 
one  of  the  younger  members  of  the  family  and  has 
had  a successful  career  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser. 

His  farm  of  eighty  acres  is  in  section  19,  and  is 
the  same  farm  where  he  was  born  in  August,  1882. 
His  parents  were  Alfred  and  Elizabeth  (Rider) 
Roush.  His  father  was  a native  of  Ohio.  His 
mother  was  born  in  October,  1849,  on  the  same  farm 
where  she  now  lives  with  her  children.  Her  father, 
Jacob  Rider,  was  a pioneer  in  this  section  of  In- 
diana, entered  government  land,  and  was  long 
known  for  his  upright  and  honest  character.  He 
had  learned  the  miller’s  trade  in  Pennsylvania,  be- 
ginning when  he  was  sixteen  years  old  and  after 
he  came  to  Indiana  he  built  and  for  many  years 
operated  what  was  known  as  Rider’s  Mills.  He  was 
a democrat  in  politics.  Jacob  Rider  lived  to  the 
age  of  ninety-four.  Of  his  seven  children  only  two 
are  now  living:  Mrs.  James  Wilson  and  Mrs. 

Alfred  Roush.  Alfred  Roush  during  the  high  tide 
of  his  activity  as  a farmer  conducted  and  operated 
250  acres  of  land.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  nine  chil- 
dren, and  the  four  now  living  are : Harry,  who  is 

unmarried  and  lives  with  his  mother ; Alvin  R. ; 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


101 


Nettie,  a high  school  graduate  and  a former  teacher, 
now  the  wife  of  A.  D.  Wilkinson  of  Whitley 
County,  Indiana;  and  R.  W.,  a resident  of  >i?orth 
Webster,  Indiana. 

Alvin  R.  Roush  spent  his  entire  life  on  the  old 
farm.  He  was  well  educated,  first  in  the  district 
schools,  later  in  high  school  for  one  year,  and  he 
also  attended  college  at  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  and 
at  Angola,  Indiana.  On  May  9,  1903,  he  married 
Orra  Seymour,  who  was  born  in  Noble  Township 
and  County  June  7,  1881,  and  is  a graduate  of  the 
Wolf  Lake  High  School,  after  which  she  taught  for 
five  years,  until  her  marriage.  She  is  a daughter 
of  George  and  Lydia  (Howenstine)  Seymour,  of 
Wolf  Lake.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roush  have  lived  on 
their  present  farm  since  their  marriage  and  have 
been  steadily  prospered,  and  already  have  sur- 
rounded themselves  with  all  the  circumstances  of 
prosperous  people,  including  a family  of  four  bright 
young  children.  These  children  are:  Francis,  born 

October  19,  1904,  now  a student  in  high  school; 
Alfreda,  born  in  September,  1907;  Thomas,  born  in 
January,  1909;  and  Georgie  E.,  born  in  December, 
1910.  Mr.  Roush  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Cromwell  and  is  a democrat. 

Keep  Lemmon.  Several  pages  of  this  publication 
are  given  over  to  tracing  the  conspicuous  facts  in 
the  record  of  the  Lemmon  family  in  Steuben 
County.  In  all  their  varied  relations  and  long  resi- 
dence here  they  have  proved  themselves  stalwart 
and  worthy  citizens,  good  farmers,  good  neigh- 
bors, and  people  of  the  utmost  worth  and  value. 
They  are  one  of  the  oldest  families,  and  many  of 
them  have  intermarried  with  other  old  families. 

One  of  the  younger  generation  is  Keep  Lemmon, 
a prominent  farmer  of  Otsego  Township.  He  was 
born  in  that  township.  May  19,  1869,  a son  of  Brace 
and  Dill  (Crain)  Lemmon  and  a grandson  of  Mor- 
ris and  Lucinda  (Rathburn)  Lemmon,  who  were 
the  founders  of  the  family  in  Northeast  Indiana. 
Brace  Lemmon  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
in  1845,  had  a common  school  education  and  after 
his  marriage,  which  was  celebrated  in  DeKalb 
County,  settled  on  a farm  now  owned  by  Earl  Lem- 
mon. He  cleared  up  much  of  that  land  and  re- 
peated that  process  with  two  other  tracts  of  land. 
About  T889  he  moved  to  the  place  now  owned  by 
his  son  Keep  Lemmon,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  in  January,  1918.  His  first  wife  died  in 
1875,  leaving  two  children,,  Lucinda  and  Keep. 
Brace  Lemmon  married  for  his  second  wife  Diana 
Quick.  They  had  four  children : Lee,  wife  of 
Lewis  Wallberry,  a son  of  George  H.  Wallberry, 
the  old  soldier  and  well  known  citizen  of  Otsego 
Township;  Bell,  wife  of  Joseph  Sewell;  Phena, 
wife  of  Lafayette  Wells;  and  Edna,  wife  of  Glenn 
Greenwood.  Grace  Lemmon  was  a republican  and 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Keep  Lemmon  grew  up  on  the  farm  of  his  father 
in  Otsego  Township,  acquired  a good  education 
in  the  district  schools,  and  during  his  life  has  ac- 
tively prosecuted  his  business  as  a farmer.  He 
owns  179  acres,  including  the  ninety-two  acres  last 
owned  by  his  father.  He  gives  his  attention  to 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is,  like  his 
father,  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Grange. 

September  19,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Clarissa  Fee, 
a daughter  of  Calvin  Fee  and  a granddaughter  of 
John  Fee,  who  is  recorded  in  history  as  the  first 
settler  of  Otsego  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lem- 
mon have  two  daughters,  Myrtie  and  Marie.  Myrtie 
is  the  wife  of  Basil  Oberlin,  a son  of  James  Ober- 
lin  of  Steuben  County.  Marie  is  the  wife  of  Ford 


Keppler,  of  Otsego  Township.  Both  daughters  are 
graduates  of  the  high  school  at  Hamilton,  attended 
the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola,  and  prior 
to  their  marriage  were  teachers. 

John  Ott  is  a native  son  of  Noble  County,  a man 
who  has  distinguished  himself  by  enterprise  and 
thrift  and  good  judgment  in  all  his  relations  with 
his  community,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
Noble  Township.  His  home  is  in  section  13. 

He  was  born  in  Green  Township  of  that  county, 
March  31,  1852,  son  of  Jesse  and  Docia  (Brown) 
Ott.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  his  father  born  December  1,  1822, 
and  his  mother  in  January,  1830.  They  were  reared 
in  Preble  County,  and  after  their  marriage  moved 
to  Indiana  in  1850,  settling  in  the  southern  part  of 
Green  Township,  where  after  clearing  and  improv- 
ing their  land  they  lived  until  their  death.  They 
were  active  members  of  the  Christian  Church,  Jesse 
Ott  serving  as  a trustee,  and  was  a republican  in 
politics.  They  were  the  parents  of  eight  children : 
Cornelius;  Amanda,  wife  of  William  Cucas ; John; 
George,  who  is  deceased;  Fred;  Abraham;  Eli;  and 
Alpha. 

John  Ott  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Green 
Township,  and  had  only  the  advantages  of  the 
common  schools,  but  has  wisely  improved  his  op- 
portunities and  is  a man  of  wide  inclination  as  well 
as  much  practical  ability.  For  four  years  he  worked 
out  by  the  month,  later  rented,  and  since  his  mar- 
riage has  acquired  his  present  farm  of  seventy-four 
acres.  Besides  farming  he  follows  the  carpenter 
trade. 

In  November,  1879,  Mr.  Ott  married  Martha  Man- 
ning. She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  and 
received  a common  school  education.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ott  have  a fine  family  of  eight  children,  fourteen 
grandchildren  and  tw'O  great-grandchildren.  Their 
children  are:  Emmaretta,  wife  of  William  H. 

Huntsman ; Mary,  wife  of  George  Edwards ; Jesse, 
a farmer  in  Noble  Township;  Orvin,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana;  Nevada,  wife  of  Leo  Gaff;  Clinton,  of 
Noble  County;  Clara,  wife  of  Archie  Friskney;  and 
William,  still  at  home.  The  parents  are  members  of 
the  Baptist  Church  and  Mr.  Ott  is  a republican. 

Oliver  F.  Schutt.  A substantial  farmer  of  Clay 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  is  found  in  Oliver  F. 
Schutt,  who  owns  a well  improved  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  which  he  devotes  to  grain  and  general 
produce  and  to  the  raising  of  standard  stock.  He 
was  born  in  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  March  20, 
1863,  and  is  a son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Seybert) 
Schutt. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Schutt  lived  at  Erie,  Pennsyl- 
vania, before  coming  to  Warsaw,  Kosciusko  County, 
Indiana.  The  father  died  in  this  county  in  1871,  when 
aged  forty-nine  years.  His  children  were  as  fol- 
lows : Julia,  Maria,  Susan,  Hannah,  Martha,  Henry, 
Aaron,  Maggie,  John  and  Oliver  F.  The  mother 
was  first  married  to  Mr.  Shue,  who  died  during  the 
war.  One  son,  Jacob,  was  born  to  that  union.  The 
mother  died  in  1879. 

Oliver  F.  Schutt  was  nine  years  old  when  he 
came  to  live  in  LaGrange  County  with  his  sister 
Susan,  who  was  the  wife  of  Davis  Wolfe,  a farmer 
in  Van  Buren  Township,  on  the  bank  of  Buck  Lake. 
He  was  well  taken  care  of,  was  sent  to  school  and 
was  taught  to  be  a practical  farmer.  Later  he 
bought  his  first  farm,  a tract  of  fifty-eight  acres  in 
Clay  Township,  but  he  soon  sold  that  property  and 
bought  eighty  acres  six  miles  from  LaGrange,  in 
Newbury  Township,  and  this  he  also  sold  and  in 
1912  came  to  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in 


102 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Clay  Township.  Mr.  Schutt  may  feel  that  he  has 
done  well,  considering  that  he  has  had  his  own 
way  to  make  in  the  world  ever  since  boyhood. 

In  1885  Mr.  Schutt  was  married  to  Miss  Emma 
Newman,  a daughter  of  Rozaine  H.  and  Almeda 
Catherine  (Laughlin)  Newman.  Formerly  they 
were  farming  people  in  Van  Buren  Township  but 
now  live  comfortably  retired  at  LaGrange.  Mrs. 
Schutt  has  one  brother,  Burr.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schutt 
have  two  children : Floyd,  who  was  born  July 

24,  1886,  is  a farmer  east  of  White  Pigeon,  Mich- 
igan, married  Bessie  Bollinger,  and  they  have  a 
daughter,  Myrtle;  and  Verne,  born  May  10,  1888, 
who  is  a farmer  in  Bloomfield  Township,  married 
Nora  Miller,  and  they  have  two  children,  Pauline 
and  Virgil.  The  family  belongs  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Schutt  is  a re- 
publican. 

Sylvester  Blackman  is  one  of  the  oldest  native 
sons  still  living  in  Noble  County,  and  has  spent 
more  than  three-quarters  of  a century  there,  during 
which  time  he  has  witnessed  the  upholding  of  nearly 
every  condition  which  has  important  bearing  upon 
the  material  prosperity  and  civilization  of  the 
present  generation.  Mr.  Blackman  was  a veteran 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  for  half  a century  or  more 
has  been  a practical  farmer.  He  still  lives  on  his 
fine  farm  in  section  26  of  York  Township. 

He  was  born  in  that  township,  October  6,  1842, 
the  son  of  Elisha  and  Amy  (Rollins)  Blackman. 
Elisha  Blackman  was  born  in  Luzerne  County, 
Pennsylvania,  August  1,  1801.  He  went  to  Ohio  in 
early  life  and  at  Troy  in  Miami  County  of  that 
state  married  Amy  Rollins  on  October  23,  1824. 
She  was  born  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  September 
2,  1808.  Elisha  Blackman  and  wife  were  among 
the  earliest  settlers  of  Noble  County,  locating  in 
the  year  1836  at  Roudy  Ridge,  where  he  entered 
a tract  of  land  comprising  eighty  acres.  He  was 
a blacksmith  by  trade,  and  set  up  a shop  in  the 
woods  and  did  more  mechanical  work  than  he  did 
farming.  After  several  years  he  sold  his  first  place 
and  bought  eighty  acres  near  where  his  son  Syl- 
vester now  lives.  There  he  divided  his  time  between 
his  blacksmith  shop  and  his  fields.  In  religious 
faith  he  was  a Swedenborgian,  and  in  politics  was 
formerly  a whig  and  later  a republican.  He  died 
February  29,  1872,  and  his  wife  died  May  16,  i860. 
They  were  the  parents  of  thirteen  children. 

Sylvester  Blackman  grew  up  in  a pioneer  com- 
munity and  attended  school  in  a log  schoolhouse. 
Altogether  he  received  only  a few  months  of  school- 
ing. A few  weeks  after  his  twenty-first  birthday, 
on  December  23,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B 
of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  fought  in 
active  service  from  that  time  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the 
sea  and  was  honorably  discharged  from  the  service 
at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  July  15,  1865.  He  returned 
home  and  during  all  the  years  since  then  has  been 
busily  engaged  in  farming. 

On  October  29,  1867,  he  married  Mary  Jane  Burns, 
who  died  forty-five  years  later,  on  April  4,  T913. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Blackman  are  the  parents  of  seven 
children.  All  are  living  except  Frank,  who  died 
March  10,  1904.  He  was  a graduate  of  the  Ligonier 
High  School.  Ella,  the  oldest,  is  the  wife  of  Emmet 
Black  of  York  Township;  Joseph  E.  married  Lillian 
Dennison  and  William  married  Olive  Smith.  Ger- 
trude, Thaddeus  and  Anna  are  all  unmarried. 
Thaddeus  is  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago, with  a degree  Bachelor  of  Philosophy. 

Mr.  Blackman  is  a member  of  the  Sparta  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  served  twelve  years  as  a trustee 
of  the  Eel  River  Christian  Conference.  He  was 


made  a Mason  January  4,  1864,  at  Albion,  Indiana. 
He  is  also  a member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter 
and  Council  at  Ligonier,  and  is  a Knight  of  Pythias. 
In  politics  he  is  a sterling  republican.  Mr.  Black- 
man is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants 
Trust  Company  at  Ligonier.  He  lives  on  his  fine 
farm  of  277  acres  and  enjoys  the  comforts  of  a 
fine  modern  home. 

Manassas  M.  Borntrager  is  one  of  the  well 
known  residents  of  LaGrange  County,  and  occupies 
a fine  farm  which  he  bought  and  paid  for  out  of 
his  earnings  as  a practical  agriculturist,  and  which 
is  situated  three  miles  west  and  four  miles  north  of 
Topeka. 

He  was  born  in  section  4 of  Eden  Township,  No- 
vember 24,  1879,  a son  of  Manassas  J.  and  Lydia 
(Yoder)  Borntrager.  This  is  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  LaGrange  County,  and  his  pa- 
ternal ancestors  make  a long  line  of  Americans 
who  have  been  in  this  country  for  more  than  a 
century  and  a half. 

Mr.  Borntrager  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
attended  district  school  to  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  then  worked  at  home  until  reaching  his  major- 
ity. On  January  19,  1905,  he  married  Elizabeth 
Miller,  who  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township, 
April  23,  1887,  a daughter  of  Emanuel  and  Anna 
(Slabaugh)  Miller.  Mrs.  Borntrager  grew  up  on 
her  father’s  farm  in  Clear  Spring  Township  and 
attended  the  common  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager 
lived  for  one  year  on  her  father’s  farm,  then  bought 
eighty  acres  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  but  after 
four  years  sold  that  place,  rented  one  summer  and 
in  1912  bought  the  120  acres  comprising  their  pres- 
ent well  managed  and  valuable  farm,  which  is  de- 
voted to  general  crops  and  livestock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager  have  seven  children, 
named  Emanuel,  Urias,  Sylvia,  Anna,  Amos,  Noah 
and  Manassas.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Amish  Mennonite  Church. 

George  M.  Brown.  There  is  a dignity  connected 
with  work  well  done,  and  a satisfaction  that  comes 
of  industry  and'  thrift  in  living.  The  man  who 
early  realizes  that  whatever  is  worth  attempting  is 
worth  executing  to  the  best  of  his  ability  is  the  man 
who  wins  out  in  life’s  contest.  The  measure  of  a 
man’s  ability  is  found  in  the  esteem  in  which  he  is 
held  by  his  associates.  Those  who  meet  him  in  the 
everyday  vocations  know  just  what  he  can  and  will 
do,  and  how  he  handles  the  problems  presented  to 
them  all.  Some  fall  far  below  the  average,  but 
there  are  others  who  set  the  pace,  and  in  no  line 
of  endeavor  is  this  truer  than  in  farming.  In 
reviewing  the  work  of  Steuben  County  agricultural- 
ists the  biographer  is  struck  by  the  fact  that  certain 
ones  are  deserving  of  special  mention,  and  it  may 
be  truthfully  said  that  if  ever  there  was  a leader  in 
a farming  community  in  whom  the  people  for  a wide 
radius  placed  implicit  trust  it  is  George  M.  Brown 
of  Otsego  Township,  who  is  now  serving  his  county 
as  commissioner. 

George  M.  Brown  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
County,  New  York,  November  24,  1863,  a son  of 
Moseley  and  Eliza  (Abbot)  Brown.  Moseley  Brown 
was  born  in  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  and 
died  at  Angola,  Indiana,  in  January,  1873,  while 
his  wife,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county  as  her 
husband,  died  in  1868.  In  1869  Moseley  Brown 
moved  to  Michigan,  but  after  a year  in  that  state 
came  to  Angola,  where  he  worked  as  a teamster 
until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children  : Mary,  who  married  George  Sage ; Martha, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


103 


who  married  Henry  Kankamp ; Celia,  who  married 
George  Elliot ; George  M.,  whose  name  heads  this 
review ; and  Leland,  who  was  the  youngest. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  George  M.  Brown 
went  to  live  with  his  uncle  at  Ray,  Steuben  County, 
remaining  with  him  until  he  was  eighteen  years  old, 
and  during  that  period  attended  the  district  school. 
He  then  became  a student  of  the  Fremont  High 
School,  and  still  later  of  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  earning  the  money  for  the  latter  courses 
by  selling  books  through  Ohio  and  Virginia  during 
the  winter  of  1881-2.  Having  thus  prepared  him- 
self, Mr.  Brown  began  teaching  school,  his  first 
appointment  being  to  the  Farnham  School  in  Fre- 
mont Township,  Steuben  County,  where  he  remained 
two  years,  and  then  for  an  equal  length  of  time  he 
taught  in  Otsego  Township. 

In  1888  Mr.  Brown  entered  upon  the  line  of  work 
for  which  he  was  so  pre-eminently  fitted,  commenc- 
ing his  operations  on  a hundred-acre  tract  bought 
for  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  by  Mrs.  Brown’s  father. 
From  the  start  he  succeeded,  and  he  has  kept  on 
adding  to  his  farm  until  he  now  owns  400  acres 
of  as  fine  land  as  there  is  in  the  township,  and  on 
it  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
In  addition  to  his  farming  Mr.  Brown  is  at  present 
manager  of  the  Co-operative  Shipping  Association 
of  Hamilton,  Indiana,  and  he  has  handled  con- 
siderable livestock  during  the  past  ten  years.  In 
1908  Mr.  Brown’s  fellow  citizens  elected  him  trustee 
of  Otsego  Township,  and  he  served  in  that  office 
until  January  1,  1915.  They  further  testified  to 
their  appreciation  of  his  abilities  by  electing  him 
commissioner  of  Steuben  County  in  1917,  he  assum- 
ing the  duties  of  that  office  in  1918. 

From  boyhood  it  was  Mr.  Brown’s  ambition  to 
become  the  owner  of  a farm  of  considerable  size, 
but  never  did  his  fondest  hopes  attain  to  the  reality 
of  today.  He  is  essentially  a self-made  man,  is 
proud  of  the  fact,  and  has  every  reason  to  look  with 
pride  on  what  he  has  accomplished.  Not  only  is  he 
a man  of  wealth,  he  is  much  more,  a man  of  the 
highest  character,  whose  stability  and  power  of 
concentration  have  placed  him  among  the  worth- 
while men  of  his  state.  His  present  prosperity  has 
been  attained  after  almost  increditable  persistence 
and  determination,  and  while  he  has  made  such  a 
material  advance,  he  is  still  the  incarnation  of 
probity  and  kindness,  of  steadfast  devotion  to  his 
duty  as  he  sees  it,  and  the  needs  of  the  whole  com- 
munity. He  is  living  a life  full  of  inspiration  to 
his  neighbors,  and  it  is  but  natural  that  he  should 
receive  popular  recognition  in  the  future  as  he  has 
in  the  past. 

On  March  1,  1888,  Mr.  Brown  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Alma  M.  Williams,  a daughter  of 
Ephraim  B.  and  Martha  (Cooper)  Williams,  and 
they  have  one  son,  Harold  F.,  who  is  engaged  in 
farming  with  his  father.  This  son  married  Pearl 
Lautzenheiser,  and  they  have  a daughter,  Zelda 
Ruth. 

Ephraim  B.  Williams  was  born  in  Orleans  County, 
New  York,  January  10,  1833,  the  fifth  child  of 
Henry  R.  and  Mary  Ann  (Case)  Williams,  who 
brought  their  family  to  Jackson  Township,  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  in  1836,  their  arrival  in  the  county 
being  saddened  by  the  death  of  the  good  mother 
December  2d  of  that  same  year,  of  tuberculosis. 
She  had  borne  her  husband  the  following  children : 
Hamilton,  Maria,  Wallace,  Ephraim  B.  and  one  who 
died  in  infancy.  Two  years  later  Henry  R.  Williams 
was  married  to  Philma  Town,  and  in  1842  removal 
was  made  to  Otsego  Township,  where  he  bought  100 
acres  in  section  9,  and  there  he  died  October  9, 


1879,  when  in  the  eighty-fourth  year  of  his  life. 
His  widow  survived  him  until  1882.  There  were 
no  children  of  the  second  marriage. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Ephraim  B.  Williams 
was  spent  in  Steuben  County,  he  alternating  attend- 
ance in  the  district  schools  with  hard  work  on  the 
farm  of  his  father,  and  he  grew  up  strong  and  self- 
reliant,  so  that  when  he  began  farming  on  his  own 
account  he  had  a practical  knowledge  of  the  work 
and  was  able  to  carry  it  on  successfully.  He  bought 
a farm  in  section  17,  Otsego  Township,  and 
was  engaged  in  agricultural  work  all  his  active  life, 
becoming  one  of  the  wealthy  men  of  his  neighbor- 
hood, and  the  owner  of  280  acres  of  valuable  land. 
In  1893  he  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  lived  in 
retirement  until  his  death,  September  28,  1905. 

In  1857  Ephraim  B.  Williams  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Susan  Pearce,  and  she  died  June  15, 
1863.  On  February  18,  1864,  Mr.  Williams  was 
married  to  Martha  Cooper,  and  they  had  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Alma,  Lucy  and  Susan.  In  his 
political  views  Mr.  Williams  was  a republican,  and 
always  supported  the  candidates  of  his  party. 

Martha  (Cooper)  Williams  was  born  in  Berks 
County,  Pennsylvania,  August  27,  1833,  a daughter 
of  William  and  Lucy  (Thomas),  Cooper,  both  of 
whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1844 
William  Cooper  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Richland  Township, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  dying  in 
1868.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children: 
Elizabeth,  Mary,  Martha,  Sarah  and  Anna. 

Ellis  Smith  is  counted  among  the  progressive 
farmers  who  have  done  most  for  the  agricultural 
uplift  in  Perry  Township  of  Noble  County.  Mr. 
Smith  has  for  thirty  years  or  more  been  a farmer, 
and  owns  a fine  farm  and  corresponding  improve- 
ments in  section  32  of  Perry  Township. 

He  was  born  on  an  adjoining  farm  in  the  same 
township  February  7,  1864,  a son  of  Benjamin  F. 
and  Charity  (Lane)  Smith.  His  father  was  twelve 
years  old  when  brought  to  Noble  County  and  was 
a son  of  Jacob  and  Abigail  (Bloomer)  Smith.  Ben- 
jamin Smith’s  early  education  was  largely  neglected, 
and  he  was  put  on  his  own  responsibility  at  an 
early  age.  How  well  he  made  use  of  his  oppor- 
tunity in  his  struggle  with  adversity  is  indicated  by 
his  accumulation  of  230  acres  of  land.  He  was 
a republican  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten 
children.  Those  still  living  are : Emma,  wife  of 

Emmett  Caldwell ; Ellis ; Hattie,  wife  of  Andrew 
Umbenhower;  Howard,  of  Kentucky;  William  H., 
of  Whitley  County;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Thomas 
Cass,  of  Perry  Township,  on  the  old  homestead  of 
her  father ; and  Clara,  wife  of  Thomas  Kensler,  of 
Panama. 

Ellis  Smith  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and  ac- 
quired a common  school  education.  He  lived  at 
home  to  the  age  of  twenty-four.  On  October  3, 
1888,  Miss  Anna  Earll  became  his  wife.  She  was 
born  in  Noble  County  in  August,  1865.  Six  children 
have  been  born  to  their  marriage : Ralph,  the  old- 

est, married  Ruth  Harper.  Emmett  is  a graduate 
of  the  Ligonier  High  School,  attended  the  Tri-State 
Normal  at  Angola,  and  has  been  a teacher.  He 
married  Henrietta  Murry  and  is  now  a farmer. 
Ruth,  the  youngest  of  the  family  is  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools,  attended  the  State  College  at  An- 
gola, and  is  a successful  teacher  in  Sparta  Town- 
ship. Three  are  deceased,  Ben  E.,  Frank  L.,  and 
Albert. 

Mr.  Smith  as  a farmer  specializes  in  registered 
Hereford  cattle.  He  owns  285  acres,  all  joining 
and  in  one  farm.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farm- 


104 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


ers  Elevator  at  Ligonier  and  also  of  the  Citizens 
Bank  of  that  city.  Politically  he  is  affiliated  with 
the  republican  party. 

Charles  J.  Walker,  whose  home  and  farm  are  in 
Union  Township  ij4  miles  east  of  Auburn,  is  a 
member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  in  DeKalb 
County. 

His  grandfather,  John  R.  Walker,  was  born  in 
Yorktown,  Pennsylvania,  in  1808,  and  married  Cath- 
erine Frumrine.  In  1835  he  moved  to  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1844  came  to  DeKalb  County 
and  bought  160  acres  in  section  35  of  Smithfield 
Township.  He  cleared  most  of  the  timber  from 
the  land  and  in  i860  bought  another  quarter  section. 

George  K.  Walker,  a son  of  this  pioneer,  was 
born  in  Indiana,  in  Smithfield  Township,  and  mar- 
ried Anna  Ashelman.  She  was  a daughter  of  John 
W.  Ashelman,  who  became  one  of  the  largest  land 
owners  in  DeKalb  County.  George  K.  Walker  and 
wife  were  married  in  DeKalb  County  and  are  now 
living  at  Waterloo,  Indiana.  They  are  members  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church  and  the  father  is  a 
democrat  in  politics.  There  are  four  children : 
John,  of  Grant  Township;  Alice,  wife  of  Charles 
O.  Spear;  William,  of  Smithfield  Township;  and 
Charles  J. 

Charles  J.  Walker,  who  was  born  on  a farm  in 
Smithfield  Township  December  3,  1880,  was  edu- 
cated there  in  the  district  schools  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  Waterloo  High  School.  For  ten  years  he 
has  been  a prosperous  farmer  and  a breeder  of 
Holstein  cattle.  He  is  a democrat  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 

Church.  December  24,  1912,  he  married  Mary  Funk. 
She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana. 

Theo  Wright  is  a citizen  who  has  been  identified 
with  the  affairs  of  Sparta  Township  for  thirty 

years  or  more,  and  always  in  some  useful  and 

public-spirited  way.  He  is  a practical  farmer  and 
his  home  is  three  miles  southeast  of  Cromwell,  in 
section  27. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township  February  15, 
1868,  son  of  Alexander  and  Margaret  (Hull) 
Wright.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio,  but 
were  married  after  they  came  to  Noble  County, 
and  then  lived  on  a farm  in  Sparta  Township. 

Alexander  Wright  had  a record  as  a Union  soldier 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  was  for  two  years  a 
private  in  Company  A of  the  Ninth  Ohio  Cavalry. 
After  the  war  he  joined  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic  and  was  a republican  in  politics  and  served 
as  road  supervisor  for  Sparta  Township.  He  and 
his  wife  had  five  children:  Theo;  W.  R.,  a hard- 

ware merchant  at  Cromwell ; Rosa,  wife  of  William 
Crow;  Melvin,  a farmer  in  Whitley  County;  and 
Arthur,  also  of  Whitley  County,  Indiana. 

Theo  Wright  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  had 
a district  school  education,  and  when  fourteen 
started  out  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and 
his  experiences  and  achievements  since  then  have 
indicated  his  self-reliance,  his  initiative  and  energy 
in  making  the  best  of  his  opportunities.  He  has 
always  been  a hard  worker,  but  reached  the  age  of 
twenty-one  with  very  little  capital. 

February  11,  1891,  he  married  Clara  A.  Galloway, 
a daughter  of  Anderson  Galloway,  a well-known 
citizen  of  Noble  County  elsewhere  referred  to. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wright  rented 
the  Scott  Galloway  farm  for  several  years.  They 
are  the  parents  of  three  children.  Ercell  is  a farmer 
in  Kosciusko  County ; Clarence  served  with  Re- 
mount Squadron  No.  323  with  the  Expeditionary 
Forces  in  France;  Elma  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  now  a student  in  high  school. 


Mr.  Wright  is  the  present  assessor  of  Sparta 
Township.  He  is  also  a director  in  the  Farmers 
Mutual  Aid  Association,  and  is  a leading  republican. 
He  is  now  in  his  second  term  as  township  assessor, 
serving  one  term  of  four  years  and  being  re-elected 
for  a consecutive  term.  He  is  a past  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  past  grand  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  also  a member 
of  Cromwell  Lodge  No.  705,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons.  Mr.  Wright  and  family  reside  on  a farm 
of  twenty-three  acres. 

Archie  L.  Carpenter,  who  has  spent  all  his  life 
in  Northeast  Indiana,  is  a capable  young  farmer, 
a resident  of  Clear  Spring  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  in  which  locality  he  has  had  his  home 
since  about  the  time  he  received  his  first  instruc- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  He  was  born  in  Noble 
County,  December  9,  1876,  a son  of  John  and  Lu- 
celia  (Hervey)  Carpenter.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Clear  Spring  Township,  LaGrange  County,  in 
1840.  His  father  was  born  in  May,  1837,  in  Cass 
County,  Michigan.  After  his  parents  married  they 
settled  in  Noble  County  and  later  moved  to  La- 
Grange County.  The  father  was  a republican  and 
the  mother  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Of 
their  three  children  two  are  still  living:  Warren 

W.,  deceased ; Ella,  widow  of  Abe  Gipson ; and 
Archie  L. 

Archie  L.  Carpenter  was  six  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  grew 
up  on  the  farm  which  he  owns  today.  He  has 
fifty  acres  of  land,  well  cultivated  and  improved, 
and  constituting  one  of  the  good  homes  of  that 
part  of  the  county.  He  received  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools. 

In  1896  he  married  Miss  Esta  Bowman.  She  is  a 
native  of  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  and  received 
a common  school  education.  To  their  marriage  have 
been  born  eight  children : Adren,  a farmer,  married 

and  living  on  the  home  farm  ; Lee,  who  is  married 
and  is  a farmer;  Elsie,  wife  of  Mr.  Poiser;  Miles, 
Retha,  Kenneth,  Fern  and  Ruby,  who  are  the 
younger  children  still  at  home.  Mr.  Carpenter  is 
a republican  and  a member  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

Daniel  J.  Yoder.  While  he  has  reached  that  en- 
viable period  in  life  when  he  might  be  classified  as 
retired,  Mr.  Yoder  is  still  living  on  his  farm  a 
mile  west  and  half  a mile  south  of  Topeka.  He 
has  turned  over  the  burdens  of  management  of  this 
farm  to  his  son,  and  has  lived  in  that  same  place 
since  his  marriage. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  October 
12,  1857,  a son  of  John  S.  and  Catherine  (Stahley) 
Yoder,  the  former  a native  of  Mifflin  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  His 
parents  were  married  in  Indiana,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days  in  LaGrange  County.  They  were 
active  members  of  the  Maple  Grove  Mennonite 
Church,  and  the  father  was  a republican  voter. 
Their  five  children  were:  Samuel  W.,  of  Eden 

Township ; Daniel  J. ; Emanuel  C.,  of  Goshen ; Mel- 
vin A.,  of  Eden  Township;  and  Alvin  E.,  of 
Goshen. 

Daniel  J.  Yoder  attended  district  school  and  lived 
at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  helped  his 
father  run  the  homestead  for  several  years.  On 
February  18,  1886,  he  married  Emma  C.  Burkholder. 
She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  February 
29,  i860,  grew  up  in  that  county  and  attended  the 
common  schools  there.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Yoder  began  farming  on  the  place  which 
they  still  own  and  where  they  still  reside.  They  are 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


105 


members  of  the  Maple  Grove  Mennonite  Church. 
Mr.  Yoder  is  a republican  and  a stockholder  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Topeka.  His  farm  is  well  stocked 
with  grade  Holstein  cattle  and  a specialty  of  the 
farming  is  the  raising  of  pure  blood  White  Leghorn 
chickens. 

Their  only  son,  Edwin  J.  Yoder,  was  born  Decem- 
ber 2,  1889.  He  is  a high  class  young  farmer  with 
an  interest  in  the  scientific  as  well  as  the  practical 
side  of  agriculture.  He  graduated  from  the  Topeka 
High  School,  attended  Goshen  College  and  also  took 
a course  in  Purdue  University.  He  married  Mollie 
Stoltzfus,  and  their  three  children  are  Geneva,  born 
January  7,  1914;  Gerald,  born  December  6,  1915;  and 
Gladys  Louise,  born  June  5,  1919. 

Sherman  Strawser.  Though  a resident  of  the 
village  of  Salem  Center,  Sherman  Strawser  is  still 
active  in  the  management  of  his  extensive  farming 
interests  in  Salem  Township.  He  has  worked  the 
lands  and  raised  crops  in  that  vicinity  for  thirty 
years  or  more,  and  to  some  extent  still  specializes 
as  an  onion  grower. 

Mr.  Strawser  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 
November  8,  1864,  a son  of  George  W.  and  Rhoda 
J.  (Rose)  Strawser.  His  father,  who  died  May  26, 
1914,  at  Hudson,  where  he  had  lived  for  several 
years,  was  a native  of  Ross  County,  Ohio,  but  from 
1843  grew  up  in  Defiance  County.  On  August  15, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D of  the  Thirty-Eighth 
Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  until  July,  1865,  nearly 
four  years.  He  was  color  bearer  of  his  regiment  in 
the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Stone  River,  Chick- 
amauga,  Missionary  Ridge  and  Jonesboro.  The 
Thirty-Eighth  Ohio  was  one  of  the  hardest  fighting 
regiments  in  the  war.  George  W.  Strawser  was 
wounded  at  Jonesboro,  where  his  regiment  lost 
heavily.  After  the  war  he  returned  to  Ohio  and 
married  Rhoda  J.  Rose,  who  was  then  the  widow 
Higbea,  her  first  husband  having  died  while  a Union 
soldier  in  1863.  In  1872  George  W.  Strawser  moved 
to  Steuben  County  and  in  1881  bought  a farm  of 
170  acres  in  section  21  of  Salem  Township.  He 
and  his  wife  had  five  children : W.  T.  Sherman, 

Amanda  J.,  George  D.,  Mary  C.  and  John  W. 

Sherman  Strawser  attended  his  first  school  in 
Defiance  County  and  from  the  age  of  eight  has  lived 
in  Steuben  County,  where  he  attended  school  in 
Otsego  Township.  He  also  for  a time  was  a student 
in  the  schools  of  Salem  Center.  He  began  working 
on  his  father’s  home  farm  two  miles  south  of  Salem 
Center  and  later  became  independent  manager  of 
that  place,  which  he  farmed  continuously  until  1916. 
He  has  since  rented  the  farm  to  his  son,  Earl,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1919  moved  to  a comfortable  home 
in  the  village  of  Salem  Center.  He  owns  170  acres 
formerly  owned  by  his  father,  and  during  his  pro- 
prietorship has  rebuilt  the  barn  and  put  on  several 
other  buildings.  Mr.  Strawser  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masons,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America,  belonging  to  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Hudson  and  the  Odd  Fellows  at 
Salem  Center. 

In  1890  he  married  Miss  Della  M.  Anstett,  a 
daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mary  Jane  (Wilsey) 
Anstett.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strawser  have  seven  chil- 
dren, named  George  Earl,  Verna  May,  Verda  J., 
Carl,  Wayne,  Wade  and  Ruby.  The  first  four  are 
married.  George  L.  married  Emma  Wilcox;  Verna' 
is  the  wife  of  Daniel  Tritch  and  has  two  children, 
Philus  and  Fay,  Verda  is  the  wife  of  Ralph  Daily; 
while  Carl  married  Imo  J.  Bassett  and  has  a daugh- 
ter, Mildred. 

Finley  C.  Fuller  is  known  to  a majority  of 
citizens  all  over  Noble  County,  and  every  one  in 


York  Township  knows  and  esteems  him  for  his 
success  in  life  and  the  high  stand  he  has  taken 
as  a citizen  and  neighbor  and  friend. 

The  farm  that  he  now  owns  was  the  scene  of 
his  birth  on  May  1,  1856.  He  is  a son  of  Robert  L. 
and  Margaret  J.  (Coleman)  Fuller,  his  father  hav- 
ing been  born  in  New  Jersey  July  10,  1822,  and  his 
mother  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio.  Robert  L.  Ful- 
ler went  to  Ohio  and  married  in  Guernsey  County, 
and  after  four  or  five  years  there  moved  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  in  1854.  At  that  time  he  acquired 
the  land  contained  in  the  present  farm  of  his  son 
Finley,  and  altogether  owned  200  acres.  He  was 
one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  his  generation, 
and  a man  active  in  other  lines,  prominent  in  the 
Methodist  Church  and  a stanch  republican.  There 
were  five  children  in  the  family  and  the  three  still 
living  are:  Basil,  a retired  farmer  in  York  Town- 

ship; Finley  C. ; and  Alice,  wife  of  Frank  Bennett, 
of  Warsaw,  Indiana. 

Finley  C.  Fuller  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a district  school  education.  At  the  age  of 
eighteen  he  began  learning  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
and  for  forty-four  years  of  his  life  he  followed 
contracting,  and  he  still  takes  contracts.  He  owns 
and  lives  on  his  farm  of  184  acres  in  sections  24 
and  32  of  York  Township. 

November  21,  1877,  Mr.  Fuller  married  Samantha 
Ann  Waltman.  She  was  born  in  Noble  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fuller  have  four  living  children: 
Bessie,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  is  the 
wife  of  Orpheus  Earnhart  and  lives  in  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana ; Mabel  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  was  also  well  trained  in  music, 
and  is  the  wife  of  Marion  C.  Hursey  of  South 
Bordman,  Michigan;  Bertha  is  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools  and  the  wife  of  James  Dazey,  and 
they  live  on  the  farm  with  her  father;  and  Harry 
B.  is  engaged  in  contracting  with  his  father.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fuller  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  he  is  one  of  the  elders  in  the  York 
Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  Albion  Lodge  No.  97, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with  Kendall- 
ville  Chapter  No.  64,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  Prentiss  Chapter 
of  the  Eastern  Star  at  Albion.  In  politics  Mr. 
Fuller  has  given  stanch  allegiance  to  the  republican 
party  since  he  cast  his  first  vote.  The  people  of 
York  Township  still  have  grateful  appreciation  of 
the  service  he  rendered  as  trustee  from  1891  to 
1895.  He  was  also  for  two  years  a member  of  the 
County  Council. 

Henry  P.  Weimer.  The  best  years  of  his  life 
Henry  P.  Weimer  has  given  to  the  business  of 
farming,  and  the  results  of  his  efforts  stand  out 
conspicuously  to  the  traveler  through  Allen  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County.  Mr.  Weimer’s  farm  is  four 
miles  southwest  of  Kendallville. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  Township,  September  23, 
1866,  a son  of  Adam  and  Mary  (Hess)  Weimer. 
His  father  was  born  in  Germany,  July  29,  1819,  and 
there  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  On  coming 
to  the  United  States  he  located  in  Toledo,  Ohio, 
and  married  there  Mary  Hess.  She  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1832  and  came  to  the  United  States  on 
the  same  vessel  with  her  future  husband.  Adam 
Weimer  worked  steadily  at  his  trade  as  a shoe- 
maker in  Toledo  two  years,  and  one  of  his  chil- 
dren was  born  there.  ' Later  he  moved  to  Fort 
Wayne,  worked  at  his  trade  there  several  years, 
and  in  the  meantime  invested  in  forty  acres  of  raw 
land  in  Allen  Township,  Noble  County.  About 
1851  he  moved  his  family  to  this  land,  and  he  was 
steadily  identified  with  the  farm  and  with  the  local 
citizenship  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  died  honored 


106 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  respected  July  27,  1903,  and  his  wife  died  July 
27,  1890.  In  their  family  were  eleven  children,  and 
the  six  still  living  are  John,  Adam,  Charles,  Henry 
P.,  Lizzie  and  Paul. 

Henry  P.  Weimer  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in 
Allen  Township,  and  since  reaching  manhood  has 
made  his  own  way  in  the  world.  He  had  a common 
school  education,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  left 
home  to  become  a farm  laborer.  Since  then  he 
has  graduated  into  the  role  of  an  independent 
farmer,  and  now  has  eighty  acres,  of  good  soil, 
well  cultivated,  and  constituting  one  of  the  best 
farms  of  Allen  Township. 

November  18,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Dora  Diehm. 
She  was  born  in  Allen  Township,  February  16,  1872, 
a daughter  of  George  and  Johanna  (Wehmeyer) 
Diehm.  Her  father  was  born  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Germany  and 
was  brought  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weimer  have  one 
daughter,  Elsie  H.,  born  September  13,  1899.  She 
graduated  from  the  common  schools  in  1915  and 
is  still  at  home.  The  family  are  all  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Weimer  is  an 
independent  voter. 

George  Straw  is  the  present  assessor  of  Clear 
Lake  Township,  beginning  the  duties  of  that  office 
when  his  term  as  township  trustee  left  off.  That 
is  evidence  of  his  high  standing  as  a citizen,  and 
he  is  also  one  of  the  capable  farmers  of  that  locality 
and  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  as  an 
agriculturist  in  Steuben  County. 

The  history  of  Steuben  County!  has  frequent 
records  concerning  the  Straw  family.  His  grand- 
father, Frederick  Straw,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
June  9,  1811,  a son  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Gear- 
hart) Straw.  Frederick  Straw  came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania to  Steuben  County  in  the  spring  of  1856, 
buying  land  just  west  of  Fremont.  He  became 
owner  of  180  acres,  constituting  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  the  township.  Frederick  Straw,  was  a 
democrat  until  the  republican  party  came  into  ex- 
istence, and  after  that  affiliated  with  the  new  organ- 
ization. In  1832  he  married  Catherine  Wagner,  who 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1813.  She  died  in 
1871,  the  mother  of  eight  children:  Elias,  Anna, 

Elizabeth,  George  W.,  Frederick,  Amanda,  Benja- 
min and  Philip  A. 

Elias  Straw,  father  of  George  Straw,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  November  9, 
1834,  and  died  in  1892.  In  1855  he  married  Cath- 
erine Baker,  a native  of  the  same  county,  born  in 
1839,  a daughter  of  Frederick  Baker.  The  year 
after  their  marriage  they  came  to  Steuben  County, 
locating  at  Fremont  when  it  contained  only  two 
general  stores.  Elias  Straw  soon  bought  land  in 
section  28  of  Fremont  Township,  and  in  1864  ac- 
quired another  farm  of  120  acres,  where  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  active  life.  He  was  a republican,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Association.  They  had  eight  children : William, 

John,  Albert,  Granville,  George,  Harvey,  Augusta 
Jane  and  Hermie. 

George  Straw  who  was  born  in  Fremont  Town- 
ship, August  2,  1868,  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  there  and  the  high  school  at  the 
Village  of  Fremont.  Along  with  farming  he  has 
had  much  business  experience.  As  a young  man 
he  clerked  a year  in  a dry  goods  store  at  the  Village 
of  Ray.  In  1890  he  went  to  Iowa  and  was  a sales- 
man of  agricultural  machinery,  with  headquarters 
at  Columbus  Junction,  for  one  year.  On  his  return 
from  Iowa  he  began  farming  in  Fremont  Township, 
lived  there  until  1909,  and  then  sold  his  property  and 


bought  his  present  place  in  Clear  Lake  Township. 
He  has  112  acres  in  section  18,  and  during  his  own- 
ership all  the  buildings  have  been  remodeled  and 
improved.  He  handles  much  good  stock,  being  a 
breeder  of  Holstein  cattle. 

Mr.  Straw  served  as  township  trustee  from  1914 
to  1919,  and  in  the  fall  of  1918  was  elected  assessor. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Lulie  Young,  a daughter 
of  L.  I.  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Potter)  Young.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  in  1837, 
a son  of  Charles  and  Nancy  (Scothorn)  Young,  the 
former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Virginia.  His  parents  were  married  in  Ohio  in 
1818,  and  his  father  spent  most  of  his  active  life  as 
a farmer  in  Sandusky  County.  L.  I.  C.  Young  grew 
up  on  the  home  farm  with  his  widowed  mother,  and 
in  1858  came  to  Steuben  Township  and  settled  in 
section  18  of  Clear  Lake  Township.  He  taught 
school  and  worked  his  farm  alternately,  and  in  1862 
enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana 
Infantry.  Though  sick  part  of  the  time,  he  was  with 
his  command  until  October,  1865.  After  the  war 
he  resumed  farming  and  also  became  prominent  in 
local  affairs.  L.  I.  C.  Young  married  Elizabeth  S. 
Potter  in  1862.  They  had  eight  children : Theresa 

M.,  J.  Orville,  Lulie  E.,  who  was  born  September 
26,  1868,  Armina  V.,  Ozra  V.,  Eda  Z.,  Amie  P.  and 
Mattie  E. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Straw  are  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren, Walter,  Clayton,  Hubert,  Edith  and  Lewis. 
Walter  married  Bessie  McTaggart  and  Clayton 
married  Beulah  Duguid.  The  son,  Walter,  saw 
some  of  the  heaviest  fighting  in  the  great  war.  He 
went  overseas  with  the  Eighty-Fifth  Division,  land- 
ing in  France  August  2,  1918.  He  was  soon  trans- 
ferred to  the  139th  Infantry  in  the  Thirty-Fifth 
Division,  and  before  the  signing  of  the  armistice 
was  under  fire  for  twenty-one  days.  The  heaviest 
fighting  seen  by  any  American  division  was  in  the 
Argonne  Forest,  and  he  was  a participant  there. 
During  1919  he  has  been  a student  in  the  university 
maintained  for  the  “Men  in  Khaki”  at  Lyons, 
France.  The  son,  Hubert  Straw,  was  also  in  train- 
ing for  military  duty,  being  a student  of  electricity 
at  Washington,  D.  C.  He  was  taken  ill  with  the  in- 
fluenza there  and  in  the  spring  of  1919  was  still  in 
a military  hospital. 

Orlando  C.  Bassett  has  spent  his  life  in  La- 
Grange  County  almost  entirely  as  a farmer,  though 
he  is  now  associated  as  a partner  with  his  son  in 
a successful  merchandise  business  at  Appleman- 
burg. 

He  was  born  in  Milford  Township  May  19,  1867. 
His  grandparents  were  George  W.  and  Samantha 
Bassett,  both  natives  of  New  York,  the  former 
born  August  6,  1805,  and  the  latter  September  16, 
1806.  They  were  married  September  28,  1826,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1833  moved  to  Brockport,  New  York. 
Some  years  later  they  came  to  LaGrange  County 
and  settled  four  miles  east  of  LaGrange  and  sub- 
sequently moved  to  Milford  Township,  where  they 
lived  on  a farm.  George  W.  Bassett  and  his  son 
Lucas  Bassett,  who  was  a native  of  New  York, 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Milford  Township,  cleared 
and  improved  a good  farm  there  and  put  up  some 
excellent  buildings  for  the  time,  including  a good 
home,  a bank  barn,  and  other  structures.  On  Au- 
gust 23,  1866,  Lucas  Bassett  married  Christina  Wy- 
cuff.  They  were  married  by  Squire  Starkey.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  July  22,  1850,  a daughter 
of  Jesse  and  Katherine  Wycuff,  who  subsequently 
moved  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  where  her  father 
died  in  1862.  She  and  her  widowed  mother  then 
moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  where  her  mother 
died  soon  afterward.  Lucas  Bassett  was  a demo- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


107 


crat  in  politics,  casting  his  first  vote  for  Buchanan. 
He  died  December  8,  1912.  His  children  were  Or- 
lando, Cora  Adele,  Franklin,  Emma  J.,  George, 
Christina  and  Mabel. 

Orlando  C.  Bassett  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  LaGrange  County  and  after  leaving  the 
home  place  he  bought  forty-seven  acres  of  the  old 
Daniel  Wert  farm.  He  sold  that  and  in  1901  bought 
120  acres  in  Springfield  Township  from  the  John 
M.  Wade  estate.  Another  forty  acres  he  acquired 
in  1902  and  now  has  a 160  acre  farm  well  developed 
for  general  crops  and  stock.  In  1914  he  bought 
his  father’s  old  place  and  occupied  it  a year  and 
a half,  when  he  sold  and  returned  to  his  farm  in 
Springfield  Township  where  he  now  resides.  Mr. 
Bassett  on  January  4,  1919,  bought  the  mercantile 
business  at  Applemanburg,  and  his  son  Lloyd  is  now 
a manager  of  the  store.  Mr.  Bassett  has  been  an 
influential  man  in  local  affairs,  and  though  a dem- 
ocrat he  was  elected  township  trustee,  being  the 
only  trustee  of  that  political  faith  in  the  township. 
He  also  served  as  assessor  of  Springfield  Township 
for  six  years  in  succession. 

March  19,  1889,  he  married  Rosa  Gross.  She 
was  born  in  Milford  Township  October  8,  1868,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Isabel  (Francis)  Gross. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1844  and 
her  mother  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  October  1, 
1848.  The  Gross  family  moved  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Ohio  where  the  father  of  William  Gross  was  in 
the  hotel  business  and  subsequently  came  to  Mil- 
ford Township  and  bought  the  farm  known  as  the 
John  Forst  farm.  After  a few  years  the  grandpar- 
ents moved  to  Tennessee,  and  acquired  about  400 
acres  near  Spring  City,  where  both  of  them  spent 
the  rest  of  their  days.  William  Gross  remained  in 
Milford  Township,  married  there,  and  acquired  a 
farm  of  eighty  acres  on  which  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  1884.  His  widow  is  still  living,  a resident 
of  South  Milford,  where  she  bought  the  Wonders 
property.  William  Gross  was  a democrat  and  his 
parents  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Mrs.  Rose  Bassett  is  the  oldest  of  her  father’s  chil- 
dren. Her  sister  Mattie  I.  was  born  April  21,  1870, 
and  is  the  wife  of  Herbert  Newnam  of  Milford 
Township  and  has  one  child,  Grossie.  Her  other 
sister  Nettie  L.  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Lovett 
and  has  two  sons,  Jesse  and  Lester. 

Mrs.  Bassett’s  maternal  grandfather  Samuel  Fran- 
cis was  born  in  Bradford,  Connecticut,  June  14, 
1811,  and  as  a youth  moved  to  Genessee  County, 
New  York,  and  from  there  in  1836,  soon  after  his 
marriage  to  Sarah  Combes,  came  to  Indiana  and  set- 
tled in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County.  He  en- 
tered land  from  the  Government,  cleared  and  made 
a home  there,  and  in  1853  bought  about  200  acres 
of  the  old  Colonel  Cochran  farm  in  Milford  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County.  He  lived  there  until 
1874  when  he  moved  to  Kendallville  where  his  wife 
died,  and  in  1879  he  went  to  Fort  Wayne  and  mar- 
ried Mary  Miller.  He  died  at  Kendallville  Febru- 
ary 15,  1901.  In  the  Francis  family  were  seven 
children,  Welton,  Sylvester,  Isabel,  Elbridge,  Eliza, 
Mattie  and  one  son  that  died  in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bassett  have  two  children,  I.loyd 
and  Velma  Luella.  Lloyd  was  born  October  23, 
1893,  had  a good  education,  being  a graduate  of  the 
Springfield  Township  and  the  LaGrange  High 
Schools.  He  was  formerly  manager  of  the  Mount 
Pisgah  Mercantile  Association  for  two  years,  and 
then  removed  to  Applemanburg  to  take  charge  of 
his  father’s  business.  On  December  23,  1914,  he 
married  Miss  Lucile  Faust  of  Springfield  Township. 
They  have  a daughter,  Eileen,  born  December  2, 
1916. 


Velma  Luella  Bassett  was  born  May  23,  1900, 
is  a graduate  of  the  Springfield  Township  and  La- 
Grange High  Schools,  also  attended  the  Tri-State 
College  at  Angola,  and  is  now  assistant  cashier  of 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Stroh. 

John  A.  Thunander  is  a resident  of  Noble 
County  who  appreciates  the  value  and  opportunity 
of  American  citizenship,  and  in  turn  his  own  sub- 
stantial character,  his  enviable  work  and  enterprise 
are  thoroughly  appreciated  in  the  community  where 
he  has  lived  and  worked  out  his  destiny  and  success 
during  a period  of  thirty  years.  He  is  a farmer 
in  section  36  of  Sparta  Township. 

Mr.  Thunander  was  born  in  Sweden,  November 
26,  1856,  son  of  Erickson  and  Christina  (Lyon) 
Thunander.  His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in 
Sweden,  and  his  father  was  a contractor  and 
builder  by  profession.  Both  parents  were  very 
active  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  Erickson 
was  chorister  in  the  church  for  forty  years,  and 
that  was  his  chief  interest  outside  of  his  business 
and  home.  Of  eight  children  six  are  still  living: 
Carl,  a farmer  in  Sweden;  John  A.;  Claus,  of 
Elkhart,  Indiana ; Anna,  unmarried,  and  still  living 
in  Sweden;  Alfred,  a Swedish  farmer;  and  Oscar, 
also  farming  in  Sweden. 

John  A.  Thunander  grew  up  on  a farm  in  his 
native  land,  attended  the  common  schools,  and  at 
the  age  of  eight  started  out  to  make  his  own  living. 
He  remained  in  Sweden  until  he  was  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  In  April,  1884,  he  landed  in  New 
York  City  and  came  direct  to  Ligonier,  Indiana, 
to  join  his  brother.  During  the  next  two  years  he 
was  a laborer  at  monthly  wages  in  Elkhart  County. 

On  December  4,  1888,  he  .married  Matilda  Walter. 
She  was  born  in  Sweden  July  12,  1862,  attended 
school  there,  and  came  to  the  United  States  in 
September,  1887,  from  the  same  locality  as  her 
husband.  She  lived  near  Ligonier  until  her  mar- 
riage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thunander  rented  a house  and 
during  the  following  three  years  he  supported  his 
little  family  chiefly  by  day  work.  He  was  a ditch 
digger  and  accepted  any  other  employment  which 
would  earn  him  an  honest  living.  He  then  moved 
to  York  Township  and  rented  a farm,  and  they 
remained  on  one  place  for  nine  years.  For  four 
years  he  rented  the  Orlando  Kimmell  farm,  and 
then  with  the  savings  of  fifteen  years  or  more  bought 
eighty  acres  in  Sparta  Township.  He  has  since 
increased  this  to  100  acres,  and  is  now  the  fortunate 
possessor  of  a good  farm  and  has  a home  with  all 
the  improvements.  His  farm  is  well  stocked. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thunander  had  one  child,  who  died 
when  a week  old.  They  took  into  their  home  Wayne 
Scott  Breece  when  five  years  old,  and  carefully 
reared  him  and  gave  him  a good  education.  He 
graduated  from  the  common  schools  at  the  age 
of  fourteen,  later  from  the  Wolf  Lake  High  School, 
and  also  attended  South  Bend  Business  College. 
This  adopted  son  married  Lena  LeCount,  and  they 
have  one  daughter.  Bertie  May. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thunander  are  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Kimmell,  and 
he  gives  as  much  time  to  church  duties  as  did  his 
father.  Mr.  Thunander  is  treasurer,  steward,  trus- 
tee and  class  leader  of  the  church.  He  has  also 
served  as  township  supervisor,  is  a republican  in 
politics,  and  is  a past  grand  of  Sparta  Lodge  No. 
773  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

John  L.  Crothers.  For  over  fifty  years  the  name 
Crothers  has  been  spoken  in  Noble  County  with 
the  respect  due  a family  of  more  than  ordinary 


108 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


intelligence,  business  ability,  energy  and  resource- 
fulness. Representing  the  third  generation  of  the 
name  John  L.  Crothers  learned  a mechanical  trade 
as  a youth,  still  continues  it,  but  is  also  a farmer 
and  one  of  the  leading  onion  growers  of  Allen 
Township. 

Mr.  Crothers  was  born  in  Green  Township  of  that 
county,  December  30,  1882,  a son  of  Cyrus  and 
Mary  (McCoy)  Crothers.  His  parents  were  both 
born  in  Green  Township  of  Noble  County.  The 
grandfather,  Lafayette  Crothers,  was  a native  of 
Ohio,  married  Martha  Beard,  and  they  arrived  in 
Noble  County  about  1855,  settling  on  a farm  in 
Green  Township,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days.  Their  four  children  were  Viana  Parker, 
Cyrus,  W.  C.  and  Leslie,  all  of  whom  are  still 
living.  After  his  marriage  Cyrus  Crothers  settled 
on  a farm  and  lived  there  until  1906,  when  he 
moved  to  another  farm  in  the  county.  He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  and  he  was  a republican.  Cyrus  Crothers 
and  wife  had  four  children:  John  L. ; Lettisha, 

wife  of  Ernest  Rawson,  of  Kendallville ; Lafayette, 
a farmer  in  York  Township;  and  Arthur,  of  Ken- 
dallville. 

John  L.  Crothers  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Green 
Township  and  received  his  education  in  the  local 
schools.  When  only  fifteen  years  of  age  he  began 
learning  the  trade  of  plasterer,  and  has  followed 
that  occupation  in  the  intervals  of  his  other  business 
affairs  to  the  present  time.  He  now  owns  a good 
farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Allen  Township,  and  has 
nineteen  acres  of  good  muck  soil  devoted  to  onion 
culture.  His  average  crop  is  about  8,000  bushels  a 
year.  He  also  raises  the  other  crops  suitable  to  a 
general  farm.  , 

April  14,  1901,  he  married  Miss  Mina  Hetzel,  who 
was  born  in  York  Township  of  Noble  County  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  fl  hey  have  four 
children : Floyd,  Coy,  Martha  and  Kenneth.  Mr. 

Crothers  is  a republican. 

Maurice  McClew,  a former  member  of  the  Legis- 
lature from  Steuben  County,  a farmer  and  a lawyer 
by  profession,  represents  some  of  the  oldest  names 
identified  with  the  early  history  of  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  at  Fremont  in  that  county,  May  5, 
1879,  a son  of  Charles  and  Mary  (Farnham)  Mc- 
Clew. His  great-grandfather,  David  McClew,  was 
a native  of  Scotland,  and  on  coming  to  this  country 
prior  to  the  Revolutionary  war  settled  in  New  York 
and  passed  his  last  years  in  Niagara  County  of 
that  state. 

The  founder  of  the  family  in  Steuben  County 
was  grandfather  John  McClew,  a native  of  New 
York,  who  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1836  and 
brought  his  family  here  the  following  year.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Fremont  Township,  taking 
up  eighty  acres  of  Government  land.  Eventually  he 
owned  several  farms,  followed  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
was  a man  of  great  influence  and  substantial  char- 
acter. For  eleven  years  he  served  as  a county  com- 
missioner. In  early  life  he  was  a Presbyterian  and 
later  a Methodist,  and  in  politics  he  was  allied  with 
the  whigs  and  later  the  republicans.  He  died  at 
Fremont  in  February,  1891. 

Charles  McClew,  son  of  this  pioneer,  was  born  in 
Steuben  County,  December  27,  1842.  His  wife, 
Mary  Farnham,  was  born  in  the  same  county,  April 
3,  1846,  a daughter  of  Erastus  and  Lucinda  (Brad- 
ley) Farnham,  the  former  a native  of  Delaware 
County,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Connecticut. 
Erastus  Farnham  came  to  Fremont  Township  in 
1836.  Prior  to  coming  here  he  had  taught  school 
in  twelve  different  states.  He  was  a surveyor  by 


profession,  and  at  one  time  held  the  offices  of 
county  surveyor  and  county  treasurer  in  Steuben 
County.  He  died  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one. 

Charles  McClew  was  educated  in  public  schools 
and  the  Orland  Academy,  was  a teacher  for  about 
two  years,  and  otherwise  a farmer,  owning  farms 
in  Pleasant  and  Jamestown  townships.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  had  three 
children : Maurice ; Bell,  wife  of  Claud  Neer,  a 

mining  engineer  at  Denver,  Colorado ; and  John  J., 
an  engineer  at  San  Jose,  California.  Charles  Mc- 
Clew’s  wife  by  a previous  marriage  to  Henry  M. 
Willis  had  two  children,  Estella,  who  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1914,  the  wife  of  Lorenzo  D.  Creel,  of  An- 
gola, and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  J.  Gavin,  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Maurice  McClew  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Pleasant  Township,  attended  public  schools  there, 
the  Normal  School  at  Angola,  and  like  several  of 
his  ancestors,  was  a teacher  in  early  life.  He 
studied  law  with  Brown  & Carlin  for  a year  and  a 
half,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1905,  and  spent  about 
a year  in  the  West.  He  has  been  successfully  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  addition  to  his  law  work.  Mr. 
McClew  was  elected  a member  of  the  Legislature  in 
1910,  on  the  republican  ticket.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Angola  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three  was  elected  master  of  the  Grange  in 
Fremont  Township. 

June  10,  1917,  in  Chicago,  he  married  Nora  Hurd. 
She  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church  and  the 
Eastern  Star. 

Daniel  J.  Bontrager.  This  family  name  is  prac- 
tically synonymous  with  good  farming,  good  citizen- 
ship and  individual  prosperity  in  m~ny  localities  of 
Northeast  Indiana.  Daniel  J.  Bontrager,  whose  ef- 
forts have  brought  him  the  ownership  of  a large 
and  well  managed  farm  in  Van  Buren  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  is  a son  of  John  J.  and  Fannie 
(Kauffman)  Bontrager.  Much  of  the  information 
concerning  other  members  of  the  family  will  be 
found  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

Daniel  J.  Bontrager  was  born  in  Eden  Township 
December  25,  i860.  He  was  reared  and  attended 
district  schools  in  Van  Buren,  and  has  applied  his 
chief  efforts  and  experience  as  a farmer  in  that 
locality.  He  bought  his  first  land,  about  seventy- 
eight  acres,  in  section  31,  in  1887,  and  during  the 
thirty  odd  years  since  then  h^s  seen  his  possessions 
expand  until  they  now  include  400  acres  in  sections 
31  and  30  of  Van  Buren  and  forty-six  acres  in  New- 
bury townships.  All  of  this  land  is  under  general 
cultivation  and  he  has  always  made  live  stock  a 
feature  of  his  business. 

December  23,  1886,  he  married  Lovina  Mast.  She 
was  born  in  Newbury  Township  November  14,  1866, 
a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Susie  (Bontrager)  Mast. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bontrager  and  family  are  members 
of  the  Amish  Old  Order  Mennonite  Church.  Since 
its  organization  he  has  been  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Farmers  Threshing  Association. 

The  family  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bontrager  comprise 
nine  children,  named  in  order  of  birth  : Jacob,  John, 
Levi,  Susie,  Moses,  Gideon,  Fannie,  Daniel  and 
Katie.  Jacob  married  Fannie  Schrock,  and  they 
have  six  children,  named  Simon,  Clara,  Laura, 
Daniel,  Viola  and  Ida.  Levi  married  Lizzie  Graber 
and  has  two  daughters,  C’adys  and  Viola.  Susie  is 
the  wife  of  Milo  Miller,  and  her  children  are  Erwin 
and  Mahlon. 

Harry  C.  Kankamp.  Among  the  younger  men 
who  have  already  won  recognition  as  capable  farm- 
ers in  Steuben  County,  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


109 


is  Harry  C.  Kankamp,  who  only  recently  turned 
his  majority,  but  has  the  responsibility  and  is  suc- 
cessfully looking  after  all  departments  of  a large 
farm  in  Steuben  Township. 

Mr.  Kankamp  is  a son  of  Fred  and  Etta  (Hayden) 
Kankamp,  more  particularly  referred  to  on  other 
pages  of  this  publication.  He  was  born  on  the  home 
farm  in  Pleasant  Township  October  6,  1896,  grew 
up  in  a good  home,  acquired  a good  education  in 
local  schools  and  in  the  Angola  High  School,  sup- 
plemented by  a course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege. The  farm  he  operates  comprises  251  acres 
two  miles  southeast  of  Angola.  It  is  one  of  the 
good  and  well  improved  farms  of  the  township, 
and  Mr.  Kankamp  is  using  it  for  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  purposes,  specializing  in  pure 
bred  Shropshire  sheep  and  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 

In  politics  he  is  a republican.  July  23,  1916,  he 
married  Miss  Ida  Mae  Kain.  She  was  born  in 
Union  Township  of  Wells  County,  Indiana,  Febru- 
ary 15,  1898^  a daughter  of  William  Henry  and 
Mary  Mandilla  (Fryback)  Kain.  Her  parents  are 
now  living  near  Youngstown,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kankamp  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Ellen,  born 
June  2,  1917. 

David  H.  Renner.  While  so  much  of  his  life  has 
been  passed  in  the  quiet  environment  of  the  farm 
in  Steuben  Township,  his  intimate  friends  know 
that  David  H.  Renner  has  always  been  ready  for 
duty  when  duty’s  call  was  heard.  Those  duties 
have  been  none  the  less  important  because  they  have 
been  performed  as  part  of  the  day’s  routine,  and  the 
same  spirit  has  characterized  his  performance  of 
simple  and  homely  toils  as  uged  him  on  when  a 
young  man  in  following  the  flag  of  the  Union  during 
the  Civil  war. 

Mr.  Renner  was  born  in  Union  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, December  21,  1837,  a son  of  John  and  Julia 
Renner.  His  parents  came  to  Steuben  County  and 
settled  in  section  31  of  Otsego  Township  in 
1844.  They  had  six  children,  four  of  whom  were 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  two  in  Steuben  County. 
David  H.  Renner  grew  up  from  the  age  of  seven 
on  the  old  home  place,  acquired  such  education  as 
was  possible  in  the  limited  district  schools  of  his 
youth,  his  school  days  being  spent  chiefly  in  District 
No.  7 of  Otsego  Township.  He  worked  out  as  a 
farm  hand,  and  in  August,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company 
A of  the  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry. 
In  September  he  was  transferred  to  Company  E of 
the  Ninth  Indiana  Infantry  at  LaPorte.  The  regi- 
ment to  which  he  was  transferred  left  at  once  for 
the  West  Virginia  campaign,  and  except  for  a short 
time  in  a hospital  at  Louisville  Mr.  Renner  was 
with  his  command  in  all  its  engagements.  While 
in  Louisville  and  while  convalescent  he  was  assigned 
to  duty  as  a cook.  Several  times  he  urged  his  offi- 
cers to  let  him  return  to  his  old  organization  at  the 
front,  but  he  was  told  some  one  must  cook  and 
he  had  to  stay.  One  day  he  and  his  comrades  were 
paid  off.  It  was  the  first  money  he  had  received 
since  entering  the  army.  His  pay  amounted  to  over 
$100.  Most  of  it  he  sent  to  his  wife,  and 
then  packed  up  his  belongings.  A company  was 
leaving  the  next  day  for  the  front,  going  to  the 
same  locality  where  his  old  company  was  stationed. 
When  this  organization  left  the  barracks  Mr.  Renner 
went  A.  W.  O.  L.  and  traveled  with  them.  The  first 
day’s  journey  was  by  train.  On  leaving  the  train 
the  company  was  lined  up  at  a mess  shack,  and  the 
men  counted  before  going  in.  The  extra  member 
was  then  discovered  and  the  captain  asked : “Have 
one  of  you  men  deserted  from  Louisville  and  come 
along  with  this  company?”  Mr.  Renner  stepped 


out  and  replied,  “Yes,  sir,  I did.”  Fie  then  explained 
to  the  captain  why  he  had  come.  “Well,  I’ll  be 
damned,”  said  the  captain,  “hundreds  of  men  have 
deserted  to  get  away  from  the  firing  line,  but  you 
are  the  first  to  desert  to  get  back  to  it.”  Mr. 
Renner  was  then  issued  a pass  back  to  his  old  com- 
pany. That  was  not  the  first  instance  of  his  good 
soldierly  qualities  and  his  eagerness  to  be  on  the 
fighting  line.  While  he  was  a recruit  of  Company 
A,  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry,  the 
Ninth  Regiment  was  ordered  to  the  front.  Com- 
pany E lacked  about  twenty  men.  The  organization 
of  Mr.  Renner  were  then  lined  up  and  the  captain 
explained  the  situation  and  asked  for  volunteers 
to  fill  out  the  quota  of  Company  E.  Mr.  Renner 
and  a number  of  his  comrades  at  once  stepped  out 
and  volunteered.  He  was  in  the  army  until  receiv- 
ing his  honorable  discharge  in  September,  1865, 
more  than  four  years  after  his  enlistment.  He 
left  a wife  and  two  children  to  go  into  the  army, 
having  married  in  1857  Miss  Ellen  Ruthrauff.  After 
the  war  he  returned  to  his  father’s  farm  and  then 
bought  his  present  place  of  forty  acres  in  section 
25  of  Steuben  Township,  and  has  lived  there 
quietly  and  uneventfully  for  over  half  a cen- 
tury. He  now  makes  his  home  with  his  daughter 
Nora,  and  her  husband  is  running  the  farm.  Mr, 
Renner  lost  his  wife  by  death  May  28,  1912,  after 
they  had  been  married  over  half  a century.  Their 
children  were:  James;  Frank,  deceased;  Edward, 

Henry,  Nora,  Jacob  and  Isaac.  Nora  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Metzler.  She  has  six  children,  named 
Lillie,  Roy,  Ralph,  Addie,  Della  and  Clarence.  Mr. 
Renner  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  two  of  his  grand- 
sons, Roy  and  Ralph  Metzler,  were  American  sol- 
diers in  the  great  war.  They  are  members  of 
Company  M,  Thirty-Sixth  Infantry,  having  enlisted 
May  21,  1918,  and  in  the  spring  of  1919  were  in  camp 
in  Massachusetts. 

James  E.  Yeiser  is  one  of  the  influential  citizens 
of  Allen  Township  in  Noble  County.  He  is  a prac- 
tical farmer,  and  farming  has  been  his  regular 
vocation  all  his  active  years.  His  home  is  two 
and  a half  miles  west  of  Avilla. 

Mr.  Yeiser  is  all  but  a native  of  Noble  County, 
having  been  brought  there  when  less  than  a year  old. 
He  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  September 
25,  1854,  a son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Shambaugh) 
Yeiser,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  and 
in  April,  1855,  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
locating  in  Allen  Township,  three  and  a half  miles 
west  of  Avilla.  The  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their 
useful  lives  in  that  community.  The  father  was  a 
republican.  Of  five  children  four  are  still  living: 
Elizabeth,  widow  of  Jacob  Myers  and  now  living 
with  her  brother,  James  E. ; James  E. ; Mary,  widow 
of  P.  Brooks  and  a resident  of  Oklahoma;  and 
Frank  C.,  also  living  in  Allen  Township. 

James  E.  Yeiser  grew  up  on  the  old  farm,  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools  and  lived  at  home 
until  past  twenty-one.  He  sold  his  interest  in  the 
old  estate  and  homestead,  and  later  he  and  his 
sister  Elizabeth  bought  the  eighty-acre  farm  where 
they  now  reside.  Elizabeth’s  husband,  Jacob  Myers, 
had  died  in  the  meantime,  and  she  and  her  brother 
have  since  had  a congenial  home  and  an  effective 
arrangement  for  handling  the  farm  and  the  house- 
hold to  their  mutual  satisfaction  and  profit.  Mr. 
Yeiser  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Fred  B.  Kimball.  Orland  is  a substantial  com- 
munity that  still  reflects  the  spirit  and  qualities  of 
its  pioneers.  It  was  originally  known  as  the  Ver- 


110 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


mont  settlement,  most  of  the  pioneers  having  come 
from  that  state.  They  brought  with  them  many  of 
the  outstanding  characteristics  of  the  New  England- 
ers, and  probably  no  community  in  Steuben  County 
had  at  an  earlier  time  churches,  free  schools  and 
other  evidences  of  culture  and  enlightenment  of 
New  England  people. 

One  of  the  early  families  to  settle  there  was  that 
of  Kimball.  Deacon  Timothy  Kimball  reached  the 
Vermont  settlement  in  1836,  and  soon  afterward 
built  the  first  grist  mill  on  the  river  just  north  of 
the  settlement.  The  building  of  this  mill  proved  a 
boon  to  the  community,  and  was  patronized  by 
farmers  for  miles  around.  Deacon  Kimball  was 
also  prominent  in  founding  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Orland,  and  in  many  other  ways  lent 
a helpful  hand.  He  married  Abbie  Baldwin,  and 
they  came  with  their  seven  children  to  Steuben 
County.  They  had  left  New  York  State  in  1830, 
going  to  Detroit,  and  thence  by  wagon  to  Tekonsha 
in  Calhoun  County,  Michigan.  Deacon  Timothy 
Kimball  bought  about  160  acres  around  Orland,  and 
lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a local 
judge  at  one  time.  His  children  were:  Augustus, 

William,  Miles,  Betsey,  Julia,  Abbie  and  Jerusha. 

Miles  B.  Kimball  was  born  at  Whitehall,  New 
York,  August  29,  1826.  He  married  Elizabeth  Persis 
Birce  on  January  9,  1862.  She  was  a native  of 
Syracuse,  New  York.  Miles  B.  Kimball  attended 
the  first  public  schools  taught  in  Orland.  In  1850 
his  spirit  of  enterprise  impelled  him  to  go  to  the 
California  gold  fields,  and  he  staj'ed  in  the  Far 
West  until  1861.  He  was  prospered  in  California, 
and  after  returning  to  the  East  he  invested  heavily 
in  lands  and  bought  and  improved  and  sold  a number 
of  farms.  He  also  conducted  a hardware  store  at 
Orland,  and  at  one  time  was  owner  of  the  flour 
mill  known  as  the  Greenfield  Mill.  He  also  did  a 
large  business  in  raising  and  dealing  in  sheep  and 
cattle.  He  died  September  1,  1895.  He  and  his 
wife  had  four  children : Martha  B.,  who  married 

James  Canse,  a member  of  the  Eccles  Wholesale 
Lumber  Company  of  Ogden,  Utah;  Fred  B. ; Wil- 
liam, who  was  assistant  law  librarian  and  a member 
of  the  bar  at  Indianapolis  at  the  time  of  his  death ; 
and  Harry  M.,  a resident  and  practising  lawyer  of 
Vicksburg,  Michigan. 

Fred  B.  Kimball  was  born  at  Orland,  August  12, 
1866,  attended  the  public  schools  there,  also  Oberlin 
College  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College  at  Angola.  He  graduated  in  the  commer- 
cial course  at  Angola.  As  a boy  he  had  received 
some  commercial  training  while  helping  his  father 
in  the  hardware  store.  He  engaged  independently 
in  business  as  a dealer  in  carriages  and  implements 
in  Kansas  City,  and  remained  in  that  city  for  about 
twenty  years.  In  1904  he  returned  to  Orland,  bought 
a farm  adjoining  that  town,  where  he  has  since 
lived,  and  has  carried  on  extensive  operations  as  a 
farmer,  as  a breeder  of  blooded  Holstein  dairy 
cattle  and  is,  like  his  father,  a stock  dealer. 

On  June  14,  1905,  Mr.  Kimball  married  Mary  A. 
Wilder,  daughter  of  Charles  H.  and  Jennie  (Scott) 
Wilder.  Mrs.  Kimball  is  a graduate  of  the  Orland 
High  School,  then  taught  two  years  in  the  Orland 
primary  grade,  after  which  she  entered  Hillsdale 
College  in  Michigan,  and  for  two  years  after  her 
course  there  was  instructor  in  the  Orland  High 
School.  In  the  fall  of  1892  she  went  to  California 
and  became  a teacher,  and  for  ten  years  was  con- 
nected with  the  high  school  at  Tulare.  In  1903  she 
accepted  the  post  of  librarian  at  Orland,  being  the 
first  librarian.  She  is  active  in  the  Congregational 
Church  and  a member  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kimball  have  two  children : Miles  W., 


born  June  3,  1906,  and  Charles  Scott,  born  July  18, 
1910. 

Samuel  Stine.  Out  of  eighty  odd  years  of  his 
longf  and  useful  life  Samuel  Stine  has  spent  more 
than  sixty-five  of  them  in  LaGrange  County,  and  the 
greater  part  of  this  time  has  been  a resident  on 
one  farm  in  Lima  Township.  As  a farmer  he  has 
achieved  much  success,  represented  in  a large  farm, 
and  in  every  way  has  been  substantially  identified 
with  the  welfare  and  progress  of  the  community. 

He  was  born  September  19,  1836,  son  of  Samuel 
and  Catherine  (Myers)  Stine.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of  Maryland, 
The  Stine  family  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1852 
and  settled  in  Lima  Township,  on  part  of  the  land 
where  Mr.  Samuel  Stine  now  lives.  His  father  took 
up  eighty  acres  in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  and  the 
chief  improvement  was  an  old  log  house.  He  made 
better  living  arrangements  by  the  addition  of  a wing 
to  this  house,  and  he  lived  there  until  his  death 
six  years  later,  February  10,  i860,  at  the  age  of  fifty- 
eight  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-five  days.  The 
widowed  mother  survived  until  July  5,  1877,  dying  at 
the  age  of  seventy-two  years,  five  months  and  two 
days.  They  had  a family  of  eight  children : Mary, 

wife  of  John  Northway;  Catherine,  wife  of  Owen 
Holmes;  Rebecca,  wife  of  Hiram  Mashon;  Jane, 
wife  of  Abe  Harding;  Amanda,  wife  of  Henry 
Wentworth;  Jacob;  Samuel;  and  Daniel,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Samuel  Stine  was  reared  partly  in  Pennsylvania 
and  partly  in  Ohio,  and  was  sixteen  years  of  age 
when  he  came  to  LaGrange  County.  Several  years 
later  he  acquired  forty  acres  of  land  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  was  busily  engaged  in  its  improvement  and 
cultivation.  About  three  years  after  his  father’s 
death  he  traded  that  land  for  147  acres  in  Lima 
Township  and  still  later  he  acquired  the  old  home- 
stead. His  possessions  steadily  grew  for  a number 
of  years  until  he  had  365  acres,  improved  with  three 
complete  sets  of  buildings.  The  house  in  which  he 
now  lives  was  erected  in  1877.  He  has  followed 
general  farming  and  stockraising.  Mr.  Stine  is  a 
democrat.  His  wife  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

On  February  4,  1874,  he  married  Mary  Jane  Moul- 
ton. She  was  born  in  Ohio  April  10,  1839,  and  died 
April  9,  1915,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Stine  had  one  daughter,  Bertha  Jane.  She  was 
born  at  the  old  farm  on  July  2,  1878,  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  on  June  5,  1912,  became 
the  wife  of  Victor  Camp.  Mr.  Camp,  a widely  known 
and  prominent  citizen  of  LaGrange  Township,  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1865,  son  of  Jacob  and  Jane  Camp, 
who  came  to  LaGrange  County  and  settled  in  Clay 
Township,  where  both  of  them  spent  their  last  years. 
Victor  Camp  attended  public  school  in  this  county, 
also  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  took  a busi- 
ness course  in  Valparaiso.  He  was  a teacher  in  La- 
Grange County  for  several  years.  In  1913  he  was 
called  from  his  farm  to  the  duties  of  the  office  of 
county  treasurer,  and  served  one  term.  He  has  also 
been  assessor  of  Clay  Township  and  in  other  minor 
offices.  Mr.  Camp  owns  the  old  Camp  homestead 
and  is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  elevator  at  Howe. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Camp  have  one  child,  Stine  J.,  born 
at  LaGrange  January  4,  1915. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stine  also  reared  two  children,  Eva 
McManus,  a niece  of  Mrs.  Stine,  and  Alton  Went- 
worth, a nephew  of  Mr.  Stine.  Eva  McManus  is 
the  deceased  wife  of  Charles  Eaton.  Alta  Went- 
worth is  a machinist  living  at  Mishawaka,  Indiana. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


111 


Morton  Hanselman,  one  of  the  men  who  have 
done  most  to  promote  and  stimulate  good  farming 
in  Steuben  County,  and  owner  of  two  valuable 
places  in  Otsego  Township,  is  member  of  a family 
that  has  been  identified  with  this  part  of  northeast 
Indiana  for  several  generations. 

Mr.  Hanselman  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Otsego  Township,  a son  of  John  Quincy  and 
Margaret  (Kankamp)  Hanselman,  and  grandson  of 
Aaron  Hanselman,  who  brought  his  family  to 
Steuben  Township  in  pioneer  times.  Morton  Han- 
selman grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  was  well 
educated  in  the  local  schools.  During  his  mature 
career  he  has  acquired  a good  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
which  with  valuable  buildings  constitutes  a splendid 
place  for  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
also  has  another  farm  of  136  acres  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship adjoining  his  home  place,  and  with  216  acres 
in  the  aggregate  he  is  able  to  direct  his  affairs 
somewhat  leisurely,  and  spends  much  of  his  time  on 
the  farm. 

August  29,  1900,  he  married  Miss  Etta  Van  Auken. 
She  was  born  in  Steuben  Township  November  10, 
1874,  a daughter  of  Horace  M.  and  Elizabeth 
(McMillen)  Van  Auken,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Her 
father  came  to  Steuben  County  when  a young  man 
with  his  parents,  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Straway)  Van 
Auken,  who  were  early  settlers  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Hanselman’s  mother  was  the  third  white 
child  born  in  Steuben  County.  Her  parents  had  a 
family  of  eight  children,  three  of  whom  died  in 
infancy  and  the  others  were  Ernest,  Mary,  Amy, 
Etta  and  Horace. 

V.  Clare  Simon  is  the  present  trustee  of  Swan 
Township,  Noble  County,  and  his  official  position  is 
only  a sign  and  symbol  of  his  general  business  and 
social  standing  in  that  community,  where  he  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  as  a very  successful  and 
progressive  farmer. 

Mr.  Simon  was  born  at  Goshen,  Indiana,  February 
25,  1868,  a son  of  Charles  and  Caroline  (Perry) 
Simon.  His  family,  especially  on  his  mother’s  side, 
is  identified  with  the  earliest  pioneer  period  of  Noble 
County.  Caroline  Perry  was  born  in  section  36  of 
Swan  Township  when  all  that  district  was  a wilder- 
ness. Charles  Simon  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  in  1838  and  was  ten  years  of  age  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Swan 
Township.  V.  Clare  Simon  was  six  weeks  old  when 
his  grandmother  brought  him  to  Noble  County.  He 
was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  began  farm- 
ing as  soon  as  he  reached  his  majority.  On  Febru- 
ary 25,  1895,  he  'married  Mary  E.  Jarrett.  They 
then  settled  on  their  present  place  in  Swan  Town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Simon  have  three  living  chil- 
dren. One  pon,  Raymond  P.,  is  deceased.  Ina  is  the 
wife  of  Don  Brown;  Walter  is  a high  school  stu- 
dent and  Grace  is  also  in  the  local  high  school.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and 
Mr.  Simon  was  for  twenty-two  years  on  the  church 
council. 

Since  early  manhood  he  has  always  taken  an  in- 
terest in  the  republican  party.  He  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Advisory  Board  and  was  elected  trustee 
of  Swan  Township  in  1914.  He  entered  upon  his 
official  duties  in  January,  1915,  and  his  first  term 
was  of  such  constructive  value  and  meant  so  much 
to  the  welfare  of  the  local  schools  and  other  inter- 
ests entrusted  to  his  charge  he  had  the  satisfaction 
of  being  returned  to  the  office  for  another  four 
year  term  on  November  5,  1918.  Mr.  Simon  looks 
after  a good  farm  of  149  acres,  is  also  a stock- 
holder in  the  Mutual  Telephone  Company,  and  is 


agent  for  the  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Company 
of  Noble  County. 

William  A.  Cochran.  While  his  interests  first 
and  last  have  been  chiefly  identified  with  the  great 
business  of  farming  and  stock  raising,  William  A. 
Cochran’s  influence  has  gradually  spread  from  his 
farm  to  include  many  important  affairs  in  Ligonier 
and  elsewhere,  and  in  every  sense  he  has  been  one 
of  Noble  county’s  foremost  citizens  in  progressive- 
ness and  public  spirit.  He  is  owner  of  one  of  the 
noted  farms  of  the  county,  known  as  the  Maple  Row 
Stock  and  Dairy  Farm,  comprising  290  acres  lo- 
cated on  the  Haw  Patch  and  White  Pigeon  road 
two  miles  northeast  of  Ligonier. 

That  farm  is  of  the  more  interest  to  him  because 
he  was  born  there,  August  9,  1857,  son  of  Alfred 
and  Cynthia  (Hays)  Cochran.  His  parents  were 
both  born  in  Perry  County,  Ohio,  his  mother  being 
a daughter  of  John  Hays.  They  were  married  in 
their  native  county,  and  soon  afterward,  in  1849, 
came  to  Indiana  and  located  on  the  farm  where 
their  son  now  lives.  Alfred  Cochran  at  that  time 
built  a cabin  and  his  industry  gradually  effected  a 
number  of  improvements,  some  of  which  are  in 
evidence  today.  He  died  on  the  old  farm  in  1883. 
He  and  his  wife  were  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  in  politics  he  was  a republi- 
can. Of  their  family  of  eight  children  four  are 
still  living:  Mary  E.,  widow  of  George  W.  Vedder; 
Mahala,  wife  of  A.  J.  Ramsbey;  Melissa,  widow  of 
John  Denney;  and  William  A. 

William  A.  Cochran  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education,  being  a grad- 
uate of  the  district  schools.  On  March  7,  1878,  he 
married  Luella  Hays,  daughter  of  William  D.  and 
Harriett  E.  (Smith)  Hays.  Her  father  was  a native 
of  Ohio  and  her  mother  of  Indiana.  Her  father 
at  one  time  owned  about  500  acres  near  Ligonier. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran  ever  since  their  marriage 
have  lived  on  the  Maple  Row  Stock  and  Dairy  Farm. 
Mr.  Cochran  altogether  owns  about  800  acres  around 
Ligonier  and  vicinity,  his  property  being  in  three 
different  farms,  and  he  has  260  acres  in  Oklahoma 
near  one  of  the  most  productive  oil  belts.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Farmers  Co-operative 
Elevator  at  Ligonier,  was  one  of  the  stockholders 
in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company  of 
Ligonier  and  is  its  vice  president,  and  has  been 
active  in  many  community  affairs.  He  gave  much 
of  his  time  to  war  auxiliary  movements,  serving  as 
a member  of  the  County  Council  of  Defense,  and 
was  the  first  county  chairman  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
in  the  state  organization.  He  has  served  as  town- 
ship chairman  of  Perry  Township  and  is  a republi- 
can. He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Ligonier,  and  he  is  one  of  the 
trustees  and  has  been  director  of  the  choir  of  the 
church  for  the  past  forty  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cochran  have  three  children.  Edith, 
a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  is  the  wife  of 
C.  R.  Stage,  of  Perry  Township.  C.  Deane,  who 
attended  school  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan,  married 
Eva  Lance  and  lives  at  Ligonier.  Florence  Jessie 
is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  attended  high 
school  and  is  the  wife  of  George  Goshorn,  living 
on  the  Maple  Row  Stock  Farm'  with  her  father. 

Emmet  B.  Hagerty  has  spent  his  life  in  one  of 
the  best  rural  communities  of  LaGrange  County, 
Van  Buren  Township,  and  for  over  thirty  years  he 
has  served  that  community  ably  and  well  as  a mer- 
chant. The  firm  Hagerty  Brothers  has  been  in  busi- 
ness at  Scott  as  general  merchants  since  1887. 

Mr.  Hagerty,  who  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Town- 


112 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


ship  July  3,  1862,  represents  a pioneer  family  in 
Southern  Michigan  and  Northern  Indiana.  His 
grandfather,  Patrick  H.  Hagerty,  was  a native  of 
Ireland  and  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1819. 
He  lived  for  a time  in  New  York  and  later  at  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life.  For  many  years  he  was  a faithful  employe 
of  old  Commodore  Vanderbilt,  founder  of  the  great 
Vanderbilt  fortunes.  Patrick  H.  Hagerty  by  his 
first  wife  had  four  children,  James,  Michael,  Mary 
and  Sarah,  and  by  a second  marriage  had  a son, 
George. 

James  Hagerty,  father  of  the  Van  Buren  town- 
ship merchant,  was  born  in  Donegal,  Ireland,  August 
1,  1816,  and  was  three  years  old  when  brought  to 
this  country.  He  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  when  General  Lafayette 
was  on  his  last  tour  of  America  this  boy  had  the 
honor  of  handing  the  great  Frenchman  a drink  of 
water  at  New  Brunswick.  In  1834  he  sought  new 
opportunities  in  the  new  country  of  the  middle  west 
and  settled  in  White  Pigeon  Township  of  St.  Joseph 
County,  Michigan.  White  Pigeon  was  then  one  of 
the  principal  towns  in  Southern  Michigan.  He  ac- 
quired 160  acres  of  Government  land,  but  after  three 
years  traded  his  land  for  a half  interest  in  a grist 
mill  at  Scott,  Indiana.  He  lived  there  the  rest  of 
his  life,  devoting  much  of  his  time  to  farming.  For 
twelve  years  he  was  a justice  of  the  peace.  James 
Hagerty  died  in  October,  1890.  He  married  for 
his  first  wife  Clarissa  Munger,  who  died  leaving  one 
child,  James  E.  For  his  second  wife  he  married 
Amanda  Bond,  a native  of  Montour  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. She  was  the  mother  of  Charles  B.,  I. 
Adella,  who  married  Chauncey  Troyer  and  lives  in 
Duluth,  Minnesota ; and  Emmet  B. 

Emmet  B.  Hagerty  attended  the  Scott  schools  in 
Van  Buren  Township,  and  had  a thorough  business 
training,  at  first  for  eight  years  in  a general  store 
at  Scott.  In  1884  he  and  Charles  Munger  bought 
the  business,  and  in  1887  Munger  sold  his  interest  to 
Charles  Hagerty,  thus  establishing  the  firm  of 
Hagerty  Brothers.  The  brothers  rebuilt  their  store 
building  in  1894,  and  conduct  one  of  the  best  gen- 
eral merchandise  establishments  in  the  county.  In 
1902  the  brothers  also  acquired  the  Junod  farm  in 
section  26  of  Van  Buren  Township,  and  its  manage- 
ment is  another  of  their  responsibilities.  Emmet 
Hagerty  is  also  vice  president  of  the  Farmers  State 
Bank  of  Shipshewana  and  has  been  a director  of 
that  institution  since  it  was  organized.  He  is  a char- 
ter  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Shipshe- 
wana, and  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  Scott  Methodist  Church,  which  he  serves  as  trus- 
tee and  steward.  Mr.  Hagerty  married  Ida  J.  Walter 
January  1,  1892.  She  is  a daughter  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Bickel)  Walter. 

Sherman  C.  Baker.  One  of  the  oldest  and  best 
known  families  of  Washington  Township  of  Noble 
County  is  that  of  Baker,  and  one  of  its  representa- 
tives is  Sherman  C.,  a progressive  and  successful 
farmer  who  has  devoted  the  best  part  of  his  life 
to  agriculture  and  has  realized  all  the  profits  of 
experience  and  enterprise  in  that  field. 

He  was  born  at  Cromwell,  Indiana,  June  30,  1871, 
son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  A.  (Smith)  Baker,  both 
natives  of  Ohio.  His  mother  came  to  Cromwell 
when  she  was  a girl,  grew  up  and  married  Jacob 
Baker,  who  owned  a farm  comprising  a portion  of 
the  land  on  which  the  Village  of  Cromwell  stands. 
Later  he  sold  that  property  and  bought  160  acres 
in  Washington  Township,  where  he  continued  the 
pursuit  of  agriculture  until  his  death.  His  widow 


is  still  living.  Jacob  Baker  was  quite  prominent  in 
local  affairs,  served  three  terms  as  trustee  of  Sparta 
Township,  and  was  active  in  republican  politics. 
Of  seven  children  five  are  still  living:  George  W., 

a farmer  in  Kosciusko  County;  Henry,  of  Denver, 
Colorado;  Lewis,  of  Washington  Township;  Julia, 
wife  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Budelmyre,  of  Indianapolis; 
and  Sherman  C. 

Sherman  C.  Baker  was  about  four  years  old 
when  his  parents  came  to  Washington  Township, 
and  during  his  boyhood  he  attended  the  local  schools 
and  acquired  a practical  knowledge  of  the  business 
which  he  has  followed  since  early  manhood.  Mr. 
Baker  owns  a farm  of  sixty  acres,  devoted  to  gen- 
eral crops  and  livestock. 

January  21,  1892,  he  married  Lusina  Burnheimer, 
who  was  born  in  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  De- 
cember 1,  1869,  daughter  of  Aaron  and  Julia 

(Welker)  Burnheimer.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1842  and  died  in  1917.  Her 
mother  was  born  in  1847.  Mrs.  Baker  spent  her 
early  girlhood  in  Whitley  County,  and  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have 
two  daughters : Bernice  M.,  a high  school  graduate 
and  wife  of  Leonard  Van  Vcjrest,  of  Kimmell ; and 
Mildred  I.,  who  besides  completing  the  high  school 
course  attended  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola 
and  is  now  one  of  the  successful  teachers  of  the 
schools  of  Washington  Township.  Mr.  Baker  is 
a republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Fraternal 
Order  of  Eagles  in  Columbia  City. 

Jesse  Warner  is  one  of  the  enviable  citizens  of 
Noble  County,  possessor  of  an  ample  farm,  and 
has  regulated  his  life  and  affairs  in  conformity  with 
the  best  standards  of  citizenship. 

The  farm  where  he  now  lives  was  the  scene  of 
his  birth  on  October  8,  1856.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest 
farms  in  one  continuous  ownership  in  Noble  County. 
The  Warner  family  in  pioneer  times  moved  West 
from  New  York  State  to  Michigan,  and  later  came 
to  Indiana.  They  journeyed  up  the  Maumee  River 
on  a boat  which  was  urged  against  the  sluggish 
current  by  poles,  and  after  landing  they  made  their 
way  to  Fort  Wayne  on  horseback.  They  reached 
Fort  Wayne  in  1836,  when  there  were  only  a few 
buildings  in  the  city.  The  grandfather  for  a time 
worked  in  an  old  tavern  at  Fort  Wayne  and  later 
moved  to  Noble  County,  locating  near  where  Jesse 
Warner  now  lives.  He  built  a little  shack  in  the 
woods,  and  the  grandparents  spent  the  rest  of  their 
days  in  Swan  Township. 

Jesse  Warner  is  a son  of  Corodon  and  Lydia 
(Simon)  Warner.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Genesee  County,  New  York,  and  his  mother  of  Ohio. 
His  father  spent  all  his  life  on  the  old  farm  in 
Noble  County.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  and  he  was  a republican.  Of 
eight  children  only  two  are  now  living,  Jesse  and 
Losina.  The  latter  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  William  Adair, 
of  Idaho. 

Jesse  Warner  grew  up  on  the  old  farm,  attended 
the  common  schools,  and  for  thirty-five  years  or 
more  has  industriously  cultivated  and  managed  the 
land  which  was  his  father’s  before  him.  He  has  130 
acres  in  one  body  and  strictly  as  a farmer  he  has 
provided  liberally  for  all  the  needs  of  his  family. 

April  4,  1881,  he  married  Sarah  Gillet.  They  are 
the  parents  of  the  following  children : Floyd,  a 

graduate  of  the  high  school  and  of  the  Huntington 
Business  College,  formerly  an  employe  of  the  Balti- 
more & Ohio  Railroad  and  now  at  home ; Odeyne,  a 
graduate  of  Ferris  Institute  and  a teacher;  Jessie,  a 
graduate  of  the  Laotto  High  School  and  also  a 
teacher;  and  Fern,  who  is  a teacher.  Mrs.  Warner 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


113 


was  also  engaged  in  educational  work  before  her 
marriage.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  in  politics  Mr.  Warner  is  a 
republican. 

J.  Howard  Moore.  For  over  half  a century  J. 
Howard  Moore  has  lived  in  Swan  Township  and 
Noble  County,  and  his  record  throughout  has  been 
that  of  a trustworthy  and  efficient  citizen,  a good 
farmer,  and  a man  whose  life  is  open  to  inspection 
on  every  page. 

He  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Pennsylvania, 
November  20,  1853,  son  of  Joseph  P.  and  Mary 
(Bigger)  Moore,  the  former  a native  of  Washing- 
ton County,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Beaver 
County  in  the  same  state.  Joseph  P.  Moore  was  a 
highly  educated  man  and  a minister  and  teacher  for 
many  years.  He  graduated  from  old  Washington 
College  in  Pennsylvania,  taught  in  private  schools 
and  later  founded  the  East  Liberty  Collegiate  In- 
stitute, of  which  he  was  the  head  for  about  twenty- 
five  years.  He  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  in  the 
spring  of  1865  and  settled  in  Swan  Township  of 
Noble  County.  The  journey  was  made  by  wagons 
from  Fort  Wayne.  Joseph  P.  Moore  was  an  or- 
dained minister  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
preached  at  Albion  and  Avilla  among  other  charges 
in  Northeast  Indiana.  He  was  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. Of  their  six  children  three  are  still  living: 
Mary  E.,  wife  of  Thomas  Anderson;  J.  Howard; 
and  William  C.,  whose  home  is  in  Missouri. 

J.  Howard  Moore  was  twelve  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Indiana,  and  besides  a common 
school  education  he  acquired  much  knowledge  under 
the  immediate  direction  of  his  father.  On  October 
12,  1876,  Mr.  Moore  married  Osie  May  Mendenhall. 
She  was  born  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County 
and  from  the  common  schools  entered  the  Method- 
ist College  at  Fort  Wayne,  where  she  took  the  lit- 
erary and  musical  course.  Being  gifted  musically 
she  taught  that  art  for  some  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moore  had  three  children.  Lillian  is  a graduate 
of  high  school  and  the  wife  of  Charles  Hosier,  liv- 
ing near  Laotto.  John  P.,  also  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools,  married  Grace  Bradley  and  has 
four  children,  Arthur  R.,  born  in  1905 ; Reuel  and 
Ruth,  twins,  born  October  25,  1910;  and  Leah  May, 
born  October  25,  1918.  The  youngest  child  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Moore  was  Fiannai,  or  Fannie,  who  died 
aged  twenty-one  years.  Mr.  Moore  lost  his  noble 
wife  November  30,  1899. 

Mr.  Moore  is  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
is  an  active  republican,  and  has  served  as  party 
committeeman.  For  one  term  he  was  trustee  of 
Swan  Township,  and  gave  a faithful  administration 
of  the  affairs  of  that  office.  As  a farmer  he  occupies 
the  old  home  estate  of  his  father,  containing  ninety- 
four  acres,  and  through  agriculture  has  made  ample 
provision  for  his  family  and  home. 

Charles  A.  Campbell.  With  the  exception  of 
seven  years  when  he  kept  a lonely  bachelor’s  cabin 
on  the  prairies  of  North  Dakota,  Charles  A.  Camp- 
bell has  lived  in  Smithfield  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  all  his  life.  He  has  been  an  industrious 
farmer,  has  made  his  work  practical,  and  while  look- 
ing after  his  own  affairs  he  has  not  neglected  the 
interests  of  the  community.  In  every  sense  he  has 
been  a useful  citizen.  He  was  born  on  the  farm  that 
he  now  owns  September  3,  1866,  a son  of  John  and 
Cornelia  (Hemstreet)  Campbell.  These  were  pioneer 
families,  the  Hemstreets  coming  to  DeKalb  County 
in  1843  and  the  Campbells  in  1847,  both  settling  in 
Smithfield  Township.  John  Campbell  was  born  in 
Summit  County,  Ohio,  November  14,  1835,  and  his 

Vol.  II— 8 


wife  in  Huron  County,  that  state,  October  21,  1838. 
They  were  married  in  Smithfield  Township  in  1859, 
and  then  settled  on  the  farm  where  their  son  Charles 
lives,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there.  The 
father  died  March  2,  1904.  John  Campbell  was  a 
republican,  but  subsequently  became  affiliated  with 
the  democratic  party.  He  served  a term  as  trustee 
of  Smithfield  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had  four 
children:  Jennie,  wife  of  Carey  Duncan,  of  Eastern 
Ohio ; Sarah,  wife  of  George  Parnell,  of  North 
Carolina ; Scott,  of  Montpelier,  Ohio ; and  Charles  A. 

Charles  A.  Campbell  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  attended  common  schools.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  went  west  and  homesteaded  160  acres 
in  North  Dakota,  proving  up  on  his  claim  and  cul- 
tivating it  for  seven  years.  In  1895  he  returned  to 
DeKalb  County  and  in  1898  married  Sophia 
Schweitzer,  who  was  born  in  Smithfield  Township 
October  1,  1876,  and  had  a common  school  educa- 
tion. Since  their  marriage,  for  over  twenty  years, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell  have  occupied  the  old  Camp- 
bell homestead,  where  he  owns  102  acres  devoted  to 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  active  in 
democratic  politics,  a member  of  the  township  ad- 
visory board,  a member  of  the  Ashley  Co-operative 
Association  and  a stockholder  in  the  Gleaner  Clear- 
ance House.  He  and  his  wife  are  both  members  of 
the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners.  During  the  World 
war  Mr.  Campbell  served  as  township  chairman  for 
the  Council  of  Defense  and  was  active  in  all 
patriotic  campaigns. 

To  his  marriage  were  born  six  children:  Josh  J., 

Herman,  Ruth,  John,  June  and  Helen.  Herman  and 
John  are  deceased.  The  others  are  all  at  home,  and 
Josh  and  Ruth  are  graduates  of  the  common  schools. 

C.  P.  Baker,  whose  home  is  in  section  21  of 
Sparta  Township,  Noble  County,  presents  a good 
example  of  the  man  who  has  made  a striking  suc- 
cess from  humble  beginnings  and  against  heavy 
odds.  He  was  very  young  when  his  father  died, 
was  the  only  son  in  the  family,  and  at  a time  when 
most  boys  are  in  school  had  to  assume  the  burdens 
and  heavy  work  of  the  farm.  He  started  life  after 
reaching  his  majority  and  after  his  marriage  with 
very  limited  capital,  and  yet  today  he  is  one  of  the 
largest  land  owners,  one  of  the  most  successful 
stock  breeders,  and  one  of  the  most  liberal  and 
public-spirited  citizens  in  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Champaign  County,  Ohio,  August 
1,  1847,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Woods) 
Baker,  the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter 
of  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  in 
1850  settled  in  Turkey  Creek  Township  of  Kos- 
ciusko County,  Indiana,  where  they  spent  the  rest 
of  their  lives.  The  parents  were  zealous  members 
of  the  Church  of  God.  Samuel  Baker  was  a re- 
publican in  politics.  They  had  six  children,  and  all 
five  of  the  daughters  at  one  time  or  another  taught 
school.  The  four  children  still  living  are:  Anna, 

wife  of  Newton  Rerrick,  of  Sparta  Township; 
Josephine,  wife  of  Milton  Woods,  of  Kosciusko 
County;  Paulina,  wife  of  Augusta  Roach,  of  Burton 
Township;  and  C.  P.  Baker. 

C.  P.  Baker  was  only  three  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Kosciusko  County,  and  he  re- 
ceived all  his  schooling  in  that  locality.  He  was 
still  a small  boy  when  his  father  died,  and  he  then 
took  charge  of  the  farm  and  lived  there  until  he 
was  about  twenty-six  years  of  age. 

In  February,  1872,  he  married  Catherine  Cole,  of 
Noble  County,  Indiana.  After  their  marriage  they 
lived  for  a couple  of  years  on  the  old  farm,  and 
then  came  to  Noble  County  and  bought  sixty  acres, 
which  is  included  in  the  present  extensive  estate 


114 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


of  Mr.  Baker.  He  added  other  lands  from  time 
to  time  and  now  owns  310  acres,  which  of  itself  is 
a good  indication  of  what  he  has  done  with  his 
time  and  opportunities.  Much  of  his  success  has 
come  from  his  ability  in  raising  and  handling  live- 
stock. He  has  always  kept  good  horses,  and  has 
been  an  extensive  breeder  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  His 
herd  was  headed  by  White  Hall  Sutton.  He  has 
also  been  a breeder  of  the  big  type  Poland  China 
hogs,  his  hogs  being  headed  by  Buster  Wonderer. 

Mr.  Baker  was  the  first  president  of  the  Sparta 
State  Bank  at  Cromwell.  He  has  taken  an  intelli- 
gent interest  in  local  affairs,  and  was  elected  and 
served  a term  of  six  years  as  trustee  of  Sparta 
Township.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  had  three  children,  two  of 
whom  are  still  living,  Gertrude  and  James  Otis. 
Gertrude  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and  had  a 
commercial  course  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Robert 
Bouse.  They  live  on  a farm  in  Washington  Town- 
ship, and  their  daughter  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Hontz. 
Mr.  Hontz  is  train  dispatcher  at  Garrett,  Indiana. 
James  Otis  Baker  is  a graduate  of  high  school 
and  married  Mattie  Cramer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker 
have  one  grandchild,  Mabel  Hontz. 

Philip  M.  Cause.  One  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers and  well  known  men  of  Noble  County,  whose 
valuable  farm  of  200  acres  in  Swan  Township  repre- 
sents the  toil  and  energies  and  savings  of  many 
years  of  his  life,  is  Philip  M.  Gause,  who  was  born 
in  the  township  where  he  now  lives,  August  24,  18S9. 

His  parents  were  John  C.  and  Anna  M.  (Beard) 
Gause.  His  father  was  born  in  Wuertemberg,  Ger- 
many, December  20,  1815.  In  1841  he  came  to  the 
United  States,  being  then  twenty-six  years  of  age. 
From  New  York  City  he  went  West  to  Ohio,  lived 
in  that  state  two  years,  and  in  1843  arrived  as  a 
pioneer  in  Noble  County.  Here  he  bought  land, 
which  could  scarcely  be  said  to  be  improved,  in  sec- 
tion 34  of  Swan  Township.  He  was  a man  of  great 
enterprise,  and  handled  large  affairs  outside  of  his 
farming.  He  took  a contract  to  build  a section  of 
the  plank  road  through  this  part  of  Indiana.  He 
also  had  a contract  for  construction  work  on  the 
Eel  River,  and  that  nearly  proved  disastrous,  since 
he  lost  most  of  his  capital.  Later  he  had  a contract 
for  building  some  miles  of  the  Lake  Shore  Railway. 
After  a varied  fortune  in  this  line  of  work  he  finally 
devoted  all  his  energies  to  the  farm  and  lived  on  his 
land  in  Noble  County  until  1864,  when  he  went  to 
Allen  County  and  took  charge  of  the  Judge  Hanna 
farm  of  1,040  acres.  He  used  that  extensive  prop- 
erty for  raising  sheep,  and  was  engaged  in  a suc- 
cessful business  there  for  sixteen  years.  He  then 
returned  to  Noble  County  and  died  here  honored 
and  respected  and  in  advance  age  May  2,  1902.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  was  very 
active  in  the  democratic  party.  Of  seven  children 
three  died  in  infancy.  Of  those  living  John  C.  is  a 
resident  of  Missouri ; Maggie  is  the  wife  of  David 
Wert,  of  Quincy,  Indiana ; Katie  is  the  widow  of 
Joseph  Peffer;  and  Philip  M.  is  the  youngest. 

. Philip  M.  Gause  grew  up  on  a farm  and  had  a 
common  school  education.  He  was  at  home  with  his 
parents  to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  After  that  for 
two  years  he  found  employment  in  Fort  Wayne  and 
also  spent  nine  months  in  Michigan.  Eventually 
he  rented  the  old  farm  of  his  father  and  finally 
had  progressed  far  enough  to  purchase  the  land  out- 
right. He  has  continued  its  successful  manager  for 
many  years.  One  specialty  of  the  Gause  farm  is 
pure  bred  Duroc  hogs. 

October  24,  1884,  Mr.  Gause  married  Miss  Mary 
J.  Fogle.  She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 


August  14,  1861,  and  was  reared  and  educated  there. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  their  marriage : 
Floyd,  a graduate  of  high  school,  who  also  attended 
college,  has  been  a successful  banker,  was  first  presi- 
dent and  for  three  years  has  been  cashier  of  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank,  and  was  also  for  a 
time  an  employe  of  the  Fort  Wayne  postoffice;  Anna 
is  the  wife  of  Clarence  Freeman;  Ora  P.  married 
Arthur  Potter;  John  is  a farmer  at  home;  Trude 
is  the  wife  of  Merle  Gump ; Pearl  is  married  and 
lives  at  home;  George,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
wears  the  uniform  and  has  seen  service  with  the 
American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France. 

Mr.  Gause  has  been  a liberal  supporter  of  church 
and  allied  causes.  He  is  affiliated  with  Huntertown 
Lodge  No.  689,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  has  attained  the  thirty-second  degree,  Scottish 
Rite,  in  the  Fort  Wayne  Consistory.  Politically  a 
democrat,  he  has  aided  his  party  and  has  been  a live 
and  public  spirited  factor  in  his  own  community. 

Charles  Weller.  “The  Fairview  Farm,”  which 
speaks  for  itself  among  the  pleasant  attributes  of 
Swan  Township,  Noble  County,  is  owned  by  Charles 
Weller  in  section  1,  comprising  120  acres.  Mr. 
Weller  is  a very  particular  and  careful  agriculturist, 
and  combines  just  the  right  amount  of  science  with 
good  practice,  so  that  his  ledger  has  always  shown 
a comfortable  balance  on  the  credit  side. 

Mr.  Weller  was  born  in  Butler  Township,  of  De- 
Kalb  County,  Indiana,  November  24,  1869,  son  of 
Philip  and  Elizabeth  (Rakestraw)  Weller.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  his  father  of 
Clark  County  and  his  mother  of  Greene  County. 
After  their  marriage  in  Ohio  they  moved  to  In- 
diana about  i860  and  settled  in  DeKalb  County, 
but  in  1871  moved  to  section  1 of  Swan  Township 
in  Noble  County,  and  lived  there  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant Church  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a re- 
publican. Of  eleven  children  six  are  still  living: 
Martha,  wife  of  Levi  Treesh,  of  DeKalb  County; 
Joseph,  a farmer  in  DeKalb  County;  Oliver  and 
Olive,  twins,  the  former  a resident  of  Ligonier,  and 
the  latter  the  wife  of  Henry  L.  Houser  of  DeKalb 
County;  Emma,  wife  of  David  Heitz,  of  DeKalb 
County;  and  Charles. 

Charles  Weller  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Swan 
Township  and  had  a district  school  education.  Since 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  has  been  making  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  He  married  Ida  L.  Henry.  She 
was  born  in  Noble  County,  on  the  farm  where  she 
and  her  husband  now  reside.  Her  birth  occurred 
July  12,  1870,  and  she  received  her  education  in  the 
district  schools.  For  three  or  four  years  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weller  lived  in  DeKalb 
County  and  then  returned  to  Noble  County  and 
bought  their  present  home.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren : Gertrude  is  a graduate  of  the  Avilla  High 

School  and  is  the  wife  of  Freeman  Kelham,  living 
in  DeKalb  County.  Gladys  is  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools  and  of  the  high  school.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Weller  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant Church  and  he  is  one  of  the  church  trustees. 
He  is  a past  master  of  Avilla  Lodge  No.  460,  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  in  politics  is 
a republican. 

Harvey  E.  Musser  has  been  a resident  of  DeKalb 
County  since  early  infancy,  and  during  his  mature 
career  of  thirty  years  has  been  a member  of  the 
farming  community  of  Franklin  Township.  He 
owns  a farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  5 of  that 
township. 

Mr.  Musser  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


115 


ruary  23,  1863,  a son  of  William  and  Catherine 
(Yutzler)  Musser.  Her  father  was  a native  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  mother  was  born  in  Switzerland 
and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  she  came  with 
her  parents  to  the  United  States.  She  grew  up  in 
Ohio  and  was  married  in  Stark  County.  In  1865 
the  Musser  family  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
Harvey  E.  being  then  about  two  years  old. 

He  was  the  oldest  of  seven  children,  and  as  a boy 
he  attended  the  common  school  and  acquired  an 
education  sufficient  for  his  needs.  He  is  a member 
of  Hamilton  Lodge  of  Masons,  also  belongs  to  the 
Hamilton  Grange  and  in  politics  is  a democrat.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star. 

December  29,  1883,  he  married  Ida  Hamman.  They 
have  five  children:  Effie,  wife  of  Ozro  Richey; 

Sherman,  who  lives  in  DeKalb  County,  near  Hamil- 
ton; Ethel,  wife  of  Leroy  Hodges;  Edna,  wife  of 
Err  Lemon;  and  Floyd,  who  married  Laura  Kauff- 
man. 

Mrs.  Musser  is  a daughter  of  Adam  and  Rebecca 
(Curry)  Hamman.  Her  father  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  May  12,  1838,  and  her  mother  in  Co- 
lumbiana County,  that  state,  in  March  1842.  In  the 
Hamman  family  were  eleven  children,  and  those  liv- 
ing today  are:  Ida;  Lydia,  wife  of  Benjamin  Dun- 

can; Jesse,  of  Williams  County,  Ohio;  Cora,  wife 
of  John  Rohrbaugh ; Rebecca,  wife  of  William  May; 
and  Miles,  of  Pleasant  Lake  Indiana.  The  Ham- 
man family  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in  1854.  Mrs. 
Musser  was  reared  in  Franklin  Township  and  at- 
tended the  public  schools  there. 

Elbridge  E.  Butler  has  spent  nearly  all  his  active 
years  as  a farmer  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  He  was  born  there,  grandson  of  one  of 
the  earliest  settlers,  and  his  own  life  has  been  in 
keeping  with  the  high  standards  of  industrious  and 
good  citizenship  set  by  the  earlier  representatives 
of  the  name. 

Mr.  Butler  was  born  in  Salem  Township  Septem- 
ber 16,  1865.  His  grandfather  was  Jesse  Butler, 
representing  an  old  Vermont  family.  In  June,  1838, 
Jesse  and  his  brothers  Loren  and  Daniel  with  their 
families  started  for  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  There 
were  of  course  no  railroads,  and  they  made  the 
journey  by  the  feasible  routes  then  in  existence. 
They  first  proceeded  to  Albany,  New  York,  crossed 
New  York  State  on  the  Erie  Canal,  from  Buffalo 
went  by  lake  boat  to  Toledo,  and  near  Toledo 
bought  the  teams  and  wagons  which  brought  them 
to  Salem  Township  in  Steuben  County.  The  three 
brothers  bought  500  acres  in  sections  5 and  8, 
and  they  not  only  improved  their  lands  from  the 
wilderness  into  good  farms,  but  were  men  of  promi- 
nence in  every  way.  The  children  of  Jesse  Butler 
were  Seymour,  Mary  Jane,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Newton  Bodlie,  Parthena  and  James  W. 

James  W.  Butler,  father  of  Elbridge  E.,  was  born 
in  Salem  Township  April  25,  1843,  and  died  May  13, 
1895.  He  married  Elnora  Wright.  She  was  also  a 
native  of  Salem  Township,  daughter  of  Elbridge 
and  Martha  (Cochran)  Wright.  Elbridge  Wright 
was  one  of  the  early  farmers  of  Salem  Township. 
His  children  were  Elnora,  Henry,  Cyrus,  Monroe 
and  Marion,  twins,  Elsie,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Frank  Gettings,  and  Dora,  who  married  John 
Tritch. 

James  W.  Butler  received  a public  school  educa- 
tion in  Salem  Township,  also  attended  the  academy 
at  Orland,  and  from  early  manhood  devoted  himself 
to  farming  in  his  native  township.  He  owned  the 
160-acre  homestead  of  his  father  and  lived  there 
until  his  death.  But  besides  looking  closely  after 


the  management  of  this  farm  he  became  noted  as 
probably  the  most  successful  stock  buyer  in  this 
part  of  Indiana.  His  wife  died  May  27,  1885,  the 
mother  of  four  children : Elbridge  E. ; May,  who 

became  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Hayward;  Cora,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  thirteen ; and  Lura,  wife  of 
Edward  Bussell. 

Elbridge  E.  Butler  attended  the  Butler  School  in 
Salem  Township,  and  with  the  exception  of  two 
years  when  he  was  managing  a livery  business  at 
Kendallville  has  devoted  his  energies  to  farming  in 
his  native  township.  In  1900  he  bought  his  present 
farm  in  sections  4 and  9,  and  has  160  acres 
well  fitted  for  staple  crops  and  livestock.  He  is  a 
breeder  of  Jersey  cattle  and  as  a farmer  knows  his 
business  thoroughly. 

October  2,  1889,  Mr.  Butler  married  Elizabeth 
Emerson,  a native  of  Salem  Township  and  daughter 
of  Avery  and  Elizabeth  (Parsed)  Emerson.  The 
Emersons  are  a well  known  Steuben  County  family. 
Mrs.  Butler  is  a sister  of  Fred  Emerson  of  Angola. 
To  their  marriage  were  born  four  children:  Monroe, 
who  married  Irene  DeLong  and  has  two  children, 
Ruth  and  Jean;  George  Clifford  who  married 
Margaret  Emerson ; James  A.,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; and  John  Elbridge.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Butler 
also  took  into  their  home  Cora  Barkley  at  the  age 
of  seven  years,  and  she  has  lived  with  them  for  the 
past  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Butler  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

James  T.  Iden.  One  of  the  farms  longest  occu- 
pied in  Sparta  Township  is  that  of  James  T.  Iden 
in  section  25.  Mr.  Iden  and  wife  have  lived  in  that 
locality  of  Noble  County  nearly  forty  years,  have 
cultivated  innumerable  crops,  and  have  seen  their 
efforts  grow  and  prosper  under  their  hand.  In  every 
sense  of  the  word  they  are  substantial  citizens, 
good  neighbors  and  upholders  of  the  best  com- 
munity spirit. 

Mr.  Iden  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1854,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Julia  A. 
(Hull)  Iden,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio,  and  after  some  years  of  residence  in  Licking 
County  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  1864, 
settling  near  Indian  Village’  in  Sparta  Township. 
The  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  there,  and 
Samuel  Iden  had  a farm  of  120  acres;  He  was  a 
very  active  member  of  the  Baptist  Church  and  in 
politics  a democrat.  There  were  five  children,  and 
the  three  now  living  are:  James  T. ; Alpheus  J., 

a resident  of  LaMesa,  California;  and  Sarah  E., 
unmarried. 

James  T.  Iden  was  ten  years  old  when  he  came 
to  Noble  County.  He  had  attended  school  back  in 
Ohio  and  finished  his  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  this  county.  After  reaching  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  worked  out  by  the  month,  and  on 
April  17,  1881,  married  Anna  S.  Schlabach.  She 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  November  9,  1859, 
and  was  only  an^  infant  when  her  parents  came  to 
Noble  County.  She  was  educated  in  this  county  in 
the  common  schools.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Iden  located  on  the  farm  where  they  have 
lived  ever  since.  They  have  100  acres  of  land 
devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr. 
Iden  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife 
have  no  children. 

William  M.  Schlabach,  father  of  Mrs.  Iden,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania.  He  went  from  that  state 
to  Ohio  and  married  there  Sarah  Braucher.  For 
many  years  they  were  farmers  in  Ohio,  but  in  the 
spring  of  i860  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and 
located  in  Sparta  Township,  where  they  spent  the 


116 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


rest  of  their  lives  and  became  well  known  and 
highly  respected  people  of  that  community.  Mrs. 
Iden’s  mother  died  in  July,  1880,  and  her  father 
passed  away  February  2,  1909.  There  were  eight 
children  in  the  Schlabach  family,  seven  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Clara  A.,  wife  of  Yangulph 

Werker;  John  R.,  who  lives  near  Cromwell;  Anna, 
Mrs.  Iden ; William  O.,  of  South  Bend;  Mary  E., 
wife  of  J.  W.  Smith,  of  Ligonier;  M.  Schlabach, 
of  Fort  Wayne;  Charles  L.,  of  Cromwell;  and  Ida 
E.,  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlabach  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mrs.  Mary  E.  Thompson,  widow  of  the  late  Elza 
J.  Thompson,  is  a member  of  the  well-known  Pan- 
cake family  of  Noble  County,  and  is  daughter  of  the 
late  John  Pancake,  one  of  the  most  prominent  citi- 
zens of  this  section  of  Indiana.  He  first  settled  in 
Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County. 

The  late  Elza  J.  Thompson  was  born  three  miles 
north  of  Albion  in  1851,  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict school  and  taught  school,  and  on  January  14, 
1886,  married  Mary  E.  Pancake.  Mr.  Thompson 
died  fourteen  years  later. 

Mrs.  Thompson  has  two  children:  Jennie  E., 

born  August  3,  1888,  still  living  with  her  mother, 
and  Forest  P.,  who  was  born  November  26,  1891. 
Mrs.  Thompson  has  eighty  acres  in  her  home  farm, 
160  acres  in  Elkhart  Township,  and  she  owns  her 
father’s  old  home  of  160  acres.  She  is  a depositor 
in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company  at 
Ligonier  and  a stockholder  in  the  Topeka  Bank. 

William  O.  Shambaugh  has  been  an  active  man 
of  affairs  in  Noble  County  for  over  forty  years,  and 
the  greater  part  of  this  time  has  been  devoted  to 
the  cultivation  of  his  farm  in  Green  Township.  He 
owns  one  of  the  best  homes  and  homesteads  in  that 
locality,  and  aside  from  his  position  as  a successful 
farmer  always  carried  much  weight  in  public  af- 
fairs. 

Mr.  Shambaugh  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  January  18,  1855.  son  of  Henry  and  Margaret 
( McKinley)  Shambaugh,  the  former  a native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  His  father 
went  to  Ohio  when  a boy,  grew  up  and  married 
there,  and  two  years  after  his  marriage  moved  to 
Wisconsin,  where  he  bought  a farm.  When  the 
Civil  war  came  on  he  went  into  the  ranks  as  a sol- 
dier and  served  faithfully  and  bravely  until  the 
close  of  hostilities.  Having  sold  his  property  in 
Wisconsin  he  returned  with  his  family  to  Ohio,  and 
bought  the  old  homestead  in  Ashland  County.  In 
1874  he  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  lived 
the  rest  of  his  life  in  Green  Township.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  politics.  Of  four  children  born  to  the 
parents  three  are  still  living:  William  O. ; Nancy, 

wife  of  Isaac  Shambaugh,  of  Green  Township;  and 
Clara,  wife  of  Lewis  Sommers,  of  Green  Township. 

William  O.  Shambaugh  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  in  Ohio,  had  a common  school  education,  and 
was  a member  of  the  home  circle  until  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  On  September  14,  1876,  he  married 
Miss  Fannie  E.  Arthur.  She  was  born  near  Green 
Center  in  Noble  County,  February  14,  1857.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Shambaugh  have  two  children : Cora  is 

a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  the  wife  of 
Curtis  Bonar  now  on  Mr.  Shambaugh’s  home  farm ; 
Franklin  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  lives 
in  Green  Township  and  married  Della  McCoy. 

After  their  marriage  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Shambaugh 
began  farming  in  Green  Township,  and  they  now 
own  a well  cultivated  and  improved  farm  of  120 
acres.  Mr.  Shambaugh  also  has  property  at  Churu- 
busco.  He  and  his  wife  and  family  lived  for  two 


years  at  Kendallville.  Mr.  Shambaugh  is  one  of 
the  trustees  of  the  parsonage  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Green  Center,  where  he  and  his  family 
worship.  He  has  a record  of  efficient  service  as  a 
trustee  of  Green  Township,  an  office  he  held  from 
1900  to  1904. 

Charles  H.  Hoverstock,  who  is  proprietor  of  the 
Hoverstock  Garage  at  Topeka,  has  come  into  the 
automobile  business  by  a natural  process  of  evolu- 
tion, having  in  early  life  been  connected  with  the 
manufacture  of  bicycles,  and  when  that  vehicle  was 
largely  superseded  by  the  automobile  he  became  agent 
for  one  of  the  pioneer  cars  of  America,  and  for 
over  fourteen  years  has  sold  the  famous  Buick. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  November  18,  1875,  son  of  James  and  L. 
(Parks)  Hoverstock.  His  father  was  born  in  La- 
Grange  County  April  28,  1850,  a son  of  William  and 
Margaret  Hoverstock,  who  came  to  this  state  from 
Ohio  and  settled  near  Topeka  on  a farm  lying  partly 
in  Eden  and  partly  in  Clear  Spring  Township.  James 
Hoverstock,  who  died  April  15,  1913,  was  a promi- 
nent and  wealthy  business  man,  owning  a livery 
establishment  which  he  operated  for  many  years, 
until  he  retired.  He  and  his  wife  were  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church  and  he  was  a repub- 
lican. 

Charles  H.  Hoverstock,  only  son  of  his  parents, 
grew  up  on  a farm  and  received  most  of  his  educa- 
tion in  the  schools  of  Ligonier.  For  several  years 
he  was  a foreman  in  a bicycle  factory  and  in  an  as- 
sembly department  at  New  Castle  and  Hartford 
City,  Indiana.  Fourteen  years  ago  he  took  the  local 
agency  for  the  Buick  automobile,  and  handles  in  ad- 
dition the  Chevrolet  car.  He  built  his  present  com- 
modious garage  in  1914.  Mr.  Hoverstock  is  a stock- 
holder in  both  banks  in  Topeka. 

In  1897  he  married  Alice  Lantz,  daughter  of  Ezra 
and  Susanna  (Yoder)  Lantz.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren : Kenneth  W.,  associated  with  his  father  in 

business;  Caistro  H.,  a student  in  high  school;  and 
Alice  L.,  who  is  twelve  years  old  and  a student  in 
the  common  schools.  Mrs.  Hoverstock  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  a republican  and  is 
affiliated  wth  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  Amerca. 

Albert  L.  Addis.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
citizens  of  Noble  County  is  Albert  L.  Addis,  who 
owns  the  Arrowdale  Stock  Farm  in  section  14  of 
Noble  Township.  Mr.  Addis  is  not  only  a capable 
farmer  and  an  equally  capable  citizen,  but  is  a man 
of  scholarly  tastes  and  pursuits  and  is  probably  the 
highest  local  authority  on  all  subjects  pertaining 
to  archeology  in  Noble  County.  Much  of  his  work 
has  received  official  recognition  from  the  foremost 
scholars  and  from  the  Government  at  Washington. 

Mr.  Addis  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides  March  6,  1878,  son  of  Milton  and  Mary 
(Kneener)  Addis.  His  father  was  born  in  Monroe 
County,  Ohio,  May  2,  1838,  a son  of  John  Addis, 
who  brought  his  family  to  Noble  County  in  early 
days  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  here.  Milton 
Addis  was  a young  man  when  he  came  to  the  county, 
was  married  here,  his  wife  coming  from  Darke 
County,  Ohio,  and  he  then  bought  the  115  acres 
where  his  son  is  now  living.  He  was  a soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  and  while  in  the  army  lost  his  hearing. 

Albert  L.  Addis  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents, 
both  of  whom  are  now  deceased.  All  his  life  has 
been  spent  on  the  home  farm.  He  acquired  a com- 
mon school  education,  and  has  made  use  of  oppor- 
tunity since  leaving  school  to  extend  his  studies 
and  investigations  in  various  channels,  particularly 
in  tracing  and  investigating  the  remains  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


117 


aboriginal  inhabitants  in  this  section  of  Indiana. 
After  the  death  of  his  father  he  took  charge  of 
the  home  farm,  and  on  April  14,  1897,  he  married 
Mary  M.  Huff.  She  was  born  in  Greene  Township 
of  Noble  County  January  27,  1881,  daughter  of 
Christ  and  Nancy  J.  Simmons  Huff.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County  June 
18,  1843,  and  her  mother  in  Darke  County,  Ohio, 
September  7,  1855.  Mrs.  Addis  was  reared  in 
Greene  Township.  The}'  have  four  children  : Edna, 
Artie  and  Lawrence,  who  have  all  finished  the  work 
of  the  common  schools,  and  Mabel,  who  is  now  in 
the  seventh  grade.  Mrs.  Addis  is  a member  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Wolf  Lake,  and  has  been  affiliated 
with  that  organization  since  1907.  Mr.  Addis  is  a 
democrat. 

It  was  about  1899  that  Mr.  Addis  formally  under- 
took the  collection  of  specimens  that  would  serve 
as  a systematic  evidence  of  the  early  occupation 
of  aboriginal  tribes  in  his  section  of  Indiana.  Later 
he  sold  this  collection  to  a museum  of  American 
Indians  in  New  York  City.  He  was  paid  $3,000 
for  his  collection  in  1915.  At  the  present  time  Mr. 
Addis  is  busily  engaged  in  acquiring  another  col- 
lection. He  also  contributed  for  Noble  County  the 
account  of  aboriginal  remains  published  by  the 
Bureau  of  Ethnology. 

Edmon  F.  Smith.  One  of  the  excellent  farmers 
and  cattle  feeders  of  Steuben  Township,  Steuben 
County,  is  Edmon  F.  Smith,  owner  of  120  acres  of 
as  good  land  as  can  be  found  in  this  part  of  the 
state.  He  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  section 
29,  Steuben  Township,  November  7,  i860,  a son  of 
Amos  Smith  and  grandson  of  Michael  Smith,  a na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania,  who  became  one  of  the  pio- 
neers of  Smithfield  Township,  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana.  A few  years  after  locating  in  that  town- 
ship he  came  to  Steuben  Township,  where  he  lived 
the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  married  Elizabeth 
Fox,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  Jacob, 

Amos,  Emeline,  who  married  John  Fish,  and  Ada- 
line,  who  married  Frank  Slayball. 

Amos  Smith  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  his  wife,  who  bore  the  maiden  name 
of  Elizabeth  Wolfgang,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
she  being  a daughter  of  Samuel  Wolfgang.  Coming 
to  Steuben  Township  with  his  father,  Amos  Smith 
became  the  owner  of  200  acres  of  land  in  Steuben 
Township,  a portion  of  which  is  now  owned  by  his 
son  E.  F.  Smith.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sarah,  who  married  Charles  E.  Shu- 

man ; Edmon  F.,  whose  name  heads  this  review ; and 
Della,  who  married  Henry  Mountz.  Amos  Smith 
became  well  known  in  his  community  as  a man  of 
sterling  character  and  unquestioned  integrity,  and 
his  verbal  promise  was  considered  as  good  as  an- 
other man’s  bond. 

Edmon  F.  Smith  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Steuben  Township,  and  was  taught  to  be  a farmer 
by  his  experienced  father.  After  attaining  his  ma- 
jority he  began  farming  the  homestead  on  his  own 
account,  and  has  owned  it  since  1893,  the  farm  com- 
prising 120  acres.  Here  he  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing and  breeds  Shorthorn  cattle,  his  methods  of  do- 
ing his  work  being  such  as  to  win  for  him  the  com- 
mendation of  his  neighbors.  In  1895  he  erected  his 
present  comfortable  modern  residence,  and  has  re.- 
modeled  the  other  buildings  so  that  his  premises 
present  a neat  and  attractive  appearance  and  show 
that  the  owner  understands  his  business. 

On  September  22,  1885,  Mr.  Smith  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Enola  I.  Weldin,  born  October  22, 
1864,  in  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
a daughter  of  Leander  F.  Weldin  and  his  wife, 


Rebecca  J.  (Moore)  Weldin.  Leander  F.  Weldin 
was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio.  When  the 
Civil  war  broke  out  he  naturally  espoused  the  cause 
of  the  North,  and  in  August,  1861,  gave  proof  of 
this  in  his  enlistment  as  a member  of  the  Thirtieth 
Indiana  Infantry,  in  which  he  served  for  four  years 
and  three  months  and  participated  in  the  following 
battles : Shiloh,  Stone  River,  Chickamauga,  Rocky 

Face  Ridge,  Dallas,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Atlanta, 
Lovejoy’s  Station,  Franklin  and  Nashville.  After  he 
received  his  honorable  discharge  he  located  in  Steu- 
ben Township,  where  he  continued  to  farm  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  fol- 
lowing children : Enola,  Kimber  M.,  Delbert  G.  and 
Arthur  L.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  two  children, 
namely:  Velma  E.  and  Waldo  E.  Waldo  married 
Leafa  Kohl  and  they  have  a daughter,  Ruth  De 
Vere,  and  a son,  Warren  Kohl.  Like  his  father, 
Mr.  Smith  stands  deservedly  high  in  his  community, 
and  he  and  his  wife  entertain  their  friends  at  their 
comfortable  home  upon  many  occasions,  for  they 
delight  in  gathering  about  them  those  to  whom  they 
are  bound  by  ties  of  affectionate  regard. 

Joseph  S.  Watson  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
well-to-do  farmer  citizens  of  York  Township,  Noble 
County,  and  has  come  into  his  present  prosperity  by 
relying  entirely  upon  his  own  good  sense  and  hard 
efforts  since  assuming  life’s  serious  responsibilities 
for  himself.  His  home  is  four  miles  southwest  of 
Albion. 

Mr.  Watson  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
June  19,  1866,  a son  of  Robert  and  Electra  (Wells) 
Watson.  His  father  was  born  in  Medina  County, 
Ohio,  and  his  mother  in  Clark  County  of  the  same 
state.  Their  respective  families  came  to  Indiana  at 
an  early  day,  locating  in  Allen  County,  where  Robert 
and  Electa  grew  up  and  married.  They  lived  on 
farms  in  different  counties  of  Indiana  and  for 
eleven  years  were  residents  of  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see. Robert  Watson  was  a prominent  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  was  a stanch 
republican  in  politics.  Of  their  seven  children  six 
are  still  living:  Milton  C.,  of  Fort  Wayne;  Elvira 

E.,  wife  of  M.  V.  Hall;  Hans  A.;  Theresa,  wife  of 
John  App;  Joseph  S. ; and  Viola,  wife  of  Nelson 
Curtis. 

Joseph  S.  Watson  grew  up  on  a farm  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  started  out  to  earn  his  own  way  in  the  world. 
For  one  winter  he  was  a cattle  feeder,  and  the  fifty 
dollars  he  saved  from  that  work  he  invested  in  two 
head  of  cattle  and  later  he  bought  a farm  in  Jasper 
County,  Indiana,  and  traded  that  for  land  in  Ten- 
nessee, where  he  lived  for  four  and  a half  years. 
On  returning  to  Indiana  he  acquired  eighty  acres 
in  Allen  County,  and  he  was  a farmer  in  that  locality 
for  twelve  years.  Since  then  he  has  extended  his 
efforts  as  a farmer  and  business  man  in  Noble 
County,  and  now  has  a well  modeled  farm  of  160 
acres.  He  does  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Watson  married  in  1893  Dora  Stephenson, 
of  Allen  County,  Indiana,  but  a native  of  Paulding 
County,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  are  the  parents 
of  six  children.  Goldie,  who  finished  her  education 
in  the  college  at  Fort  Wayne,  is  now  general  clerk 
with  the  firm  of  Ackerman  & Hardenbrook.  Etha 
D.  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and  of  Manchester 
College,  and  also  of  the  Indiana  Business  College  at 
Fort  Wayne,  and  is  now  connected  with  the  Gen- 
eral Delivery  Company  at  Fort  Wayne.  Alva  N., 
Emerson,  Alice  and  Cora  May  are  the  younger 
children,  all  at  home.  Mr.  Watson  is  a republican 
in  politics. 


118 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Charles  E.  Newcomer.  In  the  same  Townshp 
where  he  was  born  and  reared,  Franklin  Township, 
Charles  E.  Newcomer  has  spent  his  active  life  as 
a tiller  of  the  soil,  has  gathered  many  crops  through 
the  consecutive  seasons,  and  is  directing  a large  and 
valuable  farm  in  section  8,  where  he  has  his  home 
and  where  his  family  of  children  are  growing  up 
around  him. 

Mr.  Newcomer  was  born  in  Franklin  Townshp 
May  12,  1873,  a son  of  George  and  Barbara  (Van 
Horn)  Newcomer,  the  former  a native  of  Colum- 
biana County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Allen  Town- 
ship, Noble  County,  Ohio.  George  Newcomer  came 
to  DeKalb  County  with  his  parents,  grew  up  here 
and  after  his  marriage  settled  in  section  29  of 
Franklin  Township.  Some  years  ago  he  and  his  good 
wife  retired  from  the  farm  and  are  now  living  at 
Waterloo.  He  is  a democrat  and  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Order.  Of  the  seven  children  six  are  still 
living : Charles  E. ; Lona,  unmarried ; Mary  M., 

widow  of  John  Brown;  Arnie,  who  occupies  the  old 
homestead;  Elmer,  also  of  Franklin  Township;  and 
William,  of  that  Township. 

Charles  E.  Newcomer  spent  his  boyhood  days  alter- 
nately attending  school  and  working  in  the  fields 
and  about  the  home.  He  married  Effie  Mann,  a 
native  of  Franklin  Township.  They  have  a family  of 
five  children:  Marion,  born  June  22,  1897;  Harold, 

born  January  16,  1900;  Howard,  born  December  23, 
1901 ; Grace,  born  October  25,  1903 ; and  Gladys, 
born  November  30,  1907.  The  four  older  children  are 
all  graduates  of  the  common  school  and  all  are  still 
in  the  home  circle. 

Mr.  Newcomer  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  70I> 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Royal  Arch  Chapter  No. 
106,  Council  No.  83,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  and 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star 
Chapter.  He  is  a past  grand  of  the  Odd  Fellows 
and  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  and  is  a past 
chief  patriarch  of  the  Encampment.  Mrs.  New- 
comer is  a past  grand  of  the  Rebekahs.  Politically 
Mr.  Newcomer  affiliates  with  the  democratic  party. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Hamilton  Grange.  His  farm 
in  Franklin  Township  comprises  200  acres  and  he 
has  it  well  equipped  and  well  stocked  with  good 
grades. 

Mrs.  Newcomer  was  born  in  Franklin  Township 
August  8,  1876,  a daughter  of  Jahn  and  Elizabeth 
(Curry)  Mann.  Her  father  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  in  1838,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Franklin  Township  in  1839.  His  wife  was  born  in 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  in  1840  and  came  to 
DeKalb  County  when  a young  lady.  They  were 
married  March  24,  1864,  then  lived  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship one  year,  spent  a year  in  Missouri,  and  after 
that  lived  in  Franklin  Township  the  rest  of  their 
days.  Mr.  Mann  was  a democrat  in  politics.  There 
were  two  children : Almeda,  deceased  wife  of  Adam 
Hamman,  and  Effie  E.,  Mrs.  Newcomer. 

Claude  Kimmell  is  a prominent  representative 
of  a numerous  family  of  that  name  in  Noble 
County,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  been  suc- 
cessfully engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  on  a large  place  in  Sparta  Township. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  of  the  same 
county  June  24,  1879,  son  of  Orlando  and  Jane 
(White)  Kimmell.  Claude  was  the  youngest  in  a 
rather  large  family.  He  grew  up  on  the  old  farm, 
attended  district  schools.  He  also  for  two  years 
attended  Hillsdale  College,  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  and 
then  took  a business  course  at  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana. He  lived  at  home  until  his  marriage. 

In  August,  1909,  Miss  Hannah  Kiester  became 


his  wife.  Mrs.  Kimmell  is  a woman  of  thorough 
education  and  culture.  She  is  a daughter  of  John 
and  Barbara  (Moore)  Kiester.  She  was  born  and 
reared  in  Washington  Township,  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  there,  is  a graduate  of  the  State 
Normal  School  and  holds  a life  certificate  as  a 
teacher.  She  was  a teacher  both  in  the  common 
and  high  schools  before  her  marriage.  They  have 
two  children : Anna  May,  born  December  18,  1910, 
and  Claude  A.,  born  August  14,  1917.  In  this  large 
family  of  Kimmells  in  Noble  County,  Claude  A. 
happens  to  be  the  only  grandson  bearing  the  name 
Kimmell. 

Mr.  Kimmell  is  farming  on  an  extensive  scale, 
and  has  a total  of  640  acres  under  his  control  and 
management.  He  breeds  and  raises  all  kinds  of 
livestock.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  State  Bank 
at  Kimmell,  is  a republican,  and  a member  of  Albion 
Lodge  No.  97,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons. 

Ira  L.  Myers,  proprietor  of  the  Union  Home 
Farm  of  360  acres  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County,  is  a man  of  interesting  characteristics  and 
experience.  He  early  trained  himself  for  a career 
as  a pharmacist,  also  studied  medicine,  but  reasons 
of  ill  health  brought  him  back  to  the  farm  where 
he  was  reared,  and  for  a quarter  of  a century  he 
has  been  one  of  the  leading  agriculturists  of  Noble 
County.  Those  familiar  with  Mr.  Myers’  operations 
say  that  his  success  is  largely  due  to  his  good  judg- 
ment and  his  willingness  to  take  long  chances,  the 
same  quality  that  makes  successful  business  men  as 
well  as  good  farmers. 

Mr.  Myers  was  born  in  Orange  Township,  March 
15,  1871,  a son  of  Reuben  D.  and  Sarah  (Kiefer) 
Myers,  the  former  a native  of  Summit  County,  Ohio, 
and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Reuben  Myers 
moved  to  Indiana  when  a young  man  and  settled  in 
Noble  County,  and  his  wife’s  people  also  came  to 
the  same  locality.  After  their  marriage  they  settled 
on  a farm  in  Orange  Township,  where  the  father 
lived  until  his  death  in  1912.  The  mother  is  still 
living.  The  family  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Oak  Grove.  The  father  was 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Rome  City,  and 
in  politics  was  a democrat.  Of  four  children,  three 
are  still  living:  Melissa,  wife  of  Emanuel  Myers,  of 
Elkhart,  Indiana;  Frank  E.,  of  Orange  Township; 
and  Ira  L. 

Ira  L.  Myers  spent  his. boyhood  on  the  farm  where 
he  is  now  living,  and  acquired  his  early  education 
at  Rome  City.  He  attended  the  high  school  there 
and  entered  the  pharmacy  department  of  North- 
western University  of  Chicago,  graduating  with  the 
degree  Ph.  G.  on  February  25,  1890.  In  the  fall  of 
the  same  year  he  entered  the  medical  department  of 
Northwestern  University  and  diligently  pursued  his 
studies  for  two  years. 

Then,  as  above  noted,  he  left  school  and  aban- 
doned a professional  career  on  account  of  ill  health, 
and  returning  home  engaged  in  farming.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  rented  his  father’s  place,  and  later 
began  buying  until  he  owns  360  acres.  One  of  his 
main  standbys  as  a farmer  has  been  wheat,  and  he 
made  money  on  that  crop  long  before  the  era  of 
high  prices  and  Government  regulation.  He  also 
keeps  his  farm  well  stocked  and  it  represents  a large 
investment  and  is  a business  handled  with  every 
degree  of  efficiency. 

November  2,  1895,  Mr.  Myers  married  Lizzie 
Shaeffer.  She  was  born  in  Orange  Township,  March 
23,  1875,  and  graduated  from  the  Wolcottville  High 
School  in  1892.  Mrs.  Myers  is  a member  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  at  Wolcottville.  They  have  one 
son,  Victor  L.,  born  January  11,  1908,  and  now  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


119 


the  sixth  grade  of  the  public  schools.  When  this 
son  was  a year  old  the  father  invested  for  him 
eighteen  dollars  in  three  sheep.  The  sheep  were 
kept  as  a nucleus  of  a steadily  growing  flock,  and 
now  at  the  age  of  nine  years  the  son  Victor  has 
185  sheep  and  has  $2,800.00  to  his  credit  in  cash 
securities.  Mr.  Myers  is  a democrat  and  has  served 
as  precinct  committeeman  of  his  party. 

Charles  W.  Warring  for  a number  of  years  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  farming  community 
of  Jackson  Township  in  Steuben  County,  and  has 
lived  in  that  county  since  he  was  a child. 

He  was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  Jan- 
uary 25,  1870,  a son  of  William  and  Phoebe  Ann 
(Brown)  Warring.  His  mother  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 25,  1845.  William  Warring  was  born  in  Ire- 
land, October  4,  1841,  a son  of  William  Warring,  Sr. 
His  mother  died  in  Ireland  and  in  1845  William 
Warring,  Sr.,  came  to  Canada  with  his  son  William 
and  daughter  Cassie.  He  died  in  Canada  after  his 
second  marriage.  William  Warring,  Jr.,  served  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  trade  of  spinner  in  a woolen  mill 
and  followed  that  trade  for  a number  of  years.  He 
became  head  boss  in  the  Hayden  factory  in  Cayuga 
County,  New  York.  He  was  married  while  living 
there  and  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Charles  Brown, 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  but  after  a few  years 
he  sold  his  interest  and  returned  to  work  in  the 
woolen  mills.  In  1876  he  came  to  Steuben  County 
with  his  family,  buying  eighty  acres  of  timbered 
land  without  fences.  He  cleared  up  the  place,  built 
a good  house,  and  became  one  of  the  substantial 
farmers  of  Jackson  Township.  He  also  owned  an 
acre  of  ground  and  a house  in  Flint.  He  spent  his 
last  days  with  his  son,  Charles,  and  died  August  24, 
1907.  His  first  wife  died  March  30,  1884,  the 
mother  of  three  children,  named  Charles  W.,  Robert 
J.  and  William,  the  last  dying  in  infancy.  Robert 
J.  Warring  was  born  January  4,  1878,  and  is  a 
farmer  in  Jackson  Township,  where  he  has  seventy 
acres  and  is  a successful  breeder  of  Duroc  Jersey 
hogs.  He  married  Geneva  Ritter,  and  their  four 
children  are  Raymond,  Wayland,  Wilma  and  Levi. 
William  Warring  married  for  his  second  wife  Minna 
Williams,  and  she  died  in  March,  1907. 

Charles  W.  Warring  grew  up  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Steuben  County  from  the  age  of  six,  and 
besides  the  public  schools  took  a commercial  course 
in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  Today  he  owns 
the  old  homestead  and  has  added  forty-nine  acres 
of  the  Charles  Brown  place  and  has  it  all  well  im- 
proved and  as  a stockman  devotes  particular  atten- 
tion to  the  Spotted  Poland  China  hogs.  He  is  a 
democrat,  and  his  father  was  of  the  same  political 
faith  until  late  in  life. 

In  1891  Mr.  Warring  married  Florence  V.  DeLong, 
a daughter  of  James  DeLong.  Three  children  were 
born  to  their  marriage:  Rose  Anne,  born  January 

30,  1892,  is  a graduate  of  the  Flint  High  School  and 
the  Tri-State  College  and  is  the  wife  of  Ellis  Call, 
by  whom  she  had  two  children,  Opal  and  Maynard, 
the  latter  dying  at  the  age  of  six  months.  Roscoe 
Curtis  Warring,  born  July  15,  1893,  was  educated 
in  the  Flint  High  School,  took  a commercial  course 
in  the  Tri-State  College,  and  as  a farmer  rents  the 
John  Parsell  farm.  He  married  Winifred  Parsed, 
a daughter  of  George  Parsell  of  Jackson  Township, 
and  has  one  son,  Ralph.  William  Charles  Warring, 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  March  2,  1899, 
graduated  from  the  Flint  High  School,  attended  the 
International  Business  College  at  Fort  Wayne,  and 
is  still  at  home. 

Mrs.  Warring’s  father,  James  DeLong,  was  born  in 
Ohio  and  married  Polly  Daily,  a native  of  the  same 
state.  When  a child  he  was  taken  to  Allen  County, 


Indiana,  by  his  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  De- 
Long, who  spent  the  rest  of  their  years  there  and 
were  buried  in  the  Cedar  Creek  Cemetery.  Polly 
Daily’s  parents,  George  and  Julia  Ann  (Essig) 
Daily,  were  also  early  settlers  in  Allen  County, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  James 
DeLong  had  a public  school  education,  and  in  early 
life  went  west  to  Colorado  and  took  up  a claim. 
Part  of  that  land  is  now  covered  by  Colorado  City. 
His  wife  started  west  and  got  as  far  as  Missouri, 
where  he  returned  to  join  her  and  they  came  back 
and  settled  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  Mr.  DeLong 
enlisted  while  there  in  the  Union  army  and  served 
eighteen  months.  After  the  war  he  returned  to 
DeKalb  County  and  was  a successful  farmer,  though 
he  never  owned  any  land.  He  refused  to  take  any 
pension  for  his  services  as  a soldier,  but  after  his 
death  his  widow  received  back  pension  and  with  it 
bought  seventy  acres  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  Mrs.  Warring’s  father  died  in 
1877  aged  forty-four.  Her  mother  lived  until  1906, 
when  she  was  seventy  years  of  age.  Her  children 
were  George,  Catherine  (deceased),  Sylvia,  Curtis, 
William,  Ira,  Florence  and  Ada  (deceased).  James 
DeLong  was  a republican  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Curtis  DeLong,  a brother  of  Mrs.  Warring,  was 
born  in  DeKalb  County,  March  3,  1862,  and  has 
been  a resident  of  Steuben  County  since  1891.  He 
owns  considerable  land  in  that  county,  comprising 
200  acres  in  Jackson  Township  and  other  land  else- 
where. He  married  in  1894  Miss  Maud  Mercer,  of 
Steuben  County,  daughter  of  Wesley  Mercer.  They 
have  three  children : Mary,  born  in  1896,  Marie, 

born  in  1903,  and  Madge  Mary,  born  in  1908. 

Burl  Moughler.  One  of  the  best  representatives 
of  the  younger  generation  of  farmers  in  DeKalb 
County  is  Burl  Moughler  of  Troy  Township.  When 
he  bought  his  present  farm  of  118  acres  in  1907  he 
had  only  $525  cash.  From  the  products  of  the 
fields  and  his  livestock  he  paid  for  the  118  acres, 
and  since  then  has  bought  48  acres  additional.  He  is 
a thoroughly  efficient  stockman  and  realizes  the 
necessity  of  the  best  improvements  and  methods  of 
handling  land  and  stock. 

Mr.  Moughler  was  born  in  Wilmington  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  a mile  and  a quarter  south  and  a 
half  mile  east  of  Butler,  August  16,  1881,  a son  of 
John  and  Alice  (Hendershot)  Moughler.  His  father 
was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  February  9,  1850, 
and  his  mother  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  March  6, 
1857.  Both  are  residents  of  Troy  Township,  where 
they  located  when  their  son  Burl  was  three  years 
old.  The  mother  is  a member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church.  The  father  is  a democrat.  They  have 
two  sons,  Burl  and  Glenn,  the  latter  a farmer  in 
Wilmington  Township. 

Burl  Moughler  acquired  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  as  a young  man  he  rented  a baleing 
outfit  and  for  three  years  traveled  about  the  different 
farms  baling  hay.  On  December  19,  1903,  he  married 
Della  C.  Riser,  who  was  born  in  Troy  Township 
August  5,  1885.  For  three  years  after  their  marriage 
they  rented  land  in  Stafford  Township,  and  then 
with  the  limited  capital  above  noted  bought  their 
present  home.  The  additional  forty  acres  was  ac- 
.quired  in  1918.  Mr.  Moughler  breeds  good  grades 
of  livestock,  and  for  several  years  has  fed  hogs  and 
cattle  on  an  extensive  scale.  His  two  sons  are  en- 
thusiastic members  of  the  Boys  Pig  Clubs,  and  were 
contestants  in  the  pig  feeding  contest  for  the  dis- 
tricts of  Stafford,  Troy,  Wilmington  and  Franklin 
townships  and  were  awarded  the  first  prize  of  $20 
in  gold. 


120 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mougler  are : Olis 
L.,  born  October  21,  1904;  Ora  Dale,  born  August 
12,  1906;  Roy  J.,  born  December  23,  1912;  and  Helen, 
born  February  27,  1915.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  Mr.  Moughler 
is  trustee  of  the  parsonage  and  formerly  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school  and  active  in  all  de- 
partments of  the  church.  He  is  affiliated  with  Lodge 
No.  157  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Butler  and  is 
a member  of  the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at 
Edgerton,  Ohio.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Lewis  T.  Baker  has  for  thirty  years  or  more 
been  identified  with  the  farming  activities  of  Noble 
County,  and  is  owner  of  eighty  acres  in  Washington 
Township.  Mr.  Baker  has  followed  general  farming 
but  has  also  specialized  to  some  extent  as  a breeder 
of  Shorthorn  cattle  and  of  O.  I.  C.  hogs. 

He  was  born  at  Cromwell,  Indiana,  November 
14,  1861.  His  parents,  Jacob  and  Mary  A.  (Smith) 
Baker,  were  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  came  to 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  with  their  respective  fami- 
lies. They  grew  up  here,  were  married,  and  then 
located  on  a farm  near  Cromwell  and  subsequently 
moved  to  Sparta  Township,  where  Jacob  Baker 
lived  as  a practical  agriculturist  until  he  moved  to 
Washington  Township,  where  he  died  on  the  farm. 
His  widow  is  still  living.  Both  have  been  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  as  a re- 
publican he  gave  three  terms  of  excellent  service 
as  trustee  of  Sparta  Township.  Of  the  children 
five  are  still  living : G.  W.  Baker,  of  Kosciusko 

County;  H.  E.  Baker,  of  Denver,  Colorado;  Lewis 
T. ; Julia,  wife  of  Rev.  W.  H.  Brightmire,  of  In- 
dianapolis; and  Sherman  C.,  of  Washington  Town- 
ship. 

Lewis  T.  Baker  spent  his  boyhood  days  and 
acquired  his  education  at  Cromwell,  but  has  been 
a resident  of  Washington  Township  since  he  was 
sixteen  years  old.  In  September,  1885,  he  married 
Frances  Palmer.  She  was  born  in  Whitley  County 
and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Mr. 
Baker  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife  by  death 
in  May,  1913.  There  were  no  children.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Etna 
and  is  a past  master  of  that  lodge  and  a member 
of  the  grand  lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Frank  T.  Knisely.  Nearly  seventy  years  ago  the 
late  John  B.  Knisely  came  to  Steuben  County  and 
began  the  development  of  a farm  in  York  Township 
which  is  now  the  property  of  Frank  T.  Knisely.  The 
latter,  long  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  substan- 
tial citizens  of  Steuben  County,  is  an  adopted  son 
of  John  B.  Knisely.  He  was  born  in  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  June  21,  1874,  and  at  the  age  of  two  months 
was  adopted  by  the  Knisely  family. 

The  late  John  B.  Knisely,  who  died  November  26, 
1912,  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 27,  1830,  a son  of  David  and  Sarah  Knisely. 
David  Knisely  entered  land  in  section  6 of  York 
Township,  Steuben  County,  when  the  land  was  first 
put  on  the  market.  John  B.  Knisely  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  came  to  Indiana  to  improve  this  land, 
and  his  prosperity  eventually  was  measured  by  the 
ownership  of  360  acres.  David  Knisely  died  in 
Ohio  in  1877. 

May  22,  1853,  John  B.  Knisely  married  Emma  S. 
Johnston.  She  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio, 
May  22,  1836,  a daughter  of  Silas  and  Aseneth 
Johnston.  John  Knisely  and  wife  had  five  children, 
including  their  adopted  son  Frank.  The  three  to 
reach  mature  years  were  Letta  E.,  wife  of  George 
Osfall,  a farmer  and  merchant  of  York  Township, 
and  the  mother  of  one  child,  Emma  L. ; Frank  T. ; 


and  Nellie  C„  who  married  Charles  Hershmiller  and 
died  in  Massachusetts,  October  31,  1909. 

Frank  T.  Knisely,  who  continues  the  Knisely  name 
acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  York 
1 ownship  and  as  a boy  and  young  man  worked  on 
his  father  s place.  For  three  or  four  years  he  lived 
on  a nearby  farm,  but  with  that  exception  his  labors 
have  been  devoted  to  the  old  Knisely  homestead. 
He  owns  395  acres  in  sections  6 and  7,  and  by  his 
industry,  good  judgment  and  public  spirit  has  proved 
worthy  of  his  inheritance.  With  the  exception  of 
the  house  he  has  put  practically  all  the  buildings  and 
°21,er  improvements  on  the  land.  Mr.  Knisely  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. 

In  1896  he  married  Kate  McElroy,  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Alzina  (Brooks)  McElroy.  The  Mc- 
Elroys  and  Brooks  are  old  families  of  Steuben 
County,  and  special  reference  to  them  is  made  on 
other  pageS  Mr  and  Mrs.  Knisely  have  had  six 

n,drIn’  uVer?l  BVr1’  Nev.a’  .°rIo>  Arlene  and 
Dorothy,  but  Dorothy  died  in  infancy. 


iviiNARD  t.  Kose.  A resident  of  Steuben  County 
over  three-quarters  of  a century,  Minard  F Rose 
has  some  interesting  recollections  of  the  journey 
which  brought  the  family  to  this  county  from  North- 
ern Ohio.  He  has  concerned  himself  during  his 
active  years  with  farming  in  York  Township,  long 
since  acquired  a competency  from  his  efforts,  and 
in  his  declining  years  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing 
11s  own  children  and  some  of  his  grandchildren 
plane^  and  eStabhshed  in  Iife  on  a self-respecting 

Mr.  Rose  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio, 
December  9,  1841,  a son  of  Jacob  O.  and  Mary  A. 
(Comstock)  Rose.  His  father  was  born  in  Rens- 
selaer County,  New  York,  May  18,  1814,  a son  of 
Elias  and  Eva  (Overrocker)  Rose,  natives  of  New 
York  and  of  Dutch  ancestry.  The  Rose  family 
moved  from  New  York  and  settled  near  Cleveland 
in  1835.  On  April  12,  1837,  Jacob  O.  Rose  married 
Mary  A.  Comstock,  and  she  was  born  July  3,  1817, 
a daughter  of  Stephen  and  Charlotte  (Fitch)  Com- 
stock, natives  of  Connecticut. 


It  was  in  1845  that  Jacob  O.  Rose  and  family 
moved  to  Steuben  County,  settling  in  York  Town- 
ship. They  made  the  journey  by  wagon  and  team. 
Minard  F.  Rose  was  then  four  years  old,  but  recalls 
some  of  the  incidents  of  the  journey.  He  remem- 
bers that  his  father  brought  five  head  of  Devonshire 
cows  and  a Chester  White  hog,  and  he  recalls  the 
difficulties  of  crossing  the  Swanee  River.  Just  about 
that  time  Mr.  Rose  had  his  experience  of  the 
whooping  cough.  The  family  settled  a mile  and  a 
half  east  of  where  Minard  Rose  now  lives,  on  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land.  Jacob  Rose  eventually  ac- 
quired 240  acres  there,  but  after  ten  years  sold  and 
bought  what  is  now  the  Robinson  farm.  He  lived 
there  another  period  of  ten  years  and  then  went  to 
Big  Rapids,  Michigan,  where  he  died  October  24, 
1883.  His  widow  then  returned  to  Steuben  County 
and  lived  with  her  son,  Minard,  until  her  death. 
They  had  three  children : Elias  Overrocker,  Char- 

lotte, who  died  in  infancy,  and  Minard  F. 

Minard  F.  Rose  grew  up  in  York  Township,  and 
has  lived  there  since  he  was  four  years  old.  He 
acquired  a good  education,  attending  the  public 
schools  and  was  also  a student  at  Hillsdale  College 
under  President  Fairfield.  In  his  early  life  he  also 
taught  school  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  two  miles 
east  of  Columbia.  For  two  years  he  rented  the  old 
homestead  and  in  the  fall  of  1863  moved  to  his 
present  place,  where  he  has  140  acres.  The  im- 
provements when  he  moved  there  consisted  of  a 


2. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


121 


frame  house,  which  was  the  second  frame  building 
erected  in  the  township.  Mr.  Rose  has  since  com- 
pletely changed  the  aspect  of  things  on  the  farm, 
clearing  and  improving  and  erecting  substantial 
buildings.  He  and  his  son,  Irwin,  have  long  been 
associated  in  the  management  of  the  farm  and  for 
some  years  they  were  breeders  of  Shorthorn  cattle. 
Mr.  Rose  was  the  first  county  assessor  under  a new 
law,  being  appointed  by  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners and  later  elected  to  that  office.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a republican  and  also  served  one  term  as 
township  trustee.  He  is  a member  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Metz,  his  father  having  been  a member 
of  the  same  denomination. 

October  6,  1862,  Mr.  Rose  married  Miss  Ann  Eliza 
Powers.  She  was  the  second  white  child  born  in 
York  Township,  born  January  2,  1839,  a daughter 
of  Winn  Powers,  and  member  of  the  well  known 
Powers  family  of  Steuben  County,  including  her 
brother,  Riley  Powers.  Mrs.  Rose,  who  is  now  de- 
ceased, was  the  mother  of  five  children.  Mary  is 
the  wife  of  Ed  E.  Mitchell,  of  Phoenix,  Arizona, 
and  her  daughter,  Maggie,  is  married  to  Walter  E. 
Frazee,  of  Rushville,  Indiana.  Jay  O.,  the  second 
child,  lives  at  Angola,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Edith 
Fay  has  two  sons,  Minard  F.,  Jr.,  and  John.  J.  O. 
Rose  is  a minister  of  the  Christian  Church,  was 
pastor  of  churches  at  Fort  Wayne,  Kendallville, 
Bryan,  Ohio,  and  many  other  places,  and  in  later 
years  has  been  instructor  in  Bible  classes  at  the 
Tri-State  College.  William  E.  Rose,  a resident  of 
Chicago,  married  Lena  Merry,  and  their  children 
are  Winn,  Lois,  Edith  and  Dorothy.  Irwin  F.,  who 
for  a number  of  years  has  been  associated  with  his 
father  on  the  farm,  married  Alice  Goodale,  daughter 
of  the  late  Dr.  Charles  W.  Goodale  of  Metz,  and  to 
their  union  have  been  born  seven  children : Mil- 

dred, Margaret,  Graydon,  Helen,  Catherine,  Ruth 
and  Gordon,  all  living  except  Ruth.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rose  lost  one  child,  Ida,  when  she  was  two  weeks 
old. 

Isaac  A.  Wert  is  proprietor  of  113  acres  of 
the  old  Wert  farm  two  and  a half  miles  north  and 
a mile  and  a half  east  of  South  Milford.  This 
farm  is  chiefly  known  because  of  the  saw  mill 
industry  which  has  been  operated  there  by  Isaac 
A.  Wert  and  by  his  father  before  him  for  a long 
period  of  years,  and  has  been  the  source  of  pro- 
duction of  much  of  the  lumber  manufactured  in 
that  part  of  LaGrange  County. 

Isaac  A.  Wert  was  born  on  his  farm  August  29, 
1858,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza  (Miller)  Wert. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and 
his  mother  of  Seneca  County,  and  after  their  mar- 
riage they  came  to  Indiana,  about  1855.  In  1857 
Daniel  Wert  bought  the  saw  mill  in  Milford  Town- 
ship. The  plant  was  originally  constructed  about 
1843,  more  than  three  quarters  of  a century  ago. 
After  buying  the  property  Daniel  Wert  tore  down 
the  old  plant  and  reconstructed  a new  and  better 
one,  and  he  continued  its  operations  until  the  in- 
firmities of  age  prevented  him  from  managing  the 
business  any  longer,  since  which  time  his  son  Isaac 
has  been  proprietor.  The  father  died  at  the  age 
of  eighty-seven  years. 

Isaac  A.  Wert  married  in  1884  Ella  Eiman.  She 
is  the  mother  of  one  son,  Cyrus  D.,  born  in  1883, 
who  is  married  and  lives 'with  his  father.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wert  after  their  marriage  lived  on  a farm 
six  years  and  then  moved  to  the  Mill  Farm,  where 
they  have  lived  ever  since.  During  the  World  war 
Mr.  Wert  operated  his  mill  to  its  fullest  capacity  in 
order  to  supply  government  needs.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Noble  Truck  Company  at  Kendall- 
ville and  the  Sterlite  Sales  Company  at  Auburn, 


Indiana.  He  is  affiliated  with  South  Milford  Lodge 
No.  619,  International  Order  of  Foresters,  and  with 
the  Encampment,  and  in  politics  is  a democrat. 

Walter  W.  Mountz  is  one  of  the  best  known 
public  men  in  the  official  life  of  DeKalb  County,  is 
clerk  of  the  DeKalb  County  Circuit  Court,  and  has 
been  a leader  in  local  affairs  for  a number  of  years. 

Though  of  an  old  family  of  Northeast  Indiana, 
he  was  born  at  Overbrook  in  the  State  of  Kansas 
July  10,  1886.  He  is  a son  of  Francis  and  Della 
(Smith)  Mountz.  His  father  was  born  near  Pleas- 
ant Lake,  Indiana,  July  6,  1859,  had  a common  school 
education,  was  married  at  Ashley,  and  after  his 
marriage  lived  in  Kansas  six  years.  Returning  to 
Indiana,  he  settled  in  DeKalb  County,  at  Garrett, 
where  for  fourteen  years  he  was  proprietor  of  a 
retail  hardware  business.  He  was  also  prominent 
in  democratic  politics,  represented  the  Second  Ward 
in  the  City  Council  of  Garrett,  and  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Garrett  Fire  Department  at  the  time 
of  his  death.  His  widow  is  still  living  in  Garrett. 
There  were  three  children  : Walter  W. ; Dessa,  who 
graduated  from  the  Garrett  High  School  in  1906 
and  is  the  wife  of  Harry  M.  Barrie;  and  Russell  M., 
clerk  in  a clothing  and  shoe  store  at  Garrett. 

Walter  W.  Mountz  spent  his  early  life  at  Garrett, 
attended  the  grammar  schools  there  and  one  year 
in  high  school,  and  on  leaving  school  was  in  the 
West  for  two  years.  July  10,  1909,  he  married  Lulu 
Maurer.  She  died  in  July,  1910,  and  on  August  5, 
1912,  he  married  Myrtle  Osborne,  of  Kendallville, 
Indiana.  Mrs.  Mountz  is  a daughter  of  William  S. 
and  Anna  (Johnson)  Osborne  and  is  a graduate  of 
the  Kendallville  High  School.  They  have  one  son, 
William  W.,  born  February  28,  1918. 

Mr.  Mountz  was  elected  for  two  terms  as  city  clerk 
of  Garrett,  going  into  office  January  1,  1910,  and 
serving  seven  years.  He  was  reelected  without  oppo- 
sition but  resigned  toward  the  close  of  his  second 
term,  on  December  1,  1916,  to  take  up  his  duties  as 
circuit  clerk.  Mr.  Mountz  is  a thirty-second  degree 
Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a member  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  at  Garrett.  He  served  as  secretary 
of  the  Lodge  of  Eagles  from  June  1,  1909,  to  Janu- 
ary 1,  1917.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Benevolent 
and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  a member  of  the  Auburn  Commer- 
cial Club,  and  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Carl  A.  Surfus  is  one  of  the  younger  business 
farmers  of  Noble  County,  has  been  very  successful 
in  handling  land,  crops  and  livestock,  and  is  also 
one  of  the  most  influential  in  the  public  affairs  of 
Noble  Township. 

His  home  is  a half  mile  north  of  Wolf  Lake.  He  * 
was  born  on  a farm  adjoining  his  present  home 
December  31,  1881,  a son  of  E.  L.  and  Anna  J. 
(Clark)  Surfus.  His  father  was  born  in  Iowa 
and  his  mother  in  Ohio.  Both  the  Clark  and  Surfus 
families  came  to  Noble  Township  and  settled  in 
the  woods,  and  both  families  have  contributed  much 
of  the  labor  by  which  the  present  day  improvements 
have  been  brought  about.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  L. 
Surfus  had  two  children,  Carl  A.  and  Stanley  L., 
the  latter  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana. 

Carl  A.  Surfus  grew  up  on  a farm  near  Wolf 
Lake.  He  attended  high  school  at  Wolf  Lake,  and 
lived  at  home  and  acquired  a practical  knowledge 
of  farming  before  he  was  ready  to  start  out  on  his 
own  account. 

He  married  Lottie  Kiester,  of  Noble  Township. 
She  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Wolf  Lake  High 
School.  Mrs.  Surfus  is  one  of  a large  family  of 
seven  daughters  and  three  sons,  all  living  but  one. 


122 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


This  interesting  family  is  named  briefly  as  follows : 
Anna,  wife  of  E.  L.  Prickett,  former  clerk  of 
Noble  County'  and  now  living  at  Albion;  Martha, 
wife  of  C.  E.  Butts,  of  Sparta  Township;  Nancy, 
deceased  wife  of  C.  H.  Bender;  J.  T.,  of  Washing- 
ton Township;  Hannah,  wife  of  Claude  Kimmell, 
of  Sparta  Township;  Mary,  wife  of  Charles  Beers; 
Lee,  of  Washington  Township;  George,  of  Noble 
Township ; Lottie,  Mrs.  Surfus ; and  Ruth,  wife  of 
M.  J.  Beers,  of  Perry  Township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Surfus  located  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives  and  has  eighty  acres 
under  a high  state  of  improvement  and  cultivation. 
He  buys  and  feeds  the  Polled  Angus  cattle  and 
also  the  Durhams,  and  is  regarded  as  a man  of 
special  ability  and  wisdom  in  livestock  husbandry. 
He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Wolf  Lake  State 
Bank. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Surfus  have  three  children:  Claude 
E.,  born  in  1910;  Lora  Belle,  born  in  1914;  and 
Lucile,  born  in  1917. 

Mr.  Surfus  is  a democrat  in  politics  and  was  one 
of  the  youngest  township  trustees  ever  elected  in 
Noble  Township.  He  was  only  twenty-six  years 
old  when  he  was  chosen  to  that  responsible  office, 
and  the  four  years  he  remained  an  incumbent  fully 
justified  the  expectations  of  his  friends  and  sup- 
porters. 

S.  P.  Willibey,  who  was  born  in  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  and  whose  people  were  pioneers  in  that  state, 
has  been  identified  with  Steuben  County  as  a prac- 
tical farmer  and  thresherman  for  over  thirty-five 
years,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  men  in  influence 
and  activities  in  Richland  Township. 

Mr.  Willibey  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Flor- 
ence Township,  July  6,  1853,  son  of  George  and 
Abigail  (Look)  Willibey.  George  Willibey  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  July  6,  1819,  son  of 
John  Willibey,  who  was  an  early  settler  in  the  old 
Ohio  Western  Reserve,  and  finally  moved  to  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio.  George  Willibey  was  one  of 
the  first  settlers  in  Florence  Township  of  Williams 
County,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  active  life  on  a 
farm  which  he  developed  from  the  woods.  He 
erected  the  first  buildings  and  cleared  the  first 
land  constituting  his  farm.  He  died  in  1903.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Northumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  August  18,  1818,  daughter  of  David 
Look,  died  in  1904.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children:  John,  who  served  with  honor  in  the 

Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  Elizabeth,  Anna, 
Mary  Jane,  S.  P.  and  Jeremiah.  Jeremiah  died  in 
childhood. 

S.  P.  Willibey  secured  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Florence  Township,  and  from  early  man- 
hood his  experience  has  been  in  growing  crops,  be- 
ginning in  Florence  Township  and  after  1883  con- 
tinuing in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben  County. 
With  the  exception  of  five  years  spent  in  York 
Township  he  has  lived  in  Richland  Township  ever 
since.  He  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres 
in  section  8 of  Richland  Township  in  1915,  and 
carries  on  a good  business  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  handling  the  big  type  Poland  China 
hogs.  The  harvesting  feature  of  farming  has  been 
a matter  of  particular  concern  to  Mr.  Willibey.  For 
forty  years  he  operated  a threshing  outfit  every  sea- 
son. 

Mr.  Willibey  married  Harriet  Lechleidner,  daugh- 
ter of  David  and  Rebecca  Lechleidner.  Nine  chil- 
dren were  born  to  their  marriage,  and  they  now 
have  a number  of  grandchildren.  Their  children  in 
order  of  birth  were  Maud  May,  Clarence,  Blaine, 
Fred,  Iva,  Glenn,  Paul,  Orville  and  George  David. 
Clarence  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  Maud  May 


is  the  wife  of  Ernest  Wisner,  and  her  two  daughters 
are  Ila  and  Dorothy.  Blaine  married  Blanche  Gates 
and  has  three  children,  Seleta,  Galor  and  Ivan.  Fred 
married  Emma  Gilbert  and  has  two  children,  Alene 
and  Alton  Gilbert.  Iva  is  the  wife  of  William 
Hopkins  and  has  a son,  Kenneth.  Glenn  married 
Wava  Newman,  and  their  one  child  is  Raymond. 
Paul  married  Ruth  Bowles  and  has  a child,  Leotto. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  Mr.  Willibey  has  given  his  due  time 
and  means  to  the  support  of  all  religious  causes.  In 
his  home  church  he  has  served  as  superintendent  of 
the  Sunday  school,  as  a steward  and  trustee. 

Isaac  Clyde  Allen.  One  of  the  younger  men  in 
the  agricultural  community  of  Salem  Township, 
Isaac  Clyde  Allen  has  had  sufficient  time  to  make 
his  efforts  count  and  has  achieved  the  dignity  of 
the  ownership  of  a fine  farm  and  is  working  steadily 
toward  a larger  prosperity  and  the  important  service 
which  the  farmer  represents. 

Mr.  Allen  was  born  in  Salem  Township,  July  27, 
1883,  a son  of  Artemus  and  Alvira  (Garrison) 
Allen.  His  father  was  a son  of  Justice  Allen,  who 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  in  Ohio  brought  his  son 
Artemus  to  Steuben  County  in  early  days,  and  he 
died  near  Stroh  many  years  ago.  Artemus  Allen 
lived  for  a number  of  years  with  Isaac  Davis,  and 
he  met  there  Alvira  Garrison,  who  was  born  in 
Kosciusko  County  in  1854  and  for  many  years  was 
a member  of  the  Davis  household.  After  their 
marriage  they  settled  on  a farm  one  mile  south  and 
half  a mile  east  of  Salem  Center,  and  on  selling 
that  forty  acres  moved  to  a place  a mile  east  and 
bought  eighty  acres,  later  increasing  it  to  127  acres. 
Mrs.  Alvira  Allen  also  inherited  eighty  acres  from 
Isaac  Davis.  Artemus  Allen  lived  in  Salem  Town- 
ship until  his  death  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  and 
his  widow  is  still  living  on  the  old  farm.  Both 
were  active  members  of  the!  Trinity  Reformed 
Church,  and  he  was  a democrat  in  politics.  They 
had  nine  children,  named  Samuel  J.,  Edith,  Ida 
May,  Anna  Elvira,  Isaac  Clyde,  Everett  E.,  Bertha, 
Amos,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Wayne. 

Isaac  Clyde  Allen  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a public  school  education.  Since  early  man- 
hood all  his  efforts  have  been  expended  on  agricul- 
tural work,  and  he  made  his  independent  start  with 
only  forty  acres.  He  acquired  another  forty  acres, 
and  on  selling  this  property  bought  in  October,  1917, 
his  present  attractive  and  valuable  farm  of  120 
acres.  He  is  engaged  in  general  crop  raising  and 
stock  raising. 

Mr.  Allen  is  an  independent  democrat  in  politics 
and  his  wife  is  active  in  the  Trinity  Churcb.  He 
married  in  1904  Miss  Ida  May  Ferris.  From  the 
age  of  two  years  she  was  reared  in  the  home  of 
Edward  Noll  of  Salem  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allen  have  two  children : Loyal  W.,  born  August 

6,  1906,  and  Fay  E.,  born  September  22,  1910. 

William  Eckert.  While  there  is  now  the  fourth 
generation  in  the  house  of  Eckert  in  DeKalb  County, 
William  Eckert  of  Locust  Dale  Farm  in  Fairfield 
and  a brother,  Jacob  H.  Eckert,  of  Kendallville,  be- 
long to  the  second  generation,  being  the  only  surviv- 
ing children  in  the  family  of  Sebastian  Eckert,  who 
located  in  Fairfield  March  28,  1855,  and  since  that 
time  Locust  Dale  has  been  the  family  homestead. 

The  present  owner  of  Locust  Dale,  William  Eckert, 
was  born  there  June  8,  1864,  and  his  life  has  all  been 
spent  in  one  place,  and  his  own  children  have  had 
his  childhood  environment. 

There  is  Scotch,  Welsh  and  German  blood  in  the 
family.  However,  his  father,  Sebastian  Eckert,  was 
one  of  six  children  brought  by  their  mother,  Mrs. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


123 


(Pfeiffer)  Eckert,  from  Germany.  Their  father, 
Peter  Eckert,  died  of  a fever  in  March,  1830,  and  in 
May  of  that  year  the  mother  and  her  children  em- 
barked for  America.  They  were  three  months  on  the 
Atlantic,  landing  in  August.  She  located  in  Frank- 
lin, Pennsylvania,  and  from  there  the  family  scattered, 
the  mother  finally  going  to  St.  Louis.  Sebastian  was 
her  only  son.  The  oldest  daughter  died  in  childhood. 
The  other  four  sisters  were  Elizabeth,  Margaret, 
Eve  and  Barbara.  Sebastian,  Margaret  and  Barbara 
all  lived  in  DeKalb  County,  Elizabeth  being  the  wife 
of  John  Sthair,  a blacksmith,  and  Barbara  the  wife 
of  Jerome  Reynolds,  a cabinet  maker.  Both  these 
men  once  operated  shops  in  Fairfield  Center.  All 
the  family  now  lie  buried  in  the  Fairfield  Cemetery. 

December  14,  1848,  Sebastian  Eckert  married  Susan 
Cox,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Jane  (Denman)  Cox 
of  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  She  was  one  of  nine  chil- 
dren : Eli,  Mary,  Susan,  Freeman,  Andrew,  Rebekah 
Jane,  Alpheus,  Samuel  and  Newton.  Three  of  them, 
Susan,  Eli  and  Andrew,  were  later  citizens  of  De- 
Kalb  County,  and  they  all  lie  buried  at  Fairfield. 
The  children  of  Sebastian  and  Susan  Eckert  were 
Elizabeth,  Jacob,  Margaret,  Amiel,  Alice,  Florence,. 
William,  Belle,  Luther,  Kate  and  Spener,  the  only 
two  living  today  being  mentioned  above.  These 
children  all  had  a common  school  education.  The 
family  were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
Church.  All  but  the  two  surviving  brothers  died 
before  marriage.  There  are  today  only  five  voters 
in"  the  Eckert  family  in  DeKalb  and  Noble  counties, 
and  this  vote  is  cast  solidly  in  the  interests  of  the 
democratic  party. 

William  Eckert  and  Miss  Mary  Sf.  Ringer  were 
married  June  8,  1886,  which  was  his  twenty-second 
birthday  and  the  eighteenth  birthday  of  the  bride. 
They  were  married  at  the  home  of  her  parents  in 
Richland  Township.  She  was  a daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Wright)  Ringer,  whose  family  his- 
tory in  DeKalb  County  goes  back  to  1853,  when  they 
came  from  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Jacob  Ringer  as  an 
Ohio  shoemaker  had  earned  the  money  with  which 
he  bought  his  farm  in  Indiana.  He  was  the  only 
son  of  George  and  Mary  (Herbster)  Ringer.  He 
had  five  sisters,  the  oldest  dying  before  the  birth 
of  the  others.  The  four  to  grow  up  were  Mary, 
Susan,  Leah  and  Margaret. 

The  six  children  born  to  William  and  Mary  Eckert 
are:  Blanche  R.,  wife  of  C.  W.  Getts;  Ethel,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  eleven  days ; Roswell,  who  married 
Irene  Stomm  and  has  a son,  Donald  Cecil;  Imo,  who 
was  buried  February  24,  1915,  just  one  year  from 
the  date  of  her  marriage  with  John  Berkes;  Gran- 
ville J.,  who  married  Charlotte  Bonbrake  and  has  a 
son,  William  Louis,  the  first  born  in  the  fourth 
generation  of  the  Eckert  family  in  DeKalb  County; 
and  Martha  Belle,  the  youngest  daughter.  The  two 
grandchildren  in  the  Eckert  household  are  William 
Louis  and  Donald  Cecil. 

Roswell  and  Granville  and  their  cousin,  Russell 
Eckert  of  Garrett,  were  all  young  men  under  the 
draft.  Granville  was  temporarily  exempted  because 
he  was  engaged  in  agriculture.  Roswell  had  military 
training  at  Camp  Taylor,  Camp  McClellan  and  Camp 
Grant.  He  was  battery  clerk  and  was  advanced  to 
the  grade  of  corporal  when  the  armistice  changed  the 
prospect  of  so  many  young  American  soldiers.  Rus- 
sell Eckert  was  at  Fort  Thomas.  The  Eckert  children 
were  all  given  the  same  educational  advantages, 
and  Granville  and  Martha  have  diplomas  from  the 
common  schools. 

Sebastian  Eckert,  founder  of  the  family  in  Indiana, 
died  at  the  family  homestead  September  6,  1890, 
while  his  wife  lived  on  until  March  19,  19x9,  and  had 


survived  to  welcome  the  two  grandchildren  of  the 
fourth  generation. 

The  farm  buildings  at  Locust  Dale  were  built  in 
the  reconstruction  period  following  the  Civil  war, 
when  there  was  an  abundance  of  native  timber,  and 
the  farmstead  today  is  one  of  the  well  kept  places 
in  Fairfield  Township. 

John  A.  Clingerman.  While  not  one  of  the 
largest  farms  in  Noble  County,  Springhill  Farm, 
of  which  John  A.  Clingerman  is  proprietor,  has  the 
distinctive  characteristics  of  being  a fine  country 
home  and  a place  where  a good  business  is  carried 
on  in  general  farming  and  in  stock  raising.  It  is 
located  in  section  29  in  Sparta  Township  and  com- 
prises forty  acres.  It  is  the  home  of  some  high- 
class  Jersey  cattle  and  Shropshire  sheep,  Mr.  Clin- 
german specializing  in  these  branches  of  livestock 
husbandry. 

This  is  the  farm  where  Mr.  Clingerman  was  born 
March  31,  1867,  a son  of  John  and  Matilda  Clinger- 
man. His  parents  were  both  born  in  Ohio,  were 
married  there,  and  then  came  to  Noble  County  and 
settled  on  the  farm  where  they  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days  and  where  their  son  now  lives.  They 
were  active  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  John  Clingerman,  Sr.,  saw  active  service 
as  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war,  for  many 
years  was  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  in  politics  always  voted  republican. 
He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  and  the  three 
still  living  are : Isaiah  W.  of  Whitley  County, 

Indiana;  Ellora,  wife  of  Frank  Spark,  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  John  A. 

John  A.  Clingerman*  as  a boy  attended  the  nearby 
district  schools,  and  his  career  has  been  one  of 
industry  since  early  manhood.  On  June  6,  1894,  he 
married  Anna  Adora  Cripe.  She  was  born  in  Noble 
County  April  29,  1872,  daughter  of  Noah  and  Lydia 
A.  (Hammon)  CriPe>  the  former  a native  of  Elk- 
hart County  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  Cripe 
family  is  an  old  and  prominent  one  of  Elkhart 
County.  Since  their  marriage  Mr.  Clingerman  with 
the  exception  of  two  years  has  lived  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  it  has  been  owned  by  them  for  over 
twenty  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clingerman  have  one 
son,  Virgil  W.,  born  December  13,  1897.  He  has 
distinguished  himself  as  a scholar.  He  graduated 
from  the  common  schools  when  only  thirteen,  from 
the  Cromwell  High  School  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
and  for  three  terms  attended  Goshen  College.  He 
is  now  principal  of  the  Laotto  High  School.  Mr. 
Clingerman  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
I.odge  at  Cromwell  and  is  a republican.  He  has 
served  several  terms  as  road  supervisor. 

Charles  H.  Dull  has  been  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  farmers  and  livestock  traders  in  Noble  Coun- 
ty for  many  years.  He  has  been  a buyer  and  dealer 
in  horses  for  twenty  years,  and  most  of  his  opera- 
tions in  this  field  center  at  Ligonier.  He  also  has  a 
fine  farm,  where  he  resides,  in  section  6 in  Sparta 
Township. 

Mr.  Dull  was  born  in  Washington  Township  of 
Noble  County,  July  5,  1867,  a son  of  Peter  and  Mary 
(Moore)  Dull.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
and  their  respective  families  came  at  an  early  day 
and  settled  in  Washington  Township  of  Noble 
Count3^,  where  Peter  and  Mary  were  married.  They 
were  farmers  of  Noble  County  for  a number  of 
years,  and  finally  died  at  the  home  of  their  son 
Charles  in  Sparta  Township.  They  were  active  in 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  Peter  Dull  was  a repub- 
lican in  politics.  Of  their  eight  children,  seven  are 
mentioned : Cora  A.,  deceased ; George  W.,  who  is 
associated  with  his  brother  Charles ; Charles  H. ; 


124 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Perry,  of  Kosciusko  County;  William,  who  lives  in 
Ohio;  John,  of  Sparta  Township;  Archie,  of  Elkhart 
Township,  Noble  County. 

Charles  H.  Dull  lived  in  Washington  Township 
until  he  was  seven  years  old,  and  then  went  to 
York  Township  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  removed 
to  Kosciusko  County.  He  acquired  his  education  in 
the  common  schools,  and  in  Kosciusko  County  he 
worked  at  monthly  wages  for  five  years.  On  March 
4,  1892,  he  married  Catherine  Rapp,  of  Kosciusko 
County,  where  she  was  born.  For  several  years 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dull  rented  land,  and  then  traded  for 
their  present  place  of  1 1 5 acres,  the  improvements  of 
which  and  the  value  of  the  property  represents  many 
years  of  hard  toil  and  good  management  on  their 
part.  Mr.  Dull  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Citizens 
Bank  of  Ligonier,  and  in  the  Farmers  Elevator  at 
Ligonier. 

He  and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Ethel,  a grad- 
uate of  the  Cromwell  High  School.  She  is  now  the 
wife  of  Ray  Maggert  and  lives  at  Cromwell.  Mr. 
Dull  is  affiliated  with  Cromwell  Lodge  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he  is  a 
past  noble  grand.  He  has  been  quite  active  in  re- 
publican politics,  and  is  now  a member  of  the  County 
Central  Committee,  representing  Sparta  Township. 

Nelson  Ellsworth  Carey.  From  the  standpoint 
of  continuous  ownership  by  one  family  one  of  the 
oldest  farm  homes  in  Steuben  County  is  Pleasant 
View  Farm  in  section  19  of  Richland  Township.  Its 
present  proprietor  is  Nelson  Ellsworth  Carey,  who 
was  born  there,  and  the  land  was  originally  ac- 
quired by  his  father  seventy-five  years  ago. 

The  first  of  the  family  in  Steuben  County  was 
his  father,  William  S.  Carey,  who  was  born  May 
15,  1818,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Carey,  who 
spent  their  last  years  in  Knox  County,  Ohio.  In 
that  county  William  S.  Carey  married  on  February 
21,  1843,  Melissa  Gordon.  She  was  born  in  New 
York  State,  January  28,  1825,  a daughter  of  William 
and  Mary  Gordon.  William  Gordon,  who  was  born 
in  Manchester,  England,  September  17,  1773,  was  a 
son  of  a physician  and  silk  manufacturer  and  a man 
of  great  influence  in  England.  As  a result  of  a 
disagreement  with  his  father  William,  at  the  age 
of  twelve,  ran  away  to  sea,  and  spent  three  years 
before  the  mast  on  a whaling  vessel  and  later  joined 
the  English  army,  his  father’s  influence  securing 
him  a colonel’s  commission.  Part  of  his  service 
was  under  the  Duke  of  Wellington.  In  1802  he  left 
England  and  came  to  this  country  and  in  1809  was 
married  and  in  1814  took  up  his  residence  in  Mor- 
row County,  Ohio.  He  and  his  wife  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children.  It  is  said  that  in  his  last 
years  William  Gordon  suffered  the  keenest  regret 
for  his  early  relations  with  his  family  and  planned 
to  revisit  the  old  home.  However,  he  put  off  carry- 
ing out  this  design,  and  finally  died  in  1882,  at  the 
remarkable  age  of  109  years.  In  1844  William  S. 
Carey  and  wife  came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled 
in  Richland  Township,  where  he  died  February  27, 
1869,  after  having  carried  forward  many  of  the 
early  improvements  on  the  farm.  He  and  his  wife 
were  very  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church.  She  survived  her  husband  many  years 
and  died  in  1894,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 

Nelson  Ellsworth  Carey,  who  was  born  on  the 
old  homestead,  November  29,  1861,  has  always  lived 
in  that  locality.  He  attended  the  public  schools  at 
Alvarado,  and  since  early  manhood  has  been  busily 
engaged  on  the  home  farm.  He  has  it  well  im- 
proved and  among  other  buildings  has  a double  barn, 
each  30  by  50  feet.  For  some  years  he  was  a success- 
ful breeder  of  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  and  all  the  hogs 
on  his  farm  are  pure  bred  though  not  registered. 


Mr.  Carey  is  a republican,  and  has  served  as  road 
supervisor.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge  of 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Metz,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  Eden,  Ohio. 

On  April  10,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Relefia  Dally, 
daughter  of  Vincent  Dally  and  a member  of  the 
prominent  family  of  that  name  so  frequently  men- 
tioned in  the  annals  of  Steuben  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Carey  have  two  children.  The!  daughter, 
Melissa  H.,  was  born  August  15,  1886,  and  was  well 
educated  in  the  public  schools. 

The  son,  William  Elmer  Carey,  is  now  in  active 
charge  of  the  home  farm  and  one  of  the  most  pro- 
gressive young  farmers  in  Richland  Township.  He 
was  born  April  26,  1896,  and  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools,  graduating  from  the  eighth  grade  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  and  from  the  Eden  High  School 
in  1913.  December  24,  1916,  he  married  Miss  Arilla 
A.  Van  Zile,  of  Richland  Township,  daughter  of 
Alonzo  and  Sina  (Strubel)  Van  Zile.  To  their 

marriage  has  been  born  one  son,  LaMar  Gordon, 
January  27,  1918. 

William  E.  Carey  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Metz,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  very  active 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Eden.  He  has 
been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  for  three 
years.  Politically  he  votes  as  a republican. 

John  K.  Riddle  is  one  of  the  old  timers  of  Noble 
County,  having  lived  here  for  seventy  years,  and 
throughout  this  long  period  has  been  actively  identi- 
fied with  farming.  He  now  lives  with  his  only  son,* 
O.  F.  Riddle,  in  Wayne  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  April  20, 
1845,  a son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Traney  M.  (Knox) 
Riddle.  Both  parents  were  born  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio.  In  1848  they  came  to  Noble  County  and  when 
all  the  country  was  new  settled  in  Jefferson  Town- 
ship and  lived  there  for  some  years,  later  moving  to 
Albion  in  Noble  County,  where  both  of  them  died. 
Joseph  B.  Riddle  was  a republican  in  politics.  Of 
their  nine  children  six  are  still  living:  Elizabeth, 

widow  of  John  Cotton;  William  W.,  former  treas- 
urer of  Noble  County,  living  at  Kendallville ; John 
K. ; Homer;  Comfort,  widow  of  Henry  Stanley; 
and  Edith,  wife  of  John  G.  Gill. 

John  K.  Riddle  was  three  and  a half  years  old 
when  brought  to  Noble  County  and  as  a boy  he  at- 
tended the  local  schools  near  his  father’s  home.  His 
education  was  finished  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and 
since  then  he  has  been  bearing  his  part  as  a sturdy 
laborer  in  the  world.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
started  out  for  himself.  January  29,  1871,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Jennie  Foster.  She  was  born  in  Noble 
County,  and  after  over  forty-one  years  of  married 
companionship  passed  away  April  -16,  1912.  Of  her 
two  children,  one  died  in  infancy. 

O.  F.  Riddle,  only  child  of  his  parents  still  living, 
graduated  from  the  Albion  High  School  and  also 
attended  college  at  Lansing,  Michigan.  He  married 
Lida  Grate.  They  have  four  children : Howard 

and  Ralph  W.,  both  students  in  high  school ; Mar- 
garet, in  the  sixth  grade;  and  John  Harold.  O.  F. 
Riddle  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a republican  voter.  The  home 
farm  comprises  269  acres,  highly  cultivated,  improved, 
and  kept  up  in  a high  degree  of  productiveness. 

Charles  W.  Bender.  One  of  the  best  improved 
farms  in  York  Township  of  Noble  County  is  that 
owned  by  C.  W.  Bender  in  sections  20  and  29.  Mr. 
Bender  has  lived  there  practically  all  his  life,  and 
has  succeeded  beyond  the  ordinary  as  a farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  and  also  as  a capable  citizen  and  worker 
in  his  community. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


125 


He  was  born  in  the  house  where  he  is  still  living 
July  i,  1870,  son  of  John  E.  and  Evaline  (Lafevre) 
Bender.  John  E.  Bender,  his  father,  was  born  in 
Chester  County,  Pennsylvania,  March  4,  1815.  He 
was  left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  seven  and  for  the 
next  ten  years  lived  as  a bound  boy  with  Samuel 
McClintock.  During  that  time  he  had  no  oppor- 
tunity to  attend  school,  and  was  given  a mere  living, 
and  left  his  employer  with  only  an  old  suit  of 
clothes.  He  then  went  to  work  on  a salary,  and 
the  first  year  received  only  $8  a month.  His  wife, 
Evaline  Lafevre,  was  born  in  Tennessee.  In  1868 
they  settled  in  Noble  County,  Indiana.  John  E. 
Bender  and  wife  had  four  children:  Charles  W. ; 

Myra,  deceased  wife  of  Samuel  DePew;  John  A., 
a farmer  in  York  Township;  and  Joseph,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

Charles  W.  Bender  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in 
York  Township  and  had  a district  school  education. 
For  many  years  he  has  been  a general  farmer,  and 
now  owns  200  acres  of  land.  He  is  also  a breeder 
of  Belgian  horses  and  has  several  pure  blooded 
animals  of  that  strain.  He  has  done  much  shipping 
of  live  stock  in  past  years.  Mr.  Bender  was  a 
charter  member  and  one  of  the  solicitors  for  the 
stock  at  the  organization  of  the  Kimmell  State  Bank 
and  became  one  of  its  first  directors. 

February  11,  1892,  Mr.  Bender  married  Miss 
Nancy  E.  Kiester.  She  was  born  in  Washington 
Township  of  Noble  County.  They  were  happily 
married  twenty-five  years,  and  Mrs.  Bender  passed 
away  November  7,  1917.  She  was  the  mother  of 
three  children : Ermal,  born  April  9,  1894,  is  a 

graduate  of  high  school  and  attended  Goshen  Col- 
lege and  is  now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Homer  Hiatt,  serv- 
ing with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant  in  the  Medical 
Corps  of  the  United  States  Army.  Cecil,  born  De- 
cember 7,  1895,  is  also  a high  school  graduate  and  is 
the  wife  of  Ralph  Denny,  an  attorney.  Carl,  born 
July  22,  1902,  has  finished  the  common  school  course. 
Mr.  Bender  also  has  two  grandchildren. 

He  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church,  as  was 
his  wife.  He  is  past  noble  grand  of  Kimmell  Lodge 
No.  773  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  his  wife  was  active 
as  a grand  of  the  Rebecca  Lodge  and  also  repre- 
sented her  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 

Isaac  Eaton.  Large  land  ownership,  good  agri- 
cultural methods,-  nublic  spirited  citizenship  and  an 
influence  steadily  directed  toward  elevating  the  reli- 
gious and  moral  life  of  the  community  have  been 
characteristics  of  the  Eaton  family  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty for  many  years.  Mr.  Isaac  Eaton,  one  of  the 
extensive  land  owners  and  successful  farmers  of 
Fremont  Township,  is  the  only  child  of  the  late 
Lucien  B.  and  Melinda  (Phelps')  Eaton.  On  both 
sides  he  represents  pioneer  families  in  this  section 
of  Northeast  Indiana.  His  mother,  Melinda  Phelps, 
was  born  near  Brookville  in  Franklin  County,  In- 
diana, November  15,  1815.  She  was  born  when  In- 
diana was  still  a territory.  Her  parents  were 
Reuben  B.  and  Ruth  (Carson)  Phelps.  Reuben  B. 
Phelps  deserves  a special  memory  as  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Steuben  County,  having  moved 
here  from  Franklin  County  about  1833.  His  place 
of  settlement  was  on  the  left  side  of  Lake  James  in 
Pleasant  Township.  This  Steuben  County  pioneer 
had  no  male  descendants,  the  line  being  carried  on 
through  his  five  daughters,  Melinda,  Lucinda,  Julia, 
Ruby  and  Ruth. 

Lucien  B.  Eaton  was  born  in  Canada,  December 
17,  1808,  and  died  in  February,  1889.  He  came  to 
Steuben  County  from  New  York  State,  settling  in 
Jamestown  Township  with  the  very  first  pioneers 
there  in  1836.  He  was  a man  of  unusual  person- 


ality, business  energy  and  enterprise,  and  at  one 
time  owned  about  900  acres  of  land  in  Steuben 
County,  and  also  had  extensive  farming  interests  in 
Michigan,  selling  his  Michigan  property  about  1875. 
These  landed  accumulations  were  enough  to  absorb 
the  energies  of  an  ordinary  man,  but  in  addition  he 
did  much  work  as  a Methodist  preacher,  preaching 
in  his  home  locality,  and  his  last  regular  charge  was 
in  Whitley  County,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Isaac  Eaton  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Fremont.  He  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives,  January  12,  1855.  For 
over  thirty  years  he  has  been  a farmer  in  that 
neighborhood,  and  is  the  owner  of  over  500  acres. 
Mr.  Eaton  is  thoroughly  well  informed  on  the  Scrip- 
tures and  Biblical  history,  and  is  a member  of  the 
“Beasterian”  Church,  the  name  of  which  is  the  coin- 
age of  Doctor  Lane,  of  Fort  Wayne,  and  represents 
an  effort  to  return  to  the  original  sources  of  reli- 
gion as  given  by  God,  untainted  with  paganism  and 
racial  antagonisms. 

Enoch  Davis,  who  is  now  retired  as  one  of  the 
oldest  residents  in  Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  grew  up  there  from  the  age  of  ten  years, 
and  was  for  a long  time  a factor  in  the  farming 
enterprise  of  that  locality. 

Mr.  Davis  was  born  in  Noble  County,  Ohio,  July 
12,  1847,  a son  of  Hiram  and  Esther  (Jefferson) 
Davis.  His  parents  came  to  Steuben  County  in 
1858,  settling  in  Clear  Lake  Township.  In  1862 
Hiram  Davis  bought  a saw  mill,  and  used  it  for 
the  manufacture  of  lumber  and  incidentally  as  a 
means  of  clearing  up  much  of  the  land  in  this  part 
of  the  county.  He  died  in  1897,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-six,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1895,  aged 
seventy.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children: 
William,  who  enlisted  in  1862  and  served  two  years 
and  ten  months  as  a Union  soldier  and  is  now  de- 
ceased; Martha,  deceased;  Enoch;  Joseph;  Samuel; 
and  Adelaide.  Hiram  Davis  was  a republican,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

Enoch  Davis  grew  up  in  Steuben  County,  and 
after  leaving  the  public  schools  went  to  work  on  a 
farm.  In  early  manhood  he  bought  forty  acres  in 
Fremont  Township,  and  after  selling  that  spent 
three  years  in  California.  On  his  return  to  Steuben 
County  he  acquired  a farm  of  ninety-two  acres, 
and  on  selling  that  bought  the  seventy-seven  acres 
where  he  lives  today.  He  has  effected  some  of  the 
good  improvements  on  this  land,  and  has  good 
buildings  but  has  turned  over  the  management  to  a 
son  and  is  now  living  retired.  He  is  a republican, 
and  with  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  Church. 

In  1869  he  married  Dora  Ellis.  They  had  two 
children,  Byron  and  Leona.  Leona  is  the  wife  of 
Bert  Dagert,  of  York  Township.  Byron,  who  was 
born  January  2,  1872,  owns  forty-three  acres  of 
land  in  Fremont  Township  and  rents  and  manages 
his  father’s  farm.  He  married  Allie  Geedy,  who 
died  leaving  him  four  children : Roy,  Orville, 

Gladys  and  Golda.  Roy  saw  two  years  of  service 
in  the  National  army,  and  was  in  France  about  six 
weeks. 

Clyde  Franklin  Wilsey.  The  Wilsey  name  has 
been  one  of  honored  consideration  in  DeKalb  County 
since  1848  and  has  many  worthy  representatives  here 
at  present,  a well  known  one  being  Clyde  Franklin 
Wilsey,  an  active  and  substantial  citizen  of  Corunna 
and  the  owner  of  the  Corunna  Telephone  Exchange. 
Mr.  Wilsey  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  September 
22,  1884. 

The  first  Wilsey  in  DeKalb  County  was  William  H. 


126 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Wilsey,  a native  of  New  York,  who  married  Ursula 
Jane  Haskins,  a native  of  Vermont,  January  25, 
1843.  Five  years  later  they  moved  from  New  York 
to  Indiana  and  entered  land  in  Fairfield  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  paying  $1.25  an  acre  for  the  same. 
On  that  farm  three  generations  of  the  Wilsey  family 
were  born.  Henry  E.  Wilsey,  father  of  Clyde  F., 
was  born  here  November  28,  i860,  and  on  January 
26,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Krum,  who  is 
a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Martha  (Holden)  Krum, 
old  residents  of  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  There 
were  five  children  in  the  Krum  family,  namely: 
Martha,  Elizabeth,  Eugene,  Allen  and  Minerva,  the 
last  named  being  deceased.  Two  children  were 
born  to  Henry  E.  Wilsey  and  his  wife:  Clyde  Frank- 
lin and  Grace,  the  latter  of  whom  was  married  De- 
cember 25,  1906,  to  Elmer  E.  Shipe,  and  they  have 
one  son,  Ford.  Henry  E.  Wilsey  and  wife  reside 
at  Hudson,  Indiana. 

Clyde  Franklin  Wilsey  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  On  November  1,  1906,  he  bought  the 

Corunna  Telephone  Exchange  and  has  had  charge 
ever  since  and  many  extensions  have  been  made 
since  that  time,  this  exchange  being  now  considered 
indispensable  to  both  business  and  social  life.  For 
some  years  he  was  editor  and  publisher  of  the 
Corunna  News.  He  has  been  active  in  community 
welfare  effort,  an  example  being  his  suggestions 
that  a park  be  maintained  along  the  New  York  Cen- 
tral Railway  line  at  Corunna,  and  mainly  through  his 
efforts  the  plan  was  carried  out,  the  park,  with 
shrubbery,  park  seats,  swings  and  other  forms  of 
amusement,  together  with  band  concerts  ofter  given, 
providing  an  admirable  opportunity  for  out  door  en- 
joyment. In  this  and  other  ways  Mr.  Wilsey  has 
made  himself  very  unselfishly  popular,  an  evidence 
of  this  popularity  being  shown  when  he  was  elected 
constable  on  the  democratic  ticket,  although  he  had 
always  been  a republican. 

Only  July  30,  1905,  Mr.  Wilsey  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Nettie  A.  Wilhelm,  who  is  a daughter 
of  John  and  Mary  (Cook)  Wilhelm,  who  were 
married  July  9,  1865,  and  resided  at  Elkhart,  Indiana, 
their  children  being:  William,  John,  Mary,  Albert, 

Harrison,  Clarissa,  Rilla,  Nettie  and  Cora.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wilsey  have  three  children,  the  oldest  born  on 
the  old  homestead : Lester  A.,  born  May  15,  1906 ; 

Bernardine  M.,  born  October  29,  1911;  and  Robert 
L.,  born  February  6,  1915,  the  last  two  born  in 
Corunna.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilsey  have  a charming 
summer  place  in  Island  Cottage  on  Story  Lake,  and 
when  not  stopping  there  themselves,  they  generously 
permit  their  friends  to  use  it. 

On  January  25,  1893,  the  grandparents  of  Mr.  Wil- 
sey celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary.  It 
had  been  the  cherished  ambition  of  the  venerable 
grandmother  to  make  the  most  of  the  preparations 
for  this  event  with  her  own  hands.  It  was  an  occa- 
sion never  to  be  forgotten  by  her  loving  descendants, 
but  these  tender  preparations  probably  overtaxed  her 
strength,  for  she  passed  away  ten  days  later  and  with 
her  passed  one  of  the  noble  pioneer  women  of  De- 
Kalb  County.  The  grandfather  lived  six  years 
longer,  passing  away  December  6,  1899. 

The  early  Wilsey  family  belonged  to  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  while  the  Wilhelms  were  members 
of  the  Evangelical  body.  Clyde  F.  Wilsey  and  fam- 
ily belong  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at 
Corunna.  He  is  not  active  in  fraternal  life  but  as  a 
prominent  and  responsible  citizen  constantly  is  in 
co-operation  with  others  in  laudable  civic  movements 
and  in  helpful  enterprises  here  and  elsewhere  that 
relieve  distress. 


Jack  Buckles  is  distinguished  among  the  resi- 
dents of  York  Township  of  Noble  County  as  pro- 
prietor of  the  Maple  Grove  Stock  Farm,  where  he 
breeds  and  raises  some  of  the  finest  Shorthorn  cattle 
and  big  type  Poland  China  hogs  found  anywhere  in 
Northern  Indiana.  The  farm  comprises  198  acres, 
located  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  32. 

Mr.  Buckles  was  born  in  Washington  Township 
of  the  same  county  November  22,  1866,  son  of  John 
H.  and  Mary  (Wiley)  Buckles.  His  father,  a na- 
tive of  West  Virginia,  came  to  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, when  only  four  years  old,  was  reared  here, 
and  after  his  marriage  located  in  Washington  Town- 
ship, where  he  acquired  a good  farm  of  160  acres. 
He  is  also  a thresher  man  and  sawmill  man,  and  has 
a great  deal  of  enterprise  which  he  has  used  profit- 
ably both  for  himself  and  his  community.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church.  His 
wife  is  a native  of  Washington  Township.  They 
had  a large  family  of  children,  noted  briefly  as 
follows:  Jack;  Nellie,  wife  of  John  Earnhard;  Ida, 
wife  of  Ed  Pollock;  Mary,  wife  of  Frank  Braden; 
James,  a carpenter  of  Fort  Wayne;  Austin  Buckles, 
of  Cygnet,  Ohio;  Jennie,  wife  of  H.  O.  Barllet,  of 
Chicago;  Winifred,  wife  of  Walter  Sanders,  of 
Marshalltown,  Iowa;  Grace,  wife  of  Louis  Hade,  of 
Wawaka,  Indiana;  and  T.  A.,  of  Indianapolis. 

Jack  Buckles  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Washington  Township,  and  had  a practical  educa- 
tion to  fit  him  for  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
life.  He  married  Minnie  D.  Blain.  They  had  no 
children  of  their  own  but  have  an  adopted  daughter, 
Bonnie  Louise,  who  was  born  February  10,  1916. 
Mr.  Buckles  is  a member  of  Wolf  Lake  Lodge, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  of  the  Benevolent  and  Pro- 
tective Order  of  Elks  of  Ligonier,  and  in  politics 
is  a democrat. 

Arthur  L.  Budd  is  a well-known  farmer  and 
business  man  of  Noble  County,  proprietor  of  the 
Glendale  Farm  of  sixty-four  acres  in  Green  Town- 
ship, and  also  active  in  insurance  and  other  busi- 
ness lines. 

Mr.  Budd  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 31,  1879,  but  has  lived  in  Noble  County  since 
boyhood.  His  parents,  Thomas  E.  and  Agnes 
(Davis)  Budd,  both  natives  of  Ashland  County, 
grew  up  and  married  there  and  were  farmers  in  that 
locality.  The  mother  died  on  the  home  farm  in 
Ashland  County  in  1881.  Thomas  Budd  continued 
to  live  in  Ashland  County  until  1887,  when  he  moved 
to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  bought  120  acres  in 
Green  Township.  He  continued  active  as  a farmer 
until  1906,  when  he  became  one  of  the  organizers 
and  a director  and  is  now  president  of  the  Farmers 
State  Bank  at  Churubusco,  in  which  town  he  makes 
his  home.  He  and  his  first  wife  had  two  children : 
Effie  J.,  wife  of  Leroy  Ressler,  of  Green  Township, 
and  Arthur  L.  By  his  second  marriage  he  also  had 
two  children ; one  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  eight- 
een months.  The  surviving  child,  Erlin,  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools  and  is  now  a second 
lieutenant  in  the  American  army,  and  when  last  re- 
ported was  at  Winchester,  England. 

Arthur  L.  Budd  was  eight  years  old  when  his 
father  came  to  Noble  County,  and  here  he  grew  to 
manhood  and  received  a good  education  in  the  local 
schools.  He  continued  to  live  with  his  father  until 
his  marriage  with  Mina  May  McWilliams,  daughter 
of  Frank  W.  McWilliams. 

Mr.  Budd  has  made  a success  of  the  management 
of  his  small  but  well  improved  and  productive  farm. 
He  is  also  agent  for  the  Fidelity  Phoenix  Fire 
Insurance  Company,  and  does  a considerable  busi- 
ness as  a horse  buyer.  He  has  been  active  in  re- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


127 


publican  politics  and  has  been  honored  with  positions 
of  trust  and  responsibility  by  his  fellow  citizens. 

Robert  N.  Tate.  For  over  sixty  years  the  name 
Tate  has  been  an  honored  one  in  Noble  County, 
always  representing  sturdy,  honest  and  industrious 
people,  good  citizens  and  supporters  of  education 
and  religion.  The  old  Tate  farm  in  Wayne  Town- 
ship, on  rural  route  No.  3 out  of  Kendallville, 
now  has  as  its  proprietor  Robert  N.  Tate,  son  of 
the  first  settler  in  that  community. 

Robert  N.  Tate  was  born  in  Wayne  Township 
October  13,  1856.  His  father,  James  Tate,  was 
born  at  Paris,  Flaxby  Grange,  Westriding,  York- 
shire, England,  February  22,  1822.  When  a young 
man  he  came  to  Ohio,  and  there  married  Carolina 
Julia  Scofield.  After  a number  of  years  they  left 
Ohio  and  in  1854  settled  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  Wayne  Township,  Noble  County.  In  1864,  ten 
years  later,  they  moved  to  the  farm  where  Robert 
N.  Tate  now  lives.  In  1872  James  Tate  moved  to 
Orange  Township,  near  Rome  City,  and  there  he 
spent  his  last  years.  He  and  his  wife  were  active 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and 
gave  liberally  to  its  support  and  all  its  causes. 
He  was  also  a Mason  and  was  a leader  in  the  local 
republican  party.  Of  the  six  children  only  two  are 
now  living:  Robert  N.  and  Dora  L.,  the  latter  the 
widow  of  W.  L.  Wones  and  living  in  Warsaw, 
Indiana. 

Robert  N.  Tate  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life 
in  Orange  and  Wayne  townships  of  Noble  County. 
His  education  was  supplied  by  the  district  schools. 
He  came  to  manhood  with  a good  training  and 
discipline  in  farm  work  and  inherited  the  old  home- 
stead from  his  father.  He  has  170  acres  of  well 
cultivated  land  in  Wayne  Township  and  eighty 
acres  in  Orange  Township,  and  is  also  a stockholder 
in  the  State  Bank  of  Wolcottville  and  in  the  Noble 
Motor  Truck  Company. 

Mr.  Tate  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the 
Orange  Township  Advisory  Board.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Rome  City  Lodge  No.  451,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  with  Kendallville  Chapter  No. 
64,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  with  the  Council,,  Royal 
and  Select  Masters  and  with  the  Knights  Templar 
Commanderv  No.  19. 

Charles  L.  Borton,  gardener,  poultry  raiser  and 
summer  resort  proprietor  of  Clear  Lake,  has  been 
a resident  of  Steuben  County  for  twenty  years  and 
came  here  from  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  where  his 
people  were  among  the  earliest  settlers. 

The  Borton  ancestry  in  America  goes  back  to 
Quakers  who  on  account  of  religious  persecution 
emigrated  from  England  in  1674  and  settled  in  New 
Jersey.  Mr.  Borton’s  grandfather,  John  Borton, 
came  from  New  Jersey  to  Ohio  in  1836  and  located 
in  the  woods  of  Fulton  County,  his  first  home  being 
a log  cabin.  He  was  greatly  prospered  and  at  one 
time  owned  more  than  1,300  acres.  His  wife  was 
Elizabeth  Taylor.  Charles  L.  Borton  was  born  in 
Fulton  County,  April  9,  1868,  a son  of  William  and 
Regina  (Oliver)  Borton.  His  parents,  have  spent 
all  their  lives  in  Fulton  County  and  his  father  is  a 
farmer.  They  had  five  children : Ada,  deceased  ; 

Charles;  Sadie,  deceased;  John;  and  Arthur. 

Charles  L.  Borton  was  reared  and  educated  in  his 
native  county  and  was  a farmer  there  until  1899; 
when  he  moved  to  Steuben  County  and  acquired  his 
present  farm  of  sixty-four  acres  in  Clear  Lake 
Township.  He  took  this  land  when  its  improve- 
ments were  still  largely  characterized  by  a log  house. 
That  old  building  has  been  replaced  by  modern,  up- 
to-date  structures,  and  he  now  has  facilities  for 
handling  with  profit  a large  flock  of  White  Leghorn 


chickens,  makes  a specialty  of  raising  garden  prod- 
uce, and  has  part  of  his  land  situated  on  the  banks 
of  Clear  Lake,  set  apart  for  about  forty  cottages, 
all  of  which  are  usually  occupied  in  the  summer 
season. 

Mr.  Borton  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  he 
served  as  township  trustee  and  assessor  for  one 
term  each.  In  1894  he  married  Miss  Nora  Alberta 
Baker,  of  Hillsdale  County,  Michigan.  They  have 
four  children : Ruth,  who  was  educated  in  the 

public  schools  and  the  high  school  at  Montgomery, 
Michigan,  is  the  wife  of  Glen  Forester;  Allen,  a 
graduate  of  the  Montgomery  High  School,  is  em- 
ployed at  Fremont,  Indiana;  Dorothy  is  a student 
in  the  Fremont  High  School,  and  Chester  is  still 
in  district  school. 

Willard  S.  Tustison.  The  residence  of  Mr.  Tusti- 
son  is  in  the  extreme  southeast  corner  of  DeKalb 
County.  He  is  a farmer,  and  was  born  on  the  land 
which  he  owns  today,  in  section  33,  April  29,  1859. 
Mr.  Tustison  has  always  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
his  neighbors  and  friends  in  DeKalb  County  and  is 
a former  trustee  of  Newville  Township. 

His  parents  were  Sebastian  and  Anna  (Allen) 
Tustison.  His  father  was  born  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  a son  of  Nelson  and  Sarah  (Brown)  Tustison. 
Nelson  Tustison  was  a native  of  Copenhagen,  Den- 
mark, and  when  he  ran  away  from  home  at  the  age 
of  sixteen  went  to  sea  and  was  a sailor  to  many  of 
the  ports  of  the  world  for  sixteen  years.  He  left  the 
sea  and  settled  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania  County, 
where  he  married  and  afterward  moved  to  Crawford, 
Ohio,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a farmer. 
He  possessed  unusual  business  judgment,  a great 
amount  of  energy,  and  accumulated  about  600  acres 
of  land  in  Crawford  County.  These  ample  posses- 
sions he  shared  with  his  family  of  nine  sons  and  one 
daughter,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

Sebastian  Tustison  grew  up  in  Crawford  County, 
had  a common  school  education,  and  in  1845  moved 
to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  after  his  marriage 
settled  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  county. 
He  was  a farmer  there  and  at  one  time  was  superin- 
tendent of  some  men  employed  on  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railway.  He  also  participated  in  local  affairs, 
being  assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace  and  in  politics 
was  a democrat.  He  was  the  father  of  four  children : 
George  W.  and  Henry,  deceased;  Mary  Jane,  wife 
of  Joseph  Langham ; and  Willard  S. 

Willard  S.  Tustison  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education.  On  December 
12,  1878,  he  married  Lois  Jump,  who  was  born  in 
Scipio  Township  of  Allen  County,  Indiana.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tustison  lived  for 
three  years  in  Scipio  Township,  and  rented  his 
father-in-law’s  farm.  They  then  returned  to  New- 
ville Township  and  bought  sixty  acres  and  after 
four  years  he  bought  out  the  other  heirs  in  the  old 
Tustison  homestead.  Mr.  Tustison  has  ninety-one 
acres  in  his  farm  and  has  it  stocked  with  some  good 
grade  Durham  cattle.  As  a factor  in  local  politics 
he  served  six  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  four 
years  as  assessor,  and  four  years  as  township  trus- 
tee. Like  his  father  he  is  a democrat,  and  he  and 
his  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tustison  had  eight  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  still  living:  Delmer  D.,  of  Hillsdale, 

Michigan;  Linnie,  wife  of  Frank  Lash,  of  Michigan; 
Grace,  wife  of  Guy  McCurdy,  of  Allen  County,  In- 
diana; Rena,  wife  of  Albert  Shaffer,  of  Garrett; 
Owen  S.,  of  Garrett,  Indiana,  who  is  a graduate  of 
the  Hicksville,  Ohio,  High  School,  as  is  also  his 
next  younger  brother,  Ross  C. ; George  W.,  who  was 
with  the  Aviation  Corps  of  the  American  Army 


128 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  died  November  17,  1918,  while  in  the  overseas 
service  near  Liverpool,  England ; and  Paul,  who  is 
married  and  lives  at  Hicksville,  Ohio. 

John  A.  Baughman.  Some  of  the  best  land  of 
Noble  County  is  in  Noble  Township,  so  there  also 
are  found  some  of  the  best  and  most  progressive 
farmers.  One  of  them  is  John  A.  Baughman,  who 
has  lived  in  that  locality  for  over  forty  years,  and 
though  he  started  life  with  practically  no  capital, 
he  has  made  good  in  every  sense  of  the  word  and 
is  now  owner  of  one  of  the  excellent  places  in  his 
locality. 

Mr.  Baughman  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  November  26,  1855,  a son  of  Gideon  and  Mar- 
garet (Swiggart)  Baughman.  The  Baughmans 
originally  came  from  Germany  and  were  early  set- 
tlers in  the  colony  of  Virginia.  Gideon  Baughman 
was  a son  of  Henry  and  Susan  (Trumbull)  Baugh- 
man. Margaret  Swiggart  was  a daughter  of  John 
and  Barbara  Swiggart,  early  residents  of  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  John  Swiggart  was  born  in  1779  and 
served  as  a captain  in  the  War  of  1812  and  was 
the  first  school  teacher  in  Monroe  Township  of 
Richland  County,  Ohio.  Gideon  Baughman  and 
wife  were  reared  and  married  in  Ohio,  the  former 
being  a native  of  Ashland  County  and  the  latter  of 
Stark  County.  They  lived  there  for  many  years 
and  in  1876  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  spend- 
ing the  rest  of  their  lives  in  this  county.  They 
were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  The  father 
was  a democrat.  Of  six  children  two  are  still  liv- 
ing: Susan,  widow  of  Archie  Collins,  living  in 

Ohio,  and  John  A.  The  four  deceased  were  Michael, 
Martin  L„  Henry  M.  and  Elizabeth,  the  latter  the 
wife  of  John  Oiler. 

John  A.  Baughman  spent  the  first  twenty  years 
of  his  life  in  his  native  county  in  Ohio  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools.  Soon  after  he  came 
to  Noble  County  he  married  on  August  19,  1877, 
Melissa  J.  River.  She  was  born  in  Noble  County, 
April  19,  1861,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baugh- 
man rented  his  father’s  farm  until  his  means  had 
increased  as  a result  of  their  mutual  thrift  and  in- 
dustry to  a point  where  he  could  buy  the  farm,  and 
he  has  spent  practically  all  his  adult  life  in  this  one 
locality. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baughman  had  three  children. 
Clyde,  the  oldest,  completed  the  work  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  also  attended  Valparaiso  College 
and  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan,  and  is  now  a 
railroad  employe.  Chauncey,  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools  and  of  the  Valparaiso  College,  is  a 
farmer  and  teacher  in  Noble  Township.  Iva,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Floy  Stureman,  of  Noble  Township, 
also  attended  Valparaiso  and  Terre  Haute  colleges. 

Mr.  Baughman  has  been  quite  active  in  the  affairs 
of  the  democratic  party  in  his  locality.  He  is  en- 
gaged in  general  farming  and  the  livestock  business 
and  has  88 H acres,  all  of  which  he  manages  with  a 
high  degree  of  productiveness. 

Frank  Hanlon  is  a former  trustee  of  Green 
Township  of  Noble  County,  and  is  one  of  the  best 
known  men  in  that  community.  For  many  years  he 
was  a successful  teacher,  and  some  of  his  most 
loyal  friends  are  his  old  pupils.  He  has  also  been 
a farmer,  and  is  now  giving  most  of  his  time  to  the 
management  of  his  place  in  section  2 of  Green 
Township. 

On  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  he  was  born, 
August  8,  1866,  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Hendricks) 
Hanlon.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. His  father  was  born  in  Allegheny  County 
and  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  1856,  grew 


up  here  and  married,  then  developed  the  land  where 
his  son  now  lives  into  a good  farm.  The  parents 
were  both  active  members  of  the  Summit  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  in  politics  the  father  was  a 
democrat.  There  were  three  children : William, 

who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen  months;  Frank;  and 
Warren,  who  died  when  twelve  years  of  age. 

Frank  Hanlon  while  reared  in  a rural  environment 
and  having  experience  from  early  boyhood  in  the 
duties  of  the  farm,  acquired  a liberal  education  apart 
from  the  opportunities  presented  by  the  local  dis- 
trict schools.  He  attended  the  Albion  Normal 
School  and  also  the  Methodist  College  at  Fort 
Wayne.  He  taught  his  first  term  of  school  in  1884, 
thirty-five  years  ago,  and  there  was  probably  not  a 
year  in  which  he  did  not  give  several  months  or 
more  to  teaching  until  1907.  He  then  gave  up  the 
profession  in  order  to  take  complete  supervision  of 
the  home  farm,  but  in  the  winter  of  1918,  probably 
as  a patriotic  service,  he  again  taught  a term  of 
school.  He  has  a well  cultivated  farm  of  160  acres, 
and  he  is  a thorough  and  systematic  farmer. 

In  the  fall  of  1908  Mr.  Hanlon  was  elected  trustee 
of  Green  Township,  and  filled  that  office  to  the 
satisfaction  of  all  concerned  for  six  years.  He  is 
a democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a trustee, 
steward  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 
September  5,  1889,  he  married  Margaret  J.  McCoy, 
who  was  born  in  Green  Township. 

James  E.  Terry  did  his  principal  work  as  a 
farmer  in  an  era  of  low  prices  and  adverse  condi- 
tions, but  made  such  good  use  of  his  time  and  energy 
as  to  win  a competence,  which  now  enables  him  to 
enjoy  life  at  leisure  and  in  retirement.  His  home 
for  many  years  has  been  at  Nevada  Mills  in  James- 
town Township. 

Mr.  Terry  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
April  8,  1849,  a son  of  Thompson  C.  and  Harriet 
(Richey)  Terry,  both  natives  of  New  York  State. 
His  father  was  born  in  1828  and  his  mother  in 
Genesee  County  in  1833.  Thompson  Terry  was  an 
early  settler  in  the  woods  of  Sandusky  County, 
Ohio,  cleared  up  a farm  there,  and  in  1864  again 
ventured  as  a pioneer  to  Jamestown  Township  in 
Steuben  County,  where  he  bought  the  George  New- 
nam  farm  and  finally  sold  that  and  moved  to  Nevada 
Mills  in  the  same  township,  where  he  engaged  in 
merchandising.  He  died  in  1897  and  his  widow  on 
May  15,  1916.  He  was  quite  active  in  republican 
politics  for  a number  of  years,  and  held  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace  for  nearly  a quarter  of  a 
century.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  liberal  in  their 
religious  views.  They  had  three  children : James 

E. ; Alice  Jeanette,  who  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of 
four  years;  and  George,  a resident  of  Millgrove 
Township  in  Steuben  County. 

James  E.  Terry  was  about  fourteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Steuben  County,  and 
finished  his  education  here  in  the  public  schools  and 
also  attended  the  Orland  Academy  and  the  college 
at  Angola,  and  thus  prepared  he  became  a success- 
ful teacher,  a vocation  he  followed  five  terms.  With 
that  exception  he  has  been  farming  since  early  man- 
hood until  he  retired,  and  is  owner  of  a place  of 
180  acres.  Mr.  Terry  has  had  his  home  at  Nevada 
Mills  since  1884.  In  politics  he  is  a republican  with- 
out any  official  record,  and  attends  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a member. 

October  1,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Helen  Hobson, 
of  Steuben  County.  She  died  in  January,  1895,  the 
mother  of  three  children.  Raymond,  who  is  a mer- 
chant at  Inverness  in  Steuben  County,  married  Lulu 
McNett,  and  they  have  two  children,  Eleanor  and 
Ralph.  Fred,  a merchant  at  Nevada  Mills,  married 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


129 


Iola  Bachelor,  and  has  had  two  daughters,  Helen, 
deceased,  and  Genevieve.  Lou  is  the  wife  of  Perry 
Sprague,  a lumber  merchant  at  Syracuse,  Indiana, 
and  is  the  mother  of  one  son  and  two  daughters, 
Alice,  Nellie  and  Dale.  In  January,  1897,  Mr.  Terry 
married  Flossie  Kreuder,  who  was  born  in  Medina 
County,  Ohio,  August  1,  1868,  a daughter  of  Conrad 
and  Catherine  (Turner)  Kreuder,  the  former  a 
native  of  Germany  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The 
Kreuder  family  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1876, 
settling  in  Pleasant  Township,  where  Mrs.  Terry’s 
father  died  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four,  and 
her  mother  in  1894,  aged  sixty-two.  Mr.  Kreuder 
was  a farmer.  Mrs.  Terry  had  a public  school  edu- 
cation, attended  the  Tri-State  College,  and  was  a 
successful  teacher  for  ten  years.  She  was  one  of 
a family  of  four  children,  named  Mary,  Theodore, 
and  Flora  and  Flossie,  twins. 

Frank  L.  Kiplinger  is  president  and  manager  of 
the  Knisely  Dry  Goods  Company  of  Butler,  one  of 
the  oldest  business  establishments  of  DeKalb  County. 
The  Knisely  brothers  were  in  business  at  Butler  be- 
ginning nearly  fifty  years  ago.  The  present  firm  is 
an  incorporation,  with  Mr.  Kiplinger  its  executive 
head  and  H.  B.  Miller,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and 
the  directors  are  Mr.  Kiplinger,  H.  B.  and  E.  C. 
Miller  and  Mrs.  Kiplinger. 

Mr.  Kiplinger  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
July  29,  1859.  He  has  been  a merchant  nearly  all 
his  life.  His  father  was  a country  merchant  in 
Ohio,  and  the  son  when  not  in  the  village  schools 
was  working  in  his  father’s  store.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  went  out  to  Kansas  and  had  a varied 
mercantile  experience  in  that  state  for  several  years. 
On  coming  to  Indiana  he  was  a clerk  in  the  employ 
of  Knisely  Brothers  at  Butler  for  ten  years.  After 
that  he  was  a traveling  dry  goods  salesman  over 
Indiana  Territory,  representing  a Cleveland  house 
for  ten  years.  He  then  returned  to  Butler  and 
bought  an  interest  in  and  took  the  management  of 
the  old  business  of  Knisely  Brothers. 

Mr.  Kiplinger  married  Della  Miller,  of  Waterloo, 
Indiana,  a graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  city. 
Mrs.  Kiplinger  has  been  prominent  in  local  affairs 
at  Butler  and  was  one  of  those  instrumental  in 
securing  the  public  library,  and  for  the  past  twelve 
years  has  served  as  secretary  of  the  Library  Board. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kiplinger  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church  and  he  is  a trustee.  He 
is  affiliated  with  Forest  Lodge  No.  259,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  with  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and 
Council,  the  Apollo  Commandery  of  Knights  Tem- 
plar at  Kendallville,  was  a Shriner  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Scottish  Rite  Class  of  1919. 

George  Gloyd.  One  of  the  old  and  carefully 
tended  homesteads  of  Sparta  Township  in  Noble 
County  is  owned  and  managed  by  the  Gloyd  broth- 
ers, comprising  George  and  W.  H.  Gloyd,  who  have 
been  successfully  identified  with  agriculture  and 
stock  raising  and  with  the  citizenship  of  that  locality 
practically  all  their  lives.  The  farm  is  on  the  Lin- 
coln Highway,  a mile  southeast  of  Kimmell. 

George  Gloyd  was  born  on  that  farm  December 
8,  1848,  a son  of  William  and  Matilda  (Beachgood) 
Gloyd.  His  great-grandfather,  Daniel  Gloyd,  was 
a soldier  in  the  American  Revolution,  enlisting  at 
the  age  of  sixteen  and  at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
was  wounded  while  fighting  for  the  cause  of  inde- 
pendence. William  Gloyd,  grandfather  of  George, 
was  an  overseer  in  the  employ  of  Major  Lewis, 
who  married  General  Washington’s  step-daughter. 
William  Gloyd,  Jr.,  father  of  the  Gloyd  brothers, 
was  a native  of  Missouri  and  moved  from  there  to 

Vol.  II—  9 


Ohio,  where  he  married  Matilda  Beachgood.  She 
was  born  in  Maryland  and  her  father  was  a soldier 
in  the  War  of  1812  under  General  Jackson.  Her 
brother,  James  Beachgood,  was  with  Phil  Sheridan’s 
army  at  Winchester,  and  served  all  through  the  war. 
William  and  Matilda  Gloyd  after  their  marriage 
moved  from  Ohio  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and 
were  pioneers  in  Sparta  Township.  They  were 
members  of  the  Sparta  Christian  Church  and  were 
highly  thought  of  people  all  their  lives.  Of.  their 
six  children  three  are  still  living:  Caroline,  wife 

of  John  Foster,  of  York  Township,  who  served  in 
the  Civil  war;  George  and  W.  H.  Gloyd. 

W.  H.  Gloyd  was  also  born  on  the  old  homestead, 
had  a district  school  education,  and  on  March  15, 
1877,  married  Mary  R.  Bowers.  She  had  two 
brothers  who  were  Union  soldiers.  Henry  S. 
Bowers  enlisted  in  1861  and  remained  until  the 
close  of  the  war,  being  with  Sherman  on  the  march 
to  the  sea  and  participating  in  twenty-three  battles 
but  was  never  wounded.  The  other  brother  was  in 
the  war  two  years. 

The  Gloyd  brothers  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  and  both  are  active  republicans,  their  father 
having  been  a whig  and  a charter  member  of  the 
republican  party.  The  Gloyd  farm  comprises  240 
acres. 

John  Hemry  has  been  a citizen  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty for  more  than  half  a century,  and  the  name  is 
well  known  in  York  and  Clear  Lake  townships, 
where  the  people  of  this  name  were  pioneers.  The 
Hemry  family  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  in 
the  State  of  Ohio,  the  old  home  having  been  in 
Crawford  County  for  many  years. 

John  Hemry  was  born  in  that  Ohio  county,  No- 
vember 2,  1838,  a son  of  Abram  and  Mary  Ann  (Mc- 
Claskey)  Hemry,  and  grandson  of  Isaac  and  Nancy 
(McCullen)  Hemry.  Isaac  Hemry  lived  for  a num- 
ber of  years  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1832 
moved  to  Crawford  County,  where  he  died  August 
11,  1868,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  and  passed  away  at  the  age  of  ninety-one 
in  August,  1879.  Isaac  Hemry  during  the  War  of 
1812  was  captain  of  an  Ohio  militia  company. 

Abram  Hemry  was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Ohio, 
in  1812.  His  wife,  Mary  Ann  McClaskey,  was  born 
in  Ashland  County  of  that  state  in  1820,  a daughter 
of  Jacob  McClaskey.  In  1845  Abram  Hemry 
brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County,  but  some 
years  later  returned  to  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
living  there  for  four  years,  and  afterward  settling 
again  on  his  farm  in  York  Township,  where  he  died 
when  about  sixty-five  years  old.  His  wife  died  in 
Steuben  County  about  1850.  At  one  time  he  owned 
160  acres  in  Steuben  County,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death  his  farm  consisted  of  seventy-five  acres.  He 
and  his  first  wife  had  nine  children,  named  John, 
Margaret  Ann,  Nancy,  Lydia,  Rebecca,  Lila,  George, 
Andrew  and  Eva.  For  his  second  wife  Abram 
Hemry  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Hanselman  and  had 
one  child,  Lizzie. 

John  Hemry  was  seven  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents first  came  to  Steuben  County.  When  he  was 
seventeen  he  went  back  to  Crawford  County,  and 
in  1864  settled  permanently  in  Steuben  County,  buy- 
ing forty  acres  of  land  in  York  Township.  At  the 
present  time  he  owns  a farm  of  109  acres,  also  had 
twenty  acres  in  Ohio  for  some  years,  and  has  sold 
twelve  and  a half  acres  to  his  son-in-law.  His  farm 
is  well  improved  with  buildings,  his  barn  being 
40  by  72  feet.  He  is  still  acting  and  looking  after 
his  farm  though  eighty-one  years  of  age.  Mr. 
Hemry  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

In  1864  he  married  Miss  Rebecca  Ramsey,  of 
Crawford  County,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1905,  at  the 


130 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


age  of  sixty-seven.  They  had  two  children : Cora 

is  the  deceased  wife  of  Albert  Barnes  and  had  one 
son,  John.  Carl,  now  deceased,  married  Edith  Isen- 
hour,  and  they  had  two  children,  including  one  son, 
Kenneth. 

Clarence  A.  Mallory.  Some  of  the  earliest 
names  in  the  chronicles  of  Jamestown  Township  of 
Steuben  County  are  those  of  the  Mallory,  family. 
Clarence  A.  Mallory  is  a member  of  the  third  gen- 
eration of  the  family  and  has  spent  practically  all 
his  life  on  the  old  Mallory  homestead  in  James- 
town. . 

His  father  was  Asa  Mallory,  who  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont in  1824,  a son  of  David  Mallory,  who  first 
came  to  Steuben  County  in  1835.  Asa  Mallory  fol- 
lowed him  soon  afterward,  and  was  long  identified 
with  the  upright  citizenship  of  the  county.  Some 
additional  facts  concerning  his  history  are  published 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  i 

Clarence  A.  Mallory  was  born  on  his  father  s 
homestead  November  8,  1876.  He  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  public  schools  and  since  early  manhood 
has  been  a practical  farmer.  He  now  handles  the 
operations  of  115  acres  of  the  old  homestead  where 
his  mother  is  still  living.  He  devotes  his  land  to 
general  farming  and  stockraising.  Mr.  Mallory  is 
a democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  attend  the  com- 
munity Church  at  Jamestown  village. 

November  29,  1900,  he  married  Miss  Lodema 
Lilly,  of  Branch  County,  Michigan.  They  have  two 
children:  Emory  Wright,  born  December  18,  1901, 

now  a junior  in  the  Fremont  High  School;  and 
Leona  Lilly,  born  November  2,  1907. 

William  Deems  is  one  of  the  honored  survivors 
of  the  great  Civil  war,  and  for  three  years  he  rep- 
resented DeKalb  County  in  that  great  conflict.  He 
has  been  a resident  of  DeKalb  County  all  his  life, 
and  is  well  deserving  of  the  comfortable  retirement 
he  now  enjoys  on  his  home  farm  in  Wilmington 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  that  township  November  22,  1843, 
a son  of  George  and  Hannah  (Dudgeon)  Deems,  the 
former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  George  Deems  was  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
DeKalb  County  and  lived  in  Wilmington  Township 
until  he  met  death  in  1845,  being  killed  by  a falling 
tree.  The  care  and  rearing  of  the  six  children  then 
devolved  upon  his  widow.  These  six  children  were 
named,  John,  Joseph,  Eli,  Eliza,  George  and  Will- 
iam, William  being  the  only  survivor. 

William  Deems  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a limited  education  in  the  log  cabin  district 
schools  of  his  day.  He  was  only  eighteen  when 
the  war  broke  out,  and  in  August,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Company  H of  the  Eighty-Eighth  Indiana  Infan- 
try. He  served  faithfully  as  a corporal  and  was  mus- 
tered out  in  June,  1865.  After  the  war  he  returned 
to  DeKalb  County,  farmed  and  worked  as  a farm 
hand,  and  eventually  acquired  an  independent  hold- 
ing. He  now  has  seventy  acres  of  good  farm  land 
in  Wilmington  Township.  Mr.  Deems’  parents  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Meade  Post  No.  44  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the 
Republic,  and  is  a republican  in  politics. 

William  R.  Cole.  The  home  of  William  R.  Cole 
is  a mile  north  of  Wolf  Lake  in  Noble  .County.  It 
is  one  of  the  fine  farms  in  that  locality,  and  its 
proprietor  is  a man  of  thorough  training  and  experi- 
ence and  capabilities  both  as  a farmer,  business  man 
and  as  a public-spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Cole  was  born  in  Greene  Township  of  the 
same  county,  December  27,  1870,  son  of  James  R. 


and  Martha  J.  (Ray)  Cole.  His  father  was  born 
May  2,  1844,  and  his  mother  December  3,  1848.  They 
were  married  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  1867,  and 
for  the  next  two  years  lived  on  a farm  in  Greene 
Township,  then  moved  to  Jefferson  Township,  where 
they  bought  forty  acres,  and  after  five  years  sold 
that  and  moved  to  York  Township,  where  James 
Cole  acquired  eighty  acres  and  for  many  years  was 
successfully  identified  with  its  cultivation  and  man- 
agement. In  1916  he  moved  to  Albion,  where  he  is 
now  living  retired.  He  was  born  in  Ashland  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  as  a boy  enlisted  in  the  First  Ohio 
Regiment  and  served  as  a Union  soldier  throughout 
the  Civil  war.  He  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  is  a republican 
in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten  children,  whose 
names  and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows : FranJ.c 
W.,  September  10,  1868;  William  R.,  December  27, 
1870;  Elmer,  August  9,  1873 ; Prentis  B.,  February 
9,  1876;  Floyd,  March  12,  1880;  Mary  ).,  June  8, 
1882;  Mattie,  January  27,  1885;  Nellie,  June  2,  1887; 
Catherine,  in  1889;  and  Belle,  in  1890.  Mattie, 
Catherine,  and  Belle  are  all  graduates  of  the  Albion 
High  School. 

William  R.  Cole  has  lived  all  his  life  in  Noble 
County,  and  acquired  a common  school  education 
as  a preparation  for  the  duties  of  his  mature  years. 
He  left  home  when  nearly  twenty-one,  and  has  since 
been  making  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  had 
acquired  a fine  reputation  as  a farmer.  After  his 
marriage  he  rented  a farm  in  Jefferson  township  for 
four  years,  then  bought  eighty  acres  west  of  Wolf 
Lake,  and  on  selling  that  acquired  his  present  farm 
of  160  acres.  He  raises  and  feeds  cattle  and  hogs, 
and  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Wolf  Lake  State 
Bank.  Mr.  Cole  is  a republican  but  has  no  desire 
to  hold  public  office.  He  has  been  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Albion. 

October  11,  1899,  he  married  Dora  B.  Gray,  daugh- 
ter of  William  D.  and  Rachel  Gray.  She  was  born 
on  the  farm  where  she  and  her  husband  are  now 
living.  They  have  three  children : Harold  G.,  a 

graduate  of  the  common  schools ; Mabel  M.,  who 
has  also  completed  the  work  of  the  common  schools ; 
and  Martha  R. 

Ira  E.  Brill,  who  is  successfully  engaged  in 
agricultural  pursuits  in  LaGrange  County,  is  a 
worthy  representative  of  the  farming  element  of 
Northeast  Indiana.  He  has  spent  his  life  in  Indiana, 
and  has  made  his  present  success  as  an  industrious 
and  capable  farmer,  a man  of  broad  information  and 
very  popular  among  his  fellow  citizens.  He  is 
proprietor  of  the  Scenic  Hill  Farm,  comprising  100 
acres  in  Johnson  Township.  Mr.  Brill  has  a number 
of  good  grade  Belgian  horses. 

He  was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  Coun- 
ty, October  30,  1867,  a son  of  George  W.  and  Char- 
lotte E.  (Trittipo)  Brill,  the  former  a native  of 
Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Indiana  and  located  in  LaGrange  County  and 
later  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County,  where 
they  spent  the  rest  of  their  years.  The  father  was 
an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  the 
family  were  eight  children:  Lurella  E.,  wife  of  W. 

M.  Rendfro ; Walter  E.,  of  Elkhart  Township, 
Noble  County;  Franklin  E.,  of  Ohio;  Mrs.  Ida  M. 
Reed,  of  Ligonier;  Ira  E. ; Lillie  M.,  wife  of  Joe 
Finck;  Melvin  G.,  of  Ligonier;  and  Beulah,  wife  of 
Elza  Smith. 

Ira  E.  Brill  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Noble 
County,  attended  common  schools,  and  for  the  past 
thirty  years  has  been  a hard  working  member  of  the 
agricultural  community.  In  1892  he  married  Jennie 
M.  Shanower,  of  Johnson  Township.  They  have 


mam 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


131 


one  son,  Russell  R.,  who  was  born  October  29,  1895. 
He  married  Amy  A.  Gordon  and  has  one  child, 
Hugh  G.,  born  November  15,  1918.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Brill  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  is  a republican. 

Fremont  Bachelor.  For  many  years  the  name 
Bachelor  has  been  significant  of  good  farming 
methods,  large  farms,  well  managed,  and  a high 
degree  of  enterprise  and  public  spirit  in  all  matters 
of  community  interest.  This  is  one  'of  the  oldest 
families  of  Steuben  County,  and  some  of  the  im- 
portant facts  in  the  history  of  some  of  the  early 
members  are  found  on  other  pages. 

Fremont  Bachelor,  of  Millgrove  Township,  is  a 
son  of  the  late  Amos  Bachelor,  who  in  his  time 
was  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county. 
Fremont  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  March  19, 
1856,  and  as  a boy  attended  district  schools  in  Mill- 
grove  and  Jamestown  townships,  and  finished  his 
education  with  a high  school  course  in  Waterloo. 
As  a young  man  he  began  farming  on  the  old  home- 
stead. In  1887  he  married  Miss  Harriet  Ebbert,  a 
daughter  of  Isaac  and  Lorena  Ebbert. 

Mr.  Bachelor  then  took  his  wife  to  a farm  at  In- 
verness, and  lived  in  that  locality  for  thirteen  years. 
In  the  fall  of  1899  he  returned  to  the  old  farm,  occu- 
pying it  when  his  father  retired  and  moved  to  An- 
gola. He  has  had  his  home  there  for  twenty  years, 
and  now  owns  250  acres.  Much  of  the  substantial 
equipment  of  the  farm  is  due  to  his  work  and  in- 
vestment. He  has  remodeled  the  house,  and  a large 
barn  and’  silo  were  also  constructed  by  him. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bachelor  have  one  daughter,  wife 
of  Fred  Collins.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  have  one 
son,  Don  Fremont. 

Frank  Teutsch  owns  a lot  of  good  land  in  DeKalb 
County,  his  home  farm  of  eighty  acres  being  in  Troy 
Township.  He  has  another  tract  of  seventy  acres  in 
the  same  township  and  120  acres  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship. He  has  been  a hard  working  citizen  and 
farmer  for  over  twenty  years,  and  in  that  time  has 
bought  and  paid  for,  largely  from  his  labors  and 
the  products  of  the  soil,  150  acres  of  the  land  he 
owns.  He  keeps  good  livestock  of  different  grades, 
and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Arctic  Cooperative 
Association. 

Mr.  Teutsch  was  born  in  Franklin  Township 
March  13,  1875,  a. son  of  Peter  and  Artemisia  (Olds) 
Teutsch.  Peter  Teutsch  was  born  in  Alsace,  trance, 
March  22,  1850,  a son  of  Michael  Teutsch,  who 
brought  his  family  to  America  in  i860,  settling  in 
Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  Peter 
Teutsch  grew  up  on  the  farm,  was  educated  partly 
in  France  and  partly  in  DeKalb  County,  and  he  lived 
in  Franklin  Township  until  late  in  life,  when  he 
retired  to  Butler,  where  he  and  his  wife  died.  He 
married  Artemisia  Olds  January  5,  1873.  Her  father 
was  an  early  settler  of  Franklin  Township  and  she 
was  born  in  DeKalb  County.  Peter  Teutsch  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
he  was  a republican  in  politics.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren, one  dying  in  infancy.  The  three  living  are 
Frank;  Foster,  who  married  Elsie  Campbell  and 
lives  in  Franklin  Township;  and  Leota,  wife  of 
Logan  Woods  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Frank  Teutsch  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home  . 
farm  and  acquired  a common  school  education.  On 
June  20,  1898,  he  married  Saloma  Mark,  who  was 
born  in  Franklin  Township.  Since  his  marriage  Mr. 
Teutsch  has  occupied  and  operated  his  home  farm 
of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a republican  in  politics.  He 
and  his  wife  have  three  children : Mildred,  Loren 


and  Roy.  Mildred  graduated  from  the  common 
schools  in  1919. 

Charles  E.  Pollock  has  made  his  mark  among 
the  citizens  of  Washington  Township  in  Noble 
County  and  is  a very  progressive,  live  and  enter- 
prising farmer.  His  present  home  is  located  two 
and  one-half  miles  west  of  Wolf  Lake. 

He  was  born  in  Ligonier,  Indiana,  June  20,  1861, 
son  of  Cyrus  and  Martha  (Kendall)  Pollock.  His 
father  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  April  12, 
1832,  and  his  mother  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  May 
5,  1835.  Both  the  Pollock  and  Kendall  families  came 
in  an  early  day  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  settling 
in  the  woods  of  Sparta  Township,  where  Cyrus  and 
Martha  were  married.  For  several  years  they  con- 
tinued to  live  in  Sparta  Township,  then  moved  to 
Perry  Township,  and  finally  to  Ligonier,  buying  a 
farm  in  York  Township.  In  that  community  they 
spent  their  , last  years.  They  were  members  of  the 
Universalist  Church,  and  Cyrus  Pollock  was  a re- 
publican. He  served  as  superintendent  of  the 
County  Infirmary  from  1876  to  1881.  In  the  family 
were  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Charles  E. ; Morton,  a resident  of  Angola ; Ella, 
wife  of  William  Lafong;  Edwin,  of  Wolf  Lake; 
Laura,  wife  of  Myron  Baker;  Lizzie,  wife  of  Harry 
Schlotterback ; and  Vivian  the  wife  of  Joseph 
Geiger.  One  of  the  deceased  children  was  named 
Milton. 

Charles  E.  Pollock  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  York 
Township,  and  his  early  advantages  were  supplied 
by  the  district  schools.  He  remained  at  home  till 
the  age  of  twenty-two,  and  since  then  has  been 
solving  the  problems  of  life  on  his  own  account.  The 
farm  his  wife  owns  comprises  112  acres,  and  in  im- 
provements and  productiveness  bares  favorable  com- 
parison with  any  farm  in  Washington  Township. 
Mr.  Pollock  served  seven  years  as  assessor  of  York 
Township. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Mary  L.  Wright, 
who  was  born  in  Noble  County,  was  well  educated 
in  the  common  and  high  schools  and  was  a teacher 
before  her  marriage.  The  three  children  born  to 
them  are  all  now  deceased.  Their  names  were : 
Rolland,  a graduate  of  Albion  High  School ; Elva 
M.,  who  also  graduated  from  the  high  school  and 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four;  and  one  daughter 
that  died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  in  1907.  On  February  28,  1918,  Mr.  Pollock 
married  Mrs.  Clara  L.  McKenzie.  She  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  June  8,  1859,  and  came  with 
her  parents  to  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  locating 
near  Pierceton,  and  six  months  later  the  family 
moved  to  Washington  Township,  Noble  County,  and 
Mrs.  Pollock  grew  up  on  a farm  adjoining  that  of 
her  husband.  She  was  married  to  Royal  McKenzie 
on  August  27,  1913.  He  died  July  16,  1914.  Mrs. 
Pollock  is  a stockholder  in  the  Wolf  Lake  State 
Bank.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pollock  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  he  served  many  years  as  a 
deacon  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  Eel  River 
Christian  Conference.  In  politics  he  is  a republican, 

Amos  E.  Longnecker,  who  has  spent  all  the 
years  since  early  childhood  on  one  farm  in  Milford 
Township  of  LaGrange  County,  is  regarded  as  a 
man  of  exceptional  ability  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  From  his  farm  he  has  sent  many 
carloads  of  choice  stock  to  market,  and  he  knows 
that  branch  of  agriculture  probably  as  well  as  any 
other  man  in  LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  February 
iS,  1870,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Hampshire) 
Longnecker.  His  father  was  born  in  Seneca  County 


132 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  November,  1844,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
married  October  1,  1863.  They  came  to  Indiana 
in  1871,  locating  in  Milford  Township.  Late  in 
life  Jacob  Longnecker  moved  to  South  Milford, 
where  he  died  February  7,  1903.  His  wife  was  born 
in  Fostoria,  Ohio,  November  18,  1841,  and  died 
January  5,  1905.  Both  were  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  while  the  father  was 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  was  a 
republican.  There  were  two  children  in  the  family, 
Jessie  M.  and  Amos  E.  Jessie  is  the  wife  of 
George  Nifer,  and  they  live  in  Milford  Township. 

Amos  E.  Longnecker  was  one  year  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Indiana  and  four  years  old 
when  they  established  their  home  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives.  Besides  the  district  schools  he  at- 
tended the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola,  but  the 
greater  part  of  his  life’s  efforts  have  been  confined 
to  farming. 

May  31,  1892,  he  married  Mabel  C..  Teal.  She 
was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township  December  11, 
1873,  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  Since 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Longnecker  have 
occupied  the  home  farm.  They  have  two  children, 
Ota  E.,  born  February  23,  1894,  a graduate  of 
high  school  and  the  wife  of  Harry  L.  Reed;  and 
Jacob  A.,  born  December  19,  1897,  who  after  finish- 
ing his  high  school  course  attended  Purdue  Uni- 
versity and  for  about  six  months  was  in  the  air 
service  of  the  army  in  France. 

Mr.  Longnecker  is  prominent  in  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a past  noble  grand  of 
the  lodge  at  South  Milford,  a past  patriarch  of 
the  Encampment,  while  he  and  his  wife  are  both 
past  grands  of  the  Rebekahs.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican.  Mr.  Longnecker’s  farm  comprises  191 
acres,  and  for  a number  of  years  he  has  used 
it  largely  as  a feeding  ground  for  livestock.  He 
is  president  of  the  South  Milford  Shippers’  Associa- 
tion and  its  manager. 

Mrs.  Longnecker  is  a daughter  of  Ashbury  and 
Ellen  (Myers)  Teal.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  March  14,  1837,  and  her 
mother  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  March  20,  1846. 
Ashbury  Teal  came  to  Northeast  Indiana  when  a 
youth,  was  married  October  11,  1861,  and  died  at 
Montpelier,  Ohio,  May  1,1911.  He  was  a democrat 
in  politics.  In  the  Teal  family  were  five  children, 
all  living,  named  Edward  E.,  Mabel  C.,  Eleanor, 
John  A.,  and  Charles  V. 

Thomas  M.  Ott.  Clover  Leaf  Farm  in  Noble 
Township  of  Noble  County  is  one  of  the  high  class 
places  where  the  agricultural  art  is  seen  at  its  best, 
and  the  management  and  appearance  of  the  farm 
stamps  its  owner,  Thomas  M.  Ott,  as  one  of  the 
leading  agriculturists  of  the  county.  The  farm  com- 
prises 200  acres,  and  Mr.  Ott  also  owns  another 
place  of  eighty  acres  in  the  same  locality. 

Clover  Leaf  Farm  represents  to  him  not  only  a 
business  and  his  present  home  but  also  the  associa- 
tions of  early  childhood.  He  was  born  there  De- 
cember 15,  1853,  a son  of  Abraham  and  Sarah  (Mor- 
gan) Ott.  His  mother  was  a native  of  England  and 
was  a small  child  when  brought  to  the  United 
States  by  her  parents.  His  father  was  born  in 
Maryland.  Both  families  subsequently  settled  in 
Preble  County,  Ohio,  where  Abraham  Ott  and  wife 
were  married.  In  1840  they  came  to  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  locating  on  land  which  he  had  pre-empted 
in  1838,  being  the  original  owner  direct  from  the 
Government.  Abraham  Ott  was  a man  of  many  fine 
qualities  which  constituted  him  a leader  in  the  com- 
munity, and  he  was  active  in  politics  as  a republican 
and  as  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Of  nine 
children  four  are  still  living:  Julia  A.  Winebremer, 


widow  of  David  S.  Winebremer;  George  W.,  a 
farmer  in  Allen  County,  Indiana ; Almina,  widow  of 
John  R.  Young;  and  Thomas  Ott. 

Thomas  Ott  has  seldom  for  any  great  length  of 
time  been  away  from  the  farm  home  where  he  was 
born.  He  attended  the  common  schools,  and  re- 
mained with  his  father  and  finally  succeeded  to  the 
ownership  of  the  place. 

December  11,  1879,  he  married  Alta  A.  Seymoure. 
She  was  born  in  Noble  Township,  and  she  and  her 
husband  grew  up  in  the  same  locality.  They  have 
five  children:  Charles  A.,  a graduate  of  Wolf 

Lake  High  School,  is  married  and  lives  in  Noble 
County;  Lura,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools, 
still  at  home;  Frank  J.,  a graduate  of  high  school, 
is  married  and  lives  on  a farm  in  Noble  Township; 
Harvey,  a graduate  of  high  school,  and  Elmina, 
who  has  also  finished  a high  school  course. 

Mr.  Ott  and  family  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church,  and  he  and  his  wife  and  daughters  are 
members  of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Wolf  Lake 
and  is  past  chancellor  and  a member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  has  served  as 
a member  of  the  Advisory  Board  and  every  worthy 
movement  in  his  community  is  certain  of  his  support 
and  co-operation.  He  is  one  of  the  stockholders  in 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Wolf  Lake,  is  a director 
in  the  Albion  National  Bank  and  a stockholder  in 
the  Albion  Grist  Mill. 

Glenn  Brown.  Some  of  the  most  important  in- 
terests of  agriculture  and  stock  industry  in  Steuben 
County  are  concentrated  in  the  Brown  family.  Glenn 
Brown,  a son  of  the  well  known  Steuben  County 
land  owner,  Frank  M.  Brown,  of  Fremont,  whose 
career  and  family  connections  are  reviewed  on  other 
pages,  is  personally  directing  many  of  the  family 
interests  and  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  the 
county. 

Mr.  Brown  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township 
January  6,  1883,  acquired  a good  education  in  the 
district  schools,  the  high  school  at  Jamestown,  also 
the  high  school  at  Fremont,  and  was  a student  in 
the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola.  He  has 
been  farming  on  his  own  responsibility  since  igoq, 
and  handles  more  than  300  acres  of  his  father’s 
land  in  Jamestown  Township.  The  field  crops  under 
his  management  seldom  figure  as  sources  of  direct 
income.  The  principal  business  is  cattle  and  hogs. 
Mr.  Brown  feeds  about  four  carloads  of  cattle  for 
the  market  every  year,  and  in  the  spring  of  1919 
he  put  265  hogs  on  the  way  to  market  condition, 
at  a time  when  the  price  of  hogs  was  the  highest  in 
history. 

In  1908  Mr.  Brown  married  Pearl  Legg,  daughter 
of  G.  D.  and  Adaline  (Fulmer)  Legg.  They  have 
two  young  sons,  Roscoe  E.  and  Russell  L. 

Jonathan  Wilhelm.  A highly  esteemed  and 
widely  known  resident  of  DeKalb  County,  who  has 
made  his  home  here  for  sixty-eight  years  and  has 
witnessed  and  taken  part  in  the  development  of  this 
section  of  Indiana,  is  Jonathan  Wilhelm,  who  lives 
practically  retired  in  his  comfortable  home  at  Water- 
loo. He  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
January  18,  1843,  and  was  eight  years  old  when  he 
accompanied  his  parents,  David  and  Christina 
(Shaumbacher)  Wilhelm,  to  DeKalb  County. 

David  Wilhelm  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  of  German  parents.  He  was  reared  to  farm 
pursuits  and  when  he  reached  manhood  married 
Christina  Shaumbacher,  who  was  born  in  Wurtem- 
berg,  Germany,  came  from  there  as  an  immigrant 
to  Ohio,  and  in  that  state  supported  herself  until 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


133 


her  marriage.  Six  children  were  born  in  Columbiana 
County  and  two  more  were  added  to  the  family  after 
settlement  was  made  in  Indiana.  Of  these  children 
but  two  survive:  Jonathan  and  Caroline. 

Jonathan  Wilhelm  grew  up  on  a farm  and  gave 
his  father  assistance,  as  was  the  duty  of  a good 
son.  He  well  remembers  the  old  days  when  forests 
covered  a large  amount  of  the  present  richly  culti- 
vated farm  acreage  and  when  the  main  highways 
were  little  more  than  Indian  trails.  In  his  boyhood 
a village  called  Uniontown  stood  on  the  site  of  the 
present  busy  City  of  Waterloo.  His  father  had  to 
haul  all  family  supplies  from  Fort  Wayne.  With 
the  coming  of  such  sturdy  settlers  as  the  Wilhelms, 
however,  improvement  began  and  constant  develop- 
ment has  followed.  After  embarking  in  business  for 
himself  Mr.  Wilhelm  for  many  years  engaged  in 
farming  and  bought  and  shipped  livestock,  his  main 
market  being  Buffalo,  although  demands  from  Cleve- 
land were  also  attended  to,  and  he  has  additionally 
done  shipping  to  Chicago.  He  still  owns  326  acres 
in  four  different  farms  or  tracts  of  land  in  Smith- 
field  Township,  over  which  he  maintains  oversight. 

Jonathan  Wilhelm  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mary 
E.  Geeting,  who  had  accompanied  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Sophronia  Geeting,  from  Canton,  Ohio,  to  DeKalb 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilhelm  became  the  parents 
of  four  daughters : Lizzie,  Sophronia,  Gertrude  and 

Mary.  Lizzie  who  is  deceased  was  the  wife  of  P. 
A.  Bolder  and  the  mother  of  four  children  namely: 
Ralph,  Elmer,  lone  and  Floyd.  During  the  World 
war  Ralph  went  to  France  in  an  engineer  corps  with 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces.  Elmer  was 
also  in  service,  attached  to  the  Coast  Defense  Corps 
on  the  coast  of  Florida.  Both  were  at  home  at 
the  time  of  their  mother’s  death.  Sophronia  and 
Gertrude  reside  with  their  father  at  Waterloo,  look- 
ing after  his  comfort  since  the  death  of  their  mother. 
Mary,  the  youngest  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  R.  C. 
Thompson,  and  Mr.  Wilhelm’s  only  sister  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Thompson  household.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thompson  have  two  children,  Lavon  and  Roger. 

Mr.  Wilhelm  has  never  been  active  in  a political 
sense  but  has  always  been  a helpful  and  conscientious 
citizen,  practical  in  business  and  honest  and  upright 
in  every  relation  of  life. 

Capt.  Lewis  W.  Griffith.  In  the  death  of  Capt 
Lewis  W.  Griffith  on  January  25,  1919,  there  passed 
away  a brave  and  gallant  soldier  and  a citizen  of 
Steuben  County  whose  life  was  a long  exemplifica- 
tion of  civic  virtue  and  fidelity  to  duty. 

Captain  Griffith  was  born  in  Tuscarawus  County, 
Ohio,  June  17,  1838,  a son  of  John  and  Jemima 
(Gossage)  Griffith,  the  story  of  whose  lives  is  told 
on  other  pages.  Captain  Griffith  was  twelve  years 
old  when  his  parents  moved  to  DeKalb  County,  In- 
diana, and  when  about  nineteen  he  accompanied 
them  to  Otsego  Township  in  Steuben  County.  He 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  on  July  25, 
1861,  enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  Forty-Fourth 
Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  in  the  siege  and  capture 
of  Fort  Donelson,  was  wounded  at  Pittsburg  Land- 
ing, and  for  gallant  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
River  was  promoted  from  sergeant  to  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  later  was  with  the  Forty-Fourth  when  it 
was  almost  annihilated  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga, 
where  he  was  again  wounded  and  received  a cap1 
tain  s commission.  He  and  his  surviving  compan- 
ions of  the  regiment  were  afterward  put  on  post 
duty.  Captain  Griffith  veteranized  and  remained  in 
the  army  until  October  22,  1865.  Captain  Griffith 
was  at  one  time  commander  of  Steuben  Post  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic. 

After  the  war  he  returned  home  and  engaged  in 


farming  and  buying  and  shipping  livestock.  His 
army  service  caused  a permanent  disability. 

He  was  a stanch  republican.  In  1868  he  was 
elected  assessor  of  Otsego  Township,  and  later 
was  county  assessor  and  deputy  county  auditor,  and 
had  a long  official  record  of  about  twenty-five  years. 
He  was  a stanch  republican  and  was  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  Lodge  and  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  at  Hamilton. 

On  September  1,  1861,  after  he  had  enlisted  and 
before  he  was  called  to  duty,  he  married  Betsy 
Carpenter,  who  is  still  living.  Her  parents  were 
Harlow  J.  and  Fanny  (Merry)  Carpenter.  Harlow 
J.  Carpenter  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1813,  went  to 
Ohio  in  early  manhood,  and  was  married  there  in 
1836,  his  wife  being  a native  of  Ohio,  born  in  the 
same  year  as  her  husband.  In  1849  Harlow  Car- 
penter moved  to  Steuben  County,  buying  land  in 
Otsego  Township.  For  many  years  he  was  one  of 
the  leading  members  and  local  preachers  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  was  widely  known 
as  Elder  Carpenter.  He  died  April  30,  1883,  and 
after  his  death  the  church  in  Otsego  Center  was 
rededicated  under  the  name  Carpenter’s  Chapel. 

Captain  and  Mrs.  Griffith  had  ten  children. 
Emma,  who  became  the  wife  of  Roscoe  Harpster 
lives  in  Kansas  and  their  son  Claud  was  in  the 
famous  Thirty-fifth  Division  as  a corporal,  and  was 
a participant  in  the  battle  of  the  Argonne  Forest. 
Jessie  is  the  widow  of  John  Hammond,  who  left 
four  children,  Harry,  Harold,  Joyce  and  Ruth. 
Of  these  Harold  was  in  the  Thirty-Second  Division 
in  France  and  Harry  was  with  the  navy  at  the  Great 
Lakes  Training  Station.  Edna,  the  third  child,  is  the 
wife  of  John  Zimmerman,  living  in  the  State  of 
Washington.  Sarah  married  William  Healey  and 
has  three  children,  Charles,  Pauline  and  Griffith. 
Nellie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty  years.  George 
married  Lillian  Isenhour,  and  during  the  Spanish- 
American  war  he  was  a member  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-Seventh  Indiana  Volunteers.  Shirley 
married  Pearl  Curl,  and  their  children  are  Edna. 
Bertha,  Lewis,  Bettie,  Yovona  and  Thomas.  Ford 
died  at  the  age  of  eight  years.  Bert  was  in  the 
army  during  the  World  war.  Vella  is  the  wife  of 
Merle  Mortorff,  and  their  three  children  are  Helen, 
John  and  Alda. 

Elias  W.  Olinghouse,  who  is  now  concentrating 
his  energies  upon  his  farm  in  section  31  of  Clear 
Spring  Township  in  LaGrange  County,  became 
widely  known  over  this  section  of  Northeast  In- 
diana as  a veteran  thresherman,  a business  he  fol- 
lowed forty  years. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  a half  mile  west 
of  Topeka,  Indiana,  December  11,  1853,  a son  of 
Jonathan  and  Mary  (Collet)  Olinghouse.  His  par- 
ents were  both  natives  of  Ohio  and  grew  up  and 
were  married  in  Indiana,  in  LaGrange  County,  near 
Topeka.  They  settled  on  a farm  a half  mile  east  of 
Topeka,  where  Jonathan  Olinghouse  conducted  a 
blacksmith  shop  in  addition  to  clearing  up  and  de- 
veloping his  land.  In  1878  he  moved  to  another 
farm  four  miles  southeast  of  LaGrange,  and  spent 
his  last  days  there.  His  first  wife  died  in  Clear 
Spring  Township.  They  were  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  Jonathan  Olinghouse  had 
fourteen  children  by  his  two  marriages.  His  first 
wife  was  the  mother  of  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, six  of  whom  are  still  living:  Elias  W. ; 

Charles,  of  Ligonier ; Theo,  deceased;  Burther, 
who  lives  six  miles  east  of  LaGrange;  Ada,  wife  of 
Harvey  Babb ; Etta,  wife  of  O.  C.  Harsh;  Mary, 
wife  of  C.  E.  Babb. 

Elias  W.  Olinghouse  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education.  At  the  age 
of  nineteen  he  began  working  out  for  his  living,  and 


134 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  1874  bought  a threshing  outfit,  which  he  operated 
successfully  every  season  for  forty  years.  He  owns 
187  acres  in  his  home  farm  in  LaGrange  County  and 
also  has  forty  acres  in  Oklahoma.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  State  Bank  of  Topeka. 

Mr.  Olinghouse  married  Miss  Catherine  Medlaum. 
Their  children  are  Russell,  Ray  and  Roy,  twins,  and 
Martha,  wife  of  Frank  Dovel.  Mr.  Olinghouse  is  a 
member  of  Hawpatch  Lodge  No.  760,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he  is  a past  noble 
grand,  and  is  a member  of  the  Encampment  No.  133. 
He  has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of  that  order. 
Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Joseph  Rohrabaugh  lived  a life  of  extreme  in- 
dustry and  to  good  purpose,  started  out  in  young 
manhood  without  resources  beyond  the  experience 
he  had  acquired  working  for  others,  was  a farm 
hand,  a renter,  and  eventually  acquired  a good  place 
of  his  own. 

He  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  February 
5,  1861,  the  only  child  of  Joseph  and  Mary  Ann 
(Frick)  Rohrabaugh,  early  settlers  of  DeKalb 
County.  Joseph  was  a small  child  when  his  father 
died.  His  father  was  well  educated,  taught  school 
in  early  life  and  was  also  a stone  and  brick  mason 
by  trade.  The  widowed  mother  married  John 
Rubley,  and  by  that  marriage  had  two  children, 
John  H.  and  Elizabeth. 

Joseph  Rohrabaugh  at  the  age  of  eight  years 
moved  with  his  mother  to  Steuben  County,  and 
from  that  time  made  his  home  in  Jamestown  Town- 
ship. He  assisted  his  stepfather  in  clearing  up  the 
farm.  Later  he  worked  out  by  the  month,  spend- 
ing eighteen  summers  in  that  way.  For  nine  years 
he  was  a renter  and  in  1901  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Jamestown  Township.  He  made  the 
land  pay  for  itself  and  give  him  a good  living  be- 
sides, and  he  improved  it  with  a substantial  barn 
and  had  much  to  show  for  his  efforts.  In  politics  he 
was  a democrat,  and  his  wife  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

April  2,  1892,  Mr.  Rohrabaugh  married  Abbie  U. 
Latta.  She  was  born  in  Branch  County,  Michigan, 
in  1874,  a daughter  of  Moses  and  Jane  (West)  Latta. 
Her  mother  was  a native  of  Steuben  County,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Sarah  (Sams)  West.  Moses 
Latta  came  to  Steuben  County  when  a young  man, 
and  after  his  marriage  settled  in  Pleasant  Township 
and  later  in  Jamestown  Township,  where  he  died 
in  1906,  at  the  age  of  severity-four.  His  wife  died 
in  1904,  at  the  age  of  sixty.  They  were  the  parents 
of  three  children:  Abbie,  Jennie  and  Moses.  Mrs. 
Rohrabaugh’s  mother  married  for  her  first  husband 
Robert  Sillabaugh,  and  by  that  union  had  two  chil- 
dren, Milo  J.  and  Robert  Morton,  both  now  de- 
ceased. 

Both  the  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rohra- 
baugh died  early  in  infancy.  Mary,  born  in  1894, 
lived  nine  months,  while  Christian,  born  in  1897, 
died  eleven  days  later. 

Richard  L.  Cook.  There  have  been  representa- 
tives of  four  generations  of  the  Cook  family  to 
spend  part  of  their  mature  years  in  LaGrange  County, 
and  their  activities  have  been  particularly  manifested 
in  the  agricultural  community  of  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship. 

A fine  farm  in  that  locality  managed  for  many 
years  by  Richard  L.  Cook  was  the  scene  of  his 
birth  on  July  29,  1879.  He  is  a son  of  Adelbert 
and  Orlinda  Bell  (Parker)  Cook  and  a grandson  of 
William  and  Catherine  (Fowler)  Cook,  while  his 
great-grandparents  were  John  and  Mary  Cook. 
William  Cook  was  born  in  England  and  came  with 
his  parents  to  America  early  in  the  last  century. 


The  Cook  family  settled  in  LaGrange  County  in 
1831  and  John  Cook  died  the  same  year  of  his  set- 
tlement here.  John  and  Mary  Cook  had  four  chil- 
dren: William,  Elizabeth,  George  and  Jane.  Will- 
iam Cook  was  married  in  LaGrange  County,  and 
his  children  were  Samuel,  Marie,  Charles  and  Adel- 
bert. William  Cook  bought  180  acres  in  Van  Buren 
Township,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1904, 
at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-two. 

Adelbert  Cook  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Township 
September  26,  1847,  grew  up  on  the  old  Cook  Farm, 
was  educated  in  common  schools,  and  has  spent  his 
active  life  as  a farmer.  He  owns  183  acres,  and  this 
is  the  farm  where  his  son  Richard  was  born  and 
where  the  latter  has  been  in  full  charge  as  manager 
for  many  years.  Adelbert  Cook  is  a democrat,  and 
that  was  also  the  politics  of  his  father,  William. 
His  wife  was  born  September  2,  1857. 

Richard  L.  Cook  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead, 
attended  the  local  schools  and  for  about  twenty-five 
years  has  had  an  increasing  share  of  responsibilities 
in  connection  with  running  the  old  homestead.  He 
is  a democrat  like  his  father  and  grandfather  and 
is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  698  of  the  Masons  at 
Howe. 

In  1911  he  married  Esther  L.  Firestone.  She  was 
born  in  Elkhart  County  February  2,  1890,  a daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Nancy  Firestone.  Her  mother  is  still 
living.  Richard  L.  Cook  and  wife  have  one  daughter, 
Kathryn  Virginia,  born  April  7,  1917. 

Clarence  Hanselman.  A farm  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship that  has  been  improved  by  the  labors  of  two 
generations  of  the  well-known  Hanselman  family 
is  in  section  5,  comprising  140  acres,  and  now  owned 
and  cultivated  by  Clarence  Hanselman.  Mr.  Han- 
selman is  one  of  the  most  successful  representatives 
of  his  family  and  has  proved  his  worth  both  as  a 
practical  farmer  and  as  a public-spirited  citizen. 

He  was  born  on  the  homestead  where  he  still 
lives,  October  19,  1875,  a son  of  John  Quincy  and 
Margaret  (Kankamp)  Hanselman  and  a grandson 
of  Aaron  Hanselman.  A more  detailed  record  of 
this  family  will  be  found  on  other  pages  of  this 
publication.  Clarence  Hanselman  grew  up  on  the 
home  farm.  After  acquiring  a public  school  educa- 
tion he  took  up  farming  as  his  serious  career,  and  in 
course  of  years  acquired  the  old  homestead  of  140 
acres.  He  has  remodeled  the  barn,  and  installed 
many  other  improvements,  including  a furnace  in 
his  home.  He  is  a breeder  of  pure  bred  Shorthorn 
cattle  and  also  keeps  the  best  grades  of  Duroc 
Jersey  hogs.  Politically  Mr.  Hanselman  is  a re- 
publican. 

October  30,  1907,  he  married  Miss  Lela  Dora  Sut- 
ton, member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  of 
Steuben  County.  She  was  born  in  Scott  Township, 
March  7,  1882,  a daughter  of  Roswell  and  Emma 
J.  (Waller)  Sutton.  Her  parents  were  both  natives 
of  Steuben  County,  her  father  born  April  27,  1852, 
and  her  mother  on  January  1,  1859.  Roswell  Sutton 
was  a son  of  Roswell  and  Nancy  (McMinn)  Sutton, 
both  pioneers  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Roswell,  Sr., 
was  the  first,  or- one  of  the  first,  teachers  in  Steuben 
County.  Emma  J.  (Waller)  Sutton,  who  died 
March  3,  1912,  was  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rhoda 
(Trobridge)  Waller,  likewise  pioneers  of  Steuben 
County.  Mrs.  Hanselman’s  father  is  still  living  in 
Scott  Township.  He  had  four  children,  named, 
Delevan,  Robert,  Lela  Dora  and  Orville.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hanselman  have  a son  and  daughter,  Russell 
Clarence,  born  October  3,  1908,  and  Helen  Ruth, 
born  August  1,  1911. 

Roy  Perkins,  cashier  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
of  Stroh,  has  been  identified  with  that  institution  two 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


135 


years,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
LaGrange  County. 

He  represents  a family  well  known  for  their  en- 
terprise and  good  citizenship  in  Northeast  Indiana. 
He  was  born  on  a farm  in  Milford  Township, 
August  26,  1881,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Emma 
(Mains)  Perkins.  Some  additional  facts  regarding 
his  father  and  the  early  history  of  the  family  will  be 
found  on  other  pages.  Samuel  Perkins  and  wife, 
who  spent  their  last  years  on  a farm  in  section  23 
of  Milford  Township,  were  active  in  the  Methodist 
Church,  and  he  was  a republican.  They  were  the 
parents  of  five  sons  and  the  four  still  living  are  J.  D., 
of  Milford;  M.  S.,  of  Milford;  Clyde,  of  Milford; 
and  Roy.  The  Perkins  brothers  have  a number  of 
individual  interests  and  are  also  associates  in  the 
ownership  of  the  Stroh  Grain  Company,  and  for  five 
years  were  engaged  in  drainage  contracting. 

Roy  Perkins  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Mil- 
ford Township  and  graduated  from  the  South  Mil- 
ford High  School  and  spent  three  years  in  the  State 
Normal.  He  is  well  known  for  his  splendid  work 
as  a teacher.  For  thirteen  years  he  was  engaged  in 
schoolroom  work,  and  during  that  time  was  super- 
intendent of  the  South  Milford  school  five  years  and 
principal  of  the  Stroh  school  four  years. 

The  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Stroh  was  organized 
November  16,  1915.  Its  officers  are:  H.  B.  Lewis, 

president;  S.  A.  Stout,  vice  president;  Roy  Perkins, 
cashier,  while  the  Board  of  Directors  consist  of  H. 
B.  Lewis,  S.  A.  Stout,  Roy  Perkins,  M.  S.  Perkins, 
j.  D.  Perkins,  J.  B.  Hayward, R.  O.  Conklin,  F.  N. 
Wilson  and  E.  E.  Goodsell.  The  bank  is  capitalized 
at  $25,000. 

November  28,  1905,  Mr.  Perkins  married  Opal 
Lovett.  She  is  a graduate  of  the  South  Milford 
High  School.  They  have  four  children,  named  Mar- 
jorie, Katherine,  Dale  and  George.  Mr.  Perkins  is 
a past  master  and  charter  member  of  Philo  Lodge 
No.  672,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is 
also  a past  grand  of  the  Odd  Fellows.  His  wife  is 
both  a Rebekah  and  a member  of  the  Eastern  Star. 
Politically  he  is  affiliated  with  the  republican  party. 

Charles  B.  Oury  is  a resident  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County.  Farming  has  constituted  his 
work,  and  he  has  been  a busy  and  successful  agri- 
culturist for  the  past  twenty  years.  In  that  time 
he  has  acquired  a good  farm  of  his  own,  and  his 
prosperity  is  very  much  in  evidence. 

Mr.  Oury,  who  is  connected  with  several  leading 
families  of  Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  October  21,  1871,  but  has  lived  in 
Steuben  County  since  early  childhood.  He  is  a 
son  of  William  and  Rachel  (Bowerman)  Oury,  the 
former  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  in  1849,  and 
the  latter  in  Seneca  County,  a daughter  of  Simon 
and  Lydia  (Spangle)  Bowerman.  William  Oury, 
who  died  in  1901,  came  to  Steuben  County  about 
1874,  and  after  1876  had  a farm  in  sections  16  and  21 
of  Jackson  Township. 

Charles  D.  Oury  was  the  oldest  of  six  children. 
He  attended  district  school  No.  4 in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, and  went  to  work  as  a young  man  at  farming. 
In  1899  he  moved  to  Pleasant  Township,  and  in 
1901  moved  to  another  farm  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County,  where  he  directed  the 
operations  of  290  acres  for  ten  years.  He  bought 
his  present  place  in  section  4 of  Jackson  Township- 
in  1 91 1.  He  has  a farm  of  120  acres,  well  improved 
and  increasing  in  value  every  year  under  his  man- 
agement. Mr.  Oury  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Flint. 

May  29,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Emma  Dudley,  a 
daughter  of  Grove  H.  and  Mary  (Closson)  Dudley. 
Reference  to  her  father  is  made  on  other  pages  of 


this  publication.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oury  have  four 
children : Maynard,  born  September  8,  1899 ; Way- 

land,  born  November  25,  1901,  and  died  August  25, 
1911;  Ruth  Ma'rguerite,  born  October  20,  1904;  and 
Mildred  Rachel,  born  October  1,  1908. 

Levi  I.  Miller.  Everyone  having  business  rela- 
tions with  the  community  of  Shipshewana  knows  the 
work  and  position  of  Levi  I.  Miller  as  cashier  of 
the  Farmers  State  Bank.  Mr.  Miller  has  been  one 
of  the  leading  young  business  men  of  that  town 
nearly  twenty  years. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  July  10,  1877,  and  represents  an  old  family, 
early  settled  in  Northeast  Indiana,  and  formerly 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  Millers  represented  many  of 
the  fine  and  enviable  qualities  of  the  sturdy  Men- 
nonites,  who  were  so  prominent  in  the  early  life 
and  affairs  of  Pennsylvania.  He  is  a son  of  Daniel 
T.  and  Catherine  (Thomas)  Miller,  both  natives  of 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was 
born  January  17,  1849,  and  his  mother  on  January 
23,  1846.  Catherine  Thomas,  who  died  January  22, 
1905,  was  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Rachel  (Blough) 
Thomas. 

The  great-grandfather  of  Levi  I.  Miller  was 
Christian  Miller,  whose  father  came  over  from 
Germany  and  located  in  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania. 
There  are  more  than  700  descendants  of  Christian 
Miller,  and  of  this  great  family  connection  there 
are  sixty-six  who  are  ministers  and  deacons  in  the 
Mennonite  Church. 

Jacob  S.  Miller,  grandfather  of  the  Shipshewana 
banker,  was  born  in  Somerset  County  December  10, 
1795.  He  came  to  Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
in  1866,  and  lived  in  that  locality  until  his  death 
on  January  26,  1874.  He  was  twice  married,  and 
by  both  wives  had  eighteen  children.  His  first  wife 
was  Catherine  Kime,  who  died  in  1832.  She  was  the 
mother  of  Christian,  Henry,  Jacob,  who  died  in 
infancy,  Joseph,  Martha,  John,  George  and  Fannie, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Jacob  S.  Miller 
married  for  his  second  wife  Fannie  Hershberger, 
who  was  born  May  9,  1806.  Her  children,  ten  in 
number,  were  Susan,  Barbara,  Katie,  Sarah,  Lydia, 
Moses,  Lizzie,  Fannie,  Daniel  J.  and  Polly. 

Daniel  J.  Miller  came  to  LaGrange  County  with 
his  parents  when  seventeen  years  of  age,  and  a few 
years  later  bought  his  father’s  old  homestead  and 
lived  there  in  Clay  Township  until  about  1880.  Since 
then  he  has  made  his  home  in  Newbury  Township 
and  is  owner  of  100  acres  of  good  farming  land. 
He  and  his  wife  had  three  children : Harry  D., 

Levi  I.  and  Lucy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Herbert  Hos- 
tetler and  has  a daughter,  Arlene. 

Levi  I.  Miller  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Newbury  Township,  is  a graduate  of  the  Shipshe- 
wana High  School,  and  in  the  same  year  completed 
a commercial  course  in  Valparaiso  University.  Dur- 
ing his  first  year  out  of  school  he  was  employed 
by  the  Farver  Brothers  Lumber  Company  at  Ship- 
shewana, but  in  1901  entered  upon  his  banking  career 
as  assistant  cashier  of  the  Bank  of  Shipshewana. 
When  this  bank  was  reorganized  in  October,  1907, 
and  the  name  changed  to  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
he  was  promoted  to  the  post  of  cashier  and  is  the 
genial  and  efficient  man  with  whom  most  of  the 
patrons  of  that  bank  have  done  business  ever  since. 
Mr.  Miller  also  writes  fire  and  tornado  insurance 
and  is  owner  of  a farm  in  Newbury  Township.  He 
was  honored  with  the  responsibilities  of  trustee  of 
Newbury  Township  from  January,  1915,  to  January, 
1919.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  of  Shipshewana. 


136 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


June  6,  1906,  he  married  Amanda  Bowers,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  Bowers.  They 
have  two  children:  Helen,  born  January  10,  1912, 

and  Stanley,  born  January  25,  1915. 

George  H.  Walberry.  A special  place  of  esteem 
has  always  been  reserved  for  George  H.  Walberry 
in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County,  where  he 
has  spent  forty-five  years  of  his  life.  Mr.  Walberry 
made  an  interesting  record  as  a soldier  of  the 
Union  during  the  Civil  war.  He  served  with  an 
Ohio  regiment,  and  after  coming  to  Indiana  busied 
himself  for  many  years  in  clearing  and  developing 
a good  farm  in  Otsego  Township  and  is  still  living 
there  though  now  retired. 

He  was  born  at  Fremont  in  Sandusky  County, 
Ohio,  October  26,  1845,  a son  of  Christian  and 
Sophia  (Miller)  Walberry.  His  father  was  born 
in  Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  and  was  married  the  same  year.  His 
wife  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  Christian  Wal- 
berry had  a tragic  end.  He  had  been  .away  from 
home  working  for  a neighbor,  and  on  his  return 
alone  he  was  taken  ill  and  died,  and  his  body  was 
not  found  for  three  days.  His  death  occurred  in 
July,  1846.  George  H.  Walberry  was  then  an  in- 
fant, and  the  other  child  was  Rhoda  Ann.  In  1854 
the  widowed  mother  married  William  Burkett,  who 
died  in  1864,  the  father  of  five  children,  Ellen  Jane, 
George  W.,  Caroline,  Angeline  and  Charlotte.  The 
first  two  are  now  deceased.  The  mother  spent  her 
last  years  at  Elkhart,  Indiana,  where  she  died  Janu- 
ary 9,  1883.. 

The  family  circumstances  being  as  they  were 
George  H.  Walberry  early  had  to  face  serious  re- 
sponsibilities upon  his  own  account.  He  acquired 
some  education  in  Sandusky  County,  and  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  began  working  in  sawmills  and  on  farms. 
On  December  9,  1863,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  he 
enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Company  of  the  First  Battalion 
of  Ohio  Sharpshooters.  This  company  was  after- 
wards assigned  to  the  Sixtieth  Ohio  Infantry,  but 
after  a protest  to  the  Government  it  served  its  orig- 
inal purpose  as  sharpshooters  for  the  Second 
Brigade,  Third  Division,  Ninth  Corps  of  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  Mr.  Walberry  was  in  his  first 
battle  at  the  Wilderness  and  later  at  Spottsylvania 
and  Cold  Harbor  was  under  fire  for  seven  days. 
He  was  in  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  and  was  one  of 
a party  of  twenty  volunteers  who  responded  to  a 
call  to  “go  over  the  top”  and  capture  a portion  of 
the  enemy’s  works.  After  the  successful  charge 
only  ten  were  left  uninjured.  Mr.  Walberry  par- 
ticipated in  thirteen  battles,  serving  under  Grant 
most  of  the  time,  was  at  the  surrender  of  Appomat- 
tox, and  was  a special  guard  on  a number  of  oc- 
casions. He  stood  guard  at  the  Carroll  prison  in 
Washington  when  Mrs.  Suratt,  the  famous  spy  and 
an  accomplice  in  the  murder  of  Lincoln,  was 
hanged. 

Mr.  Walberry  received  his  honorable  discharge 
July  28,  1865,  and  then  returned  home  to  his  mother 
and  worked  at  farming  for  a few  years.  On  De- 
cember 5,  1875,  he  came  to  Steuben  County,  where 
the  previous  year  he  had  bought  ninety-five  acres  in 
Otsego  Township.  He  at  once  busied  himself  with 
its  clearing  and  improvement,  put  up  good  buildings, 
ditched  the  low  ground,  and  successfully  followed 
farming  and  stock  raising  there  until  the  death  of 
his  wife  in  1900.  He  then  went  to  Oklahoma  Terri- 
tory and  proved  up  a quarter  section  of  land  in  that 
part  of  the  Southwest.  He  held  his  Oklahoma  land 
until  February,  1919,  when  he  sold  out  at  a good 
profit. 

Mr.  Walberry  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  was 
elected  trustee  of  Otsego  Township  on  an  inde- 


pendent ticket  in  1880.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Grange  and  has  been  interested  in  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  welfare  of  his  community. 

December  22,  1867,  at  Woodville,  Ohio,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Sarah  Rhinehart,  of  Ottawa  County  in 
that  state.  She  died  in  1900,  the  mother  of  four 
children.  Llewellyn,  Perry  O.,  Anna  Bell  and 
Roscoe  Conklin. 

Charles  W.  Austin.  The  Austin  family  have 
kept  their  home  and  interests  quite  well  concen- 
trated in  Milford  Township  through  a period  of 
nearly  eighty  years.  It  is  one  of  the  oldest  and 
best  known  families  of  LaGrange  County.  One  of 
them,  Charles  W.  Austin,  has  passed  the  age  of 
three  quarters  of  a century,  but  is  still  actively  en- 
gaged in  looking  after  his  farm  in  section  21  of 
Milford  Township,  2*4  miles  north  and  % of  a mile 
east  of  South  Milford. 

He  was  born  in  section  31  of  the  same  township, 
January  14,  1842,  a son  of  John  W.  and  Louisa 
(Fathergill)  Austin.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Maryland  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Mil- 
ford Township.  The  Fathergill  family  also  came  at 
an  early  date  to  LaGrange  County,  and  located  in 
Springfield  Township.  Louisa  Fathergill  was  a na- 
tive of  Ohio  and  was  reared  and  married  in  Spring- 
field  Township.  Both  parents  spent  their  last  years 
on  a farm  in  section  31,  where  they  owned  eighty 
acres.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  the  father  was  a republican.  Of  five 
children,  three  are  still  living:  Charles  W. ; Albert, 
a farmer  in  Milford  Township;  and  Dora,  widow  of 
F.  L.  Racine,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Charles  W.  Austin  grew  up  in  section  31,  attended 
the  district  schools  in  winter  and  worked  on  the 
farm  in  summer,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
bought  land  and  became  a practical  farmer,  a voca- 
tion he  has  followed  ever  since.  He  now  has  a 
place  of  forty  acres  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

August  15,  1862,  he  married  lea  L.  McGowen. 
She  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  September 
20,  1847,  and  spent  two  years  of  her  girlhood  in 
Iowa  and  after  that  settled  with  her  family  in  Mil- 
ford Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Austin  have  six  liv- 
ing children : Rose,  wife  of  Charles  Grim,  of  Ken- 
dallville;  Fred  H„  of  Kendallville ; Frank,  at  home; 
Grace,  wife  of  Zofer  Sherman;  Floyd,  of  Milford 
Township;  and  Dora,  wife  of  S.  D.  Vesey,  of  Mil- 
ford Township.  Mr.  Austin  is  a republican  in 
political  affiliations. 

Ira  T.  Bachelor.  One  of  the  oldest  and  most 
substantial  American  communities  in  Steuben  County 
is  in  Millgrove  Township,  where  a preponderance  of 
the  early  settlers  were  New  England  people,  par- 
ticularly from  Vermont.  Members  of  the  Bachelor 
family  have  been  identified  with  that  section  over 
eighty  years,  and  one  of  the  best  known  is  Ira  T. 
Bachelor. 

Mr.  Bachelor  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  August  14,  1853.  His  grandparents 
were  Ira  and  Hannah  (Green)  Bachelor.  They  had 
two  children,  Amos  and  Lucy.  Ira  Bachelor  died 
in  Ohio,  and  after  his  death  his  widow  became  Mrs. 
Elijah  Owen.  By  that  marriage  there  were  three 
children:  Henry,  Ira  and  Hannah.  Elijah  Owen 

brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County  in  1836,  mak- 
ing the  trip  from  Ohio  with  ox  team  and  wagon, 
and  they  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Millgrove 
Township. 

Amos  Bachelor  was  eleven  years  old  when  brought 
to  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Lake  County,  Ohio,  in 
April,  1825.  He  married  Susan  Burroughs,  who 
was  born  in  New  York  State  December  10,  1828,  a 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


137 


daughter  of  Rev.  Truman  Burroughs.  Her  father 
was  a pioneer  Baptist  minister  who  carried  the  gos- 
pel through  several  counties  in  Indiana  and  Mich- 
igan. 

Amos  Bachelor  began  his  career  as  a farmer  m 
Jackson  Township,  and  in  1857  came  to  Millgrove 
Township.  In  May,  1869,  he  left  the  farm  and  lived 
at  Waterloo  until  March,  1874,  in  order  to  give  his 
children  the  advantage  of  high  school.  With  that 
exception  he  spent  all  his  active  career  on  the  farm 
in  Millgrove  Township.  In  the  fall  of  1899  he 
retired  from  farming  and  moved  to  Angola,  where 
he  died  January  29,  1905.  His  widow  passed  away 
in  June,  1911. 

Amos  Bachelor  was  one  of  the  highly  successful 
farmers  of  Steuben  County,  and  at  one  time  owned 
over  500  acres  of  productive  land.  He  and  his 
wife  had  four  children : Ellen,  who  is  the  wife  of 

James  Campbell  and  lives  at  Waterloo;  Ira,  Fre- 
mont and  Elmer. 

Ira  Bachelor  in  his  individual  career  has  mani- 
fested many  of  the  good  business  qualities  of  his 
father.  He  acquired  a good  education,  partly  in 
the  district  schools  of  Jamestown  Township,  also  in 
the  high  school  at  Waterloo,  and  for  three  terms  he 
taught  school.  He  has  many  talents  and  gifts  in 
music.  He  began  his  farming  career  in  Millgrove 
Township,  where  he  has  lived  for  over  thirty  years. 
He  owns  a farm  of  185  acres,  and  all  its  substantial 
buildings  were  put  on  the  land  by  him  with  the  ex- 
ception of  one  house. 

Mr.  Bachelor  married  in  1873  Miss  Etta  Patter- 
son, daughter  of  William  Patterson.  They  have 
three  children:  Clyde,  Io,  wife  of  Fred  Terry,  and 

Paul. 

Theodore  Hunt.  The  passing  years  have  dealt 
pleasantly  with  Theodore  Hunt,  one  of  the  prosper- 
ous farmers  of  Franklin  Township,  DeKalb  County. 
He  has  lived  in  DeKalb  County  most  of  his  life, 
has  worked  hard  for  his  prosperity,  and  enjoys  high 
standing  as  a citizen  and  has  a happy  family  around 
him. 

Mr.  Hunt,  whose  sixty-eight  acre  farm  devoted  to 
general  crops  and  livestock  is  six  miles  north  of  But- 
ler and  near  the  Town  of  Hamilton,  was  born  at 
Fostoria,  Ohio,  October  9,  1864,  a son  of  Theodore 
and  Harriet  H.  (Boughton)  Hunt.  His  father  was 
born  near  Fostoria  and  his  mother  was  a native 
of  Connecticut,  coming  when  a girl  with  her  parents 
to  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  In  1867  the  Hunt  family 
moved  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  locating  five  miles 
northwest  of  Bryan.  In  1877  they  settled  in  Frank- 
lin Township  of  DeKalb  County,  but  after  several 
years  sold  their  property  and  returned  to  Bryan 
for  about  two  and  a half  years.  They  then  resumed 
their  residence  in  Franklin  Township,  where  the 
father  and  mother  spent  their  last  years.  They  were 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  the 
father  was  a worker  in  the  Grange  and  was  a past 
grand  and  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  Politically  he 
was  a stanch  republican.  He  and  his  wife  have  eight 
children : Ellen  and  H.  B.,  both  deceased ; Emma, 

wife  of  John  Hinkle;  Mary,  deceased  wife  of  Ed 
Hinkle;  Theodore;  Hattie,  wife  of  Arthur  Oberlin; 
Eben ; and  Jennie,  wife  of  Oren  Aldrich. 

Mr.  Theodore  Hunt  was  about  thirteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  first  came  to  Franklin  Township. 
He  completed  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
and  after  the  age  of  nineteen  began  his  independent 
career.  On  December  31,  1883,  he  married  Belle 
Taylor,  daughter  of  Jasper  S.  Taylor.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hunt  have  three  children : Grace,  wife  of 


Bert  Oren ; Ida,  wife  of  Guy  Obbendorph ; and 
Ralph  T.,  who  makes  his  home  with  his  father. 

Mr.  Hunt  is  affiliated  with  Hamilton  Lodge  No. 
648  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a 
past  grand,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  members 
of  the  Rebekahs.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Charles  Black.  It  was  not  altogether  personal 
popularity  nor  partisan  strength  that  resulted  in  the 
choice  of  Charles  Black  for  sheriff  of  Noble  County 
at  the  general  election  of  November,  1918.  Mr. 
Black  has  exceptional  qualifications  for  any  posi- 
tion to  which  he  might  aspire.  He  has  been  a resi- 
dent of  Noble  County  practically  all  his  life,  is  a 
sturdy  and  thorough  farmer,  and  bought  and  sold 
stock  for  a number  of  years  and  has  been  direct- 
ing the  management  of  a good  farm  right  up  to 
the  date  he  assumed  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Mr.  Black  was  born  in  York  Township  October 
18,  1871,  son  of  John  W.  and  Matilda  (Tyler)  Black. 
His  parents  were  both  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio. 
The  father  was  born  October  16,  1837.  They  were 
married  in  that  county,  and  about  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana.  After 
a few  years  in  York  Township  as  a renter  John  W. 
Black  bought  a farm,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death 
owned  156  acres.  He  was  a republican,  quite  active 
in  his  party,  and  served  at  one  time  as  assessor  of 
York  Township.  In  his  family  were  twelve  children, 
five  of  whom  are  still  living:  John  W.,  a resident 

of  Canton,  Ohio;  Emmett,  a farmer  in  York  Town- 
ship; Charles;  Calvin,  of  York  Township;  and  Jen- 
nie, wife  of  David  Young,  of  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana. 

Mr.  Charles  Black  grew  up  in  York  Township  and 
attended  school  in  winter  and  worked  on  the  farm 
in  summer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  left  home 
and  spent' three  years  in  Illinois,  and  on  returning 
to  Noble  County  he  and  his  brother  bought  ninety 
acres  in  York  Township  and  farmed  it  in  partner- 
ship for  five  years.  Mr.  Black  then  sold  his  in- 
terest to  his  "brother  and  on  March  7,  1912,  he 
moved  to  Albion  and  engaged  in  the  business  of 
buying  and  shipping  livestock.  He  lived  on  his 
farm  three  miles  southwest  of  Albion  and  also  has 
a residence  in  the  Town  of  Albion.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Albion  Grist  Mill.  Air.  Black  has 
been  active  in  republican  politics  for  a number 
of  years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  he  and  his  family  attend  worship  in  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  York  Township. 

October  17,  1901,  he  married  Aliss  Lulu  A.  Aloore. 
Mrs.  Black  died  October  9,  1916,  the  mother  of 
two  sons,  Clarence  G.  and  Charles  D.  On  February 
28,  1918,  Air.  Black  married  Mrs.  Gail  Frazure. 

Noah  S.  Stump.  For  nearly  forty  years  the 
Stump  family  have  been  factors  in  the  agricultural 
development  and  business  and  civic  enterprise  of 
Washington  Township  in  Noble  County.  Noah  S. 
Stump,  who  came  to  that  locality  when  he  was  a 
boy,  is  a farm  owner,  farmer  and  stock  raiser  in 
section  22. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  December  7,  1873,  son  of  Noah 
and  Alaria  (Hettzel)  Stump,  the  former  a native 
of  Canada  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
Stump  and  Hettzel  families  came  to  Indiana  in 
early  days  and  Noah  and  Maria  were  married  here, 
after  which  they  settled  four  and  a half  miles 
southwest  of  Paris,  Indiana,  and  from  there  in  1880, 
after  selling  their  farm,  went  to  the  western 
frontier  in  Nebraska,  but  after  a brief  experience 
returned  to  Indiana  and  then  bought  land  in  Wash- 
ington Township  of  Noble  County.  Both  parents 


138 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  this  county,  where 
the  father  died  in  1912,  and  the  mother  in  May, 
1917.  They  were  active  members  of  the  River 
Brethren  Church.  A brief  record  of  their  large 
family  of  twelve  children  is  as  follows : Daniel  D., 

a former  county  commissioner  of  Noble  County; 
Anna,  deceased;  Adam,  of  Washington  Township; 
Susan,  of  Kosciusko  County;  Mary,  wife  of  Marion 
S.  Weigle,  of  Washington  Township;  John  B.,  of 
Washington  Township;  Fannie,  wife  of  Lewis  C. 
Hontz ; Noah  S. ; Frank,  of  Monroe,  Michigan; 
Levi,  deceased;  James,  of  Columbia  City;  and 
George,  of  Washington  Township. 

Noah  S.  Stump  was  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Washington  Township,  and  in 
addition  to  the  advantages  of  the  district  schools 
attended  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola  and  has  a 
term  or  so  of  teaching  to  his  credit.  On  December 
30,  1899,  he  married  Aldine  Hontz.  She  was  born 
in  Noble  County,  August  26,  1872,  and  is  a daughter 
of  Jacob  Hontz.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stump  have  three 
children : Earl,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools 

and  with  three  years  of  attendance  at  high  school, 
is  unmarried  and  is  still  at  home;  Jennie  is  a gradu- 
ate of  the  common  schools  and  attending  high 
school ; and  Paul  is  still  in  the  district  school. 

Mrs.  Stump  is  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
He  is  a past  grand  of  Lodge  No.  722  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  a member  of  the 
Grand  Lodge,  and  is  past  chief  patriarch  of  the 
Encampment.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Rebekahs  and  she  is  a past  grand  of  that  order. 
He  is  also  affiliated  with  Cromwell  Lodge  No. 
705,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Politically,  Mr. 
Stump  is  a democrat.  The  farm  which  he  conducts 
with  so  much  profit  comprises  147  acres.  One  phase 
of  his  efforts  there  is  the  breeding  of  registered 
hogs.  He  is  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  Sparta 
State  Bank  at  Cromwell  and  is  also  a stockholder  in 
the  Farmers  National  Life  Insurance  Company. 

Frederick  E.  Shroyer,  who  in  his  early  life  was 
a successful  teacher,  has  been  equally  successful 
as  a practical  farmer.  He  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  of  Milford  Township  in  LaGrange  County, 
where  he  is  the  present  township  trustee. 

Mr.  Shroyer  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  August  23,  1882,  a son  of 
William  F.  and  Florence  (Reinoehl)  Shroyer.  His 
father  was  born  in  the  same  township  of  the  county 
April  30,  1861,  a son  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Swine- 
hart)  Shroyer,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  who  came  to 
Noble  County  in  early  days  and  settled  in  Orange 
Township.  William  F.  Shroyer  now  lives  near  Hel- 
mer,  Indiana,  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  an  Odd  Fellow  and  a democrat  in 
political  affiliations.  He  and  his  wife  had  three 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The  two 
sons  are  Frederick  E.  and  John  F.  The  latter  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Bushy  Prairie  High  School,  gradu- 
ated from  Business  College  in  Fort  Wayne,  and  is  a 
farmer  in  DeKalb  County. 

Frederick  E.  Shroyer  grew  up  on  a farm  in 
Orange  Township  of  Noble  County  and  received  his 
first  advantages  in  the  district  schools  there.  He 
also  graduated  from  high  school,  attended  the  State 
Normal  at  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and  spent  one  year 
in  the  State  University  at  Bloomington.  Mr.  Shroyer 
was  a teacher  in  the  common  schools  for  seven 
years  and  for  two  years  in  high  school.  September 
12,  1907,  he  married  Inez  Milbourn.  She  is  also  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school  at  South  Milford  and 
for  four  years  taught  there,  being  the  primary 
teacher  in  South  Milford.  They  have  two  children, 
Harold  E.,  born  October  21,  1910,  and  Mildred  I., 
born  January  16,  1914. 


The  Shroyer  family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Stroh,  Indiana.  He  is  affiliated  with 
Philo  Lodge  No.  672  of  Masons,  and  in  politics  is  a 
democrat.  Before  entering  upon  his  duties  as  town- 
ship trustee  he  served  four  years  as  township  as- 
sessor, from  January  1,  1915,  to  January  1,  1919. 
Mr.  Shroyer  is  a general  farmer  and  stock  raiser, 
having  136  acres  in  Milford  Township  under  his 
management. 

Robert  H.  Snowberger,  one  of  the  successful 
farmers  and  landowners  of  Northeast  Indiana,  was 
a veteran  of  the  Civil  war,  and  for  over  half  a cen- 
tury has  been  identified  with  different  agricultural 
communities  in  Steuben  and  DeKalb  counties. 

He  comes  from  a family  of  well  known  promi- 
nence in  this  section  of  Indiana,  being  a son  of 
David  and  Evelyn  (Haughey)  Snowberger.  Some 
of  the  other  details  of  the  family  history  are  found 
on  other  pages. 

Robert  H.  Snowberger  was  born  in  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  December  19,  1845,  but  grew  up  in 
Steuben  County,  acquiring  his  education  in  the  Cali- 
fornia district  school  in  Steuben  Township.  He  was 
not  yet  eighteen  years  of  age  when  on  August  4, 
1863,  he  enlisted  in  Company  D of  the  Seventh  In- 
diana Cavalry.  He  was  in  service  for  more  than  two 
years,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  February 
2,  1866.  He  participated  in  the  campaign  in  Missis- 
sippi, involving  the  battles  of  Okolona  and  Guntown, 
and  saw  much  other  active  service.  After  his  return 
from  the  army  Mr.  Snowberger  did  some  ditching 
work  for  a year  and  a half,  then  bought  a small 
stretch  of  land  in  Steuben  Township,  a few  years 
later  moved  to  DeKalb  County,  and  remained  there 
a year  and  a half,  again  moved  to  Steuben  Town- 
ship and  then  located  on  the  farm  where  he  had 
previously  lived  in  DeKalb  County,  and  remained 
there  nine  years.  His  next  place  was  a farm  of  200 
acres  in  Pleasant  Township  of  Steuben  County,  and 
that  was  his  home  and  the  scene  of  his  activities 
for  the  next  twenty-nine  years.  After  leaving  there 
Mr.  Snowberger  and  his  family  lived  in  Angola  for 
a year,  and  in  March,  1918,  he  moved  to  his  present 
place  in  Jamestown  Township.  His  efforts  have 
been  prospered,  and  at  the  present  time  he  owns 
about  359  acres  in  Pleasant  and  Jamestown  town- 
ships. 

Mr.  Snowberger  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic.  He  married  in  1867  Maria  Lacey, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Lacey.  Some  of  the  records 
of  the  Lacey  family  are  found  on  other  pages. 

Mrs.  Snowberger,  who  died  in  1909,  was-  the 
mother  of  five  children,  the  first  two  dying  in  in- 
fancy. Those  living  are : Cary  M.  a dentist  at  Hud- 
son ; Grace  A.  the  wife  of  Homer  Brown ; and  Fred 
who  also  follows  the  profession  of  dentistry.  Mr. 
Snowberger  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Clara 
Baker. 

James  C.  DeVinney.  While  much  of  his  time  is 
spent  away  from  LaGrange  County  in  handling  his 
business  as  a traveling  salesman,  James  C.  DeVinney 
is  a member  of  an  old  and  well  known  family  of 
this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana,  and  owns  an  exten- 
sive and  well  arranged  farm  in  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship. 

He  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  November  28,  1858,  a son  of  Dennis  and 
Lauretta  (Dibble)  DeVinney.  His  father  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  Lauretta  Dibble  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  a daughter  of  Volney  C.  and 
Hannah  Fidelia  (Parker)  Dibble.  Volney  Dibble 
was  born  in  the  same  state  January  7,  1808,  a son  of 
Andrew  Dibble,  and  came  to  Lima,  Indiana,  in  1843, 
and  conducted  a wagon  making  shop  there  until 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


139 


1859.  He  then  moved  to  a farm  in  Elkhart  County, 
later  established  his  home  in  Newbury  Township 
of  LaGrange  County,  and  continued  farming  until 
1871.  After  that  he  spent  four  years  in  DeKalb 
County,  and  in  1876  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned 
by  James  C.  DeVinney  in  Van  Buren  Township,  in 
section  32.  He  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1901. 
He  was  a good  mechanic  and  a capable  farmer  and 
a man  whose  relations  with  the  community  gave 
him  a place  of  special  prominence.  Volney  C.  Dibble 
had  three  children : Hannah,  Lauretta  and  Adel- 

bert. 

Dennis  DeVinney  came  to  LaGrange  County  when 
a young  man,  and  after  his  marriage  worked  in  the 
wagon  shop  with  Mr.  Dibble.  Subsequently  he  was 
a farmer  in  Newbury  Township,  and  he  died  in 
1863,  when  a comparatively  young  man.  His  wife 
had  passed  away  in  1862.  Their  children  were : 
Charles  A.,  who  lives  in  DeKalb  County,  and  by  his 
marriage  to  Emma  Treman  had  three  children, 
Laura,  Clair,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and 
George.  James  t.  is  the  second  child.  Ida  L.  L. 
is  the  widow  of  Charles  Weiss,  who  died  April  2, 
1915,  and  her  children  are  Lola  Fidelia,  Henry  C., 
E.  Eugene,  Earl  C.,  and  Ruth,  who  died  when  four 
and  a half  years  old. 

James  C.  DeVinney,  who  is  popularly  known  as 
Mont  DeVinney,  was  left  an  orphan  when  about 
five  years  of  age,  and  he  and  his  brother  and  sister 
were  reared  by  their  grandparents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dibble.  He  attended  public  school  in  Newbury  and 
Van  Buren  townships,  also  the  Normal  School  at 
LaGrange,  and  taught  seven  terms  of  school.  For 
over  two  years  he  clerked  in  a store  at  Howe,  Indi- 
ana, and  then  took  up  his  work  as  a traveling  sales- 
man, which  he  followed  for  seven  years.  From  1892 
to  1907  he  was  in  the  general  merchandise  business 
at  Howe.  He  sold  out  in  1907  and  spent  the  follow- 
ing two  years  repairing  and  working  the  home  farm. 
Since  1909  he  has  had  a general  agency  for  the 
well  known  Kalamazoo  tile  and  wood  silos.  He  sup- 
ervises the  sale  of  these  silos  in  fifteen  counties  in 
Northern  Illinois. 

Mr.  DeVinney  owns  the  fine  175-acre  farm  in 
Van  Buren  Township  where  his  widowed  sister  and 
her  family  reside.  When  he  is  not  looking  after 
his  business  affairs  in  Illinois  he  makes  his  home 
with  his  sister  on  the  farm.  Mr.  DeVinney  is  un- 
married. 

He  served  as  trustee  of  Lima  Township  four 
years  and  for  three  years  was  manager  of  the  Lima 
Creamery.  Mr.  DeVinney  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Howe  and  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  LaGrange, 
and  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at 
Howe. 

Raymond  J.  Luse.  There  are  a number  of  illus- 
trations of  men  who  have  gone  from  the  farm  into 
commercial  and  professional  careers.  The  cases 
are  not  so  numerous  where  young  professional  men 
have  given  up  their  chosen  work  to  devote  them- 
selves to  agriculture.  A case  in  point  is  that  of 
Raymond  J.  Luse,  who  enjoyed  high  standing  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon  in  Steuben  County  and  a few 
years  ago  surrendered  his  practice  and  has  made 
unequivocal  success  at  dairy  farming. 

Doctor  Luse  was  born  at  Niles,  Ohio,  March  13, 
1880,  son  of  Jesse  B.  and  Frances  (Sanderson)  Luse, 
the  former  a native  of  Niles  and  the  latter  of 
Youngstown,  Ohio.  His  father  is  still  engaged  in 
farming  near  the  industrial  city  of  Niles. 

Dr.  Raymond  J.  Luse  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  in  early  life  acquired  some  of  the  experi- 
ence and  training  which  has  fitted  him  for  success 


since  he  entered  dairying.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  and  high  schools  of  Niles,  and  first  came 
to  Northeastern  Indiana  as  a student  in  the  Normal 
College  of  Angola.  He  graduated  in  1900  and  in 
1902  entered  the  school  of  medicine  of  Drake  Uni- 
versity of  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  graduating  in  the 
year  1906.  He  at  once  returned  to  Angola,  and  took 
up  the  practice  of  medicine,  which  he  continued  suc- 
cessfully for  seven  years.  Mr.  Luse  left  his  profes- 
sion in  1013,  and  then  moved  to  his  farm  one  mile 
west  of  Angola.  He  has  acquired  a splendid  herd 
of  blooded  Holsteins,  noted  for  their  milk  produc- 
tion, and  keeps  twenty  cows  for  his  splendid  busi- 
ness of  dairy  farming.  Doctor  Luse  married  in  1907 
Clela  Powers,  daughter  of  Judge  Powers,  of  Angola. 
They  have  two  children : Raymond  Powers  and 
Anna.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Luse  are  members  of  the 
Christian  Church. 

Charles  W.  Dancer,  M.  D„  who  has  practiced 
medicine  and  surgery  at  Stroh  for  the  past  eighteen 
years,  comes  of  a well  known  family  of  professional 
and  business  men  in  LaGrange  County. 

He  is  a son  of  Dr.  John.and  Isabelle  (Hodges) 
Dancer  and  was  born  at  South  Milford,  November 
29,  1871.  His  father  became  well  known  all  over 
Northeast  Indiana.  He  was  a native  of  Stark  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  in  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana.  He  graduated  from  Rush  Medical 
College  in  Chicago  and  for  nearly  half  a century 
practiced  his  profession  at  South  Milford,  in  an  ever 
growing  circle  of  esteem.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Commandery,  at  Ken- 
dallville,  and  a democrat  in  politics.  He  served  two 
or  three  terms  as  trustee  of  Milford  Township. 
Doctor  Dancer  and  wife  had  ten  children,  six  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Maggie,  wife  of  Ephraim 

Frandt;  Katie  J.,  widow  of  Dr.  H.  M.  Newman,  of 
South  Milford ; Dr.  Charles  W. ; Edna,  wife  of 
Dallas  West,  a chemist  with  the  Wabash  Portland 
Cement  Company  at  Stroh ; George  W.,  a dentist  at 
Dayton,  Ohio;  and  Jesse  E.,  an  interurban  railway 
conductor  with  home  at  Fort  Wayne. 

Dr.  Charles  W.  Dancer  grew  up  in  South  Milford, 
attended  the  public  schools  there,  and  in  1893  gradu- 
ated from  St.  Mary’s  College  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
From  1895  to  1898  he  was  a student  in  Rush  Medical 
College,  his  father’s  alma  mater,  and  took  his  degree 
in  medicine  from  the  Tennessee  Medical  College  in 
1899.  The  following  year  he  located  at  Stroh,  and 
has  since  had  a busy  town  and  country  practice.  He 
is  a member  in  good  standing  of  the  County  and 
State  Medical  societies,  is  a democrat  and  has  served 
as  county  chairman  of  LaGrange  County  four  years. 
He  has  also  been  a trustee  of  Milford  Township 
and  a few  years  ago  was  nominated  for  the  State 
Senate  on  the  democratic  ticket.  In  a district 
normalR  republican  by  2,500  he  was  defeated  by 
only  800  votes.  Dr.  Dancer  is  a charter  member  and 
was  the  first  master  of  Philo  Lodge  No.  672,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Mason,  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  Knight  Templar  Ccm- 
manderv  at  Kendallville.  He  has  also  passed  the 
chairs  in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men.  Doctor  Dancer 
married  Elizabeth  Weingart  in  1908. 

George  M.  Manahan  has  lived  a life  of  unusual 
’ experience  and  has  had  his  home  and  work  in  a 
number  of  different  environments.  In  early  life  he 
was  thrown-  upon  his  own  responsibilities,  had  to 
work  for  himself  and  others,  too,  but  in  the  course 
of  thirty  years  has  accumulated  a generous  pros- 
perity and  is  now  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and 
farm  owners  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben 
County. 


140 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


He  was  born  in  Ottawa  County,  Ohio,  December 
26,  1865.  His  parents  were  Ira  and  Nancy 

(Weatherwax)  Manahan.  His  paternal  grandfather, 
Samuel  Manahan,  was  a farmer  in  Ottawa  County, 
Ohio,  and  had  a family  of  children  named  Rebecca, 
Elizabeth,  James,  William,  Samuel,  Ira,  Jefferson, 
Thomas  and  Joseph. 

Ira  Manahan  was  also  born  in  Ottawa  County, 
Ohio,  October  9,  1836,  and  on  March  1,  1863,  married 
Nancy  Weatherwax.  She  was  born  August  28,  1842, 
a daughter  of  Lawrence  and  Nancy  Maria 
(Weatherwax)  Weatherwax.  Lawrence  was  born 
October  3,  1813,  and  Nancy  Maria,  March  1,  1821. 
In  the  Weatherwax  family  were  six  children: 
Elizabeth,  born  June  13,  1838;  Lydia,  born  April  2, 
1840;  Nancy,  born  August  28,  1842;  John,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Maria  Jane,  born  July  18,  1855;  and 
Martha,  born  July  23,  1859. 

Ira  Manahan  during  his  active  life  was  a farmer 
in  Ottawa  County,  Ohio.  He  died  there  October 
16,  1872,  when  his  son  George  was  only  seven  years 
old.  After  his  death  his  wife  and  children  continued 
to  live  on  the  home  farm  some  eight  or  ten  years, 
and  the  family  then  came  to  Pleasant  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  Mrs.  Manahan  bought  a farm  of 
fifty  acres  about  two  miles  west  of  Angola,  and 
lived  on  that  place  until  1892.  She  then  went  west 
to  Adams  County,  Nebraska,  and  kept  house  for  her 
two  sons,  Charles  and  Bert,  and  remained  there 
until  the  marriage  of  her  son  Charles,  since  which 
time  she  has  resumed  her  residence  in  Steuben 
County  and  now  lives  at  Angola.  She  was  the 
mother  of  a family  of  five : Samuel  L.,  born  July 

10,  1864 ; George  M.,  whose  birth  has  above  been 
noted;  Minnie  Jane,  born  October  30,  1867,  wife 
of  Edward  Baker ; Charles  W.,  born  October  24, 
1869;  and  Bert  I.,  born  September  22,  1871. 

George  M.  Manahan  acquired  most  of  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  county  of  Ohio,  but  also  at- 
tended district  schools  in  Pleasant  Township.  He 
was  only  thirteen  years  old  when  -he  became  a 
wage  earner,  working  out  at  $10  a month.  His 
career  as  an  independent  farmer  was  begun  in  1888 
in  Pleasant  Township  on  a rented  farm.  After  a 
year  and  a half  he  moved  to  Jackson  Township, 
continued  farming  there  until  1894,  and  then  spent 
a year  as  a farmer  in  Nebraska.  After  returning 
to  Steuben  County  he  located  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship and  for  fifteen  years  lived  on  various  places 
and  made  a number  of  moves,  though  most  of  the 
time  he  was  a farmer.  He  has  owned  several  dif- 
ferent farms  and  has  been  a permanent  resident 
of  Jackson  Township  since  1911,  when  he  bought 
his  present  place.  The  prosperity  gained  by  years 
of  effort  is  represented  in  the  ownership  of  265 
acres,  with  building  improvements  of  exceptional 
value. 

Mr.  Manahan  married  Nellie  R.  Moore,  a daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Rachel  A.  Moore.  They  have 
two  children : Glenn  L.,  who  married  Hilda  Leese ; 

and  Esther  C. 

George  F.  Praul.  One  of  the  most  complete  and 
modern  farms  in  DeKalb  County  is  the  Maple  Lawn 
Farm,  a mile  and  a half  north  of  Butler  in  Franklin 
Township.  Its  proprietor  is  George  F.  Praul,  and 
on  the  land  which  he  cultivates  today  he  was  born 
November  19,  1869. 

He  is  a son  of  Edwin  A.  and  Sarah  A.  (Firestone) 
Praul,  both  of  whom  were  also  natives  of  Franklin 
Township,  the  father  born  December  15,  1848,  and  the 
mother  September  13,  1851.  The  paternal  grand- 
parents were  Edward  and  Lucy  (Thompson)  Praul, 
the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  while  the  latter 
was  born  in  Greene  County,  New  York,  March  16, 
1817.  They  were  married  in  New  York,  moved  from 


there  to  Pennsylvania  and  then  to  Indiana  in  1845, 
locating  in  Wilmington  Township  and  later  in  Frank- 
lin Township,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  Lucy  Praul  died  March  13,  1885,  while  he  died 
July  4,  1863,  his  death  being  the  result  of  a rattle- 
snake bite.  Of  their  twelve  children  five  are  still 
living,  named  Lucinda,  wife  of  Nick  Bucher,  of 
Cincinnati;  Nancy,  widow  of  Benjamin  Walton,  of 
Garrett ; -Hattie,  wife  of  Charles  Thompson ; Min- 
nie, widow  of  Watson  Halabaugh ; and  Rachel, 
widow  of  Henry  Workman. 

Edwin  Praul  grew  up  in  DeKalb  County  in  a lo- 
cality and  under  circumstances  which  prevented  him 
from  getting  a good  education.  On  July  3,  1868, 
he  married  Sarah  A.  Firestone,  who  was  one  of  thir- 
teen children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living. 

George  F.  Praul  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents 
and  he  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  on  the 
home  farm.  As  a boy  there  he  attended  the  common 
schools.  On  December  27,  1893,  he  married  Mar- 
garet A.  McClintock.  She  was  borji  in  Troy  Town- 
ship, DeKalb  County,  February  18,  1873,  a daughter 
of  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Scott)  McClintock.  Her 
father  was  a native  of  Perry  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  her  mother  of  Crawford  County,  Ohio.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio  and  in  1867  came  to  Indiana. 
Jeremiah  McClintock  was  a Union  soldier,  having 
served  three  years  in  Company  K of  the  Ninth  Ohio 
Cavalry.  In  later  years  he  was  active  in  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  was  an  influential  mem- 
ber of  the  republican  party.  In  the  McClintock  fam- 
ily were  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Elias,  of  Auburn;  Margaret  and  Mattie,  wife  of 
Vernon  L.  Kepler,  of  Troy  Township.  Mrs.  Praul 
received  her  education  in  the  common  schools  of 
Troy  Township. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Praul  lived 
on  a rented  farm  two  and  a half  years,  then  spent 
six  years  at  Butler,  and  with  that  exception  they 
have  lived  on  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Praul  has 
sixty  acres  of  good  farm  land  and  he  is  also  one 
of  the  directors  of  the  Butler  Farmers  Elevator 
Company  and  a stockholder  in  the  Arctic  Cooperative 
Livestock  Association.  He  has  been  active  in  the 
republican  party  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Wilmington  Grange.  Both  are  affiliated  with 
the  Pythian  Sisters,  Mrs.  Praul  being  past  chief 
and  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  His  membership 
is  with  Butler  Lodge  No.  158,  Knights  of  Pythias. 
Mrs.  Praul  is  a Methodist. 

They  have  three  children : Sherley  E.  is  a grad- 
uate of  high  school,  also  took  advanced  training  at 
Winona  and  Angola,  and  for  three  years  was  a 
teacher.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Clarence  T.  Car- 
son,  and  lives  in  Chicago.  Bessie  G.  is  a high  school 
graduate,  wife  of  D.  A.  Baker,  of  Butler.  Russell 
E.,  the  youngest,  is  still  at  home  and  attending  school. 

Ori.a  L.  Fast.  Bearing  a name  that  has  long 
been  honored  in  the  citizenship  of  Steuben  County, 
Orla  L.  Fast  has  added  credit  to  the  name  and 
is  now  holding  one  of  the  responsible  offices  of  the 
county,  as  trustee  of  Pleasant  Township.  Mr.  Fast 
has  lived  at  Angola  since  he  left  his  farm  about 
ten  years  ago. 

He  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben 
Countv.  Tuly  17,  1867.  a son  of  Christian  and  Rhoda 
M.  (Wells)  Fast.  His  grandparents  were  Martin 
and  Catherine  (Blosser)  Fast,  of  Pennsylvania.  In 
1816  they  moved  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  the  total 
population  of  which  then  consisted  of  nine  families. 
Catherine  Fast  for  three  months  never  saw  the  face 
of  a white  woman.  The  county  settled  rapidly  after 
they  came,  and  Martin  and  Catherine  spent  their  last 
years  with  every  comfort  of  civilization.  They 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


141 


reared  a family  of  seven  children,  named  John, 
Anna,  Eli,  Mary,  Jacob,  Christian  and  Elijah. 

Christian  Fast  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  12,  1814,  and  from  the  age  of 
two  years  lived  in  the  pioneer  surroundings  of  Ash- 
land County,  where  he  farmed  for  several  years. 
In  1852  he  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County, 
and  secured  160  acres  in  Pleasant  Township.  Only 
four  acres  had  been  cleared.  Twenty  acres  he  re- 
served as  a timber  lot,  but  all  the  rest  gradually 
came  under  cultivation,  and  he  earned  an  abundant 
prosperity.  He  died  December  13,  1898.  In  1839 
he  married  Henrietta  Sowle,  who  was  born  in 
Oneida  County,  New  York,  in  1820,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Rachel  (Allen)  Sowle.  She  died  in 
December,  1859,  mother  of  the  following  children : 
Joseph  J. ; Rosanna,  who  married  Alonzo  Burlin- 
game ; Mary,  whose  husband  was  Orville  Goodale ; 
Francis  Allen;  Eli;  Rachel,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Melville  McGrew;  John  A.,  who  died  young; 
and  Henrietta.  Christian  Fast  married  for  his  sec- 
ond wife  Rhoda  M.  Wells,  who  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  December  12,  1837,  daughter  of  Loton 
and  Anna  M.  (Sowle)  Wells.  To  the  second  mar- 
riage were  born : Elmer,  who  died  in  infancy ; Ira 

C. ; Orla  L. ; and  Laura,  who  died  aged  nine  years, 
Christian  Fast  was  a justice  of  the  peace  many 
years,  and  was  a member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Orla  L.  Fast,  after  getting  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Pleasant  Township,  took  charge 
of  his  father’s  farm,  and  from  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  handled  it  independently  and  planted  and  har- 
vested crops  there  every  season  until  1910,  when  he 
left  the  farm  and  moved  to  Angola.  In  the  county 
seat  he  was  for  two  years  engaged  in  the  draying 
business.  He  was  elected  trustee  of  Pleasant  Town- 
ship in  1914,  and  in  1918  the  citizens  set  the  seal  of 
their  approval  upon  his  capable  administration  by 
returning  him  for  a second  term  of  four  years. 
He  is  a popular  member  of  the  Masonic  and.  Odd 
Fellows  lodges,  and  is  a member  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Mr.  Fast  married  Miss  Catherine  Penner,  daugh- 
ter of  Martin  and  Elizabeth  Penner.  Their  family 
consists  of  five  children,  named  Paul  A.,  Mildred  A., 
Arline,  Hershel  and  Henrietta. 

Milo  R.  Jones  has  been  a prominent  citizen  of 
Orange  Township,  Noble  County,  for  many  years, 
is  a native  of  that  township,  and  his  family  were 
established  in  this  section  of  Indiana  at  a pioneer 
date.  Mr.  Jones  is  prominent  in  local  affairs  and 
is  the  present  assessor  of  his  township. 

He  was  born  January  30,  i854<  son  of  George  R. 
and  Hannah  E.  (Hunter)  Jones.  His  father  was 
a native  of  New  York  State,  and  his  mother  of 
Champaign  County,  Ohio.  His  grandfather,  Milo 
Jones,  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  as  early 
as  1843,  and  a few  years  later  moved  to  Noble 
County  and  settled  in  Orange  Township.  He  lived 
to  the  age  of  eighty-five.  The  family  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Free  Will  Baptist  Church,  and  the 
grandfather  was  a Mason  and  a republican  and 
was  active  in  politics,  serving  four  years  as  trustee 
of  Orange  Township. 

Milo  R.  Jones  was  one  of  five  children,  one  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  He  is  the  oldest  of  the 
four  still  living.  His  brother  William  O.  is  a re- 
tired farmer  in  Orange  Township.  Ichabod  also 
lives  in  Orange  Township  and  Lucy  A.  is  the  wife 
of  John  Taylor. 

Milo  R.  Jones  grew  up  in  Orange  Township  and 
lived  with  his  grandfather  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  He  received  a common  school  education. 
After  reaching  his  majority  he  farmed  the  old 
homestead. 


June  4,  1876,  he  married  Sallie  A.  Eddy.  She 
died  leaving  two  children : Grace,  now  the  wife  of 

Benjamin  F.  King,  of  Elkhart  Township,  and  Enos 
M.,  who  married  Mildred  Conklin.  For  his  second 
wife  Mr.  Jones  married  Ella  Kesler.  She  died  in 
1900,  without  children.  For  his  third  wife  he  mar- 
ried Mrs.  Ada  E.  Kesler,  widow  of  Albert  Kesler 
and  daughter  of  Samuel  Wolf.  Mrs.  Jones  by  her 
first  husband  has  two  children : Grover,  who  mar- 

ried Maude  Hanes  and  lives  in  Noble  County;  and 
Edith,  a graduate  of  the  Rome  City  High  School 
and  a graduate  nurse  of  the  Fletcher  Sanitarium 
at  Indianapolis. 

Mr.  Jones  is  an  active  republican.  He  has  served 
ten  years  in  the  office  of  township  assessor  and  was 
reelected  to  that  office  November  5,  1918,  for  an- 
other term  of  four  years.  As  a farmer  he  cultivates 
eighty  acres  of  the  rich  and  productive  soil  of 
Orange  Township,  his  home  being  in  section  9. 

Guy  K.  Friend.  Though  born  over  the  state  line 
in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  Guy  K.  Friend  has 
spent  most  of  his  life  in  Steuben  County,  grew  up  on 
a farm,  and  has  found  in  farming  a congenial  and 
profitable  vocation  through  which  he  has  expressed 
his  best  service  to  himself  and  the  world. 

Mr.  Friend,  who  is  owner  of  one  of  the  good 
farms  of  Millgrove  Township,  was  born  in  Noble 
Township  of  Branch  County  July  30,  1870,  a son 
of  Jefferson  L.  and  Nancy  (Kidder)  Friend.  Jef- 
ferson L.  Friend  was  a native  of  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  grew  up  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  served 
as  a soldier  in  the  Union  Army,  and  a few  years 
after  the  war  bought  a farm  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship which  had  been  originally  settled  and  cleared 
by  his  wife’s  father,  Alanson  Kidder,  a pioneer  of 
1836  in  Steuben  County  and  a member  of  the  orig- 
inal Vermont  colony  at  Orland. 

Guy  K.  Friend  acquired  his  education  in  Orland, 
including  his  high  school  course,  and  for  several 
years  was  associated  with  his  brother  Morton  in 
running  his  home  farm.  In  1901  he  bought  a place 
in  section  29  of  Millgrove  Township  a half  mile 
south  of  Orland,  but  after  four  years  sold  out  and 
bought  his  present  farm  of  224  acres  in  section  16. 
Since  then  he  has  improved  the  place  with  build- 
ings and  other  facilities,  and  his  surroundings  indi- 
cate every  degree  of  prosperity. 

December  25,  1892,  Air.  Friend  married  Emma  B. 
Barber,  a daughter  of  William  and  Sidney  (Slay- 
baugh)  Barber,  and  a sister  of  W.  S.  Barber.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Friend  are  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church  at  Orland. 

George  A.  Wagner  for  a number  of  years  has  been 
identified  in  a progressive  and  enterprising  way  with 
the  agricultural  affairs  of  Franklin  Township,  De- 
Kalb  County,  is  a native  of  that  township,  but  for  a 
considerable  period  of  his  lifetime  lived  in  .the  West 
and  laid  the  basis  of  his  fortune  as  a farmer  there. 

He  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  September  7, 
1867,  a son  of  Fred  and  Maria  (Healy)  Wagner. 
His  father  was  born  in  Germany  February  14,  1834, 
was  educated  there,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Ohio  and  later 
moved  to  DeKalb  County.  He  married  in  DeKalb 
County  and  then  settled  on  a farm  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship, where  he  lived  out  his  industrious  career  until 
his  death  on  August  2,  1902.  His  widow  survived 
him  until  February  8,  1914.  He  was  a Dunkard  in 
religion  and  a democrat  in  politics.  There  were  six 
children:  Lena,  wife  of  J.  E.  Firestone;  Ada,  wife 
of  John  Rohrbaugh;  George  A.;  Cora,  wife  of  Ora 
Hiner;  Essie,  wife  of  Luther  Bryan;  and  Jesse,  of 
Butler. 


142 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


George  A.  Wagner  grew  up  in  Franklin  Township. 
He  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and  at  the 
age  of  nineteen  left  home  and  went  out  to  the  states 
of  Nebraska  and  Kansas,  where  he  spent  altogether 
thirteen  years.  He  acquired  a quarter  section  home- 
stead and  after  developing  and  improving  that  bought 
160  acres  more.  After  selling  his  lands  in  the  West 
he  returned  to  DeKalb  County  and  bought  the  forty 
acre  farm  where  he  lives  today. 

In  1904  Mr.  Wagner  married  Kate  Chambers. 
She  was  born  in  Wisconsin  May  10,  1864,  but  came 
to  Indiana  with  her  parents  at  the  age  of  _ six  years 
and  was  reared  in  Steuben  County,  attending  school 
at  Fremont.  She  was  one  of  the  nine  children,  seven 
of  whom  are  still  living,  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  J. 
(Noyes)  Chambers. 

Mr.  Wagner  is  a past  grand  of  Butler  Lodge  No. 
282  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is 
also  a member  of  the  Encampment,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  affiliated  with  the  Rebekah  Lodge  at  Butler. 
They  are  also  members  of  the  Wilmington  Grange, 
of  which  he  is  a past  master.  For  some  years  he 
has  been  prominent  in  the  democratic  party  in  De- 
Kalb  County,  has  served  as  a member  of  the  election 
board  and  has  also  been  a township  supervisor.  He 
is  a trustee  of  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Butler. 

Alfred  Pendill  for  many  years  has  been  actively 
identified  with  the  farming  interests  of  Steuben 
County,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated,  and  has 
one  of  the  well-improved  places  of  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. As  a farmer  he  depends  not  only  upon  hard 
work  but  good  judgment  in  handling  his  crops  and 
marketing  the  products  of  the  farm,  and  has  every 
reason  to  be  satisfied  with  the  prosperity  he  has 
achieved. 

His  father  is  Hiram  J.  Pendill,  living  on  the  same 
farm  in  Pleasant  Township.  Hiram  J.  Pendill  was 
born  in  Union  Township  of  Branch  County,  Michi- 
gan, August  21,  1837,  son  of  James  and  Eliza 
(Wilder)  Pendill,  the  former  a native  of  Palmyra, 
New  York,  and  the  latter  also  a native  of  that  state. 
James  Pendill  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Branch 
County,  Michigan.  It  was  a country  of  woods  and 
prairies,  and  for  a number  of  years  he  used  his  axe 
as  diligently  as  he  did  his  plow.  He  helped  clear 
up  that  county  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  there 
as  a farmer.  His  children  by  his  first  wife  were 
Mary,  Elijah,  Hiram  and  Melvin.  He  married  for 
his  second  wife  Melvina  Rice,  and  she  had  three 
children,  Samuel,  Louisa  and  James.  James  Pendill 
married  for  his  third  wife  Mrs.  Eliza  Barnes. 

Hiram  J.  Pendill  attended  school,  in  Branch 
County  and  when  a young  man  was  initiated  into 
the  business  of  farming.  In  February,  1861,  he 
came  to  Mill  Grove  Township  of.  Steuben  County, 
and  after  five  or  six  years  working  for  others  he 
engaged  in  farming  for  himself,  and  that  continued 
his  occupation  for  practically  half  a century.  In 
1905  he  moved  to  the  farm  of  his  son  Alfred  and 
has  since  lived  there. 

Hiram  Pendill  married  Sarah  Hyzer.  They  had 
four  children,  Eva,  Alfred,  Ortensa  and  Frank. 

Alfred  Pendill  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Millgrove  Township.  He  learned 
farming  under  his  father,  was  associated  with  the 
elder  Pendill  for  a number  of  years,  and.  since  1905 
has  occupied  his  present  home  and  farm  in  Pleasant 
Township.  Alfred  Pendill  married  Miss  Ella 
Brown,  now  deceased.  She  was  a daughter  of  Jerry 
and  Margaret  (Arnold)  Brown.  Mr.  Pendill  is 
the  father  of  four  children : Eva  M.,  wife  of  Asa 

Johnson;  Earl,  who  married  Nora  Harter;  Robert 
R„  who  married  Mina  Sowle;  and  William,  whose 
wife  was  Elsie  Stuttler. 


Dallas  Wert  is  a member  of  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  Milford  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  and  his  own  career  has  been  partly  busi- 
ness and  partly  professional.  He  is  now  head 
chemist  of  the  Wabash  Portland  Cement  Company 
of  Stroh. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Wert  farm  in  Milford 
Township,  June  9,  1870,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Eliza 
M.  (Miller)  Wert.  Some  of  the  important  facts 
concerning  his  family  are  published  on  other  pages. 
Dallas  Wert,  youngest  of  his  father’s  children, 
grew  up  on  a farm,  attended  the  Center  brick  school 
in  Milford  Township,  and  took  his  college  work 
in  St.  Mary’s  College  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he 
graduated  with  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Science. 
Later  he  was  student  in  Purdue  University,  and' 
at  one  time  was  a prescription  drug  clerk  at  Mil- 
ford. For  four  and  a half  years  he  was  engaged 
in  the  furniture  business,  but  in  1903  went  with  the 
Wabash  Portland  Cement  Company  as  a chemist. 
In  1907  he  was  promoted  to  head  chemist  in  charge 
of  the  laboratory,  and  has  had  supervision  of  the 
technical  processes  of  manufacture  in  the  plant  at 
Stroh. 

March  18,  1897,  Mr.  Wert  married  Dee  Edna 
Dancer,  member  of  another  well  known  family  of 
LaGrange  County.  She  was  born  at  South  Mil- 
ford and  besides  her  education  in  the  local  schools 
she  attended  the  Conservatory  of  Music,  being  also 
a vocal  student  of  Hillsdale  College  of  Michigan. 
They  have  three  children:  Bernard  N.,  born  Feb- 

ruary 5,  1898,  was  in  the  Students’  Army  Training 
Corps  at  the  University  of  Michigan  and  is  now  a 
student  at  St.  Mary’s  College  at  Dayton.  Ohio.  The 
two  younger  children  are  Octa  H.  and  Norma  E., 
the  former  a student  in  the  Kendallville  High 
School  and  the  latter  in  the  grade  schools  at  Stroh. 
Mr.  Wert  is  affiliated  with  Philo  Lodge  No.  672, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  a dem- 
ocrat in  politics. 

Oliver  M.  Gramling  is  the  prosperous  owner  of 
a 135-acre  farm  in  Jackson  Township  of  DeKalb 
County,  has  made  most  of  his  prosperity  through 
his  own  efforts,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens 
of  that  community.  He  is  a stock  man  and  a 
breeder  of  high  grade  Durham  cattle. 

Mr.  Gramling,  whose  home  is  a mile  and  a half 
southwest  of  Auburn,  was  born  in  Smithfield  Town- 
ship of  DeKalb  County  May  12,  1864,  a son  of  Peter 
and  Lavinia  (Meyers)  Gramling.  His  father  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1848,  and  his  mother 
in  York  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1842.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio  and  then  came  to  Indiana  and  set- 
tled in  Smithfield  Township  and  spent  the  rest  of 
their  lives  there.  They  were  active  members  of  the 
Barkers  Chapel  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  Peter 
Gramling  was  a republican.  He  served  as  postmas- 
ter at  Summit,  Indiana.  In  the  family  were  eight 
children  : Mary,  wife  of  Thomas  Lacy ; Oliver  M. ; 
Isaac  S.,  a railroad  man  living  at  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania ; Eleva,  wife  of  Thad  W.  Thomas ; Lottie, 
wife  of  J.  I.  Farley,  head  salesman  of  the  Auburn 
Automobile  Company;  W.  H.,  a farmer  at  Summit, 
Indiana;  Carrie,  wife  of  William  Zurbrugg;  and 
Richard  A.,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Oliver  M.  Gramling  and  his  family  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Auburn.  He  is  a re- 
publican in  politics.  He  married  Miss  Helen  I. 
Shaffer,  who  was  born  in  Union  Township  of  De- 
Kalb County  arid  is  a graduate  of  the  Auburn  High 
School.  They  have  three  children : Lester  S.,  born 
March  1,  1901,  a student  in  the  Auburn  High 

School;  Frances  L.,  born  September  30,  1906;  and 
Oliver  H.,  born  December  11,  1907. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


143 


Daniel  W.  Weitz,  who  was  through  the  Civil 
war  as  a Union  soldier,  has  for  half  a century  been 
an  honored  resident  of  Williams  and  DeKalb  coun- 
ties, for  more  than  fifty  years  being  a farmer  in 
Troy  Township  of  the  latter  county.  His  home 
is  a half  mile  west  of  Arctic. 

Mr.  Weitz,  who  is  also  a justice  of  the  peace, 
was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  June  7,  1840, 
son  of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Yeager)  Weitz.  His 
father  was  born  at  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  in 
February,  1810,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Beaver 
Countv,  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  Septem- 
ber 17,  1839,  at  Franklin  Mills  in  Portage  County 
by  B.  F.  Hopkins.  They  lived  in  Portage  County 
for  several  years,  and  in  1846  became  pioneers  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  where  they  spent  the  rest 
of  their  lives  at  Edgerton.  Adam  Weitz  was  reared 
a Catholic  but  later  became  a prominent  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church  and  founded  the  Weitz 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Williams  County. 
He  also  took  up  democratic  affiliation  in  politics 
but  in  1856  joined  the  newly  established  republican 
party.  He  held  several  township  offices.  He  and 
his  wife  had  a family  of  eleven  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Daniel  W. ; John  A.,  de- 

ceased; Harriet;  Lucina  and  Lavina,  twins;  Joseph; 
Charles  W. ; Thomas  T. ; George  A.;  Francis  E. 
and  William  A.,  deceased. 

Daniel  W.  Weitz  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Williams 
County  and  acquired  most  of  his  education  in  school 
district  No.  3 and  in  high  school  at  Williams  Cen- 
ter. He  also  made  liberal  use  of  his  opportunities 
to  study  outside  of  school,  and  became  a very  suc- 
cessful teacher,  a vocation  he  followed  for  about 
twenty  years.  Most  of  his  teaching  he  did  after 
the  war.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  H of 
the  Third  Ohio  Cavalry,  and  was  with  that  com- 
mand until  the  close  of  hostilities,  being  mustered 
out  with  the  rank  of  first  sergeant.  Though  he 
was  never  wounded  nor  taken  prisoner  he  was  con- 
fined to  a hospital  by  illness  for  six  months. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Williams  County 
and  on  October  11,  1868,  married  Mary  E.  Bower- 
sox.  She  was  born  in  St.  Joe  Township  of  Wil- 
liams County,  being  the  first  white  girl  born  in 
that  township.  She  was  a sister  of  Judge  C.  A. 
Bowersox  of  Bryan,  Ohio.  In  1869,  soon  after  their 
marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weitz  removed  to  Troy 
Township  of  DeKalb  County,  and  have  had  their 
home  there  for  over  fifty  years.  He  owns  a farm 
of  130  acres.  He  was  also  the  first  president  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Butler,  serving  for  three 
years,  then  became  the  vice  president  and  is  now 
a stockholder  of  that  bank.  Mrs.  Weitz  died  Sep- 
tember 9,  1902.  Of  their  five  children  three  are  still 
living:  Nellie,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school 

at  Edgerton,  Ohio,  and  Tri-State  College  at  Angola, 
is  the  wife  of  Joseph  R.  Wiley;  Floy,  who  is  a 
young  woman  of  brilliant  intellect  and  has  spent 
twelve  years  as  a teacher  in  Troy  Township,  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at  home  with  her  father ; 
Charles  H.  is  a graduate  of  the  Butler  High  School 
and  Purdue  University,  with  a degree  in  civil  en- 
gineering, and  is  now  in  business  at  Salt  Lake  City. 

Mr.  Weitz  is  affiliated  with  Forest  Lodge  of  Ma- 
sons at  Butler,  is  a member  of  Meade  Post  No. 
144  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  a re- 
publican in  politics.  He  voted  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
under  a pine  tree  in  1864.  He  was  then  in  Georgia 
in  war  service.  He  has  served  as  a justice  of  the 
peace  for  about  thirty  years.  During  a residence 
in  Edgerton,  Ohio,  he  served  as  a member  of  the 
City  Council  and  as  City  Solicitor. 

J.  P.  Cox.  Steuben  County  furnishes  not  a few 
examples  of  men  who  have  spent  many  years  in 


business,  trades  and  professions,  and  who  for  the 
settled  years  of  their  careers  made  a choice  of  farm- 
ing and  country  life.  One  of  them  is  J.  P.  Cox,  who, 
however,  was  born  and  reared  on  a farm  in  Salem 
Township,  and  after  spending  two  decades  at  the 
painter’s  trade  bought  back  a portion  of  the  property 
on  which  he  spent  his  boyhood  and  is  now  success- 
fully engaged  in  raising  corn  and  hogs  and  other 
crops. 

Mr.  Cox  was  born  in  Salem  Township  April  17, 
1866,  a son  of  Eli  D.  and  Margaret  (Eckerd)  Cox 
and  a grandson  of  Jacob  and  Ann  (Denman)  Cox. 
His  grandparents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
moving  from  that  state  to  Ohio.  Jacob  Cox  was  a 
Wayne  County  farmer,  and  died  there  in  1881.  His 
children  were  Eli  D.,  Susan  Ann,  who  married  Se- 
bastian Eckerd,  Andrew,  Rebecca,  who  married  Wes- 
ley Harper,  Samuel,  Alpheus  and  Freeman. 

Eli  D.  Cox  was  born  in  Sugar  Creek  Township 
of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in  1825.  He  married  Mar- 
garet Eckerd  in  1852.  She  was  born  in  Germany 
in  1830,  and  her  father,  John  Eckerd,  came  to  Amer- 
ica with  his  family  about  the  same  year.  In  1858, 
six  years  after  his  marriage,  Eli  D.  Cox  came  to  In- 
diana and  located  in  section  32  of  Salem  Township, 
Steuben  County.  The  eighty  acres  he  bought  at  that 
time  had  two  or  three  log  buildings,  but  otherwise 
the  work  of  clearing  and  cultivation  had  hardly 
begun.  The  subsequent  condition  of  the  farm  rep- 
resented many  years  of  hard  labor  on  his  part,  and 
in  the  course  of  time  he  had  a well  won  prosperity. 
In  1871  he  built  a large  barn  and  in  1873  a fine  resi- 
dence, and  continued  actively  engaged  in  farming 
there  until  1893.  After  that  he  lived  retired  in 
Hudson  until  his  death  on  May  3,  1901.  His  widow 
survived  him  until  January  26,  1913,  being  eighty- 
three  years  of  age  at  the  time  of  her  death.  Their 
children  were  : Mary  Ellen,  who  died  in  childhood ; 

Jennie,  who  married  Jacob  Clinesmith ; William 
Franklin ; Susannah,  who  married  Rudolphus  Fred- 
erick; Cora  Etta,  wife  of  George  Clinesmith;  J.  P. ; 
H.  B. ; J.  F.,  who  died  in  childhood,  and  O.  W.  Cox. 

J.  P.  Cox  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
Pleasant  Ridge  School  House.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  left  the  farm,  where  he  had  put  in  several 
years  of  work  and  gained  a general  knowledge  of 
farming,  to  learn  the  painter’s  trade.  He  followed 
it  actively  for  twenty  years,  nine  years  of  the  time 
being  spent  in  Chicago.  He  gave  up  his  vocation 
in  1905,  and  then  bought  a farm  west  of  Kendallville, 
Indiana,  living  there  a year.  In  1905  also  he  bought 
his  present  place  of  eighty  acres.  The  buildings  on 
his  farm  are  good  ones  and  represent  his  work  and 
investment  since  he  became  proprietor  here.  He  is 
engaged  in  general  farming,  and  keeps  some  excellent 
stock,  and  for  the  past  five  years  has  been  rather 
extensively  engaged  in  buying  and  shipping  live- 
stock. At  the  present  time  Mr.  Cox  is  manager  of 
the  Farmers  Cooperative  Shipping  Association  at 
Helmer. 

On  October  29,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Alma  Hen- 
ney,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  (Shellenber- 
ger)  Henney.  They  have  three  children  : Harold  J., 
born  January  12,  1902;  Deri  E.,  born  January  31, 
1904;  and  Hilda  B.,  born  September  2,  1909. 

Jacob  Henney,  father  of  Mrs.  Cox,  was  born  in 
. Holmes  County,  Ohio,  July  24,  1823,  and  in  early 
manhood  settled  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  on 
wild  land,  and  developed  a good  farm.  He  died 
March  7,  1906.  He  married  Catherine  Shellenberger 
November  17,  1853,  and  their  children,  ten  in  num- 
ber, were : Amanda,  James,  David,  Catherine,  Albert, 
Jennie,  Edward,  Emma,  Alma  and  Susie.  James, 
Catherine  and  Albert  are  deceased. 


144 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Leslie  H.  Green  represents  one  of  the  capable 
younger  generation  of  Steuben  County  farmers,  a 
young  man  who  has  met  the  test  of  manhood  and 
has  proved  worthy  of  the  robe  of  citizenship  and 
the  responsibilities  descended  upon  him  from  his 
father. 

Mr.  Green,  who  operates  the  old  Green  homestead 
in  Pleasant  Township,  was  born  in  Scott  Township 
of  Steuben  County,  May  22,  1890,  a son  of  the  late 
Elmer  A.  Green,  whose  life  record  forms  the  title 
of  a sketch  on  another  page  of  this  publication. 

Mr.  Green  attended  public  schools  in  Scott  and 
Pleasant  townships  and  in  March,  1912,  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two,  began  his  serious  career  as  a farmer. 
He  has  always  lived  on  the  old  homestead  and  since 
his  father’s  death  in  1916  has  had  the  active  manage- 
ment of  the  farm  of  146  acres  owned  by  the 
widowed  mother  and  her  sons.  He  has  nearly  ten 
years  of  practical  experience  behind  him,  and  that, 
supplemented  with  some  sound  native  ability  and  a 
constant  spirit  of  progress  and  study,  fortifies  him 
among  the  best  farmers  of  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Green  married  Grace  Riggleman,  a daughter 
of  George  and  Orda  (Reed)  Riggleman.  They  have 
three  children,  Donald  C.,  Dale  and  Marvin  E. 

Oris  D.  Cannon  is  well  known  *to  the  community 
of  South  Milford  and  all  who  sojourn  within  its 
limits  as  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  Cannon.  He  has 
been  a successful  business  man,  farmer  and  public 
official  in  that  part  of  LaGrange  County  for  many 
years. 

He  was  born  in  Wayne  Township  of  Noble 
County,  July  25,  1876,  a son  ff  William  and  Mary 
(Fink)  Cannon.  His  mother  was  also  a native  of 
Wayne  Township,  and  after  their  marriage  they 
settled  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County, 
where  they  still  live.  William  Cannon  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  Red  Men,  and  is  a democrat  in  politics.  There 
were  three  children : Oris  D. ; Cora,  unmarried 

and  living  at  home;  and  Curtis,  of  Milford  Town- 
ship. 

O.  D.  Cannon  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Wayne 
Township  of  Noble  County.  When  he  was  two 
years  old  he  was  taken  into  the  home  of  his  grand- 
father, who  gave  him  a good  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  also  supplied  him  with  the  advan- 
tages of  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  After  his 
grandfather’s  death  he  continued  to  live  with  his 
grandmother,  and  after  his  own  marriage  he  pro- 
vided a home  for  her. 

September  5,  1901,  Mr.  Cannon  married  Maude 
Bartlett,  who  was  born  in  Milford  Township  and 
was  educated  in  the  Milford  schools.  For  a year 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Cannon  conducted  a livery 
business  in  South  Milford  and  then  followed  farm- 
ing, was  clerk  in  a hardware  house  and  did  other 
things.  He  owns  120  acres  of  land  in  Milford 
Township.  He  bought  the  hotel  at  South  Milford, 
and  took  its  active  management  in  1918. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cannon  have  one  son,  Paul  F.,  born 
November  16,  1908,  and  now  attending  the  schools 
of  South  Milford.  Mr.  Cannon  is  a past  noble 
grand  of  South  Milford  Lodge  No.  610  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  is  past  chief 
patriarch  of  the  Encampment,  and  Mrs.  Cannon 
is  a member  of  the  Rebekahs.  She  is  active  in 
church  work  as  a Methodist  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  been  a teacher  in  the  Sunday  School. 
Politically  he  is  a member  of  the  democratic  party 
and  is  the  present  assessor  of  Milford  Township. 

Elias  Kline  is  one  of  the  large  land  owners  and 
successful  farmers  and  stock  men  of  Spencer  Town- 
ship, DeKalb  County.  His  home  is  two  and  three- 


quarters  of  a mile  northwest  of  Spencerville.  Mr. 
Kline  has  160  acres  of  land  and  has  his  farm  well 
improved  and  stocked  with  good  grades  of  cattle, 
horses  and  hogs. 

He  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  December  24, 
1848,  a son  of  Henry  and  Maria  (Rudy)  Kline. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  were 
married  in  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1866  came 
to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Spencer  Township.  In 
1870  they  located  on  the  farm  where  they  spent 
the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Elias  Kline  acquired  his  education  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  and  was  about  twenty-two  years  old 
when  he  came  to  Indiana.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a republican. 

January  1,  1900,  Mr.  Kline  married  Mary  V.  Cail- 
let.  She  was  born  in  France  June  19,  1866,  a daugh- 
ter of  John  H.  and  Anna  (Rich)  Caillet.  Her 
father  died  in  the  old  country  in  1871.  Her  mother 
brought  her  four  children  to  the  United  States  in 
1874,  landing  at  New  York  in  February  and  going 
from  there  to  Canton,  Ohio.  She  later  married  John 
Shontz.  Of  her  eight  children  four  died  in  France 
and  the  four  now  living  are  August,  Frank,  Mary 
and  Justin. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kline  have  one  son,  Vernon  E., 
born  April  3,  1902,  now  in  the  third  year  of  high 
school. 

Fred  H.  Green.  Doubtless  as  many  and  as  im- 
portant a volume  of  business  and  civic  interests  at 
Ligonier  revolve  around  the  family  name  Green  as 
are  associated  with  any  other  one  group  of  local 
citizens.  The  Green  family  during  their  long  resi- 
dence in  Noble  County  has  been  active  as  business 
men,  farmers  and  bankers,  and  many  of  the  impor- 
tant public  offices  have  also  been  held  by  them. 

Fred  H.  Green,  of  this  family,  is  perhaps  best 
known  as  the  president  of  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Trust  Company  of  Ligonier,  the  office  which 
he  has  held  since  the  organization  of  that  institution. 
This  bank  was  organized  in  1906.  He  was  born  in 
Ligioner,  Indiana,  June  18,  1862,  the  oldest  son  of 
Henry  and  Magdalena  (Kaul)  Green.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Germany,  and  his  father  came 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  his 
mother  at  nineteen.  When  his  father,  Henry  Green, 
first  came  to  this  country  he  came  to  Massillon,  Ohio, 
and  stayed  with  his  uncle,  who  at  that  time  owned 
a farm  near  that  city  and  who  later  came  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  and  bought  a farm  west  of  the 
City  of  Ligonier.  After  staying  with  his  uncle  at 
Massillon  for  a short  period  he  then  went  to  Cairo, 
Illinois,  and  later  became  a Mississippi  River  steam- 
boatman,  running  from  Cairo  down  the  river  to 
New  Orleans.  He  then  went  to  Washington,  D.  C., 
and  was  employed  as  a foreman  in  a packing  house, 
which  business  he  had  taken  up  while  in  Germany. 
After  staying  there  a short  time  he  then  went  to 
Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  and  engaged  in  a meat  busi- 
ness for  himself  and  while  there,  in  the  year  1861, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Magdalena  Kaul.  During  the 
Civil  war  he  furnished  meat  for  both  the  Northern 
and  Southern  armies.  Being  in  communication  with 
his  uncle,  who  insisted  on  his  coming  to  Indiana, 
he  did  so  and  while  here  made  his  first  purchase  of 
100  acres  of  heavily  wooded  land  west  of  town  and 
later  moved  from  Jefferson  City,  Missouri,  to  the 
Town  of  Ligonier  and  spent  one  year  on  the  farm. 
He  then  engaged  in  business  in  Ligonier,  and  his 
first  associate  was  Fred  Mackley,  and  they  together 
ran  a meat  market  and  bought  live  stock  and  were 
widely  known  throughout  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try. He  conducted  an  active  business  until  his 
death,  which  accurred  in  1900.  He  was  also  among 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


145 


the  leading  men  of  affairs  in  Noble  County,  Indiana. 
Politically  he  was  a democrat,  a member  of  the 
Masonic  and  the  Odd  Fellows  lodges,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  active  Lutherans.  Henry  Green  was 
survived  by  three  sons,  all  of  whom  were  born  here 
and  well  known  and  prominent  business  men  of 
Ligonier,  Indiana,  named  Frederick  H.,  John  H. 
and  Harry,  who  are  at  present  connected  with  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company,  and  are 
in  the  real  estate  business  in  the  partnership  of 
Green  Brothers  and  Oldfather,  which  firm  deals 
exclusively  in  high  grade  farms  and  are  buyers  of 
timber  as  well  as  other  commodities.  The  Green 
Brothers  still  operate  large  farms  and  deal  exten- 
sively in  the  stock  business. 

Fred  H.  Green  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Ligonier 
and  attended  public  school  until  he  was  twelve  years 
old.  He  early  became  associated  with  his  father 
in  business,  and  later  on  his  two  other  brothers  en- 
tered the  business  of  his  father  and  the  firm  became 
known  as  H.  Green  and  Sons,  and  was  widely  known 
throughout  this  section  of  the  country,  as  they  were 
among  the  heaviest  dealers  in  live  stock  as  well  as 
timber  and  other  business  pursuits.  The  extensive 
property  interests  of  the  Green  family  are  still  con- 
ducted under  the  name  of  H.  Green  and  Sons.  On 
February  17,  1898,  Fred  H.  Green  married  Hattie 
B.  Hays,  a daughter  of  W.  D.  and  Harriett  E.  Hays. 
W.  D.  Hays  was  widely  known  in  this  section  of 
the  country  and  was  a man  who  held  many  offices  of 
trust.  Hattie  B.  Hays  was  born  on  a farm  which 
is  now  known  as  the  Willow  Spring  Farm,  where 
she  spent  her  early  childhood  days,  and  later  on 
she  attended  the  high  school  at  Ligonier  and  finished 
her  education  with  a college  course  at  Oberlin,  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Green  were  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren. William  H.,  the  oldest,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Ligonier  High  School  and  of  the  University  of  Wis- 
consin, and  is  now  managing  the  Willow  Spring 
Dairy  Farm  one-half  mile  northeast  of  Ligonier, 
on  which  his  mother  was  born.  Frederick  H.,  the 
second  child,  died  in  infancy.  George  E.,  the  third 
son,  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Ligonier  High  School, 
as  well  as  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  and  served 
with  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France. 
Magdalena,  the  only  daughter,  is  the  youngest  of 
the  family. 

The  Green  family  are  active  members  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  of  which  Mr.  Green  is  one  of  the 
trustees.  He  is  a past  noble  grand  in  the  Indepen- 
dent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  also  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Maccabees,  and  in  politics  is  a 
democrat.  He  has  been  prominent  politically  in 
Ligonier,  was  elected  on  the  City  Council  at  the 
age  of  twenty-six,  served  two  consecutive  terms  as 
mayor,  has  been  a member  of  the  County  Council, 
and  also  served  as  a member  of  the  Ligonier  School 
Board.  While  he  was  mayor  of  the  city  the  present 
city  water  works  were  built.  He  was  also  president 
of  the  Library  Board  when  the  Ligonier  Public 
Library  was  erected. 

The  Green  Brothers  were  the  chief  organizers  of 
the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Trust  Company,  and 
through  their  efforts  this  bank  was  organized  and 
at  the  time  of  its  organization  the  stockholders  were 
about  seventy  in  number.  The  institution  has 
thrived  from  the  very  beginning  and  has  been  one  of 
great  benefit  to  this  community  in  more  ways  than 
one  from  a banking  standpoint.  The  Green 
Brothers  have  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  the 
general  interest  of  the  city  and  community  and 
could  always  be  relied  upon  when  any  move  was  put 
forth  for  any  purpose. 


Clair  W.  Wisner.  By  long  experience  Clair  W. 
Wisner  has  developed  a high  degree  of  skill  as  a 
merchant,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  offered  a 
splendid  service  as  a dealer  in  hardware  at  the  town 
of  Metz.  He  knows  what  the  people  of  that  com- 
munity need  and  want,  and  is  unceasing  in  his  ef- 
forts to  provide  the  best  goods  at  the  fairest  prices. 

Mr.  Wisner,  who  represents  an  old  and  substantial 
family  in  Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Richland 
Township,  September  21,  1879,  a son  of  Steven 
Wisner.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Richland 
and  for  one  year  was  a student  in  the  Angola  Tri- 
State  College.  As  a young  man  he  started  clerking 
in  a hardware  store  in  Metz,  and  for  fifteen  years 
worked  for  others,  mastering  the  business,  and  ac- 
cumulating the  capital  and  credit  which  he  used  to 
buy  out  the  store  in  January,  1907.  Since  then  he 
has  greatly  expanded  the  store  and  service  and  in 
1908  built  the  substantial  building  in  which  his  stock 
of  general  hardware  is  now  housed. 

Mr.  Wisner  married  for  his  first  wife  Mattie 
Allman  and  had  one  child,  Heyman.  Mrs.  Wisner 
died  in  August,  1917,  and  in  December,  1918,  he 
married  Hazel  Mote.  Mr.  Wisner  is  a member  of 
the  Church  of  Christ  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias.  ' 

Ira  B.  Young,  who  has  been  one  of  the  most 
useful  professional  men  to  the  farmers  and  stock 
raisers  of  LaGrange  County,  in  his  work  as  a 
veterinary  surgeon  handles  his  large  practice  and 
lives  on  his  farm  at  Stroh. 

He  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  August  6,  1867,  son  of  Emanuel  and  Mary 
(Teeter)  Young.  His  father  was  born  in  England 
March  20,  1842,  and  was  two  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  America  in  1844.  The  family  lived 
in  New  York  State  a time,  then  moved  to  Ohio  and 
from  there  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  Emanuel 
Young  is  now  living  in  Johnson  Township.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Evangelical  church  and  a repub- 
lican in  politics.  His  family  consisted  of  twelve 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living:  Anna,  wife 
of  Thomas  Fields,  of  Johnson  Township;  Dr.  Ira 
B. ; Laura  E.,  wife  of  Fred  Talbert,  of  Albion, 
Indiana ; Clara  E.,  wife  of  Clayton  Healey,  of 
Johnson  Township;  Nancy  A.,  wife  of  Walter 
Howard,  of  Newbury  Township;  Orville  J.,  of 
Noble  County;  David  H„  of  Milford  Township; 
Celestia  B.,  wife  of  Herbert  Himes,  of  Clay  Town- 
ship; and  Preston  E.,  of  Johnson  Township. 

Ira  B.  Young  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  John- 
son Township,  attended  the  common  schools,  was  a 
student  for  two  years  in  the  Wolcottville  High 
School,  also  attended  the  Tri-State  College  at  An- 
gola, and  is  a graduate  of  the  Business  College  at 
Lexington,  Kentucky.  For  a number  of  years  he 
spent  his  time  alternating  between  teaching  and 
farming,  and  in  1903  he  graduated  from  the  School 
of  Veterinary  Medicine  at  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan, 
with  the  degree  D.  V.  S.,  also  attended  the  Toronto 
Veterinary  College  of  Toronto,  Canada,  and  has 
given  much  of  his  time  to  his  veterinary  practice. 
He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Wildman  State  Bank  at 
Wolcottville. 

Dr.  Young  married  for  his  first  wife  Mary  A. 
Kimmel.  She  is  deceased,  and  of  her  four  chil- 
dren only  one  is  living,  Ethel,  wife  of  Reverend  Mr. 
Summers,  a Lutheran  minister.  Dr.  Young  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Bertha  A.  Schermerhorn, 
daughter  of  Aaron  and  Maria  Schermerhorn.  She 
attended  high  school  three  years  and  was  a teacher 
four  years.  They  have  five  children ; Ruth,  a 
graduate  of  the  Wolcottville  High  School,  who 
also  continued  her  education  in  the  Tri-State  Nor- 


Vol.  II— 10 


146 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


mal  College  and  is  now  a teacher;  Nellie  I.,  a high 
school  student ; Dena  M.,  Dorothy  M.  and  Bion 
A.  Dr.  Young  is  affiliated  with  Philo  Lodge  No. 
672  of  the  Masons  and  is  a charter  member  of  his 
lodge. 

Harry  D.  Miller.  Many  of  the  best  regulated 
farms  of  LaGrange  County  may  be  found  in  Clay 
Township,  and  one  of  these  belongs  to  Harry  D. 
Miller,  a worthy  member  of  one  of  the  old  families  of 
this  section  of  Indiana.  The  family  history  will  be 
found  in  this  work.  Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Clay 
Township,  March  15,  1875,  and  is  a son  of  Daniel 
J.  Miller. 

Harry  D.  Miller  attended  the  public  schols  in 
Clay  Township  and  grew  to  manhood  on  the  home 
farm  in  Newbury  Township,  where  he  continued 
in  school  for  a time  and  then  accepted  a clerical 
position  in  the  New  York  Central  Railroad  offices, 
where  he  remained  three  years.  Mr.  Miller  had 
come  of  farming  stock  however,  and  agricultural 
surroundings  and  interests  began  to  be  more  attrac- 
tive than  outside  work,  and  this  led  him  back  to  the 
farm,  where  he  has  remained  contented  and  pros- 
perous ever  since.  In  1907  he  bought  a farm  of 
eighty  acres,  later  adding  twenty  acres,  making  100, 
acres  in  all,  situated  in  Clay  Township,  and  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stockraising,  working  along 
modern  lines  and  assisted  by  the  best  of  improved 
farm  machinery.  In  the  spring  of  1909  Mr.  Miller  and 
his  wife  bought  eighty  acres  of  the  old  Wiler  home- 
stead in  Newbury  Township,  on  which  she  was  born. 

December  25,  1901,  Mr.  Miller  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Edith  Wiler,  who  was  born  on  her 
father’s  farm  January  12,  1880,  and  is  a daughter 
of  William  and  Martha  (Freed)  Wiler,  who  came 
to  LaGrange  County  from  Ohio,  settled  in  New- 
bury Township  and  lived  on  the  same  farm  for 
fifty-two  years.  The  parents  of  Mrs.  Miller  are 
deceased,  the  father  surviving  the  mother  and  pass- 
ing away  February  10,  1918,  when  aged  seventy  years. 
Mrs.  Miller  has  one  sister,  Bessie,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Mahlon  Weaver.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  an 
interesting  family  of  four  children,  namely:  Freeda, 
who  was  born  December  26,  1903,  is  a graduate  from 
the  eighth  grade  in  the  public  schools ; Lucile,  who 
was  born  June  8,  1909;  Pauline,  who  was  born  July 
6,  1911;  and  Katherine,  who  was  born  October  17, 
1915.  The  family  belongs  to  the  Mennonite  Church. 
In  politics  republican,  Mr.  Miller  was  township 
assessor  four  years. 

D.  P.  Hindman.  One  of  the  progressive  younger 
farmers  of  DeKalb  County  is  D.  P.  Hindman,  of 
Concord  Township,  whose  persistent  and  aggressive 
efforts  and  excellent  management  have  brought  to 
him  the  prosperity  which  is  today  his.  He  has  ever 
stood  ready  to  do  what  he  could  in  pushing  for- 
ward the  wheels  of  progress  in  his  community,  and 
is  well  worthy  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held. 

Mr.  Hindman  was  born  in  Concord  Township  on 
June  16,  1889,  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  (Le- 
dour)  Hindman.  Both  of  these  parents  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  the  former  having  been  born  in  Logan 
County  and  the  latter  in  Hardin  County.  After  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Indiana,  locating  on  a farm 
near  Orangeville,  where  they  remained  about  twenty 
years.  They  then  moved  to  a farm  i)4  miles  north 
of  St.  Joe,  but  about  ten  years  later  settled  on  a farm 
at  Jackson  Center.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children,  the  immediate  subject  of  this  sketch  and 
Lee,  of  Fort  Wayne,  a dispatcher  on  the  Northern 
Indiana  traction  line. 

D.  P.  Hindman  was  reared  on  the  paternal  farm- 
stead and  received  a good  district  school  education. 


About  1910  he  settled  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives  in  Concord  Township,  comprising  about 
seventy-four  acres  of  splendid  land,  to  the  cultiva- 
tion of  which  he  gives  intelligent  direction.  He  is 
also  part  owner  of  a sawmill  at  St.  Joe.  Mr.  Hind- 
man has  also  given  some  attention  to  the  raising  of 
live  stock,  in  which  he  has  met  with  splendid  suc- 
cess. 

In  1910  Mr.  Hindman  was  married  to  Anna  M. 
Kosht,  a native  of  Wilmington  Township,  in  the 
common  schools  of  which  she  received  a good  prac- 
tical education.  To  this  union  have  been  born  three 
children,  Doris  E.,  aged  eight  years;  Samuel  C., 
four  years ; and  Madonna,  six  months  old.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hindman  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church 
at  Newville,  while  Mr.  Hindman  holds  fraternal  re- 
lations with  Concord  Lodge  No.  556,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons;  Lodge  No.  671  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  the  lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias 
at  St.  Joe.  Politically  he  is  a democrat  and  has 
been  an  effective  worker  in  the  ranks  of  his  party, 
taking  a keen  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  public 
affairs  of  his  community,  state  and  country.  He  is 
a man  of  broad  and  progressive  views,  advocating 
twentieth-century  methods  and  stands  deservedly 
high  in  the  estimation  of  the  community  in  which 
he  lives. 

William  J.  Case.  During  the  past  thirty  years 
no  one  has  been  more  prominent  in  sustaining  the 
business  activities  of  Orland  than  William  J.  Case, 
who  for  over  twenty  years  was  the  leading  dry  goods 
merchant  of  the  village,  and  during  the  past  five  or 
six  years  has  continued  an  insurance  agency  and  is 
cashier  of  the  Citizens  State  Bank. 

Mr.  Case  was  born  May  10,  1864,  in  Dover  Town- 
ship of  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  near  the  City  of 
Cleveland,  a son  of  Byron  and  Louise  (Sage)  Case. 
His  mother  was  born  in  Erie  County,  Ohio,  daugh- 
ter of  George  and  Lucy  (Davis)  Sage,  her  father 
having  been  a farmer  of  that  county.  Byron  Case 
followed  farming  and  fishing  in  Cuyahoga  County 
many  years,  and  in  1868  moved  to  Erie  County  and 
six  years  later,  in  1874,  went  to  Toledo,  where  he 
had  his  home  until  1911.  In  that  year  he  joined  his 
son  in  Orland,  and  died  on  April  27,  1913.  His 
widow  is  now  living  with  her  daughter  in  Welling- 
ton, Ohio.  They  had  three  children : Arthur,  who 

died  in  1897 ; Jessie,  wife  of  Rev.  O.  J.  Coby,  a 
Methodist  minister  at  Wellington,  Ohio;  and  Wil- 
liam J. 

William  J.  Case  attended  public  school  in  Toledo, 
graduating  from  high  school  in  1881.  He  laid  a 
thorough  foundation  for  a business  career  while  an 
employe  of  C.  L.  Luce  & Company,  wholesale  dry 
goods  of  Toledo.  He  was  with  that  firm  five  years. 
In  1886,  when  Luce  & Company  established  a branch 
store  at  Orland,  Indiana,  they  selected  Mr.  Case  to 
take  charge  of  the  business.  In  September  of  the 
same  year  he  and  Henry  Carver  bought  the  store 
and  the  partnership  was  continuous  until  1892,  after 
which  Mr.  Case  was  sole  owner  and  kept  up  the 
service  standards  of  his  store  for  twenty  consecu- 
tive years.  In  1912  he  sold  the  business  and  in  1913 
bought  a local  fire  insurance  agency,  which  he  has 
since  handled,  and  in  1914  became  cashier  of  the 
Citizens  State  Bank. 

During  the  great  war  he  was  prominent  in  his 
section  of  Steuben  County,  serving  as  treasurer  of 
all  the  war  auxiliary  organizations  at  Orland.  _ He 
is  a trustee  and  treasurer  of  the  Congregational 
Church,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge 
and  Eastern  Star  Chapter. 

In  1890  Mr.  Case  married  Miss  Cora  Wilder, 
member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


147 


families  of  Northwestern  Steuben  County.  They 
had  a happy  married  life  of  over  a quarter  of  a 
century.  Mrs.  Case  died  on  October  16,  1916.  She 
was  the  mother  of  five  children,  Celia,  Wilma,  Rus- 
sell, Caryl  and  Roberta.  Wilma  was  married  in 
1912  to  Leo  Purdy,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Raymond  and  Betty  Jane.  Caryl  is  the  wife  of  L.  E. 
Hackett.  The  son  Russell  saw  active  service  during 
the  great  war  as  a member  of  the  Ninth  Aerial 
Squadron.  He  served  with  the  Expeditionary 
Forces  for  about  fourteen  months,  spending  nine 
months  in  England  and  three  months  in  France.  In 
April,  1919,  he  was  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  In- 
dianapolis. Russell  Case  married  Lois  Collins  in 
1917. 

The  late  Mrs.  Case  was  an  adopted  daughter  of 
George  K.  and  Harriet  (Luce)  Wilder.  Mr.  Wilder 
was  born  in  Oswego  County,  New  York,  in  1828, 
a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Gray)  Wilder,  the 
former  a native  of  Connecticut  and  the  latter  of 
New  Hampshire.  The  Wilder  family  came  to  Steu- 
ben County  in  1836,  and  located  in  the  Vermont 
settlement  around  Orland.  Here  George  K.  Wilder 
grew  to  manhood  and  attended  the  pioneer  local 
schools.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Cali- 
fornia, being  ninety  days  on  the  overland  journey 
from  Missouri  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  He  remained 
there  six  years.  For  a year  and  a half  he  was  a 
miner  and  the  rest  of  the  time  a farmer.  On  return- 
ing to  Indiana  he  bought  a farm  two  miles  northeast 
of  Orland.  George  K.  Wilder,  in  1862,  enlisted  in 
the  Ninth  Michigan  Infantry,  and  was  with  his  regi- 
ment until  on  account  of  ill  health  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee.  After  the 
war  he  farmed,  and  in  1877  retired  to  Orland.  He 
married  in  1862  Hattie  N.  Luce,  only  daughter  of 
Walter  and  Mary  (Gray)  Luce.'  They  reared  a 
family  of  eight  children. 

Charles  W.  PyatT,  whose  home  is  a half  mile 
east  of  South  Milford,  has  the  reputation  of  being 
a producer,  a man  of  .industry  and  one  of  the  best 
farm  managers  in  LaGrange  County. 

He  is  a son  of  Jackson  and  Julia  (Swogger) 
Pyatt.  His  father  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
March  5,  1829,  and  was  ten  years  old  when  he  was 
brought  to  Northeast  Indiana  by  his  parents,  Moses 
and  Elizabeth  (Parker)  Pyatt.  The  family  settled 
in  LaGrange  County  in  the  fall  of  1839,  remained 
three  years,  then  spent  three  years  in  Kendall 
County,  Illinois,  after  which  they  returned  to  La- 
Grange County.  Moses  Pyatt  died  May  9,  1866, 
and  his  wife  June  24th  of  the  same  year.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Disciples  Church.  Julia 
Swogger  was  the  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Susanna 
Swogger,  likewise  early  settlers  in  LaGrange 
County.  Jackson  Pyatt  died  June  6,  1912,  and  his 
wife  February  16,  1898.  They  had  three  children: 
Ada,  wife  of  Eugene  Nichols ; Amanda,  wife  of 
David  Wert;  and  Charles  W. 

Charles  W.  Pyatt  was  born  on  the  old  farm  where 
he  lives  today,  July  15,  1867.  He  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  South  Milford  and  on  April  20,  1898, 
married  Lodenia  Sigaty.  She  was  born  in  Johnson 
Township  and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
and  the  schools  of  Wolcottville.  Mr.  and  Mr.  Pyatt 
have  no  children  of  their  own  but  have  taken  into 
their  home  a girl  to  rear,  Iva  Vail. 

Mr.  Pyatt  has  under  his  individual  management  - 
700  acres  of  land  in  Milford  and  Wayne  townships, 
260  acres  of  which  was  included  in  the  old  home 
farm.  A large  part  of  this  is  cultivated  to  the 
staple  crops  and  he  is  an  extensive  feeder  of  cattle, 
sheep  and  hogs.  Politically  he  is  a democrat  and 
is  affiliated  with  South  Milford  Lodge  No.  619  of 


the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and 
his  wife  are  both  Rebekahs. 

Moses  P.  Hostetler.  A good  farmer  and  more- 
over a real  leader  in  the  community  of  Eden  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  Moses  P.  Hostetler  is  a 
member  of  an  old  and  well  known  family  of  North- 
east Indiana, 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  August  5,  1873, 
a son  of  Paul  J.  Hostetler.  His  grandfather,  Moses 
J.  Hostetler,  a native  of  Somerset  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, came  to  LaGrange  County  at  an  early  day 
and  many  of  his  descendants  are  still  found  here. 
Paul  J.  Hostetler  married  Esther  Miller,  and  spent 
most  of  his  life  as  a farmer  in  LaGrange  County. 
A more  complete  review  of  this  branch  of  the  Hos- 
tetler family  will  be  found  on  other  pages. 

Moses  P.  Hostetler  received  his  early  education 
in  Eden  Township,  began  farming  there,  and  after 
eight  years  of  tending  crops  in  Eden  he  moved  in 
April,  1903,  to  Clay  Township,  where  he  continued 
his  farming  enterprise  for  three  years.  Since  then 
he  has  lived  in  his  present  home  place  in  Eden 
Township,  where  he  owns  114  acres.  He  has  con- 
structed some  substantial  buildings  and  has  sur- 
rounded himself  with  all  the  equipments  and  com- 
forts of  a first  class  farmer.  From  1906  to  1912  Mr. 
Hostetler  also  operated  a threshing  outfit,  which  he 
made  a medium  of  useful  service  to  most  of  the 
grain  raisers  in  Eden  Township. 

Mr.  Hostetler  married  Carrie  Mehl  on  December 
11,  1892.  She  is  a daughter  of  Jacob  C.  and  Lucinda 
Mehl.  To  their  marriage  have  been  born  three  chil- 
dren, Ernest  Mehl,  Dewey  W.  and  Nellie.  Ernest, 
who  married  Susie  Kitchey  and  has  a son,  Ernest, 
Jr.,  is  a minister  of  the  Mennonite  Church,  being 
a graduate  of  the  Topeka  High  School  and  did 
normal  work  at  Goshen,  Indiana.  The  son  Dewey 
is  a graduate  of  the  Topeka  High  School  and  fin- 
ished his  education  in  the  Tri-State  College  at  An- 
gola. Mr.  Hostetler  and  family  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

George  M.  Pence  has  had  a busy  career  that  has 
made  him  well  known  over  LaGrange  County,  where 
he  has  lived  for  half  a century,  since  early  boyhood. 
He  started  life  as  a carpenter,  proved  a competent 
and  able  workman,  and  made  his  trade  the  basis  of 
a larger  business  as  a contractor  and  builder  and 
the  operator  of  a sawmill,  and  from  his  home  in 
Topeka  Township  he  still  carries  on  those  activi- 
ties. 

Mr.  Pence  was  born  in  Clinton  Township  of  Elk- 
hart County,  Indiana,  April  8,  1861,  a son  of  Pat- 
rick H.  and  Lucinda  (Prough)  Pence.  His  father 
was  born  in  Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  and  in 
1835  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  LaGrange  County 
in  1857,  where  on  February  23,  i860,  he  married 
Lucinda  Prough.  After  their  marriage  they  settled 
on  a tract  of  land  of  ten  acres,  where  he  worked 
at  his  trade  as  a carpenter.  Later  he  traded  for  142 
acres,  and  died  in  LaGrange  County  July  19,  1912, 
Lucinda  Prough,  his  wife,  was  born  in  Ohio  May  31, 
1841,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Salonia  (Confer) 
Prough,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  Samuel  Prough  and  wife  were  mar- 
ried in  Ohio  and  came  to  LaGrange  County  as  early 
as  1849  and  lived  there  until  their  death.  They  were 
members  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  Lucinda  Prough 
Pence  is  still  living,  an  active  member  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church.  Her  husband  was  a democrat.  They 
had  a family  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  are 
still  Hying:  George  Milton,  Henry  M.,  Ida  S.,  wife 
of  Ed  Miller;  Samuel  B.,  of  South  Bend;  Della  M., 


148 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


wife  of  Amos  Cobbun;  Rose  E.,  wife  of  Jesse 
Shoup;  and  Bessie,  wife  of  Robert  Larimer,  of  Elk- 
hart County. 

George  M.  Pence  lived  with  his  parents  in  Elkhart 
county  until  1868,  when  the  family  moved  to  Eden 
Township  of  LaGrange  County,  and  in  the  past 
thirty  years  he  has  contracted  for  and  built  many 
houses,  barns  and  other  structures  in  the  towns  and 
country  communities  of  LaGrange  and  Elkhart  coun- 
ties. In  1884  he  went  to  Kansas,  and  lived  in  Kan- 
sas and  Oklahoma  until  1895,  and  then  came  back  to 
LaGrange  County. 

July  7,  1888,  Mr.  Pence  married  Sarah  E.  Veach. 
They  have  three  children:  Bessie  M.,  wife  of  Nor- 

man E.  Strang;  Grace,  wife  of  Vance  T.  Myers; 
and  George  R.,  who  married  Mary  L.  Boomershine 
and  lives  at  Topeka,  having  served  fourteen  months 
in  the  great  war.  He  was  only  fifteen  years,  one 
month  and  one  day  of  age  when  he  enlisted  for  the 
service.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  Mr.  Pence  is  a democrat  in  politics. 
Among  other  distinctions  he  has  an  honorable  rec- 
ord as  a farmer  trustee  of  Eden  Township,  an  office 
he  held  for  four  years,  from  1915  to  1919. 

Bert  P.  Sprague,  who  for  many  years  has  been 
a citizen  of  Steuben  County,  followed  farming  and 
eventually  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  and  is 
now  interested  in  a number  of  plants,  but  chiefly  at 
Pleasant  Lake,  known  as  the  Pleasant  Lake  Lumber 
Company. 

Mr.  Sprague,  who  has  come  into  success  through 
the  avenue  of  hard  work  and  close  attention  to  busi- 
ness, was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  August 
8,  1868.  His  father,  Samuel  Sprague,  was  born  in 
the  same  house  January  23,  1845.  The  grandfather, 
Samuel  Sprague,  Sr.,  was  six  years  old  when  his 
people  went  to  Muskingum  County,  and  were  the 
very  first  white  settlers  in  that  section  of  Southern 
Ohio.  Samuel  Sprague,  Jr.,  son  of  Samuel  and 

Nancy  Sprague,  married  Malona  Powelson.  She 
was  born  in  Muskingum  County,  May  11,  1847, 
daughter  of  Rhineer  and  Maria  (Black)  Powelson. 
Samuel  Sprague  attended  public  school  at  Otsego, 
Ohio,  and  as  a young  man  took  up  farming,  which 
was  his  permanent  vocation  the  rest  of  his  life.  He 
died  January  12,  1916.  He  was  a soldier  in  the 
Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  being  a member 
of  Company  F,  Seventy-Eighth  Ohio  Infantry.  On 
October  20,  1870,  he  moved  with  his  family  to 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  lived  on  a farm  there  nine 
years,  and  then  moved  across  the  state  line  into 
Steuben  County,  locating  at  Orland  in  the  fall  of 
1881.  After  ten  years  he  returned  to  Branch  County 
and  lived  close  to  the  line  between  Branch  and 
Steuben  counties  the  rest  of  his  days.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  His  three  chil- 
dren are:  Laura,  wife  of  A.  H.  Hiller;  Bert  P., 

and  Perry  R. 

Bert  P.  Sprague  was  a small  child  when  brought 
to  Indiana  and  he  spent  most  of  his  school  days  at 
Orland,  being  a graduate  of  the  high  school  there. 
He  began  the  serious  occupations  of  life  as  a farmer 
and  school  teacher,  and  continued  farming  until 
February  19,  1912,  at  which  date  he  became  a busi- 
ness man  of  Pleasant  Lake.  The  Pleasant  Lake 
Lumber  Company  of  which  he  is  the  active  head 
handles  coal,  lumber  and  all  classes  of  building 
material.  Mr.  Sprague  is  also  interested  in  lumber 
yards  at  Pioneer,  Ohio,  Syracuse,  Indiana,  and  La- 
Grange, Indiana,  and  Buchanan,  Michigan. 

In  1895  he  married  Miss  Nellie  Wilder,  daughter 
of  Norton  and  Eliza  (Shutts)  Wilder.  They  have 
two  sons:  Ralph,  born  December  24,  1897;  and 

Russell,  born  July  1 1 , 1902.  Mr.  Sprague  and 


family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Fremont. 

Clyde  N.  Swogger,  who  has  spent  his  life  in  La- 
Grange County,  is  well  known  as  a banker,  being 
the  first  and  only  cashier  of  the  Farmers  Bank  at 
South  Milford.  This  prosperous  institution  was 
organized  July  30,  1910,  and  from  the  beginning 
Mr.  Swogger  has  handled  most  of  the  executive 
details  and  is  the  official  best  known  to  the  public 
and  the  bank’s  customers. 

Mr.  Swogger  was  born  in  Milford  Township, 
March  29,  1881,  a son  of  Thomas  and  Catherine 
(Engler)  Swogger.  He  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm,  attended  the  district  schools  and  graduated 
at  the  age  of  nineteen  from  the  Fort  Wayne  Busi- 
ness College.  After  leaving  school  he  spent  a year 
on  a farm  and  then  followed  different  occupations 
in  Kendallville  for  a time.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  he  married  Maggie  Zonker,  a native  of  DeKalb 
County  and  a graduate  of  the  common  schools. 
She  died  in  July,  1911,  the  mother  of  two  children: 
Gretta,  born  in  1906,  and  Walter,  born  in  1911. 
May  3,  1913,  Mr.  Swogger  married  Vena  Whitcomb, 
who  was  born  and  reared  in  LaQrange  County 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  South  Milford  High  School. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swogger  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  and  he  is  a teacher  in  the 
Sunday  school.  He  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville 
Lodge  of  Masons,  with  the  Odd  Fellows  at  South 
Milford,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both  Rebekahs. 
Politically  Mr.  Swogger  is  a democrat. 

Elliott  P.  Masters,  whose  place  as  a business 
man  is  signally  indicated  by  his  senior  partnership 
in  the  firm  of  Masters  & Reed,  proprietors  of  the 
Hamilton  Lumber  Company,  is  a man  of  many  thor- 
ough business  qualifications,  derived  from  an  active 
experience  of  forty  years,  and  most  of  his  life  has 
been  spent  in  Northeast  Indiana  or  over  the  line 
in  Williams  County,  Ohio. 

He  was  born  in  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  October 
10,  1853,  a son  of  Hon.  Ezekiel  and  Susanna  B. 
(Perkins)  Masters.  His  father  was  born  in  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  December  3,  1816.  He  settled  with 
his  family  in  Williams  County  in  1869,  and  for  many 
years  was  regarded  as  a very  successful  business 
man.  He  also  enjoyed  well  deserved  prominence 
in  local  affairs.  In  early  life,  in  1836,  he  became 
interested  in  the  local  militia  organization  of  Ohio, 
being  appointed  orderly  sergeant  of  the  volunteer 
Rifle  Company.  Eighteen  months  later  he  was  made 
second  lieutenant,  and  eventually  became  colonel  of 
the  regiment.  He  was  active  in  church  and  politics 
and  at  one  time  was  a member  of  the  State  Legis- 
lature. 

Elliott  P.  Masters  was  about  sixteen  years  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Williams  County.  He 
finished  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Pioneer  in  Williams  County,  and  as  a young  man 
followed  farming  there.  On  November  18,  1875,  he 
married  Martha  B.  Fulton,  a daughter  of  Peter  B. 
and  Angeline  (Thorpe)  Fulton. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Masters  engaged  in  the 
produce  business  and  in  June,  1882,  moved  to  Butler, 
Indiana.  He  soon  had  a business  built  up  to  suc- 
cessful proportions  there,  and  for  eighteen  years  his 
enterprise  was  the  leading  one  of  the  kind  in  that 
part  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He  was  a buyer  and 
shipper  of  produce  and  was  also  in  the  coal  business. 
In  February,  1910,  he  sold  his  establishment  at 
Butler  and  bought  an  interest  in  the  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Hamilton,  where  he  has  since  been  head 
of  the  firm  Masters  & Reed.  This  firm  handles 
all  kinds  of  building  material. 


SHILLING  FAMILY  GROUI 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


149 


Mr.  Masters  is  a Mason  and  Odd  Fellow,  and  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
and  his  wife  have  three  children:  Bertha  G.,  wife 

of  W.  D.  Plow,  of  Bad  Axe,  Michigan ; Herbert  F., 
a resident  of  Ellis,  Kansas ; and  Lottie  B. 

Charles  E.  Reed,  who  has  had  a working  career 
of  over  thirty  years,  is  a successful  business  man 
of  Hamilton,  partner  and  joint  proprietor  of  the 
Hamilton  Lumber  Company  under  the  firm  name 
of  Masters  & Reed. 

Mr.  Reed  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana, 
December  26,  1866,  son  of  John  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Myers)  Reed,  the  former  a native  of  Frederick 
County,  Maryland,  and  the  latter  of  Wayne  County, 
Indiana.  John  W.  Reed  spent  many  years  of  his 
life  as  a farmer  in  Miami  County,  Indiana.  He 
was  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  order  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church,  and  his  children  will  always  take 
pride  in  the  fact  that  he  served  as  a Union  soldier 
for  three  years  and  six  months  in  the  Nineteenth 
Indiana  Battery.  He  participated  in  twenty-one 
battles  and  was  in  Sherman’s  march  to  the  sea. 

Charles  E.  Reed  in  early  childhood  accompanied 
his  parents  to  Miami  County,  where  he  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools.  As  a young  man  he 
began  to  contract  for  building  construction  in  that 
county,  and  gradually  developed  increasing  inter- 
ests. In  1907  he  moved  to  Butler  and  on  February 
28,  1910,  located  at  Hamilton,  where  he  is  a partner 
in  the  Hamilton  Lumber  Company.  He  is  a good 
business  man,  has  a thorough  knowledge  of  lum- 
ber and  builders’  supplies,  and  is  a man  who  can 
be  trusted  to  carry  out  every  obligation  he  assumes. 

In  1890  he  married  Miss  Margaret  Mays,  daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Mary  Mays.  They  "have  two 
children,  Esta  and  Elbert.  Mr.  Reed  is  a Methodist 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Maccabees. 

Daniel  Shilling,  for  many  years  a resident  and 
progressive  farmer  in  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  is  representative  of  one  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies established  in  Concord  Township.  Mr.  Shil- 
ling owns  a fine  farm  of  about  146^/2  acres  in 
sections  12  and  13  of  Jackson  Township. 

He  was  born  four  miles  from  Massillon,  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  October  19,  1849,  a son  of  Solomon 
Shilling.  Solomon  Shilling,  long  prominent  in  De- 
Kalb  County,  was  born  in  the  same  locality  of 
Stark  County  in  1823,  a son  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Roan)  Shilling.  Adam  Shilling  came  to  DeKalb 
County  at  an  early  date  and  entered  and  bought  ex- 
tensive tracts  of  government  land  in  Concord  Town- 
ship. Pie  gave  each  of  his  sons  160  acres  and  each 
of  his  daughters  eighty  acres.  Solomon  Shilling 
came  to  DeKalb  County  to  take  possession  of  one 
of  these  quarter  sections  of  wild  land  in  1850.  This 
land  was  in  section  19  in  Concord  Township.  He 
built  a log  cabin,  cleared  and  improved,  and  by 
his  work  and  good  management  was  accounted  one 
of  the  wealthy  men  of  the  township.  He  became 
an  extensive  shipper  of  livestock,  and  shipped  the 
first  carload  of  stock  over  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
Railroad  from  this  locality  to  Chicago.  He  owned 
about  400  acres  of  good  farm  land.  In  1872  he 
was  elected  trustee  of  Concord  Township  and  re- 
elected in  1874.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church.  Solomon  Shil- 
ling married  Esther  Bliler,  who  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. They  were  the  parents  of  six  sons  and 
six  daughters,  one  daughter  dying  in  infancy,  and 
the  eleven  to  reach  maturity  being:  Daniel,  Jo- 

sephus R.,  William,  Mary,  Sarah,  Adam,  Francis, 


Hiram  E.,  John,  Vienna  L.  and  Dora.  Eight  of 
these  children  are  still  living. 

Daniel  Shilling  grew  up  on  the  farm  home  in 
Concord  Township  and  has  been  a resident  of  De- 
Kalb County  since  early  infancy.  He  attended 
district  school  and  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of 
twenty-six.  On  November  9,  1875,  he  married  An- 
netta  Widney.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he 
bought  his  present  home  farm,  and  Mrs.  Shilling 
died  there  in  1880.  She  was  the  mother  of  three 
sons : Adam  E.,  who  was  liberally  educated,  was 

a teacher  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six ; Sam- 
uel H.,  who  married  Maud  Stafford,  lives  in  Jack- 
son  Township  and  has  a daughter,  named  Bonnie ; 
and  Frankie,  who  died  the  year  after  his  mother. 

Mr.  Shilling  has  long  been  active  in  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church  and  also  in  its  Sunday  school. 
He  is  a republican,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  has  been  a liberal  factor  in  his  com- 
munity, being  especially  patriotic  in  behalf  of  the 
various  causes  for  the  recent  war. 

Lucius  B.  Hart  is  a veteran  railroad  man  and  for 
many  years  has  been  a competent  engineer  handling 
one  of  the  passenger  runs  on  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
between  Garrett  and  Chicago.  Mr.  Hart,  whose 
home  is  at  Garrett,  is  a native  of  Northeast  Indiana, 
having  been  born  near  Ligonier  March  1,  1867. 

His  parents,  David  and  Rebecca  J.  (Cummings) 
Hart,  were  natives  of  Ohio.  His  father  was  born 
in  Ashland  County  October  17,  1835,  and  his  mother 
in  Van  Wert  County  January  17,  1845.  When  these 
families  came  to  Indiana  the  Harts  located  in  De- 
Kalb County  and  the  Cummings  family  in  Noble 
County.  David  Hart  and  wife  were  married  in  the 
latter  county  and  then  settled  on  a farm  east  of 
Ligonier,  later  lived  in  Tennessee  for  about  seventeen 
years,  and  on  returning  to  Indiana  settled  in  DeKalb 
County.  David  Hart  died  at  Butler,  Indiana,  in  1890. 
He  was  a fine  mechanic  in  wood  and  also  a farmer. 
He  was  active  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
and  a republican  in  politics.  Of  the  six  children  four 
are  living:  Lucius  B.;  Dora,  wife  of  Fred  Wagner, 

of  South  Bend;  Mrs.  Rena  Todd,  of  South  Bend; 
and  Oda,  wife  of  J.  A.  Engstrom,  of  Garrett. 

Lucius  B.  Hart  was  seventeen  years  old  when  his 
parents  returned  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Butler. 
He  had  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools 
of  Tennessee  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  started  out 
to  make  his  own  living.  He  worked  in  a woollen  mill 
in  Tennessee  and  on  coming  to  Indiana  entered  the 
service  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  as  a call  boy.  He 
was  employed  in  the  mechanical  department  and  on 
moving  to  Garrett  entered  the  service  of  the  Balti- 
more & Ohio  Railroad  in  1886.  He  was  a fireman 
six  years,  was  made  a freight  engineer  in  1892,  in 
1900  was  promoted  to  traveling  engineer,  in  1902 
became  the  road  foreman  of  engines  on  the  New- 
castle division  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio,  and  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year  returned  to  Garrett  and  took 
charge  of  locomotives  on  the  Chicago  division.  Since 
1905  he  has  been  a passenger  engineer  between  Gar- 
rett and  Chicago. 

On  June  8,1904,  Mr.  Hart  married  Geraldine  Bevard, 
a native  of  Allen  County,  Indiana.  His  wife  before 
her  marriage  spent  seventeen  years  in  school  work, 
and  had  finished  her  education  in  the  Methodist  Col- 
lege at  Fort  Wayne.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Jane  Ellen,  born  April  22,  1905,  and  Louise,  born 
October  31,  1907,  both  attending  the  common  schools. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Mr.  Hart  being  on  the  official  board  and 
long  a faithful  worker  in  church  and  Sunday  school. 
He  is  a member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 


150 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Engineers  and  is  affiliated  with  Garrett  City  Lodge 
No.  537,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  Garrett 
Chapter  No.  129,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Apollo  Com- 
mandery  No.  19,  Knights  Templar,  and  both  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is 
a republican  in  politics. 

Timothy  H.  Dirrim,  a resident  of  Hamilton, 
where  he  is  practically  retired,  has  enjoyed  a life 
of  unusual  effort  and  experience.  He  has  been  a 
farmer,  merchant,  hotel  proprietor,  and  when  well 
past  middle  life  he  went  to  the  Northwest  and  took 
up  a homestead  claim  and  developed  it. 

Mr.  Dirrim,  who  represents  one  of  the  old  and 
prominent-  families  of  DeKalb  County,  was  born 
in  Franklin  Township  of  that  county,  May  23,  1857. 
His  grandparents  were  Richard  and  Hannah 
(Wyckoff)  Dirrim,  the  former  a native  of  Dela- 
ware. Richard  Dirrim  died  in  1875,  at  the  age  of 
ninety  years.  He  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  his  descendants  numbered 
142.  Richard  Dirrim  moved  to  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  in  1883.  His  children  were  Zachariah,  Han- 
nah, James,  Isaac,  William  H.  and  Eleanor. 

William  H.  Dirrim,  father  of  Timothy,  was  born 
in  Carroll  County,  Ohio,  July  8,  1820,  and  grew  up 
in  Ohio.  September  12,  1839,  he  married  Christiana 
Haughey,  who  was  born  in  Eastern  Ohio,  near 
Wheeling,  Virginia,  in  1820,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Hannah  (Wyckoff)  Haughey.  William  H. 
Dirrim  was  educated  in  Ohio  and  in  1844  came  to 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  the  following  fall 
settled  on  160  acres  of  wild  land  in  section  11  of 
Franklin  Township.  The  land  was  covered  with 
heavy  timber  and  the  first  winter  he  lived  in  a rude 
house  without  glass  in  the  windows  and  with  the 
openings  covered  with  muslin  cloth.  The  door  was 
pinned  and  bolted  together  without  the  use  of  a 
single  nail.  His  wife  at  that  time  spun  all  the 
wool  for  the  clothing,  and  William  H.  Dirrim  made 
the  shoes  for  the  family.  For  a term  or  two  he 
and  his  wife  both  taught  school  in  the  neighborhood. 
The  first  wheat  crop  he  raised  brought  him  only 
48  cents  a bushel  at  Fort  Wayne.  It  had  to  be 
hauled  to  Fort  Wayne  and  in  the  absence  of  a team 
and  wagon  he  paid  one  shilling  a bushel  for  that 
service.  Gradually  the  area  of  clearing  grew  until 
he  had  100  acres  under  cultivation  and  had  a good 
residence  and  other  farm  buildings.  He  served  as 
assessor  of  Franklin  Township  two  terms,  was  also 
township  trustee,  and  he  was  a very  prominent 
Methodist.  For  twenty  years  he  served  as  district 
steward  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  had  the 
ministry  of  the  District  Conference  covering  a 
period  of  fifty  years.  He  and  his  wife  had  nine 
children:  Hannah  J. ; Robert  R. ; William  Samuel; 
Mary  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years ; Mary 
Elizabeth  ; Christiana ; Francis  A.,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  four  years ; Caroline,  and  Timothy. 

Timothy  H.  Dirrim  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Franklin  Township  and  one  term 
at  Butler,  Indiana,  and  one  term  at  Hamilton.  As 
a young  man  he  farmed  with  his  father  on  the 
shares,  and  in  the  spring  of  1888  he  moved  to 
Hamilton  and  for  about  four  years  was  clerk  in  a 
drug  store.  In.  1892  he  bought  a furniture  and 
undertaking  business  at  Hamilton,  and  was  one  ot 
the  successful  merchants  of  that  place  until  he  sold 
out  in  1904.  He  then  built  the  Fish  Lake  Hotel 
and  was  its  landlord  for  five  years.  The  hotel 
property  he  traded  for  a farm  of  eighty  acres  in 
Otsego  Township,  and  has  since  sold  thirteen  acres 
and  owns  the  rest.  In  December,  1913,  Mr.  Dirrim 
went  to  Montana  and  filed  on  a homestead  in  Blaine 
County  and  spent  four  summers  improving  it. 


Mr.  Dirrim  served  as  a notary  public  for  sixteen 
years.  He  is  a member  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

In  1895  he  married  Miss  Lulu  Garver,  daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Emeline  (Cummings)  Garver.  Her 
father  was  a farmer  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace  there  for  twenty-eight 
years,  and  during  that  time  married  over  200  couples. 
He  was  aiso  a commissioner  of  Defiance  County 
one  term.  The  children  of  Isaac  Garver  were : 
Adella,  Dora,  Lula  and  Owen.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dirrim 
have  two  adopted  children,  Pauline  and  Harry. 

Jasper  N.  Sigler  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  Milford  Township,  where  after  his  marriage  he 
began  with  a place  of  forty  acres,  and  has  prospered 
until  he  now  owns  a farm  of  180  acres  in  section  7. 

He  was  born  in  Wood  County,  Ohio,  May  11, 
1842,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Clark)  Sigler. 
His  father  was  born  in  Allegheny  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  19,  1813,  and  spent  his  early  life 
in  Ohio,  where  he  was  active  in  democratic  politics 
and  served  as  a township  trustee.  February  20, 
1834,  he  married  Mary  Clark,  who  was  of  Irish 
descent  and  was  born  at  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
March  7,  1808.  They  came  to  Milford  Township 
June  2,  1853,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in 
that  locality.  Jacob  Sigler  was  a Baptist  and  was 
a member  of  Lodge  No.  380  of  the  Masonic  Order. 
He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  one  of  whom 
died  in  early  childhood  while  the  two  living  are 
David  of  Milford  Township,  and  Jasper  N. 

Jasper  N.  Sigler  was  eleven  years  old  when  he 
came  to  LaGrange  County  and  grew  up  on  the 
farm  where  he  lives  today.  He  attended  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  remained  at  home  until  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  He  spent  two  years  in  California, 
and  upon  his  return  to  LaGrange  married  Mary 
Fields  on  January  15,  1874.  She  was  born  in  Lima 
Township  of  LaGrange  County  October  4,  1853,  and 
had  a common  school  education.  Since  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sigler  have  lived  on  their  pres- 
ent farm.  Their  two  children  are  Ulilla  C.  and 
Charles  J.  The  daughter  was  born  March  15,  1878, 
graduated  at  the  age  of  eighteen  from  high  school 
and  taught  two  terms  before  her  marriage  to  John 
Carry  of  Johnson  Township.  Charles,  who  was 
born  March  28,  1884,  married  Sadie  North  and 
lives  in  Milford  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sigler 
have  ten  grandchildren,  five  boys  and  five  girls.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at 
Woodruff  and  the  son  is  a trustee  of  the  church. 
Mr.  Sigler  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

Samuel  J.  Miller  has  had  a substantial  part 
in  the  affairs  of  Clear  Spring  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  for  many  years.  He  owns  a valuable  farm 
there  and  has  frequently  been  honored  with  posi- 
tions of  -trust  and  responsibility  by  his  fellow  citi- 
zens. 

Mr.  Miller,  whose  home  is  four  and  a half  miles 
southwest  of  LaGrange,  was  born  in  Newbury 
Township  of  the  same  county,  November  15,  1863, 
a son  of  Jonathan  and  Elizabeth  (Zook)  Miller. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Jonathan  Miller  was  brought  to  Indiana  by  his 
parents  in  1836.  The  family  were  among  the  first 
settlers  in  Newbury  Township.  However,  they  soon 
left  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania.  Jonathan  Mil- 
ler married  about  1858  and  came  west  and  settled 
in  LaGrange  County,  and  in  1871  answered  another 
call  or  desire  to  visit  Pennsylvania,  and  for  seven 
years  also  was  a resident  of  Kansas.  He  spent  his 
last  days  in  Pennsylvania.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  In  their  family 
were  three  children : Samuel  J.,  Levi  D.,  a farmer 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


151 


of  Elkhart  County;  and  Daniel  S.,  who  remains 
in  Pennsylvania. 

Samuel  J.  Miller,  though  a native  of  LaGrange 
County,  spent  most  of  his  boyhood  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  afterward  went  to  Kansas,  in  the  pioneer 
days  of  that  state,  entered  a quarter  section  home- 
stead in  Pratt  County,  and  remained  on  it  until  he 
got  title  to  the  land.  He  was  unmarried  at  that 
time.  From  Kansas  he  came  back  to  LaGrange 
County,  and  here  he  married  Ida  A.  Bickle.  They 
have  two  children : Carrie,  a graduate  of  the  com- 

mon schools,  is  the  wife  of  Gale  Anderson  and 
lives  in  LaGrange  County;  and  Ewart  S.,  who  re- 
ceived the  degree  Ph.  G.  from  Angola  College  and  is 
a prescription  clerk  at  Goshen. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church 
at  La  Grange.  Mr.  Miller  is  active  in  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  has  served  as  master  and  member 
of  the  Grand  Lodge.  Politically  he  is  a repub- 
lican. He  has  served  as  road  supervisor  in  Bloom- 
field Township,  and  from  March,  1914,  to  March, 
1919,  was  superintendent  of  the  Rogers  Orphans’ 
Home.  Mr.  Miller  owns  a fine  farm  of  185  acres. 
His  wife  is  a member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters  at 
Howe,  Indiana. 

John  J.  Cole,  a retired  attorney  living  at  Kendall- 
ville,  is  a man  of  wide  and  diversified  experience  in 
the  law  and  in  public  affairs,  and  represents  a notable 
family  of  brothers.  He  has  nine  brothers  who  are 
steadfast  and  sturdy  republicans,  and  one  of  them, 
R.  Clint  Cole,  is  the  present  nominee  for  congress- 
man from  the  Eighth  Ohio  District. 

John  J.  Cole  was  born  near  Findlay,  Ohio,  April 
22,  1863,  son  of  John  W.  and  Sarah  (McCree)  Cole. 
His  father  was  born  near  Ashland,  Ohio,  January  2, 
1832,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  grew  up 
on  a farm,  and  moved  to  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a farmer.  He 
developed  a high  class  farm  of  160  acres  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  1906.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  in  politics  a republican, 
his  sons  taking  after  him  in  that  respect.  He  served 
as  township  trustee  and  as  a member  of  the  school 
board.  John  W.  Cole  married  Sarah  McCree,  a 
native  of  Aberdeen,  Scotland.  She  was  brought  to 
the  United  States  by  an  uncle  at  the  age  of  nine 
years  and  lived  at  Ashland  until  her  marriage.  She 
died  in  1879.  This  couple  became  the  parents  of 
seventeen  children,  eleven  sons  and  six  daughters. 
Sixteen  of  them  reached  mature  years  and  thirteen 
are  still  living.  One  other  son,  Hon.  Ralph  D.  Cole, 
is  a former  congressman  representing  the  Eighth 
District  of  Ohio,  and  is  now  serving  with  the  rank 
of  major  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Military 
Police  in  France. 

John  J.  Cole  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  near 
Findlay,  attended  district  schools,  and  acquired  much 
of  his  education  through  his  own  efforts.  He  read 
law  while  teaching,  and  in  1892  graduated  LL.  B. 
from  the  law  department  of  the  Ohio  State  Uni- 
versity. After  that  he  taught  another  year  and  began 
practice  at  Cary,  Ohio,  transferring  his  offices  to 
Findlay,  and  building  up  a splendid  practice  in  Han- 
cock County.  In  the  spring  of  1911  he  went  to 
Albuquerque,  New  Mexico,  and  for  two  years  served 
as  deputy  United  States  marshal  of  that  territory. 
In  1913,  returning  east,  he  located  at  Kendallville, 
Indiana,  and  has  since  been  busied  with  his  private 
affairs.  He  is  a republican,  and  is  affiliated  with 
Findlay  Lodge  No.  75,  Benevolent  and  Protective 
Order  of  Elks. 

In  December,  1893,  Mr.  Cole  married  Olive  B. 
Tussing.  She  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  and  city  schools. 


They  have  one  son,  Richard  R.,  born  in  April,  1903, 
now  attending  the  Kendallville  High  School. 

Jonathan  E.  Taylor  is  classified  as  a retired 
farmer  at  Fremont,  is  still  in  middle  age,  and  has 
made  splendid  use  of  his  time  and  opportunities. 
He  is  one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  Steuben 
County,  and  has  gained  his  prosperity  almost  en- 
tirely through  the  avenue  of  agriculture,  showing 
that  men  with  good  judgment  and  industry  do 
acquire  wealth  in  that  field. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty. July  23,  1866.  His  grandparents  were  Jonathan 
and  Anna  (Smith)  Taylor.  Jonathan  Taylor,  the 
grandfather,  was  born  in  New  York  State  and  was 
an  early  settler  in  Northern  Ohio  near  Cleveland. 
It  is  said  that  he  owned  the  first  horse  team  ever 
in  Dover  Township,  Cuyahoga  County.  Jonathan 
Taylor,  by  his  first  marriage,  had  the  following 
children:  Julia,  Rebecca  G.,  Enos  S.,  Linus  S.  and 
Stirata. 

Linus  Taylor  was  born  in  Cuyahoga  County, 
Ohio,  February  17,  1830.  He  married  Catherine 
Kellog,  who  was  born  April  19,  1833,  a daughter  of 
Hiram  and  Emeline  (Fisk)  Kellog.  Linus  Taylor 
was  reared  in  Ohio  and  in  1852  went  with  a party  of 
too  men  overland  to  California  in  search  of  gold. 
On  the  way  he  was  left  in  Salt  Lake  City  to  die  of 
Mountain  Fever,  but  recovered,  went  on,  and  in 
California  became  one  of  the  owners  of  the  old 
Empire  Claim.  Later  he  sold  out  and  returned  east 
in  1855,  being  shipwrecked  off  the  Isthmus  of  Pana- 
ma. After  these  experiences  he  settled  in  York 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  citizens  of  that  locality  for  many  years.  Late 
in  life  his  mind  became  impaired,  and  he  died  in 
an  asylum,  May  9,  1909.  He  was  the  father  of  three 
children:  Gibbs,  who  died  in  infancy;  John  H., 

born  in  1858;  and  Jonathan  E.,  born  July  23,  1866. 

Jonathan  E.  Taylor  attended  public  schools  in 
York  Township  and  also  the  Tri-State  Normal,  be- 
ing a student  in  the  second  term  of  that  institution’s 
existence.  He  attended  college  about  three  years. 
He  left  school  with  a debt  of  $40,  and  he  worked 
several  months  at  wages  of  75  cents  a day  to  pay 
off  that  indebtedness.  He  also  helped  run  the  old 
homestead  farm,  and  gradually  he  became  an  inde- 
pendent farmer  and  continued  to  make  his  home  in 
York  Township  until  1903,  since  which  year  he  has 
lived  in  Fremont.  Mr.  Taylor  and  family  occupy 
one  of  the  most  beautiful  modern  homes  in  that 
little  city.  He  now  gives  his  time  to  looking  after 
his  farms,  which  comprise  900  acres  in  Steuben 
County  and  500  acres  in  Michigan.  Mr.  Taylor  is 
a member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

July  22,  1888,  he  married  Lovina  A.  Wicoff.  She 
was  born  May  23,  1870,  a daughter  of  William  and 
Armelia  (Eldredge)  Wicoff.  William  Wicoff  was 
born  July  25,  1830,  a son  of  John  and  Margaret 
(Cassel)  Wicoff.  Armelia  Eldredge,  mother  of 
Mrs.  Taylor,  was  a daughter  of  Martin  and  Agnes 
Eldredge.  William  Wicoff  and  wife  had  three  chil- 
dren: Willis  M.,  born  April  1,  1857;  Peter  B.,  born 
January  9,  1859;  and  Lovina  A. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  were  the  parents  of  four 
children,  the  two  oldest,  Frank  M.  and  Rush  L., 
dying  in  early  childhood.  The  two  living  daughters 
are  Alice  A.  and  Catherine. 

Noah  J.  Yoder.  For  many  years  the  name  of 
Noah  J.  Yoder  has  been  substantially  identified 
with  the  interests  of  LaGrange  County  as  a farmer, 
stockman,  member  and  official  of  churches,  and  a 
leader  in  every  worthy  movement. 

Mr.  Yoder,  whose  fine  farm  home  is  in  section 


152 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


4 of  Eden  Township,  was  born  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship of  the  same  county  November  4,  1862,  a son 
of  Joseph  C.  and  Susanna  Yoder.  The  Yoder 
family  is  a prominent  one  and  represents  people 
of  high  standing  in  Northern  Indiana.  His  first 
American  ancestor  was  Christian  Yoder,  who  was 
born  in  Switzerland  in  February,  1728,  and  came  to 
the  American  colonies  in  1744.  The  grandfather 
of  Noah  J.  Yoder  was  Christian  C.,  who  was  born 
December  13,  1790,  and  died  November  17,  1867. 
His  first  wife  was  born  July  24,  1789,  and  died  No- 
vember 8,  1832,  while  his  second  wife  was  born 
January  3,  1800,  and  died  December  10,  1879. 

There  were  six  sons  of  Christian  C.  Yoder  who 
came  to  Indiana,  Joseph  C.,  Jacob,  Tobias,  Felta, 
John  and  Herman.  All  settled  in  LaGrange  County 
except  Jacob,  who  founded  the  family  in  Elkhart 
County.  All  bought  land,  developed  farms  and  be- 
came heads  of  prosperous  families. 

Joseph  C.  Yoder,  father  of  Noah  J.,  was  born 
November  20,  1819,  and  in  1861  married  Susanna 
Yoder.  She  died  September  4,  1863,  leaving  one 
son,  Noah  J.,  then  ten  months  old.  The  latter  at- 
tended the  district  schools  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen took  up  the  task  of  making  his  own  way  in 
the  world.  He  was  a farm  laborer  six  years.  He 
spent  four  years  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Yoder  married  Fannie  L.  King  who  was  born  in 
Champaign  County,  Ohio,  October  2,  1865,  a daugh- 
ter of  Christian  C.  and  Lydia  (Kauffman)  King. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Mifflin  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  after  their  marriage  in  Logan  County, 
Ohio,  settled  in  Champaign  County.  Mrs.  Yoder 
at  the  age  of  six  years  was  left  an  orphan,  and  she 
lived  with  her  guardian,  Jacob  K.  Yoder,  to  the 
age  of  eighteen.  She  then  spent  three  years  in 
Cass  County,  Missouri,  came  to  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  returned  to  Ohio,  and  was  married  to 
Mr.  Yoder  on  February  5,  1891.  Since  that  date 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder  have  been  in  LaGrange  Town- 
ship. 

He  owns  170  acres  in  Eden  Township  and  sixty 
and  three-quarters  acres  in  Newbury  Township, 
and  carries  on  diversified  farming,  making  a spe- 
cialty of  Duroc  hogs.  Mr.  Yoder  has  been  prom- 
inent in  the  Mennonite  Church  and  served  as  trustee 
for  eight  years.  He  has  also  been  a school  director 
and  is  a republican  in  politics. 

He  and  his  wife  had  four  children:  Alma  F.  is 

the  wife  of  John  Roth  and  lives  in  Tazewell  County, 
Illinois.  The  three  younger  children,  all  at  home, 
are  Carrie  B.,  Elmer  D.  and  Ora  C.  All  the  chil- 
dren are  graduates  of  the  common  schools. 

William  H.  Hutchins  was  born  and  grew  up  in 
Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County,  and  for  the 
past  quarter  of  a century  has  owned  and  lived  on 
one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  township.  His  affairs 
have  been  prospered  and  he  is  a man  both  of  sub- 
stance and  of  influence  in  his  locality. 

He  was  born  in  Scott  Township  July  14,  1864, 
son  of  Nelsen  and  Phoebe  (Jones)  Hutchins.  His 
father,  who  came  to  Steuben  County  in  early  man- 
hood, was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New  York, 
April  16,  1818,  a son  of  Ezra  and  Mahala  Hutchins, 
the  former  a native  of  Massachusetts.  Ezra  Hutch- 
ins and  wife  also  came  to  Steuben  County  about  two 
years  after  their  son,  and  they  both  died  in  Scott 
Township.  Mahala  died  in  1857.  Ezra  was  born 
May  22,  1792,  and  died  in  1882,  at  the  age  of  ninety 
years.  Nelson  Hutchins  married  December  1,  1850, 
Phoebe  Jones,  who  was  born  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  January  2,  1827.  They  were  the  parents  of 
four  children:  Alice  E.,  born  December  2,  1852; 

Ella,  born  January  29,  i860;  William  H.,  born  July 
14,  1864;  and  Carry  A.,  born  September  24,  1865. 


Nelsen  Hutchins  for  many  years  filled  the  office 
of  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a republican  and 
his  wife  a Methodist.  On  coming  to  Steuben 
County  he  acquired  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Scott 
1 ownship  that  had  been  entered  direct  from  the 
Government  by  Isamon  Brown.  He  cleared  and 
improved  that  land  and  in  the  course  of  time  had 
a farm  of  200  acres.  He  lived  there  in  prosperity 
and  comfort  and  died  October  20,  1896,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  in  1903. 

William  H.  Hutchins  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm,  and  lived  there  to  the  age  of  thirty.  He  had 
a public  school  education  and  early  acquired  habits 
of  industry  that  have  been  very  useful  to  him  in  sub- 
sequent life.  On  May  15,  1904,  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm  in  Scott  Township,  comprising  190 
acres.  All  the  buildings  and  other  improvements 
on  the  farm  were  erected  under  his  ownership.  He 
has  always  made  it  a policy  and  rule  to  combine 
stock  raising  with  the  staple  crops.  Mr.  Hutchins 
cast  his  first  presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harri- 
son and  has  been  a steadfast  republican.  He  is 
affiliated  with  and  is  a charter  member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Fremont. 

March  27,  1894,  he  married  Miss  Lorinda  E. 
Wycoff.  She  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
May  30,  1865,  daughter  of  Peter  B.  and  Jane 
(Hathaway)  Wycoff.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  March  12,  1837,  and  her 
mother  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  on  November  13, 
1840,  daughter  of  Richard  Hathaway.  Richard 
Hathaway  was  a pioneer  of  Williams  County,  set- 
tling near  Columbia  in  1853.  Peter  B.  Wycoff  was 
a son  of  John  and  Margaret  Wycoff,  who  settled  in 
Williams  County  in  1844.  In  1869  Peter  Wycoff  took 
his  family  to  Missouri,  two  years  later  moved  down 
to  Kansas,  but  after  some  experience  in  the  Sun- 
flower State  returned  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
York  Township.  Peter  Wycoff  was  widely  known 
in  Steuben  County,  where  he  died  May  7,  1907.  His 
widow  is  still  living  in  Fremont.  In  the  family 
were  eight  children,  Lorinda  E.,  Zoa  E„  of  Fre- 
mont, a teacher;  Charles  B.,  of  York  Township; 
Sarah  J. ; John  R.,  deceased;  Harry,  of  Alberta, 
Canada;  Archie  B.,  deceased;  and  James,  of  Clear 
Lake  Township,  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hutchins  have  three  children:  Ruth 
L.,  born  May  3,  1898,  died  at  the  age  of  four  months ; 
Nelson  Bruce,  born  March  19,  1905,  now  in  the 
eighth  grade  of  the  public  schools;  and  William 
Judson,  born  March  3,  1908. 

Samuel  S.  Lantz  began  his  career  as  a farm  hand 
when  fifteen  years  old,  and  has  found  his  way  to 
prosperity  over  the  route  of  hard  work  and  com- 
plete personal  integrity.  He  and  his  wife  are  now 
owners  of  two-thirds  of  the  stock  and  the  business 
of  the  J.  J.  Yoder  Hardware  Store  at  Topeka.  J. 
J.  Yoder  was  one  of  the  oldest  hardware  merchants 
of  that  village,  and  established  the  first  store  of  the 
kind,  continuing  in  business  until  his  death.  Mr. 
Lantz  is  now  carrying  on  that  business  and  making 
a success  of  it. 

He  was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble 
County  September  15,  1868,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Sa- 
lome (Plank)  Lantz,  the  former  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  His  parents  spent 
many  years  of  their  lives  on  farms  in  Noble  County, 
passing  their  last  days  in  Perry  Township.  They 
were  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church  and  the 
father  was  a republican.  They  had  a family  of  nine 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living:  Fannie, 

wife  of  Henry  Ramsey,  of  Alanson,  Michigan;  Solo- 
mon, of  Ligonier ; Ella,  wife  of  D.  K.  Byler,  of 
Coldwater,  Michigan;  Salome,  wife  of  H.  H.  Kauff- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


153 


man,  of  Denver,  Colorado;  Samuel  S.;  Edward  I., 
of  Los  Angeles;  and  Mary,  wife  of  John  Leperd,  of 
Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 

Samuel  S.  Lantz  until  the  age  of  ten  lived  on  the 
farm  in  Noble  County,  then  spent  a year  in  Michi- 
gan, and  up  to  the  age  of  fifteen  lived  on  a farm  a 
mile  south  of  Topeka.  After  acquiring  only  limited 
advantages  in  the  common  schools  he  began  work- 
ing at  monthly  wages  on  a farm,  and  had  made  some 
progress  toward  an  established  position  in  the  com- 
munity before  he  married.  In  1896  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Yoder,  a daughter  of  J.  J.  Yoder,  the  pioneer 
hardware  merchant  of  Topeka.  She  was  born  near 
that  village  and  attended  district  school  and  before 
her  marriage  was  a successful  teacher  both  in  La- 
Grange  and  Noble  counties.  Mr.  and  Mrs..  Lantz 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  is  affil- 
iated with  Topeka  Lodge  No.  688,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  and  with  the  chapter  and  council  of 
Masonry  at  Ligonier.  Politically  he  is  a republican, 
and  he  also  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at 
Topeka. 

Edward  Avery.  Several  communities  in  Steuben 
County  have  known  the  presence  and  have  benefited 
thereby  in  the  Avery  family,  who  have  lived  in  that 
county  for  over  sixty  years.  Edward  Avery  repre- 
sents the  family  in  Salem  Township,,  where  for 
many  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  leading  farmers. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Avery  farm  in  Otsego 
Township,  March  14,  1855,  and  is  a son  of  Jesse 
W.  and  Eliza  (Shumaker)  Avery.  Some  references 
to  this  family  are  made  on  other  pages  of  this  pub- 
lication. Edward  Avery  attended  public  school  in 
Otsego  Township,  was  also  a student  in  Angola,  and 
for  three  terms  taught  a school  in  Otsego.  He  made 
his  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age. 

In  February,  1879,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Dutter, 
daughter  of  George  and  Anna  Dutter.  With  his 
marriage  he  began  farming  in  Otsego  Township, 
was  there  three  years,  farmed  in  Salem  Township 
three  years,  then  again  in  Otsego  for  ten  years,  was 
a resident  of  Scott  Township  three  years,  and  in 
1899  moved  to  his  present  home  place  of  eighty 
acres  in  section  12  of  Salem  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery  had  two  children : Edna  and 

Ethel,  the  latter  dying  in  childhood.  Edna  is  the 
wife  of  William  H.  Gochenaur.  Mr.  Gochenaur  was 
born  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County,  May  24, 
1880,  a son  of  Henry  and  Lucinda  (Smith)  Goche- 
naur, and  a grandson  of  Henry  Gochenaur,  a na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  who  came  to  Steuben  County 
in  early  days.  Henry  Gochenaur,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  wife  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio.  He  settled  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship of  Steuben  County  in  1854,  acquiring  land  near 
what  is  now  known  as  the  Lake  Valley  Church.  He 
and  his  brother  Joseph  bought  eighty  acres,  cleared 
it  up  and  began  with  log  buildings.  After  a few 
years  he  moved  to  Scott  Township,  and  from  there 
to  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  continued  farming 
until  his  death.  Henry  Gochenaur  had  three  chil- 
dren, Elmer  Ellsworth,  Amelia  and  William,  Amelia 
dying  at  the  age  of  eighteen. 

William  H.  Gochenaur  after  getting  his  education 
in  the  Sandhill  School  of  Pleasant  Township,  went 
to  work  as  a farmer  there,  rented  for  two  years 
and  then  bought  the  old  homestead  near  the  Sand- 
hill School.  He  sold  that  property  in  1911  and 
bought  a farm  in  section  33  of  Jackson  Township. 
He  owns  120  acres,  built  a good  house,  and  is  carry- 
ing on  his  affairs  with  a high  degree  of  prosperity 
and  spirit. 


Mr.  Gochenaur  married  Edna  May  Avery  in  1905. 
They  have  two  children,  Leon  and  Ethel. 

Jont  M.  Borntrager.  Of  a family  whose  lives  of 
integrity  and  industry  have  identified  them  per- 
manently with  the  best  interests  of  LaGrange 
County,  one  who  deserves  special  mention  is  Joni 
M.  Borntrager,  a successful  farmer  living  seven 
miles  southwest  of  Shipshewana,  in  section  5 of 
Eden  Township. 

He  was  born  in  section  5 of  the  same  township, 
June  20,  1868,  son  of  Manassas  J.  and  Lydia  (Yo- 
der) Borntrager,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  Borntrager 
family  originated  in  Germany  and  has  been  resi- 
dents of  the  United  States  for  more  than  a century 
and  a half.  Manassas  Borntrager  was  a son  of 
John  and  Anna  (Yoder)  Borntrager,  John  being 
a son  of  John  and  Barbara  (Johns)  Borntrager, 
while  the  next  generation  was  headed  by  Martin 
Borntrager,  a native  of  Germany  who  came  to  the 
American  colonies  on  October  5,  1767.  Manassas 
Borntrager  came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents  when 
he  was  six  years  old,  and  the  family  at  that  time 
located  in  section  4 of  Eden  Township.  His  wife 
also  came  to  Indiana  with  her  parents.  Manassas 
Borntrager  and  wife  had  twelve  children,  eleven 
of  whom  reached  adult  life:  Barbara,  wife  of 

Moses  Lehman;  Joni;  John,  who  married  Mary 
Easch  and  lives  in  Michigan : Catherine,  wife  of 
Christian  D.  Hostettler,  of  Eden  Township;  Daniel, 
who  married  Margaret  Miller  and  lives  in  Eden 
Township;  Benjamin,  whose  wife  was  Elizabeth 
Miller,  and  they  live  in  Clear  Spring  Township; 
Manassas,  who  married  Elizabeth  Miller  and  lives 
in  Eden  Township;  Noah  M.,  who  married  Katie 
Glick  and  occupies  the  old  home  farm  in  Eden 
Township;  Christian,  who  married  Mary  A.  Miller 
and  lives  in  Eden  Township;  Anna,  wife  of  Joseph 
J.  Raber,  of  Eden  Township;  and  Lydia,  wife  of 
Andrew  Easch,  of  Eden  Township. 

Joni  M.  Borntrager  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  a 
farm  just  across  the  road  from  his  present  place. 
He  attended  the  district  schools.  For  many  years 
he  has  found  himself  pleasantly  and  profitably  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  is  owner  of  198^2  acres,  a 
goodly  property,  most  of  which  is  to  be  credited  to 
his  industrious  efforts.  He  keeps  good  grades  of 
livestock.  Mr.  Borntrager  and  family  are  members 
of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church,  known  as  the 
West  Honeyville  District,  and  he  is  a deacon  in  the 
church. 

January  10,  1889,  he  married  Anna  Borntrager, 
who  died  September  9,  1897.  She  was  the  mother 
of  three  children : Levi,  who  married  Sarah  Thom- 

as ; Gideon,  who  married  Rosa  Bender,  and  she  is 
now  deceased ; and  Lydia,  wife  of  Ervin  Stutsman, 
living  in  Iowa.  January  4,  1900,  Mr.  Borntrager 
married  Amanda  J.  Gingerich.  Six  children  were 
born  to  their  union,  Emma,  Barbara,  Manassas, 
Amelia,  Amanda  (deceased),  and  Susie. 

Richard  E.  Tarlton  has  made  an  honorable  rec- 
ord in  the  most  ancient  and  honorable  of  profes- 
sions, agriculture,  and  is  well  known  as  a farmer 
in  DeKalb  County.  His  home  is  on  his  farm  in 
section  29  of  Keyser  Township,  and  comprises  the 
southwest  quarter  of  that  section. 

He  was  born  in  section  30  of  the  same  township 
December  23,  1873,  a son  of  Joseph  E.  and  Elizabeth 
(Fountain)  Tarlton.  His  father,  who  was  born  in 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  January  30,  1848,  is  now  living  at 
Avilla  in  Noble  County,  Indiana.  Elizabeth  (Foun- 
tain) Tarlton,  died  March  19,  1898,  the  mother  of 
three  children,  Richard  E.,  William  J.  and  Sadie  J. 


154 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Richard  is  the  only  one  now  living.  Joseph  Tarlton 
married  for  his  second  wife  Amanda  R.  Davis. 

Richard  E.  Tarlton  grew  up  at  the  old  Fountain 
farm  in  Keyser  Township.  He  attended  the  district 
schools  from  the  age  of  seven  to  twenty-one,  and 
on  December  25,  1897,  married  Milia  L.  Truelove. 
She  was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools,  and  died  May  18,  1915. 
She  was  the  mother  of  two  children,  Myrtle  M.  and 
William  R. 

Mr.  Tarlton  after  his  marriage  lived  in  Keyser 
Township,  for  thirteen  years  was  a resident  of  Allen 
Township  in  Noble  County,  also  lived  one  year  in 
section  1 of  Swan  Township,  and  has  since  been 
located  at  his  present  home,  where  he  has  ninety- 
two  well  cultivated  acres.  He  also  owns  thirty-eight 
acres  in  section  33,  near  Altona,  and  has  eighty  acres 
in  section  1 of  Swan  Township,  Noble  County.  Mr. 
Tarlton  is  a member  of  the  Evangelical  Church  and 
is  a republican. 

William  Fountain  was  a DeKalb  County  pioneer, 
developed  a home  out  of  the  woods  and  acquired  a 
modest  fortune  in  lands  and  many  riches  of  com- 
munity esteem  on  account  of  his  honorable  life  and 
character. 

He  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  December 
25,  1811,  a son  of  Simon  and  Rebecca  Fountain.  He 
was  only  three  days  old  when  his  parents  died  and 
he  grew  up  under  the  care  of  his  older  sisters.  In 
June,  1848,  after  his  marriage,  he  came  to  the  United 
States,  his  wife  being  a native  of  the  same  county 
in  England.  After  a brief  stay  in  Ohio  they  came 
to  DeKalb  County  in  the  same  year  and  William 
Fountain  bought  eighty  acres  in  the  midst  of  the 
heavy  woods.  A little  cabin  home  had  already  been 
prepared  and  there  he  and  his  wife  began  their 
humble  task  of  housekeeping.  William  Fountain  was 
a man  of  prodigious  industry  and  before  his  death 
had  accumulated  a tract  of  400  acres.  He  died  June 
11,  1889,  and  his  wife  survived  him  until  July  4, 
1909.  Both  were  active  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  he  gave  liberally  to  its  support  and 
various  causes.  He  was  a republican  in  politics,  and 
his  home  was  constantly  the  scene  of  a liberal  hos- 
pitality. William  Fountain  and  wife  had  three  chil- 
dren: Sarah  A.,  born  December  3,  1850;  Elizabeth, 

who  became  the  wife  of  Joseph  Tarlton  and  died 
March  19,  1898;  and  William  R. 

William  R.  Fountain  was  born  February  3,  1855, 
had  a common  school  education  and  since  the  death 
of  his  parents  he  and  his  sister  have  lived  on  the 
old  home  farm.  They  jointly  own  260  acres  of  the 
old  Fountain  homestead  and  he  also  owns  a business 
building  on  Randolph  Street  in  Garrett  and  three 
dwelling  houses  there.  Both  he  and  his  sister  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Garrett.  Wil- 
liam R.  is  a republican. 

LeRoy  Isenhower,  proprietor  of  the  leading  ga- 
rage and  automobile  agency  at  Fremont,  is  one  of 
the  younger  business  men  of  Steuben  County,  and 
has  been  a factor  in  keeping  up  the  business  enter- 
prise of  Fremont  since  early  manhood. 

He  was  born  at  Fremont,  March  1,  1884,  a son  of 
Amos  and  Caroline  (Geedy)  Isenhower.  His  grand- 
parents were  Peter  and  Sarah  (Wade)  Isenhower, 
who  came  to  Fremont  Township  in  Steuben  County 
in  1859.  Peter  Isenhower  died  on  the  farm  which 
he  bought  when  he  came  to  this  county,  and  was 
well  known  to  all  the  early  settlers.  He  and  his 
wife  had  the  following  children:  Benjamin,  Jacob, 

Catherine,  Mary,  John  and  Amos. 

Amos  Isenhower  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  February  5,  1852,  and  was  seven 


years  old  when  brought  to  Steuben  County.  He 
married  in  1870  Caroline  Geedy,  also  a native  of 
Pennsylvania  and  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Taylor)  Geedy,  the  former  a native  of  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  born  in  Eng- 
land. William  Geedy  settled  in  Fremont  Township 
in  1865.  but  enjoyed  the  use  and  cultivation  of  his 
farm  of  eighty  acres  less  than  a year.  He  died  in 
1866.  His  children  were : Enos,  Caroline,  Erman- 

da,  Simon,  David,  Mary,  Martha  Ann  and  Emma. 

Amos  Isenhower  farmed  for  several  years  and 
then  engaged  in  the  livery  business  in  Fremont  and 
for  a few  years  also  conducted  the  local  hotel.  He 
was  active  in  business  until  his  death  on  December 
22,  1905.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Bert;  May,  wife  of  Homer  Gripman ; Eva, 

wife  of  James  Noggle;  Frank;  Lilly,  wife  of  George 
Griffith ; Delvin,  who  died  in  childhood ; and  LeRoy. 

LeRoy  Isenhower  acquired  a public  school  educa- 
tion at  Fremont  and  took  a business  course  at  De- 
troit, and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  bought  a half 
interest  in  his  father’s  livery.  After  about  a year 
he  went  into  the  bakery  business,  following  that 
for  two  years,  and  then  for  three  and  a half  years 
was  a retail  meat  dealer.  In  December,  1914,  Mr. 
Isenhower  established  his  garage  and  automobile 
sales  agency,  and  his  business  has  been  a landmark 
to  motorists  for  five  years.  He  has  the  local  agency 
for  the  Overland,  Buick  and  Oakland  cars. 

Mr.  Isenhower  married  May  22,  1906,  Blanch  Fay 
Grim,  daughter  of  Elmer  and  Ida  Grim.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church  and 
he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge. 

H.  E.  Craig  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  active 
business  career  as  a traveling  salesman,  but  in  re- 
cent years  has  been  identified  with  the  management 
of  one  of  the  fine  farms  in  LaGrange  County.  This 
farm  is  in  section  15  of  Clear  Spring  Township. 

Mr.  Craig  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  in  Eden 
Township,  June  2,  1857,  son  of  William  and  Mar- 
garet (Thompson)  Craig.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ireland  in  1825,  the  son  of  an  Irish  linen  weaver. 
William  Craig  was  a cooper  and  farmer.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  about  1835,  and  eventually 
worked  at  his  trade  in  Warren,  Ohio.  After  his 
marriage  to  Margaret  Thompson  he  came  to  In- 
diana about  1854  and  located  on  a farm  in  Eden 
Township.  The  last  eight  years  of  his  life  were 
spent  in  Topeka,  where  he  died  in  1908.  His  widow 
died  in  the  same  village  in  1912.  William  Craig 
was  a democrat  in  politics.  He  was  the  father  of 
eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Ada,  wife  of  Dr.  J.  W.  Nihart,  of  Petoskey,  Michi- 
gan: H.  E.  Craig;  Celia,  wife  of  Clinton  Stage,  in 
Noble  County,  Indiana;  Clara,  widow  of  Andrew 
Cooper,  of  Ligonier,  Indiana ; Marion,  who  lives 
in  the  State  of  Washington;  Eden,  a dairy  farmer 
in  New  York  State;  and  Ethel,  who  is  a graduate 
of  dietetics  and  is  head  nurse  at  Howe  School  Hos- 
pital. 

H.  E.  Craig  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Eden 
Township,  and  besides  the  district  schools  attended 
commercial  courses  in  Valparaiso  University.  He 
taught  both  before  and  after  attending  the  Valpa- 
raiso school,  putting  in  altogether  four  years  in 
school  work.  In  1880  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Cun- 
ningham. They  lived  in  Minnesota  three  years,  and 
his  wife  and  their  two  children  died  there. 

Mr.  Craig  took  an  active  part  in  democratic  poli- 
tics in  Minnesota  and  was  elected  to  represent  the 
twenty-eighth  district  in  the  State  Legislature, 
serving  one  term.  Mr.  Craig  spent  twenty  years 
with  the  E.  H.  Andrews  Company  of  Chicago,  man- 
ufacturers and  dealers  in  school  and  bank  fur- 
niture. He  left  that  firm  temporarily  to  enlist  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


155 


United  States  navy  at  the  time  of  the  Spanish- 
American  war,  and  was  discharged  at  the  close  of 
hostilities.  From  that  time  until  1913  he  represented 
the  E.  H.  Andrews  Company  as  a private  salesman. 

Mr.  Craig  returned  to  LaGrange  County,  and 
on  March  16,  T916,  married  Estella  V.  Parks,  widow 
of  Dr.  J.  L.  Miller.  Mr.  Craig  was  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Minnesota  and 
is  affiliated  with  Grand  Prairie  Lodge  No.  54,  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  at  Brookston, 
Indiana. 

Mrs.  Craig  is  a daughter  of  William  T.  and 
Lydia  A.  (P  ought)  Parks.  She  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  she  is  now  living  March  8,  1857.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  April 
1,  1827,  and  her  mother  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
December  22,  1828.  William  T.  Parks  came  with  his 
parents  to  LaGrange  County  in  1835.  This  was  one 
of  the  early  families  to  settle  in  this  county.  After 
he  reached  manhood  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Eden 
Township,  and  lived  there  until  he  bought  the  eighty 
acres  where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Craig  now  live.  From  a 
portion  of  this  land  he  cut  away  the  timber  to  build 
his  home,  and  he  remained  there  until  his  death 
on  April  14,  1903.  Mrs.  Craig’s  mother  is  still  living, 
and  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Parks  was  a steadfast  republican  until  1884, 
when  he  became  a democrat.  At  one  time  he 
owned  300  acres  in  LaGrange  County.  In  the  Parks 
family  were  four  children : Roherles  M.,  who  died 
at  the  age  of  two ; Zidana  M.,  who  is  the  wife  of 
F.  P.  Smith ; Calvares  M.,  who  died  at  Victor, 
Colorado,  at  the  age  of  forty-one ; and  Estella  V,, 
who  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  and 
for  eight  terms  was  a successful  teacher,  six  terms 
in  LaGrange  and  two  in  Noble  County.  Decem- 
ber 5,  1887,  she  became  the  wife  of  Dr.  J.  L.  Mil- 
ler, who  died  in  January,  1915. 

John  E.  Pancake.  For  a period  of  over  forty 
years  John  E.  Pancake  has  been  one  of  the  lead- 
ing citizens  of  Elkhart  Township  in  Noble  County. 
He  has  been  useful  to  himself,  to  his  family,  to 
his  friends  and,  in  fact,  to  the  entire  community. 
An  evidence  of  the  high  esteem  in  which  he  is  held 
was  afforded  at  a recent  election  when  he  was  can- 
didate for  county  commissioner  of  Noble  County. 
The  county  went  republican  by  a majority  of  600, 
but  Mr.  Pancake  was  defeated  by  only  ninety-nine 
votes.  While  he  is  not  a member  of  any  church, 
he  has  been  one  of  the  most  active  and  liberal  sup- 
porters of  the  Baptist  Church  of  his  community, 
was  a member  of  its  building  committee  and  one 
of  the  largest  contributors  when  the  edifice  was 
constructed.  He  is  at  present  a member  of  the 
County  Central  Committee  of  the  democratic  party. 

Mr.  Pancake  is  also  a charter  member  of  the 
Topeka  State  Bank,  and  served  as  its  vice  president 
fourteen  years  and  is  still  on  the  board  of  directors. 
He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  at 
Wawaka,  a stockholder  in  the  National  Bank  at 
Albion,  and  a stockholder  in  the  Noble  Motor  Truck 
Company  of  Kendallville.  For  many  years  his  time 
and  energies  have  been  well  bestowed  on  his  farm 
of  400  acres  in  Elkhart  Township,  where  he  special- 
ized in  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Poland  China  hogs. 

His  father  was  Joseph  Pancake,  who  was  born 
in  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  May  22,  1822,  and  was 
reared  and  educated  in  that  locality.  He  married 
Ruann  Halstead,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county 
and  died  at  the  early  age  of  twenty-three.  John 
E.  was  their  only  child.  Joseph  Pancake  died  in 
Ottawa,  Kansas,  January  8,  1871. 

John  E.  Pancake  was  born  in  Pickaway  County, 
Ohio,  July  22,  1848,  and  acquired  a good  education 
in  the  local  schools  of  Ohio.  Later  he  graduated 


with  high  honors  from  the  Union  Christian  Col- 
lege at  Merom  in  Sullivan  County,  Indiana.  After 
finishing  his  education  he  returned  to  his  native 
county  in  Ohio  and  taught  three  terms  of  district 
school.  In  the  summer  of  1870  he  went  to  Franklin 
County,  Kansas,  worked  on  a farm  there  one  year, 
and  then  homesteaded  a claim  of  his  own  in  Wil- 
son County,  Kansas.  He  had  the  usual  experiences 
of  a Kansas  pioneer.  After  1872  he  sold  out  and 
coming  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  entered  the  serv- 
ice of  his  uncle,  John  Pancake.  He  worked  on  the 
Pancake  farm  and  also  spent  six  terms  as  a teacher 
in  the  district  schools.  He  then  took  entire  charge 
of  his  uncle’s  farm  and  later  administered  the  John 
Pancake  estate. 

On  January  11,  1916,  Mr.  Pancake  married  Mrs. 
Barbara  A.  Swank.  She  was  born  in  Illinois  Sep- 
tember 8,  1865,  and  lived  in  that  state  to  the  age 
of  nineteen,  when  she  married  Richard  Swank.  They 
came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  LaGrange  County, 
beginning  housekeeping  in  Topeka.  Mrs.  Pancake 
has  one  daughter  by  her  former  marriage,  Dora,  now 
the  wife  of  W.  G.  Waynright,  of  Marshall,  Michi- 
gan. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Waynright  have  one  daughter, 
Edith,  now  seven  years  old.  Mrs.  Pancake  is  a 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Elkhart  Town- 
ship. 

Joseph  E.  Yoder.  Every  rule  has  its  exception, 
but  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a Yoder  in  La- 
Grange County  who  is  not  financially  sound  and 
without  land,  stock  and  other  improvements  of 
value  as  evidence  of  the  honest  toil  and  good  man- 
agement displayed  in  the  passing  years.  These  evi- 
dences of  thrift  and  prosperity  in  the  case  of  Joseph 
E.  Yoder  are  found  at  his  farm  on  rural  route  No. 
1 out  of  Topeka,  in  Eden  Township. 

He  is  one  of  the  seven  sons  of  Valentine  T.  and 
Catherine  (Schrock)  Yoder  and  was  born  on  the 
farm  where  he  lives  today  July  20,  1875.  He  grew 
up  on  that  farm,  and  with  the  exception  of  two 
winters  attended  district  schools  until  he  was  twenty 
years  of  age.  On  November  19,  1896,  he  married 
Miss  Katie  Miller.  She  was  born  in  Elkhart  County, 
Indiana,  September  12,  1877,  a daughter  of  Isaac  and 
Mary  (Hostetler)  Miller.  She  acquired  her  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools.  After  their  marriage 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder  lived  two  years  in  Elkhart 
County  near  Forest  Grove  and  then  returned  to 
LaGrange  County  and  occupied  a farm  of  his  father 
adjoining  the  homestead.  They  lived  there  six  years 
as  renters,  and  then  rented  the  old  homestead  and 
in  a year  or  two  bought  160  acres.  In  1913  Mr. 
Yoder  increased  his  holdings  by  the  purchase  of 
eighty  acres  adjoining.  He  has  forty  acres  at  an- 
other locality  in  Eden  Township  and  222  in  Elkhart 
County,  so  that  his  landed  possessions  foot  up  to 
500  acres.  Most  of  this  represents  the  steady  ac- 
cumulation of  years  of  good  management  and  good 
farming.  He  is  a successful  stock  man,  being  a 
breeder  of  Belgian  horses,  the  Polled  Durham  cat- 
tle, the  Hampshire  sheep  and  the  Spotted  Poland 
hogs.  Another  side  line,  handled  largely  by  Mrs. 
Yoder,  is  White  Wyandotte  chickens.  The  Yoder 
family  are  active  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder  have  four  living  children : 
Oscar,  born  February  15,  1909;  Arie,  born  December 
30,  1912;  Orpha,  born  May  27,  1916;  and  Henry, 
born  January  4,  1919. 

John  Allen  McClellan,  owner  of  one  of  the 
good  farms  in  section  2 of  Jackson  Township,  De- 
Ivalb  County,  is  a man  who  has  surmounted  many 
difficulties  in  his  career,  and  remembering  the  hard- 
ships. of  his  early  life  has  endeavored  to  smooth 


156 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


out  as  far  as  possible  the  pathway  of  his  own  chil- 
dren. 

Mr.  McClellan  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  August 
7,  1859,  a son  of  Harvey  and  Eliza  (George)  Mc- 
Clellan. His  father  was  a native  of  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  and  his  mother  of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana. 
Harvey  McClellan  was  married  in  DeKalb  County 
and  then  settled  in  Richland  Township.  Not  long 
afterward  he  enlisted  as  a Union  soldier  in  the  Civil 
war  and  died  while  in  the  army.  He  left  two  young 
children:  Laura,  wife  of  William  Dorson,  of  Co- 

runna; and  John  Allen. 

John  A.  McClellan  hardly  remembers  his  father, 
and  he  grew  up  in  the  home  of  hs  grandfather 
George.  He  had  only  a common  school  educaton 
and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  he  went  to  work  to  earn 
his  living  as  a railroad  man.  For  three  years  he 
was  employed  as  a locomotive  fireman  by  the  Balti- 
more & Ohio  road.  He  then  married  Viola  Shull 
and  for  three  years  lived  on  the  Shull  farm  and 
then  bought  eighty  acres  where  he  resides  today. 
His  grandfather  George  spent  his  last  years  and  was 
tenderly  cared  for  in  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McClellan.  Mr.  McClellan  does  general  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

He  has  two  children.  John  is  a graduate  of  the 
State  University  of  Indiana,  is  a successful  teacher 
in  Chicago,  and  is  married  and  has  one  child.  Emma 
L.  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  the  wife 
of  Howard  Hootmier. 

George  Icices.  Many  of  the  most  substantial 
farmers  of  Steuben  County  have  been  born  within 
its  confines  and  today  own  land  they  acquired  from 
their  fathers,  so  that  their  interest  in  their  com- 
munities is  deep  seated  and  sincere.  No  man  can 
fail  to  be  inspired  with  a love  for  the  region  his 
own  ancestors  helped  to  wrest  from  the  wilderness, 
and  this  is  the  basic  principle  back  of  so  much  of 
the  loyalty  shown  in  Northeastern  Indiana.  One  of 
the  men  who  is  not  only  a native  son  of  Steuben 
County  but  who  is  now  living  on  the  farm  which 
gave  him  birth  is  George  Ickes,  whose  natal  day  was 
March  6,  1859.  He  is  a son  of  Adam  and  Mary 
(Campbell)  Ickes,  and  grandson  of  George  and 
Nancy  Ickes.  George  Ickes  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, but  later  went  to  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  became  a prosperous  farmer. 

Adam  Ickes  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
where  his  wife  was  also  born,  she  being  a daughter 
of  James  Campbell.  At  a very  early  day  in  its  his- 
tory Adam  Ickes  came  to  Steuben  County  and  ac- 
quired eighty  acres  in  Steuben  Township.  At  that 
time  the  utmost  pioneer  conditions  prevailed,  and 
he  and  his  family  endured  many  hardships.  In 
order  to  get  a space  big  enough  to  put  up  a little 
house  Adam  Ickes  had  to  grub  out  the  stumps,  and 
once  he  had  his  family  housed  he  began  the  long  and 
laborious  task  of  clearing  off  his  land  so  as  to  put 
in  the  crops.  During  the  years  that  followed  he 
labored  long  and  hard,  and  when  he  died  he  had  the 
satisfaction  of  knowing  that  he  had  a nice  property, 
and  that  he  had  also  accomplished  a good  deal  work- 
ing at  his  trade  of  carpenter.  He  and  his  wife  had 
the  following  children:  Nancy,  Margaret,  Barbara, 

George,  James,  Cynthia,  Adam,  Mary  and  Sophia, 
of  whom  James  is  now  deceased. 

George  Ickes  was  reared  on  the  homestead  and 
shared  in  the  hard  work.  During  his  boyhood  he  at- 
tended the  Henderson  School  in  Steuben  Township. 
After  attaining  his  majority  he  began  farming  the 
homestead,  and  has  continued  in  that  line  ever  since, 
carrying  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and 
becoming  very  prosperous.  He  owns  118  acres  of  as 
fine  land  as  can  be  found  in  Steuben  County.  His 


buildings  and  fences  are  kept  in  first  class  condition, 
and  his  entire  premises  show  that  he  is  a good 
manager  and  takes  a pride  in  his  place. 

In  1905  Mr.  Ickes  was  married  to  Sarah  F.  Fish,  a 
daughter  of  Warren  and  Louisa  (Gardner)  Fish. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ickes  have  two  children,  namely: 
Roscoe  W.,  who  was  born  May  9,  1906,  and  Jesse, 
who  was  born  January  4,  1912.  Recognizing  the 
importance  of  understanidng  and  adopting  new 
methods,  Mr.  Ickes  has  joined  the  Gleaners,  and 
finds  that  organization  of  benefit  to  him.  He  is 
thoroughly  abreast  of  the  time,  and  oftentimes  his 
advice  is  asked  by  those  less  progressive,  for  he  is 
recognized  as  one  who  knows  what  he  is  about.  Hav- 
ing devoted  himself  so  closely  to  his  farm  in  years 
past,  Mr.  Ickes  has  not  become  deeply  interested  in 
public  life,  but  he  has  always  been  willing  to  give 
his  aid  in  forwarding  those  measures  promulgated 
for  the  welfare  of  his  community,  and  has  justly 
won  his  right  to  be  numbered  among  the  representa- 
tive agriculturalists  of  Steuben  County. 

Ora  P.  Newnam,  whose  home  is  five  miles  north 
of  South  Milford  and  seven  miles  east  and  two 
miles  south  of  LaGrange,  is  the  possessor  of  a 
goodly  heritage,  and  by  his  own  work  and  actions 
has  well  justified  his  ownership,  and  as  a practical 
farmer  and  stock  man  is  rendering  a valuable 
productive  service  to  his  community  and  his  coun- 
try. Mr.  Newnam  is  owner  of  179  acres,  and  alto- 
gether farms  279  acres. 

He  was  born  on  this  farm  August  6,  1873,  only 
son  and  child  of  F.  A.  and  Eunice  (Kellogg)  New- 
nam. His  father  was  born  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship of  the  same  county,  and  his  mother  was  born 
in  Maryland,  but  was  brought  here  when  young.. 
They  were  married  in  LaGrange  County,  then 
located  in  Springfield  Township  and  later  removed 
to  Milford  Township,  where  F.  A.  Newnam  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  and  died  in  1906.  The  widowed 
mother  is  still  living  and  is  an  active  member  of 
the  Methodist  Church  in  South  Milford.  The 
father  was  never  a formal  member  of  the  church 
but  a liberal  supporter  and  trustee  of  the_  Brushy 
Chapel.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
being  a past  grand  of  the  latter  and  a member  of 
the  Encampment.  Politically  he  was  a republican. 

Ora  P.  Newnam  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools  and  finished  his  edu- 
cation in  St.  Mary’s  College  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 
He  then  returned  to  the  farm,  and  in  its  manage- 
ment has  found  sufficient  occupation  for  all  his 
talents. 

September  6,  1899,  he  married  Clara  Goodsell. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Marshall  and  Catherine 
(Stoehr)  Goodsell,  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools.  They  had  two  children:  Francis  M., 

deceased,  and  Walter,  born  May  3,  1913.  Mrs. 

Newnam  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Newnarn  is  a republican  and  is  a member  of 
the  board  of  the  County  Council. 

Scudder  E.  Shutt  is  the  present  trustee  of  Key- 
ser  Township,  DeKalb  County.  He  is  well  known 
to  the  people  of  that  locality,  and  by  his  record 
as  a successful  farmer  is  entitled  to  the  esteem 
and  confidence  manifested  through  the  office  of 
which  he  is  incumbent. 

Mr.  Shutt,  whose  home  is  i>2  miles  south  and 
a mile  east  of  Garrett,  was  born  in  Allen  County, 
Indiana,  November  28,  1876,  a son  of  Jackson  and 
Lanora  (Bowman)  Shutt.  His  parents  were  born 
in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and  were  married  in  De- 
Kalb County,  Indiana,  after  which  they  settled  on 
a farm.  Three  years  later  Jackson  Shutt  entered 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


157 


a medical  college,  and  on  completing  his  studies  be- 
gan practice  at  Harlan  in  Allen  County.  He  had 
to  abandon  his  professional  career  on  account  of 
failing  eyesight,  and  then  settled  on  a farm  in  Jack- 
son  Township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
and  in  politics  he  was  a democrat,  and  prominent 
in  local  affairs,  serving  as  trustee  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship six  years.  In  the  family  were  ten  children, 
eight  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Scudder  E.  Shutt  grew  up  op  his  father’s  farm 
in  Jackson  Township,  attended  district  schools  and 
was  at  home  until  twenty-four  years  old.  February 
7,  1898,  he  married  Mary  Shoudel.  She  was  born 
in  DeKalb  County,  north  of  Waterloo  in  Smithford 
Township,  February  10,  1876,  a daughter  of  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Cline)  Shoudel.  Her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Germany,  her  father  born  in  1827 
and  her  mother  in  1839.  After  their  marriage  they 
came  to  the  United  States  and  were  early  settlers 
in  DeKalb  County,  and  spent  many  years  of  their 
lives  in  Jackson  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shutt 
have  the  following  children : Alouis,  who  finished 

the  common  school  course  in  1917;  Edward,  who 
graduated  in  the  common  schools  in  1919;  John, 
Victor  and  Esther,  the  last  two  being  twins. 

Air.  Shutt  is  a practical  farmer  and  owns  117)4 
acres  of  land  in  Keyser  Township,  and  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Garrett  Elevator  and  Livestock 
Association.  Politically  he  has  been  quite  a power 
in  DeKalb  County  for  a number  of  years  as  a demo- 
crat. He  is  now  in  his  second  term  as  township 
trustee,  having  made  a most  creditable  record  dur- 
ing his  first  four  years’  administration  of  the  of- 
fice. 

Lewis  Howey  is  the  present  trustee  of  Jackson 
Township  in  DeKalb  County.  He  is  also  proprietor 
of  the  Valley  Farm,  containing  seventy  acres  sit- 
uated in  section  2 of  Jackson  Township.  Air.  Howey 
started  life  a fatherless  boy  without  means  and  only 
the  experience  acquired  by  hard  work  in  the  fields. 
He  has  achieved  success,  and  is  one  of  the  citizens 
of  highest  standing  in  DeKalb  County. 

He  was  born  in  Concord  Township  of  that  county 
January  31,  1866,  a son  of  Huston  and  Elizabeth 
(Ballentine)  Howey.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Jackson  Township  and  died  in  1868.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Concord  Township  and  is  still  living,  being 
the  widow  of  L.  R.  Wasson  and  a resident  of  Au- 
burn. 

Lewis  Howey,  only  child  of  his  father,  was  about 
two  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and  he  lived 
with  his  mother  in  Concord  Townshp  to  the  age 
of  twelve.  He  then  took  employment  with  a neigh- 
boring farmer,  and  was  with  him  steadily  for  twelve 
years.  He  received  very  little  wages  and  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  had  no  capital.  He  earned  his 
first  capital  by  hauling  logs,  an  occupation  he  fol- 
lowed about  five  years.  He  then  bought  twenty  acres 
of  land  and  married  Dorcas  Brown  and  began  farm- 
ing. He  lived  there  eight  years  and  then  moved  to 
the  place  where  he  now  lives  and  subsequently  bought 
the  seventy  acres. 

Mr.  Howey’s  wife  died  in  1903.  She  was  the 
mother  of  two  daughters:  Jennetta,  a graduate  of 

the  common  schools  and  wife  of  Jesse  Provines,  and 
they  live  on  the  Howey  farm ; and  Gladys,  wife  of. 
Charles  Carper,  and  she  lives  in  Garrett.  Mrs. 
Howey  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church  at  Concord. 

Mr.  Howey  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  St.  Joe,  Indiana,  and  is  a trustee 
of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners.  He  was  the  first 
man  elected  on  the  republican  ticket  to  the  office 


of  trustee  of  Jackson  Township.  This  township  is 
normally  democratic  by  about  seventy,  and  he  was 
elected  by  a majority  of  four  votes. 

Chester  C.  Klinic.  There  is  a growing  disposi- 
tion in  the  minds  of  liberal  men  to  judge  people  not 
by  their  possessions  but  by  what  they  do  and  the 
calue  of  their  work  and  position  in  any  community. 
Applied  to  Chester  C.  Klink  of  Salem  Township  in 
Steuben  County  this  scale  of  appraisal  brings  out  the 
fact  that  he  is  in  the  words  of  one  of  his  neighbors 
“a  corking  good  farmer,”  has  made  good  his  stew- 
ardship of  one  of  the  older  homesteads  of  Steuben 
County,  is  a man  whose  judgment  is  civic  and  com- 
munity affairs  is  respected,  and  his  is  one  of  the 
most  interesting  families  in  Salem  Township. 

Mr.  Klink  was  born  on  the  Klink  homestead  in 
section  12  of  Salem  Township,  December  16,  1879. 
This  homestead  was  once  the  property  of  his  grand- 
father, Christian  Klink.  Christian  Klink  was  a na- 
tive of  Germany,  served  over  five  years  in  the 
Napoleonic  wars  in  Europe,  and  on  coming  to 
America  landed  at  Baltimore,  where  he  worked  to 
pay  his  passage  money.  Afterward  he  settled  in 
Ohio,  and  in  1848  came  as  one  of  the  pioneers  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana.  He  acquired  at  that  time 
a tract  of  land  including  the  present  farm  of  his 
grandson.  He  lived  to  see  much  of  this  land  in 
cultivation,  the  log  cabin  replaced  by  a frame  house, 
and  the  esteem  with  which  he  was  regarded  was 
proportionate  to  his  material  achievements. 

His  son,  Eli  Klink,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1844  and 
was  a small  child  when  brought  to  Steuben  County. 
He  became  a successful  farmer  and  in  1878  built  a 
fine  fourteen-room  brick  house  on  the  old  home- 
stead. He  died  at  Angola  in  1909.  He  married 
Syrena  Deller,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  County 
in  1850  and  is  still  living.  Eli  Klink  and  wife  had 
six  children,  Chester  C.  being  fourth  in  age. 

Chester  C.  Klink  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  school  of  District  No.  1 of  Salem  Township 
known  as  the  Klink  School,  and  from  there  entered 
the  Angola  Tri-State  Normal  College,  taking  the 
literary  course  two  years  and  then  graduating  in 
the  commercial  course.  As  a young  man  he  farmed 
in  section  14  of  Salem  Township  a year  and  a 
half,  and  then  returned  to  the  old  Klink  home  and 
for  a number  of  years  has  carried  on  his  affairs 
in  a systematic  and  efficient  manner  which_  spells 
success  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  well 
known  as  a breeder  of  blooded  Shorthorn  cattle, 
having  a herd  of  about  thirty  of  these  fine  animals 
and  is  also  a breeder  of  spotted  Poland  China 
hogs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Klink  are  members  of  the  Trinity 
Reformed  Church.  June  6,  1900,  he  married  Mabel 
S.  Lacey,  daughter  of  Robert  A.  Lacey,  member  of  a 
well-known  family  of  Steuben  County.  They  are 
the  proud  parents  of  six  fine  looking  and  sturdy 
children,  named  in  order  of  age,  Robert  E.,  Vinson 
C„  Wayne  E.,  Thelma  S.,  Wilbur  M.  and  Wesley  W. 

Joseph  R.  Snyder  has  spent  practically  all  the 
years  of  his  life  in  LaGrange  County,  and  has 
ordered  his  career  along  the  pleasant  and  not  un- 
profitable lines  of  agriculture  and  the  building 
trade.  For  many  years  he  was  associated  with 
his  brothers  under  the  name  Snyder  Brothers  as 
general  contractors  and  builders,  and  his  father 
was  also  a skillful  carpenter.  Mr.  Snyder  lives 
on  a good  farm  a mile  north  and  a mile  west  of 
Wolcottville  in  Johnson  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  La- 
Grange  County,  October  14,  1862,  a son  of  Wil- 
liam J.  and  Julia  A.  (Hilderbrand)  Snyder.  His 


158 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
their  respective  families  moved  from  that  state 
to  Ohio,  where  William  and  Julia  were  married. 
Immediately  after  their  marriage  they  located  on 
a farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days. 
They  were  very  active  members  of  St.  John’s 
Lutheran  Church,  and  William  Snyder  did  much 
of  the  carpenter  work  in  the  construction  of  the 
church  edifice.  As  a contractor  and  carpenter 
he  worked  at  his  trade  until  hindered  by  the  in- 
firmities of  old  age.  In  politics  he  was  a republi- 
can. He  and  his  wife  had  a large  family  of  twelve 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  still  living:  Mrs. 

Addie  Philipson ; Louisa,  wife  of  George  Can- 
field;  John  J.,  of  Mongo,  Indiana;  Catherine,  wife 
of  Joseph  Johnson,  of  Auburn;  Joseph  R. ; Bloom- 
field, of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  and  May,  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Seaman. 

Joseph  R.  Snyder  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Bloomfield  Township  and  had  a common  school 
education.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  began  earn- 
ing his  own  living,  and  worked  by  the  day  and 
month  until  he  married.  He  learned  the  carpen- 
ter and  joiner’s  trade  under  his  father,  and  in  as- 
sociation with  his  brothers  was  a contractor  and 
carpenter  for  fourteen  years. 

January  22,  1885,  Mr.  Snyder  married  Jennie 
Holsinger.  She  was  born  in  Johnson  Township 
March  11,  1866,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah 
(Fleck)  Holsinger,  the  former  a native  of  Stark 
and  the  latter  of  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  Their  re- 
spective families  moved  to  Indiana,  where  Mrs. 
Snyder’s  parents  were  married  and  then  settled  in 
Johnson  Township,  where  her  father  entered  land 
direct  from  the  Government,  and  as  a pioneer 
cleared  up  and  put  under  cultivation  a large  tract. 
He  is  remembered  as  one  of  the  stalwart  early  set- 
tlers, very  charitable  and  helpful  to  his  neighbors 
and  to  the  unfortunate,  and  an  active  member  of 
St.  John’s  Lutheran  Church. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  lo- 
cated at  LaGrange,  but  a year  later  moved  to  John- 
son Township,  where  he  continued  the  work  of  his 
trade.  He  has  occupied  his  present  farm  since 
February,  1904.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snyder  have  one 
daughter,  Izetta,  wife  of  Clarence  Cook,  living  in 
Elkhart.  Their  one  .grandson,  George  W.  K.,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Elkhart  High  School  and  is  a 
talented  young  musician.  Mr.  and  Mrs._  Snyder 
are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  he  is  a past 
noble  grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  and  has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  in 
politics  is  a republican.  His  home  farm  comprises 
fifty-five  acres. 

George  E.  Clark.  One  of  the  recent  comers  to 
Northeast  Indiana,  George  E.  Clark  became  a farm 
renter  after  his  marriage,  made  thrift  and  economy 
the  keynote  of  his  domestic  and  business  career  for 
several  years,  and  did  not  become  a permanent  land 
owner  until  he  moved  to  DeKalb  County.  He  owns 
one  of  the  good  farms  in  Butler  Township,  lo- 
cated in  section  20. 

He  was  born  in  Van  Wert  County,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 28,  1874,  a son  of  Charles  W.  and  Lucinda 
(Bear)  Clark,  both  natives  of  Ohio,  his  father  be- 
ing a native  of  Knox  County.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  settled  at  Middlepoint,  Ohio,  where  the 
father  was  a farmer,  and  he  lived  there  until  he 
met  an  accidental  death  while  handling  a team. 
He  served  as  a Union  soldier  in  the  Civil  war  and 
was  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
and  was  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  His  wife  died  in  Van  Wert  in  1918.  They 
had  nine  children:  A daughter  born  September  24, 


1869,  and  died  in  infancy;  John  H.,  born  Septem- 
ber 14,  1870;  Charles  A.,  born  February  29,  1872; 
Mary  C.,  born  June  10,  1873;  George  E.,  born  De- 
cember 28,  1874;  Sarah  A.,  born  January  6,  1877, 
and  is  now  deceased;  a daughter  born  January  8, 
1879,  and  died  in  infancy;  Willis  E.,  born  March 
14,  1880;  and  Ethel,  born  April  25,  1883. 

George  E.  Clark  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Ohio  and  had  a district  school  education.  He  lived 
at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-five.  In  November, 
1899,  he  married  Elva  O.  Fawcett.  She  was  born 
in  Van  Wert  County,  Ohio,  December  30,  1877. 
Her  father,  Levi  Fawcett,  died  in  1916,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-three,  and  her  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Ellen  Burr,  is  still  living.  In  the  Fawcett  fam- 
ily were  thirteen  children,  namely:  Emma  J.,  de- 

ceased; Albert,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Iza,  wife  of  R.  H. 
Somerset,  living  near  Middlepoint;  John,  of  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana;  David,  of  Van  Wert;  Robert  who 
lives  southeast  of  Middlepoint;  William,  living  in 
Ohio;  Alma,  wife  of  John  Parnett,  of  Van  Wert 
County  and  now  deceased;  Luella,  wife  of  Noah 
Ashbaugh ; Elva,  Mrs.  Clark;  Frank;  Charles  O., 
deceased;  and  Nellie,  wife  of  Thomas  Lynch,  of 
Fort  Wayne. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clark  settled  on  a farm 
in  Van  Wert  County,  and  was  a renter  until  he 
removed  to  DeKalb  County  in  1915.  At  that  time 
he  bought  127  acres  constituting  his  present  farm 
in  Butler  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  five 
children:  Mildred  I.,  born  October  xo,  1900;  Velma 
R.,  born  October  9,  1902;  Neoma  L.,  born  October 
23,  1904;  Francis  W.,  born  May  2,  1907;  and  Clif- 
ford, born  June  4,  1913.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  are 
members  of  the  Friends  Church  near  Van  Wert, 
Ohio.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Middlepoint,  Ohio,  and  in  pol- 
itics is  a republican. 

Daniel  Stomm.  The  best  way  to  identify  Daniel 
Stomm  with  the  citizenship  of  DeKalb  County  is 
to  say  that  he  is  proprietor  of  Vistawald  in  Fair- 
field  Township.  He  was  born  May  20,  1862,  and  is 
now  the  senior  in  the  house  of  Stomm  in  the  United 
States.  He  looks  both  backward  and  forward  over 
two  generations  of  the  family  in  DeKalb  County. 

The  house  of  Stomm  was  first  established  in  this 
country  when  his  uncle,  Daniel  Stomm,  whose  name 
he  bears,  accompanied  by  a sister,  Margaret  Stomm, 
located  in  Pittsburg,  Pennsylvania,  in  1851.  They 
were  soon  followed  by  the  rest  of  the  family  from 
Baden,  Germany.  In  1854  George  Henry  Stomm  and 
his  family  arrived  in  DeKalb  County,  after  living 
for  a short  time  in  both  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  The 
son  Daniel,  who  was  a blacksmith  in  Pittsburg, 
died  there  unmarried,  but  the  daughter  Margaret 
came  on  with  the  family  to  the  new  home  in  In- 
diana. When  George  M.  Stomm  and  wife,  Mar- 
garet (Holtzworth)  Stomm,  crossed  the  Atlantic 
to  join  their  son  and  daughter  in  America  they  were 
accompanied  by  four  children,  Henry,  Elizabeth, 
Barbara  and  Catherine. 

Henry,  who  was  the  father  of  Daniel,  the  present 
head  of  the  Stomm  family,  was  born  in  Germany 
March  24,  1833,  and  had  just  attained  to  manhood 
when  he  came  to  DeKalb  County.  He  had  learned 
the  weaver’s  trade  in  Germany,  but  agriculture  has 
been  the  forte  of  the  Stomm  family  in  this  coun- 
try. The  'naturalization  papers  of  Henry  Stomm 
are  now  a matter  of  record  in  the  DeKalb  County 
court  house.  Today  the  history  of  all  that  genera- 
tion of  the  Stomm  family  has  been  written  on  the 
tombstone  in  the  DeKalb-Steuben  County  Line  Ceme- 
tery in  Steuben  County.  The  Stomm  family  name 
was  identified  with  the  German  Reformed  Church, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


159 


and  in  politics  the  family  vote  always  went  to  demo- 
cratic candidates. 

Henry  Stomm  married  Anna  Maria  Gettz  on  Jan- 
uary 9,  1856.  She  had  come  with  her  parents,  Wil- 
liam and  Eliza  (Hosier)  Gettz,  from  Pennsylvania. 
Two  of  her  sisters,  Sarah  and  Susannah  Putt,  who 
married  brothers,  are  living  at  Garrett,  Indiana.  The 
seven  living  children  born  to  Henry  and  Anna  Maria 
Stomm  are:  Daniel,  Elizabeth,  Moses,  William, 

Mary,  Nora  and  Clara.  Three  others  deceased  were 
Sarah,  Amanda  and  Cora.  The  mother  died  October 
1,  1882,  and  Henry  Stomm  married  Catherine  Bickle, 
who  helped  rear  his  3munger  children. 

On  January  1,  1886,  Daniel,  who,  it  will  be  noted, 
was  born  about  eight  years  after  the  family  came  to 
DeKalb  County,  married  Nancy  Elizabeth  Urey.  She 
became  the  mother  of  two  sons.  Voyde  G.  and 
Roy  C.  She  died  January  3,  1891.  On  October  10, 
1894,  Mr.  Stomm  married  Mary  M.  Borger,  of  Owen 
County,  Indiana.  She  is  a daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Emma  (Hostetler)  Borger,  whose  eight  children 
were : George  M.,  Costa  M.,  William  F.,  Mary  M., 
Ida  A.,  Esther,  Martin  J.  and  Jacob  E.  An  older 
set  of  children  than  these  were  seven  half  brothers 
and  sisters  bearing  the  name  Borger : Rachel,  Ben- 
jamin, Levi,  David,  Elizabeth,  Catherine  and  Sarah. 

The  three  children  born  to  Daniel  and  Mary  M. 
Stomm  are  Ralph  B.,  Ruth  O.  and  Emma  M.  The 
two  older  sons,  Voyde  and  Roy,  were  reared  in  the 
same  household.  Voyde  married  September  28,  19x7, 
Iva  High,  and  they  have  one  child,  Lois  M.  Roy 
married,  May  31,  1914,  Mary  Benjamin,  and  their 
son,  Austin  Leroy,  and  the  father,  Roy,  are  both  now 
deceased.  The  son  Ralph  B.  married  Theresa  M. 
Hanes  December  2,  1917.  They  have  one  son,  Robert 
G.  Ruth  O.  was  married  January  1,  1919,  to  Hubert 
Boyd.  Lois  May  and  Robert  Gerald  Stomm  are  the 
two  representatives  of  the  fifth  generation  of  the 
Stomm  family  in  DeKalb  County. 

Since  1887  Daniel  Stomm  has  lived  in  his  present 
home  in  Fairfield  and  today  Vistawald  is  one  of 
the  most  picturesque  and  attractive  farmsteads  in  the 
entire  county.  The  hill  top  building  site  is  high  and 
dry,  and  the  home  buildings  are  well  set  in  orchard 
and  small  fruit  groves.  Strawberry  culture  is  a 
specialty.  Spraying  and  other  necessary  work  is 
done  in  season  in  order  to  secure  high  class  fruit 
A small  apiary  is  maintained  with  the  double  purpose 
of  honey  on  the  dinner  table  and  the  better  poleni- 
zation  of  fruit.  There  is  a stucco  house  with  full 
basement  story,  modern  heating,  electric  lighting  and 
water  system,  the  water  being  forced  into  the  house 
by  hydraulic  ram  from  a spring  that  supplies  suffi- 
cient water  for  all  domestic  purposes  and  for  the 
live  stock  as  well.  Winter  or  summer  there  is  no 
water  to  pump  and  a stream  down  the  hillside  from 
the  fountain,  encased  in  cement,  has  a continuous 
and  bounteous  supply. 

There  is  the  second  basement  barn,  one  having  been 
destroyed  by  lightning  in  a storm  in  which  six  other 
barns  were  burned  in  the  same  neighborhood.  The 
silo  back  of  the  barn  was  one  of  the  first  built  in 
DeKalb  County. 

Vistawald  is  a scene  of  thrift  and  contentment 
and  of  work  in  which  all  members  of  the  family  par- 
ticipate. The  farmstead  is  hills  and  dales  and 
adapted  to  diversified  farming  and  fruit,  live  stock 
and  agriculture.  There  are  yet  some  unfinished- 
plans,  the  World  war  delaying  some  of  them,  but 
the  traveler  will  go  a long  way  before  he  finds  a 
more  attractive  spot  than  Vistawald. 

Paul  W.  Sanders.  Some  of  the  most  successful 
of  the  Steuben  County  agriculturalists  are  those 


who  have  returned  to  the  soil  after  having  been 
engaged  in  other  lines  of  industry.  One  of  those 
belonging  to  this  class  is  Paul  W.  Sanders  of 
Pleasant  Township.  He  was  born  in  Pleasant 
Township  July  21,  1886,  a son  of  William  Henry 
Sanders  and  grandson  of  Samuel  Sanders.  William 
Henry  Sanders  was  born  December  26,  1847,  and 
died  December  20,  19x7.  He  attended  the  schools 
of  Auburn  and  Waterloo,  Indiana,  and  his  first 
business  experience  was  obtained  in  the  hardware 
line  at  Wolcotville  and  Hudson,  Indiana.  About 
thirty-two  years  ago  he  sold  his  hardware  business 
and  moved  on  a farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Angola, 
occupying  himself  with  conducting  it  until  the  fall 
of  1915,  w-hen  he  retired  and,  locating  at  Angola, 
lived  there  until  his  death  two  years  later.  In  1872 
William  Henry  Sanders  was  married  to  Loretta 
Wickwire,  a daughter  of  George  W.  and  Loretta 
(Lemmon)  Wickwire,  and  they  had  the  following 
children:  Guy,  who  married  Jennie  Smiley  and 

has  two  children,  Mark  C.  and  Hugh  G.,  and  Paul 
W.,  whose  name  heads  this  review.  Mr.  Sanders 
belonged  to  the  Christian  Church  and  his  wife  has 
been  a member  of  this  same  denomination  for  forty- 
three  years.  He  was  a man  of  sterling  characteris- 
tics and  one  who  stood  high  in  the  estimation  of 
his  fellow  citizens. 

Paul  W.  Sanders  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Pleasant  Township,  the  Angola  High  School  and  the 
Tri-State  College  of  Angola,  and  was  graduated 
from  the  latter  institution  with  the  degree  of 
Bachelor  of  Science.  After  completing  his  col- 
legiate course  he  spent  two  years  as  clerk  and 
cashier  of  the  McHenry  Millhouse  Roofing  Company, 
but  then  decided  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
father,  and  returned  to  the  old  homestead,  where 
until  1911  he  was  engaged  in  conducting  his  an- 
cestral acres.  He  then  bought  his  present  farm  of 
ninety  acres  in  Pleasant  Township,  and  here  is 
profitably  carrying  on  general  farming. 

On  October  5,  1910,  Mr.  Sanders  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Dessie  Crain,  a daughter  of  Hiram 
and  Mary  E.  (Parsell)  Crain.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  San- 
ders have  two  children,  Loretta  C.,  who  was  born 
November  20,  1911,  and  Mary,  who  was  born  Janu- 
ary 3,  1914.  The  Church  of  Christ  holds  Mr.  San- 
ders’ membership.  Fraternally  he  is  prominent  as 
a Mason  and  Knight  of  Pythias.  Mrs.  Sanders  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Angola  High  School,  and  she  also 
attended  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola  and  for 
three  years  after  completing  her  educational  train- 
ing was  engaged  in  teaching  school.  She  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church.  Like  her  husband  she 
is  interested  in  fraternal  matters  and  belongs  to 
the  Eastern  Star,  the  Rebekahs  and  Pythian  Sisters. 

Hiram  Crain,  father  of  Mrs.  Sanders,  was  born  in 
Pleasant  Township,  March  27,  1859,  a son  of  Abra- 
ham D.  and  Harriet  (Perry)  Crain.  Hiram  Crain 
alternated  attendance  in  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township  with  work  on  his  father’s  farm,  and 
grew  up  useful  and  sturdy.  After  he  attained  his 
majority  he  began  working  by  the  month  for  farm- 
ers in  order  to  secure  sufficient  money  to  put  him 
through  high  school,  recognizing  the  benefits  of 
education  and  training,  and  after  he  had  taken  the 
courses  offered  by  the  Angola  High  School  he  was 
engaged  in  teaching  school  for  eight  years  during 
the  winter  months,  while  in  the  summer  time  he 
further  improved  his  own  mind.  In  1884  he  was 
married  to  Mary  E.  Parsed,  a daughter  of  Thomas 
B.  Parsed,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children : Dessie,  who  is  Mrs.  Paul  W. 

Sanders,  and  Thomas  A.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
fourteen  years.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Crain  went 
to  live  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born,  and  there 


160 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


spent  three  years,  but  in  1887  he  moved  to  a farm  in 
Pleasant  Township,  two  and  one-half  miles  north- 
west of  Angola,  and  there  he  died  August  14,  1918. 
Mrs.  Crain  moved  to  Angola  in  March,  1919,  where 
she  proposes  to  reside  permanently.  Mr.  Crain  was 
a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America,  and  Mrs.  Crain  belongs  to  the 
Rebekahs.  Both  the  Sanders  and  Crain  families  are 
numbered  among  the  most  representative  of  the 
best  type  of  people  in  this  part  of  Indiana,  and  the 
members  of  the  families  have  more  than  borne  their 
part  in  the  development  of  this  important  section  of 
the  state  and  the  upholding  of  high  moral  standards. 

B.  Frank  Deal.  From  almost  the  earliest  period 
of  settlement  in  LaGrange  County  the  Deal  family 
has  had  a part  in  the  work  of  improvement  and 
development.  One  of  the  representatives  of  this 
old  and  honored  family  is  B.  Frank  Deal,  whose 
home  is  in  the  Mt.  Pisgah  community  of  Milford 
Township.  His  farm  is  in  section  3,  eight  miles 
east  and  three  miles  south  of  LaGrange. 

He  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  of  the 
same  county  April  21,  1855,  a son  of  Harrison  and 
Ellen  (Jones)  Deal.  His  father  who  was  born  in 
Marion  County,  Ohio,  April  20,  1828,  and  died 
June  7,  1897,  was  an  old  time  thresherman,  a busi- 
ness in  which  he  engaged  between  the  ages  of  six- 
teen and  twenty-four.  He  had  lived  in  LaGrange 
County  from  1835,  the  family  being  pioneers  in 
section  23  of  Springfield  Township.  January  5, 
1851,  Harrison  Deal  married  Ellen  Jones,  who  was 
born  in  LaGrange  County  June  9,  1832,  and  died 
March  3,  1904.  After  his  marriage  Harrison  Deal 
lived  on  his  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  23 
of  Springfield  Township  until  his  death.  He 
bought  another  120  acres  and  had  200  acres  highly 
developed  as  a farm  and  owned  another  tract  of 
120  acres  in  Milford  Township.  He  was  a gen- 
eral farmer  and  stock  raiser,  a republican  in  poli- 
tics, honored  with  several  minor  offices,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
had  a family  of  four  sons  and  two  daughters : 
B.  Frank;  William  H.,  of  Milford  Township; 
Lewis  E. ; Charles,  deceased;  Carrie,  wife  of  Ed 
Hess;  and  Jennie  M.,  wife  of  Isaac  Troyer. 

B.  Frank  Deal  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  on 
Brushy  Prairie  in  Springfield  Township.  Besides 
the  advantages  of  the  district  schools  he  attended 
a college  at  Ontario,  Indiana,  and  had  a license  to 
teach.  For  over  forty  years  he  has  been  a farmer 
and  his  home  place  comprises  eighty  acres,  im- 
proved with  a fine  modern  home,  which  was  erected 
by  him  and  his  son  in  1914.  He  is  a breeder  of 
Jersey  cattle.  He  also  for  fourteen  years  worked 
at  his  trade  of  cabinet  making  in  Kendallville. 

December  27,  1876,  Mr.  Deal  married  Jennie 
Goodsell.  She  was  born  in  Milford  Township  Sept- 
ember 7,  1858,  a daughter  of  Mynott  and  Nancy 
(Johnson)  Goodsell.  Her  father  was  born  at  Litch- 
field Connecticut,  May  29,  1817,  and  was  twice 
married,  having  thirteen  children  by  his  two  wives, 
six  by  his  marriage  to  Nancy  Johnson,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio  February  15,  1840.  Mrs.  Deal  was 
the  oldest  of  her  mother’s  children.  The  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  are  five  in  number, 
four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Alvah  C.,  a graduate 
of  the  South  Milford  High  School,  married  Eska 
Gaskell  and  lives  in  Blaine  County,  Montana;  Mer- 
tie  A.,  wife  of  Ray  Kingsley,  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship ; Guy  attended  the  Kendallville  High  School 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Business 
College,  was  tariff  clerk  at  Kendallville  for  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad  ten  years,  mar- 
ried Beulah  Cording,  of  Kendallville,  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  Kendallville  Lodge  No.  176,  Free  and  Ac- 


cepted Masons,  and  is  past  noble  grand  of  Lodge 
No.  316  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  past  chief  patri- 
arch of  the  Encampment ; Harry  M.  is  the  de- 
ceased son;  and  Imo,  born  November  16,  1886,  is 
the  wife  of  Claude  Potts,  of  Milford  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  also  have  five  grandchildren: 
Thola  Kingsley,  Leon  Kingsley,  Leonard  Kingsley, 
Marion  Potts  and  Joe  M.  Deal. 

Mr.  Deal  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Kendallville.  and  is  past  chief 
patriarch  of  the  Encampment.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 

Christian  J.  Stahly,  who  has  had  a wide  ex- 
perience as  a farmer  and  business  man,  has  for 
several  years  capably  managed  the  old  Stahly  home- 
stead in  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

The  Stahly  family  presents  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting famity  records  in  Northeast  Indiana.  It 
is  reviewed  at  length  with  its  different  members 
and  family  connections  on  other  pages.  Christian 
J.  Stahly  was  born  in  the  house  where  he  still  lives 
October  8,  1871,  being  a son  of  John  C.  Stahly.  He 
is  also  a brother  of  Daniel  J.  Stahly  of  the  same 
township. 

Mr.  Stahly  attended  district  schools  and  as  a 
young  man  worked  as  a farmer.  In  1891,  at  the 
age  of  twenty,  he  married  Anna  Hostetler,  a 
daughter  of  Moses  M.  and  Mary  Ann  (Mehl)  Hos- 
tetler. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Stahly  applied  himself 
with  great  diligence  to  the  business  of  farming 
in  Newbury  Township  until  1909.  He  and  his  fam- 
ily then  went  to  Texas,  where  he  had  three  years’ 
experience  as  a farmer  in  the  Lone  Star  State.  He 
returned  in  1912,  spending  one  year  at  Wabash,  In- 
diana, four  years  at  Goshen,  and  since  the  fall  of 
1915  has  occupied  the  old  Stahly  homestead  in  New- 
bury Township.  He  owns  150  acres  in  section  30, 
and  along  with  general  farming  and  stock  raising 
makes  something  of  a specialty  of  growing  wheat. 
Mr.  Stahly  and  family  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church  at  Goshen.  He  and  his  wife  have  five 
children : Duane  A.,  born  August  26,  1892,  mar- 

ried Sibyl  Stoner  and  lives  at  Kansas  City,  Mis- 
souri; Elizabeth  A.,  born  April  15,  1896;  Mary  A., 
born  August  5,  1898;  William  J.,  born  July  22,  1900; 
and  Winifred  M.,  born  March  2,  1908. 

J.  Bruce  Pessell.  It  is  always  pleasant  and  profit- 
able to  contemplate  the  career  of  a man  who  has 
made  a success  of  life  and  won  the  honor  and  re- 
spect of  his  fellow  citizens.  Such  is  the  record  of 
the  well-known  citizen  whose  name  forms  the  cap- 
tion of  this  sketch,  than  whom  a more  whole-souled 
or  popular  man  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  in  the 
community  where  he  has  his  home. 

J.  Bruce  Pessell,  postmaster  at  Butler,  Indiana, 
was  born  at  Quincy,  Michigan,  on  August  17,  1882, 
and  is  the  son  of  Henry  D.  and  Susanna  E.  (Wat- 
kins ) Pessell,  the  latter  of  whom  was  born  at  Hali- 
fax, Nova  Scotia.  Henry  D.  Pessell  was  born  in 
Devonshire,  England,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years 
came  to  the  United  States,  locating  at  Quincy,  Mich- 
igan, where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  was  a farmer 
by  vocation  and  was  successful  in  his  business  af- 
fairs. Under  President  Cleveland’s  administration 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  Quincy,  serving  one 
term  of  four  years.  In  1903  he  was  fatally  stricken 
by  lightning  and  his  widow  died  in  1908.  They  were 
active  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  Mr.  Pes- 
sell was  greatly  interested  in  Freemasonry,  having 
taken  all  the  degrees  of  the  York  Rite  and  those 
of  the  Scottish  Rite  up  to  and  including  the  thirty- 
second  degree.  He  was  eminent  commander  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


161 


■Commandery  of  Knights  Templar  at  Coldwater  and 
had  an  appointment  from  the  grand  commander  of 
Knights  Templar  of  Michigan  to  go  to  Porto  Rico 
in  the  interests  of  that  order.  Mrs.  Pessell  was  a 
member  of  the  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Politic- 
ally Mr.  Pessell  was  a democrat  and  stood  high  in 
the  councils  of  his  party  locally. 

To  Henry  D.  and  Susanna  Pessell  were  born  eight 
children,  of  whom  seven  are  living,  namely:  George, 
superintendent  of  the  city  water  works  at  Los  An- 
geles, California;  Arthur,  assistant  baggage  master 
on  one  of  the  railroads  running  into  Los  Angeles ; 
Lucile,  who  is  a teacher  in  a polytechnic  school  in 
Los  Angeles ; Sarah,  of  Glenellyn,  Illinois ; Fred,  a 
manufacturer  of  butter  at  Arcadia,  Ohio ; Cora,  who 
lives  in  the  old  home  at  Quincy,  Michigan;  and  the 
subject  of  this  sketch. 

J.  Bruce  Pessell  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Quincy,  being  a graduate  of  the  high  school,  after 
which  he  attended  and  graduated  in  the  agricul- 
tural course  from  the  Ohio  State  University.  Dur- 
ing the  ensuing  three  years  he  was  employed  in  the 
making  of  butter  and  ice  cream  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  in  1904  he  came  to  Butler  and  engaged  in  the 
same  line  of  work,  in  which  he  was  successful.  On 
February  n,  1915,  he  was  appointed  postmaster  of 
Butler,  and  is  now  serving  his  second  term  in  that 
position,  his  reappointment  meeting  with  the  hearty 
approval  of  the  patrons  of  the  office  whom  he  had 
faithfully  served  for  four  years.  Attentive  to  the 
interests  of  the  people  of  the  community  and  cour- 
teous in  his  dealings  with  them,  he  has  .won  a host  of 
friends.  Mr.  Pessell  is  also  captain  of  the  Butler 
fire  department.  Fraternally  he  is  identified  with  the 
Masonic  order,  in  which  he  has  met  with  distinctive 
preferment,  being  a past  master  of  the  Blue  Lodge, 
a past  high  priest  of  the  Chapter  and  past  illustrious 
master  of  the  Council.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  in 
the  advancement  of  which  they  are  deeply  inter- 
ested. 

Mr.  Pessell  was  married  to  Addie  Austin,  of 
Quincy,  Michigan,  and  their  union  has  been  blessed 
by  two  children,  Rovelle  and  Clyde.  Mr.  Pessell  is 
well  endowed  with  those  qualities  which  go  to  the 
making  of  good  citizens,  and  he  has  won  and  retains 
the  esteem  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  a marked  de- 
gree. 

Daniel  Oury.  When  the  people  of  an  Indiana 
township  select  their  most  responsible  and  important 
official,  a township  trustee,  their  choice  usually 
falls  upon  a man  of  known  and  proved  substantial 
character,  good  business  ability  and  with  a public 
spirit  that  when  necessary  will  make  him  sacrifice 
his  private  interests  in  order  to  serve  the  public 
welfare,  especially  in  the  matter  of  good  schools. 
It  was  that  type  of  man  which  was  selected  to 
manage  the  affairs  of  Jackson  Township  in  Steuben 
County  when  Daniel  ,Oury  was  promoted  to  the 
office.  Mr.  Oury  is  now  serving  his  second  term. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  April  26,  1874, 
son  of  William  and  Rachel  (Bowerman)  Oury.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  a daugh- 
ter of  Simon  and  Lydia  (Spangle)  Bowerman. 
William  Oury,  who  was  born  in  Knox  County,  Ohio, 
in  1849,  was  thrown  upon  his  own  responsibilities 
when  a boy  and  what  he  achieved  in  later  years  was 
an  exhibition  of  his  personal  resources,  industry 
and  all  around  ability.  He  was  married  in  Ohio 
and  about  1874  he  came  to  Jackson  Township  in 
Steuben  County  with  his  wife  and  one  child.  In 
1876  he  bought  the  farm  in  sections  16  and  21  where 
he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  and  where  he  died  in 
1901.  He  built  a house  on  that  farm,  built  a barn, 

Vol.  II— 11 


and  at  the  time  of  his  death  left  a good  property 
of  200  acres.  He  and  his  wife  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Flint.  Their  children 
were  six  in  number:  Charles  Berton;  Daniel  C. ; 

Pearl,  wife  of  Guy  Barr;  George  J. ; Simon;  and 
Ethel,  wife  of  Clyde  Ferris. 

Daniel  Oury  was  born  soon  after  his  parents 
came  to  Steuben  County.  He  attended  the  No.  4 
district  school  in  that  township,  and  was  well  trained 
in  habits  of  industry,  his  father  keeping  him  busy 
in  the  fields  when  he  was  not  in  school.  He  was 
thus  well  qualified  to  assume  the  responsibilities 
of  managing  the  home  farm  when  his  father  died 
in  1901,  and  he  has  since  acquired  the  individual 
ownership  of  166  acres  of  the  land  formerly  owned 
by  his  father-  He  does  general  farming  and  stock 
raising  and  breeds  Chester  White  hogs. 

Mr.  Oury  married  Miss  Katie  M.  Jackson,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Martha  Jackson.  They 
have  two  children.  Cecil  L.,  a graduate  of  the  Flint 
High  School,  spent  two  terms  in  Angola  Normal 
School,  was  a teacher  for  three  terms  and  is  now 
farming  in  Jackson  Township.  He  married  Mildred 
Miller  and  has  a daughter.  Catherine  Elizabeth. 
Clarence  McKey,  the  second  son,  is  a graduate  of 
the  Flint  High  School. 

Mr.  Oury  was  elected  trustee  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship in  1914,  and  after  one  term  of  four  years  was 
re-elected  in  1918.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Flint,  and  his  wife  and  sons  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church  there. 

James  E.  Luckey,  M.  D.  For  over  a quarter  of 
a century  Dr.  James  E.  Luckey  has  borne  the  re- 
sponsibilities and  performed  the  duties  of  a busy 
practitioner  in  and  around  Wolf  Lake,  and  is  one 
of  the  foremost  medical  men  of  Noble  County  in 
point  of  years  of  experience  and  personal  ability. 

He  was  born  in  Noble  County  July  18,  1865,  son 
of  Robert  and  Abigail  (Adair)  Luckey.  His  mother 
was  the  second  white  child  born  in  Washington 
Township  of  Noble  County.  Her  father  was  a 
native  of  Ireland  and  married  Eliza  Window,  who 
was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Wight.  Robert  Luckey 
was  born  in  Nelson  County,  Virginia,  in  1824,  moved 
from  that  state  to  Pennsylvania,  and  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  came  to  Indiana,  locating  in  Elkhart  County. 
In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  bricklayer,  and 
as  a contractor  erected  many  buildings  in  Ligonier, 
Goshen  and  at  various  points  in  Elkhart  County. 
Some  years  later  he  moved  to  a farm  in  Washington 
Township  of  Noble  County  and  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life  in  that  locality.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  was  a democrat  until  1896, 
when  he  became  affiliated  with  the  republican  party. 
He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  as  follows: 
Anna,  wife  of  Dr.  W.  C.  Hontz,  of  North  Webster, 
Indiana;  Lydia,  wife  of  T.  I.  Ashlick,  of  the  State 
of  Washington;  Dr.  James  E. ; May,  wife  of  Dr. 
D.  S.  Hontz,  of  North  Webster ; Thomas  A.,  a Noble 
County  farmer ; Man'  J.,  wife  of  J.  H.  Starkey,  also 
a farm  owner  in  Noble  Township;  and  Joseph  E., 
one  of  the  extensive  farmers  and  onion  growers  in 
this  section  of  the  state. 

Dr.  James  E.  Luckey  spent  his  early  life  on  his 
father’s  farm,  attended  the  district  schools  and  the 
high  school,  and  was  graduated  in  medicine  from 
the  Indiana  University  School  of  Medicine.  He 
began  practice  at  Wolf  Lake  in  1892,  and  has  been 
steadily  engaged  in  the  work  of  his  profession  at 
that  point  for  over  a quarter  of  a century. 

September  8,  1892,  Doctor  Luckey  married  Dott 
B.  Benfer,  a native  of  Noble  Countj'.  They  have 
three  sons:  Hugh  A.,  a graduate  of  high  school, 

married  Hazel  Gandy;  Harold  A.,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing at  home  and  has  taught  school  for  two  years,  is 


162 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


a high  school  graduate  and  also  attended  Goshen 
College  and  spent  one  year  in  the  State  University; 
Robert  C.  is  a high  school  student.  Doctor  Luckey 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  is 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Albion,  with 
Kendallville  Chapter  No.  19,  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
with  Ligonier  Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters, 
with  the  Knights  Templar  at  Columbia  City,  and  is 
a member  of  the  thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
and  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Elks  at  Ligonier.  In  politics  Doc- 
tor Luckey  is  a democrat.  He  is  a member  of  the 
United  States  Pension  Examining  Board,  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Wolf  Lake  State  Bank,  and  is  also  in- 
terested in  farming,  owning  ninety  acres  in  Noble 
Township. 

Harvey  A.  Strater  is  one  of  the  successful 
farmer  citizens  of  Noble  County,  owns  a good 
place  of  eighty  acres  situated  three  miles  west  of 
Kendallville  in  Orange  Township,  and  has  been 
identified  with  the  agricultural  and  civic  affairs 
of  his  county  for  over  thirty  years. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  April  11, 
1862,  son  of  John  F.  and  Anna  M.  (Toby)  Strater. 
His  parents  were  both  born  in  Germany.  His 
father  came  to  the  United  States  when  a boy  with 
his  parents.  The  mother  was  twelve  years  old 
when  her  parents  came  to  the  United  States.  Both 
families  settled  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where 
John  F.  Strater  and  wife  were  married.  Later 
they  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  settled 
where  Martin  Strater  now  lives.  In  that  locality 
they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  John  F.  Strater 
was  a man  of  great  industry,  of  fine  moral  char- 
acter, and  enjoyed  the  full  esteem  of  his  friends 
and  neighbors.  He  came  to  Indiana  with  only  $400 
in  capital,  and  by  an  industrious  life  he  accumu- 
lated 280  acres  of  land.  He  was  a very  ardent 
democrat  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  had  a large 
family  of  twelve  children.  One  died  in  infancy, 
one  passed  away  recently  in  1916,  and  ten  are  still 
living,  as  follows : Catherine,  wife  of  Samuel 

Linzy;  Mary,  wife  of  Ephraim  Acton,  of  Wayne 
Township;  Jenetta,  widow  of  Nelson  Shamlin,  of 
Orange  Township ; Laura,  unmarried  and  living  in 
Wayne  Township;  George,  of  Wayne  Township; 
J.  M.,  Strater  of  Orange  Township;  Harvey  A.; 
Minnie,  wife  of  Walter  A.  Rhea,  of  Orange  Town- 
ship; Emma,  wife  of  John  Rhea,  of  Orange  Town- 
ship; and  Albert,  of  Wayne  Township. 

Harvey  A.  Strater  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Orange  Township  and  had  a common  school  edu- 
cation. At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  work- 
ing out  for  others  and  also  rented  a farm.  He 
married  for  his  first  wife  Isabella  I.  Imes.  She 
left  two  children : Glenn  and  Carl,  both  of  whom 
are  married  and  established  in  homes  of  their  own. 
On  June  24,  1895,  Mr.  Strater  married  Mollie 
Spence.  She  was  born  in  Jefferson  Township  of 
Noble  County  October  12,  1872,  and  was  reared 
in  that  locality.  Her  father,  Rev.  T.  P.  Spence, 
a minister  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  was 
born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio.  His  wife  was  a 
native  of  Wyandot  County,  Ohio,  and  they  were 
married  in  Seneca  County  of  that  state  in  1859, 
and  in  1865  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana. 
T.  P.  Spence  served  three  years  as  a soldier  in  the 
LTnion  army.  Mrs.  Strater  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools,  graduating  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strater  had  seven  children:  Dale,  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  now  married 
and  living  in  Kendallville;  Wilma,  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools ; Edna,  a student  in  high 
school ; Claire,  who  has  finished  the  common  school 
course ; Olive,  now  in  high  school ; Reva,  and  one 


that  died  young.  Mrs.  Strater  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Unified  Brethren  Church.  In  politics  Mr. 
Strater  is  a democrat. 

Joseph  Y.  Hooley,  a resident  of  LaGrange  County 
since  1881,  started  life  with  no  particular  advantages 
and  from  farm  labor  has  progressed  steadily  during 
the  passing  years  to  a comfortable  independence  rep- 
resented in  the  ownership  of  a fine  farm  in  New- 
bury Township. 

Mr.  Hooley  was  born  in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio, 
June  30,  1861,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Rachel  (Yoder) 
Hooley.  His  mother  was  a daughter  of  Jacob 
Yoder.  She  was  born  October  10,  1834,  and  died 
March  21,  1893.  Joseph  Hooley  was  born  in  Mif- 
flin County,  Pennsylvania,  January  13,  1829,  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  married  January  9,  1855.  For 
a number  of  years  he  farmed  in  Mahoning  County, 
but  in  1863  moved  to  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  on  a farm.  He 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church.  They  had  a family  of  children  as  follows : 
Enos,  who  married  Lydia  A.  Yoder;  Menno  S.,  who 
married  Frances  Hostetler;  Anna,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Isaiah  Hostettler ; Joseph  Y. ; John  F.,  who 
died  November  4,  1865;  Emma  J.,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Jacob  Hostetler;  and  Magdalene,  who  mar- 
ried William  W.  Hartzler. 

Joseph  Y.  Hooley  grew  up  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  attended  the  district  schools  there,  and 
was  about  twenty  years  of  age  when  he  came  to 
Newbury  Township.  He  worked  out  as  a farm  hand 
and  on  March  1,  1884,  married  Gertrude  Yoder. 
Then  for  several  years  he  followed  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  in  1891  bought  his  first  farm,  com- 
prising eighty  acres.  After  two  years  he  sold  that 
and  bought  another  eighty  acres,  which  he  still  owns, 
and  in  1902  bought  a place  of  120  acres,  on  which 
he  has  lived  since  1907.  He  also  owns  nearby  forty 
acres,  and  has  eighty  acres  in  Elkhart  County.  Mr. 
Hooley  has  rebuilt  the  buildings  and  put  many  im- 
provements on  his  home  farm,  and  in  the  matter 
of  buildings  it  is  one  of  the  best  places  in  the  town- 
ship. His  home  is  in  section  8 of  Newbury  Town- 
ship. 

In  the  comfortable  prosperity  of  later  years  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hooley  have  the  companionship  and  solace 
of  both  children  and  grandchildren.  Their  own 
children  numbered  eight.  Levi  F.,  the  oldest,  mar- 
ried Minnie  Miller,  and  they  are  the  parents  of 
Nancy,  Amos,  Titus,  Rachel,  Reva  and  Yada.  Noah 
J.,  the  second  son,  married  Syvilla  Blough  and  has 
three  children,  Francis,  Florence  and  Ernest.  Menno 
S.  married  Dora  Mast  and  has  two  children,  Walter 
Harold  and  Verna.  Lydia  Ann  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Murray,  and  their  children  are  named  Gerald,  Joe- 
ulla,  Elmer,  Jr.,  Gladys  and  Grace.  Beulah  F.  is 
the  wife  of  Adam  Birkholder,  and  they  have  Sa- 
verna  and  Mabel.  The  three  younger  children,  still 
unmarried,  are  Ora  J.,  Katie  R.  and  Luella  G. 

Solomon  Alwood,  whose  interests  as  a farmer, 
public  spirited  citizen  and  leader  in  church  and  com- 
munity affairs  identify  him  prominently  with  Troy 
Township  of  DeKalb  County,  lives  five  miles  south- 
west of  Edon,  Ohio. 

He  was  born  in  Troy  Township  January  29,  1861, 
a son  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth  (Rosenburg)  Alwood. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  his  father, 
born  January  22,  1827,  and  his  mother  August  24, 
1827.  After  their  marriage  they  came  to  DeKalb 
County  and  settled  in  Troy  Township,  where  the 
father  followed  farming  until  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany G of  the  Thirteenth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was 
a faithful  soldier  and  died  July  4,  1865,  before  being 
mustered  out  of  the  army.  He  was  a democrat  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


163 


politics.  His  widow  survived  him  many  years,  pass- 
ing away  July  5,  1902.  She  was  the  mother  of  seven 
children:  John,  of  Butler,  Indiana;  Henry,  of  Bat- 

tle Creek,  Michigan;  Leonard,  of  Angola;  Saman- 
tha, of  Edon,  Ohio;  Solomon;  Warren,  of  Clare 
County,  Michigan ; and  Ananias,  deceased. 

Solomon  Alwood  was  four  years  old  when  his 
father  died.  He  grew  up  at  the  old  home,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  district  schools,  and  helped  his  mother 
run  the  farm  until  his  marriage. 

November  13,  1899,  Della  Van  Wormer  became  his 
wife.  She  was  born  in  Troy  Township  December 
16,  1867,  a daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Has- 
well)  Van  Wormer,  the  former  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Her  parents  were 
married  in  Indiana  and  her  father  served  in  Com- 
pany K of  the  One  Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry 
until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war.  The  Van  Wormers 
were  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alwood  after  their  marriage  lived 
on  the  home  farm  until  he  bought  his  present  place 
in  Troy  Township.  He  owns  a 118-acre  farm,  and 
has  specialized  to  a considerable  extent  in  the  breed- 
ing of  Duroc  hogs. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alwood  have  four  children : Clark 

W.,  born  September  6,  1890,  is  a blacksmith  in  Steu- 
ben County;  Claude  L.,  born  June  27,  1892,  a farmer 
in  Troy  Township;  and  Leland  and  Lelah,  twins, 
born  August  7,  1902,  both  graduates  of  the  common 
schools  and  now  in  the  senior  year  of  the  Butler 
High  School.  The  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  Mr.  Alwood  is  a church  trus- 
tee and  superintendent  and  teacher  of  the  Sunday 
School.  He  was  a candidate  on  the  democratic 
ticket  for  the  office  of  trustee  of  Troy  Township  in 
1918. 

Howard  E.  Lees,  cashier  of  the  First  State  Bank 
of  Fremont,  is  a banker  of  several  years’  experience, 
but  for  a much  longer  time  was  a popular  and  suc- 
cessful teacher.  Most  of  his  career  was  spent  in 
Northwestern  Ohio,  but  he  is  one  of  the  well  known 
and  enterprising  young  leaders  in  business  affairs 
in  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  at  Edon  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
July  14,  1889.  His  grandfather,  Hugh  Lees,  was 
born  in  Belfast,  Ireland,  and  spent  much  of  his 
active  life  as  a farmer  in  Ohio.  He  had  the  follow- 
ing children : Zeph,  Murvin,  Elmer,  Willis,  Edson, 

Mary,  who  married  Henry  Stuller,  and  Elizabeth, 
who  became  the  wife  of  David  Metzler. 

Murvin  A.  Lees  was  born  at  Edon,  Ohio,  on  the 
same  farm  as  his  son  Howard,  and  has  spent  all  his 
life  as  a farmer  there.  He  has  been  prospered 
and  for  several  years  has  specialized  in  Holstein 
dairy  cattle.  He  is  also  one  of  the  leading  stock 
buyers  in  that  section  of  Ohio.  He  married  Hannah 
Fetters,  a native  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Kimmel)  Fetters.  Mur- 
vin Lees  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  They  had  four  children : Beulah,  wife  of 

Samuel  Burkhart ; Florence,  wife  of  Orvie  Eyster ; 
Howard  E. ; and  Fay,  who  married  Juanita.  Skelton. 

Howard  E.  Lees  attended  public  school  in  Edon, 
graduating  from  the  high  school  there,  and  first 
became  acquainted  in  Steuben  County  as  a student 
in  the  Tri-State  College.  In  the  years  1909-10  he 
took  advanced  work  in  Miami  University. 

Mr.  Lees  taught  school  for  nine  years,  three  years 
near  his  native  Village  of  Edon,  five  years  in  that 
town,  and  one  year  in  the  State  of  Washington. 
In  1916,  after  his  last  work  in  school,  he  returned 
to  Ohio  and  became  an  employe  of  the  First  Na- 
tional Bank  of  Hicksville.  In  December,  1916,  he 
moved  to  Fremont,  Indiana,  and  was  assistant 


cashier  until  he  was  made  cashier  in  July,  1918,  of 
the  First  State  Bank. 

In  the  fall  of  1911  he  married  Pearl  Musser,  of 
Bryan,  Ohio,  daughter  of  E.  A.  and  Carrie  Musser. 
They  have  one  child,  Helen  Lucile,  born  in  1912. 
Mr.  Lees  is  a member  of  the  Church  of  Christ  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge. 

F.  E.  Seymoure  is  a progressive  farmer  in  Noble 
County,  living  on  land  a part  of  which  was  origi- 
nally entered  from  the  government  by  his  father. 
He  has  a large  farm  in  section  16  and  21  of  Noble 
Township,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  devoted 
part  of  it  to  the  cultivation  of  onions,  and  is  one 
of  the  leading  onion  growers  in  this  section  of 
Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  his  present  home  January  12, 
1864,  son  of  McIntyre  and  Sophia  (Boerger)  Sey- 
moure, the  former  a native  of  New  York  State 
and  the  latter  of  Germany.  His  mother  was  brought 
to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of  thirteen,  and 
she  married  for  her  first  husband  Henry  Freer, 
and  by  her  second  marriage  was  the  mother  of 
four  children : Alta  A.,  wife  of  Thomas  M.  Ott, 
of  Noble  Township;  Rudolph  J.,  a resident  of 
Bluff  Springs  in  Florida ; F.  E.  Seymoure ; and 
Anna,  wife  of  Simon  Hire,  of  Whitley  County, 
Indiana. 

F.  E.  Seymoure  has  always  lived  at  the  home 
he  now  occupies,  and  during  his  boyhood  attended 
the  nearby  district  schools.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  he  was  thirty-one  years  of  age,  and 
in  1895  married  Alma  Kimmell.  She  was  born  in 
Summit  County,  Ohio,  July  14,  1866,  daughter  of 
M.  J.  and  Christina  (Getz)  Kimmell.  When  she 
was  a few  months  old  her  parents  came  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  and  since  her  marriage  she  has 
lived  in  Noble  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Seymoure 
have  three  sons  and  one  daughter.  Carlos  R., 

born  April  30,  1896,  is  a graduate  of  high  school, 
was  a teacher  for  two  terms,  and  is  now  following 
the  occupation  of  agriculture.  Martha,  Roy  and 
Harold  are  the  three  younger  children  and  Martha 
is  a student  in  high  school. 

Mr.  Seymoure  is  a charter  member  of  Wolf 
Lake  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a past 
chancellor  and  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  His 
wife  is  a member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters  at  Wolf 
Lake.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat.  Mr.  Sey- 
moure’s  fine  farm  comprises  120  acres,  and  100 
acres  of  this  was  entered  by  his  father  at  a gov- 
ernment land  office. 

Samuel  M.  Miller.  A good  farm  in  Newbury 
Township,  with  ample  equipment  and  efficiently  man- 
aged, is  the  distinguishing  mark  of  the  service  ren- 
dered by  Samuel  M.  Miller.  Well  known  in  that 
community,  he  is  also  a member  of  a widely  known 
and  numerous  family,  the  Millers  having  been  prom- 
inent in  Pennsylvania  and  in  Northeast  Indiana  for 
many  generations. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  De- 
cember 24,  1870.  He  is  a son  of  Manassas  Miller 
and  a grandson  of  Moses  B.  and  Susanna  (Hersh- 
berger) Miller.  Moses  Miller  spent  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania.  His  chil- 
dren, several  of  whom  came  to  Indiana,  were  Isaac, 
Jacob,  Manassas,  Sarah,  Lena,  Susie,  Mary,  Chris- 
tina, Daniel,  Samuel  and  Catherine. 

Manassas  Miller  was  born  in  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  November  28,  1842,  and  came  to  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  in  1864,  locating  in  New- 
bury Township.  He  lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life 
and  passed  away  October  8,  1916.  On  March  29, 
1866,  he  married  Anna  Miller,  who  was  born  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  June  20,  1848,  a daughter  of 


164 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Christian  and  Catherine  (Mast)  Miller.  Christian 
Miller  was  also  a native  of  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, but  in  early  life  became  a farmer  in  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  where  his  wife  was  born.  In  1859 
they  moved  to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  in  1872  Christian  Miller  went  further 
west,  to  Shelby  County,  Illinois,  was  a farmer  there 
ten  years,  and  in  1882  established  a home  in  Reno 
County,  Kansas,  where  he  was  a pioneer.  He  lived 
there  until  his  death  the  year  of  the  Johnstown 
flood,  1889.  The  children  of  Christian  Miller  were 
Susanna,  Martha,  Anna,  Moses,  Jacob,  Christian, 
Katie,  Joseph  and  Noah. 

Manassas  Miller  and  wife  had  twelve  children, 
nine  living,  a brief  record  of  whom  follows : Levi 

M.  married  for  his  first  wdfe  Anna  Troyer,  who 
died  in  1908,  and  for  his  second  wife,  Hosana 
Troyer;  Jacob  married  Polly  Troyer;  Samuel;  Susie, 
who  lives  in  Kansas,  the  wife  of  Christian  E.  Troyer; 
Christian,  also  a resident  of  Kansas,  married  Lydia 
Ann  Miller;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  John  E.  Christner; 
Moses,  who  married  Elizabeth  Yoder;  William,  who 
married  Polly  Borntrager ; and  Martha,  who  died 
when  eighteen  years  old. 

Samuel  M.  Miller  received  his  educational  ad- 
vantages in  Newbury  Township,  and  from  early 
manhood  has  been  a practical  farmer.  He  farmed 
for  about  four  years  in  his  home  locality,  spent  a 
year  and  a half  in  Elkhart  County,  and  since  then 
has  been  busy  with  the  management  of  his  farm  in 
section  32  of  Newbury  Township.  He  owns  160 
acres,  and  he  has  provided  liberally  for  all  his  needs. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  old  order  of 
the  Mennonite  Church. 

In  1894  he  married  Lydia  Troyer,  a daughter  of 
Eli  D.  Troyer.  While  they  have  no  children  of 
their  own  they  have  taken  into  their  home  two  chil- 
dren to  rear,  Fannie  and  Ammon  Troyer,  who  are 
children  of  his  wife’s  brother,  David  E.  Troyer. 

Homer  L.  Casebere  is  one  of  the  younger  men 
whose  enterprise  entitles  them  to  special  considera- 
tion among  DeKalb  County  agriculturists.  Mr.  Case- 
bere  operates  the  fine  old  Casebere  farm  in  Stafford 
Township,  on  the  eastern  edge  of  the  county.  This 
farm  has  many  characteristics  to  be  admired  in  the 
way  of  improvements  and  productiveness,  and  its 
good  features  are  by  no  means  covered  up  and  lost 
sight  of  by  the  name  chosen  by  the  owner  and  offi- 
cially recorded  among  farm  names  in  the  court  house 
at  Auburn.  This  name  is  “Just-A-Mere  Farm.” 

Mr.  Casebere  was  born  on  this  farm  July  27,  1887, 
a son  of  S.  S.  and  Flora  (Dunkle)  Casebere.  His 
father  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  January 
22,  i860,  son  of  George  and  Mrs.  (Knisely)  Casebere. 
His  parents  now  reside  at  Butler  and  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church  there.  S.  S.  Casebere 
has  been  quite  active  in  the  republican  party  and 
was  formerly  township  trustee  and  member  of  the 
County  Council.  In  the  family  were  three  children: 
Lester,  who  married  Lottie  McDaniel,  of  Stafford 
Township;  Mabel,  wife  of  Frank  Lyons,  of  Wil- 
mington T ownship  ; and  Homer  L. 

Homer  L.  Casebere  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  finished  his  education  with  two  years  in  high 
school.  He  married  Princess  Thomas,  daughter  of 
Elder  Fred  A.  Thomas  of  Milford,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
Casebere  finished  her  education  at  Valparaiso  Uni- 
versity. They  have  three  children : Mabel,  born 

October  1,  1912;  Harold,  born  May  31,  1914;  and 
Rachel,  born  January  22,  1916.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church  and  Mr.  Casebere  is 
one  of  its  elders  and  also  a teacher  in  the  Sunday 
school. 

His  farm  comprises  155  acres  and  while  it  fur- 


nishes him  ample  employment  for  all  his  energies 
he  has  other  interests,  being  a member  of  the  Arctic 
Shipping  Association  of  Arctic,  is  secretary  of  the 
Hobb  Threshing  Company,  and  a stockholder  in  the 
Hamilton  National  Bank  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is 
also  a member  of  the  Grange  and  is  a republican  in 
politics. 

Francis  J.  Clark.  In  the  person  of  the  late 
Francis  J.  Clark,  Steuben  County  had  one  of  its 
most  enterprising  citizens,  a successful  and  hard- 
working farmer,  a thorough  business  man,  and 
possessed  of  that  character  which  makes  his  influ- 
ence still  count  for  good  in  the  community  where  he 
lived  for  so  many  years. 

He  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  March  27,  1861,  and  spent  practically  all  his 
life  there.  His  parents,  Martin  and  Elizabeth 
(Conner)  Clark,  were  both  natives  of  Ireland.  His 
father  was  born  in  1813  and  died  in  1867  and  his 
mother  was  born  August  3,  1821.  Martin  Clark  set- 
tled in  Jamestown  Township  in  1855,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  there  as  a farmer.  His  children  were 
Walter,  Mary  A.  and  Francis  J. 

Francis  J.  Clark  attended  school  in  Jamestown 
Township,  but  owing  to  his  father’s  death  when  he 
was  only  six  years  old,  had  meager  opportunities  to 
acquire  a thorough  education.  He  made  good  use 
of  subsequent  opportunities,  became  widely  read  and 
well  informed,  and  always  sought  the  companionship 
of  men  of  good  judgment  and  sound  intelligence. 
After  his  father’s  death  he  worked  industriously  to 
help  his  mother  pay  off  the  mortgage  on  the  farm, 
and  he  conducted  the  farm  for  a number  of  years. 
Eventually  he  became  owner  of  about  200  acres,  and 
enjoyed  success  in  other  lines  as  well.  He  was  one 
of  the  organizers  of  the  First  Bank  of  Fremont,  and 
served  as  a director  until  a short  time  before  his 
death. 

Mr.  Clark  died  June  5,  1915.  He  was  for  one  term 
a trustee  of  Jamestown  Township,  and  was  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masons,  being 
a charter  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Fremont. 

October  17,  1906,  he  married  Alma  M.  Baum, 
daughter  of  Michael  and  Mary  A.  (Michael)  Baum. 
Mrs.  Clark,  who  survives  her  honored  husband  and 
still  lives  at  Fremont,  represents  a family  that  has 
been  identified  with  Steuben  County  for  seventy 
years.  Her  grandparents  were  Abraham  and  Eliza- 
beth Baum.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Phillip 
Michael,  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1849,  settling  at  Fremont, 
where  he  followed  the  trade  of  weaver.  He  was 
quite  successful  and  was  able  to  start  all  his  sons 
in  business  in  and  around  Fremont.  His  ten  chil- 
dren were  named  Enos,  Joshua,  Phillip,  Jacob, 
David,  Mary  A.,  Lydia,  Sarah,  Lovina  and  Cath- 
erine. Mrs.  Clark’s  father,  Michael  Baum,  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania,  April  17,  1818,  and  also  came  to 
Steuben  County  in  1849.  He  lived  at  Fremont  and 
was  a carpenter  by  trade.  He  died  in  August,  1873. 

Jay  Stuckman  has  been  a resident  and  farmer 
of  Noble  County  for  seventeen  years,  and  owns 
a well  ordered  property  and  good  rural  home  in 
Noble  Township.  He  has  handled  his  own  affairs 
with  admirable  success  and  has  attracted  attention 
to  himself  several  times  by  his  neighbors  and 
friends,  who  have  nominated  him  for  public 
office. 

He  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  May  2, 
1879,  son  of  Isaac  and  Evaline  (Rogers)  Stuck- 
man. His  father  and  mother  were  both  born  in 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  and  lived  in  that  state 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


165 


until  about  1897,  when  they  moved  to  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  and  in  that  locality  spent  the  rest 
of  their  days.  The  father  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Progressive  Brethren  Church  and  an  elder 
or  minister  of  that  denomination.  He  and  his  wife 
reared  a large  and  interesting  family,  comprising 
eleven  children,  a brief  record  of  whom  is  as 
follows : Hattie,  wife  of  George  Myers ; Curtis  M. ; 
Charles  and  William,  all  living  in  Defiance  County, 
Ohio;  Emma  wife  of  Jesse  Snyder,  of  Williams 
County,  Ohio ; George,  a farmer  in  Defiance  County ; 
Lewis,  of  Elkhart  County,  Indiana;  Jay;  Clyde, 
of  Elkhart  County;  Ida  wife  of  Carl  Berkey,  of 
Elkhart  County;  and  Lottie,  wife  of  C.  A.  Whittle, 
of  Goshen,  Indiana. 

Jay  Stuckman  was  eighteen  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Elkhart  County.  He  had  acquired 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio,  and 
since  coming  to  this  state  has  been  applying  all 
his  time  to  farming  and  the  varied  relationships  of 
a useful  career.  He  moved  to  Noble  County  in 
November,  1902.  His  farm  comprises  235  acres, 
and  a part  of  it  is  devoted  to  the  profitable  crop 
of  onions.  He  is  also  specializing  in  livestock, 
has  some  fine  Shorthorn  cattle  and  big  type  Poland 
China  hogs.  He  is  a director  in  the  Wolf  Lake 
State  Bank  and  a stockholder  in  the  Kimmel  State 
Bank. 

In  1900  Mr.  Stuckman  married  Drusilla  Wysong, 
a daughter  of  Joseph  Wysong.  She  is  a graduate 
of  the  Nappanee  High  School  and  was  a teacher 
before  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stuckman 
have  five  children:  Elva,  Vesta,  Guy,  Paul  and 
Roger.  The  two  older  children  are  both  graduates 
of  the  Wolf  Lake  High  School.  Mr.  Stuckman 
is  a democrat,  and  his  party  nominated  him  a year 
or  so  ago  for  the  office  of  county  treasurer. 

Charles  Haarer.  One  of  the  best  instances  of 
the  selfmade  man  is  found  in  the  person  of  Charles 
Haarer  of  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange  County. 
Coming  to  this  country  a stranger  to  its  language 
and  customs,  he  has  worked  hard  and  saved 
thriftily  and  is  now  one  of  the  well-to-do  men  of 
his  region.  He  was  born  January  22,  1850,  in  Ger- 
many, he  was  there  reared,  and  between  the  ages  of 
six  and  fourteen  years  received  the  educational  ad- 
vantages offered  by  its  public  schools.  In  1869  he 
left  his  native  land  for  the  United  States,  and  after 
landing  made  his  way  to  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  ob- 
taining employment  first  on  a farm,  and  later  on 
the  construction  of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad. 
He  next  moved  to  a wild  piece  of  land  in  Michigan, 
100  acres,  and  then  from  there  came  to  Indiana. 
In  1886  he  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and 
rented  a farm,  and  also  assisted  in  the  operation  of 
the  saw-mill  owned  by  Tilly  Schrack  for  a year. 
While  living  in  Michigan  he  had  bought  a farm  of 
eighty  acres,  which  he  later  traded  for  100  acres 
on  the  Banbridge  Road  in  LaGrange  County.  Af- 
ter conducting  it  for  three  years  he  traded  his  sec- 
ond farm  for  the  Half  Moon  farm  of  160  acres, 
adding  to  it  until  he  had  260  acres,  but  sold  this 
property  in  1917,  and  another  farm  he  had  bought 
he  disposed  of  in  1918.  In  1912  he  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm,  and  is  still  conducting  it.  His  political 
faith  is  that  of  a republican.  For  a number  of  years 
he  belonged  to  the  Lutheran  Church,  but  sixteen 
years  ago  united  with  the  Mennonite  Church,  o.f 
which  his  wife  has  been  a member  for  thirty-five 
years. 

On  April  25,  1880,  Mr.  Haarer  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Emmert.  born  in  New- 
bury Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  Decem- 
ber 10,  1862,  a daughter  of  Leonard  and  Catherine 
(Eash)  Emmert,  natives  of  Germany  and  Pennsyl- 


vania, respectively,  who  were  married  in  Elkhart 
County,  where  they  lived  for  a few  years  prior  to 
settling  in  Newbury  Township.  He  died  in  Ore- 
gon in  1900,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  His  widow,  al- 
though eighty  years  old,  survives  and  makes  her 
home  in  Oregon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haarer  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  John,  who  is 

on  the  old  homestead,  married  Edna  Eash,  and 
they  have  four  children,  Orpha  A.,  Ruby  Ruth,  Roy 
and  Charles ; Mary  Viola,  who  married  Daniel  M. 
Kauffman,  and  their  children  are,  Ray,  Ruth  and 
Ruby,  twins,  the  latter  deceased ; Rufus  Charles, 
Clara  and  Henry;  Willie  Henry,  a farmer,  who 
married  Fannie  Eash,  has  the  following  children, 
Aldine,  Corona,  Sylvester  and  Leonard;  Joseph 
Frank,  who  is  a farmer  of  Newbury  Township, 
married  Grace  Beam,  had  the  following  children, 
David  Paul,  deceased,  and  Ethel  Marian ; and  David 
A.,  Charles  Edwin,  Martha  Elizabeth  and  Susan 
Magdelina,  all  of  whom  are  deceased. 

An  experienced  farmer  and  excellent  business  man, 
Mr.  Haarer  is  held  in  respect  for  his  good  qualities 
in  his  neighborhood,  and  deserves  great  credit  for 
what  he  has  accomplished  in  the  land  of  his  adop- 
tion in  the  half  a century  he  has  resided  in  it. 

George  H.  Smith  is  proprietor  of  the  Buckeye 
Farm,  consisting  of  ninety  acres  in  section  22  of 
Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County.  Mr.  Smith  is 
an  Ohio  man,  and  has  been  a resident  of  DeKalb 
County  for  the  past  ten  years. 

He  was  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  April  16, 
i860,  son  of  William  S.  and  Cristy  A.  (Wood) 
Smith.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Ohio,  and 
in  1910  moved  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  DeKalb 
County. 

George  H.  Smith  grew  up  in  his  native  county, 
had  a common  school  education,  and  on  September 
22,  1878,  married  Sarah  E.  Davis.  He  began  his 
career  as  a day  laborer  and  from  a modest  start 
acquired  two  farms  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio.  On 
moving  to  DeKalb  County  in  1910  he  bought  the 
ninety  acres  comprised  in  the  Buckeye  Farm,  and 
has  used  it  for  general  farming  and  stockraising.  He 
is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants 
Bank  of  Spencerville.  Mr.  Smith  is  a democrat  and 
is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  536  of  the  Masons  at 
Leipsic,  Ohio. 

He  and' his  wife  have  three  sons:  Bert  Smith, 

who  lives  near  Hudson,  Michigan ; Earl,  also  a 
farmer  near  Hudson ; and  Audrey  L.,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  on  the  home  farm. 

William  J.  Menges.  The  farmer  is  a man  who 
needs  to  be  well  informed  upon  many  subjects  if  he 
hopes  to  make  a success  of  his  work.  The  day 
has  passed  when  men  sought  only  to  “make  a living” 
from  their  farms.  Land  is  too  valuable  and  the 
need  for  food  is  too  urgent  to  permit  of  any  such 
haphazard  methods.  The  modern  farmer  needs  to 
understand  the  chemical  elements  in  his  soil  and 
how  to  supply  any  which  may  be  lacking  to  bring 
it  up  to  the  highest  degree  of  fertility.  He  has  to 
know  all  about  rotation  of  crops,  and  make  such 
changes  in  the  disposition  of  his  fields  as  will  pre- 
serve his  soil  from  unnecessary  deterioration.  His 
buildings  must  be  constructed  so  as  to  conform  with 
state  sanitary  regulations,  and  he  recognizes  the 
practicality  of  installing  improved  machinery.  In 
order  to  properly  realize  on  his  crops  he  must  be 
posted  as  to  markets  and  best  methods  of  trans- 
portation. If  he  is  a stock  raiser  as  well  as  grain 
grower  many  other  avenues  of  knowledge  must  be 
traveled  by  him.  In  fact  the  farmer  never  stops 
learning  something  about  his  work  from  the  time 


166 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


he  first  goes  on  his  farm  until  he  leaves  it  for  the 
last  time.  Yet.  if  he  likes  farming  and  appreciates 
its  dignity  and  importance,  in  spite  of  the  hard 
work  and  occasional  reverses,  he  comes  to  recognize 
that  he  is  the  most  independent  man  on  earth,  and 
that  all  other  classes  are  looking  to  him  for  the 
most  urgent  necessity  of  life,  food. 

One  of  the  representative  farmers  of  Steuben 
County,  who  not  only  has  spent  his  entire  life 
in  the  county  but  was  born  here,  is  William  J. 
Menges,  of  Steuben  Township.  He  was  born  on  a 
farm  adjoining  his  present  one,  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, September  15,  1866,  a son  of  Samuel  Menges 
and  grandson  of  Adam  Menges  and  William  Wolf. 
Adam  Menges  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  but  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1853.  His  wife  bore  the 
maiden  name  of  Huffvines.  William  Wolf,  the 
maternal  grandfather,  was  born  in  Loudon  County, 
Virginia,  August  6,  1805,  and  his  wife,  Catherine 
(Fetterhoof)  Wolf,  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania.  After  their  marriage  they  moved 
to  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1864  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  settling  on  the  northeast  quarter 
of  section  7,  Steuben  Township,  where  William 
Wolf  developed  into  a prosperous  farmer.  He  and 
his  wife  had  the  following  children:  John,  Susanna, 
Andrew,  Jacob,  Adam,  Joseph,  Mary  Ann,  Cath- 
erine, Magdalena,  William,  Amos,  Lydia,  Front, 
Phoebe  and  Sarah,  of  whom  Mary  Ann,  born  in 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  March  21,  1843,  became 
the  mother  of  William  J.  Menges. 

Samuel  Menges  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
January  26,  1840,  but  was  only  a lad  when  his  father 
located  in  Steuben  County,  and  he  here  attended  the 
public  schools.  After  attaining  his  majority  he 
acquired  a farm,  all  covered  with  timber,  and  had 
to  clear  a space  in  order  to  erect  a log  cabin  in 
which  to  house  his  family.  This  pioneer  farm  has 
been  developed  by  him  and  William  J.  Menges  into 
the  present  magnificent  rural  property  upon  which 
the  latter  is  residing.  The  little  log  cabin  was  in 
time  replaced  by  a substantial  residence  that  is 
still  used.  Other  necessary  buildings  were  erected 
by  Samuel  Menges,  and  he  lived  on  this  farm  until 
he  retired,  when,  during  the  spring  of  1899,  he 
moved  to  Angola,  and  there  he  died  September  10, 
1905.  His  widow  survives  him  and  lives  at  Angola. 
Their  children  were  William  J.,  whose  name  heads 
this  review,  and  Ida,  who  married  Morton  Lemon. 
Samuel  Menges  was  a consistent  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  of  Steuben  Township. 
During  the  Civil  war  Samuel  Menges  responded  to 
the  call  of  his  country,  and  enlisted  during  March, 
1865,  his  regiment,  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty- 
Fifth  Indiana  Infantry,  being  detailed  at  Wilming- 
ton, Delaware,  on  provost  duty. 

William  J.  Menges  attended  the  local  schools  of 
his  native  township  and  assisted  his  father  in  con- 
ducting the  farm.  After  his  marriage  in  1890  he 
rented  the  homestead  for  a few  years,  and  then 
rented  another  farm  located  in  Otsego  Township, 
where  he  lived  until  1897,  in  that  year  going  to 
Angola,  where  he  was  in  a draying  business  until 
1901.  Selling  his  business,  he  rented  his  present 
farm  of  118  acres,  leaving  it  in  1903  for  a farm 
he  bought  in  Pleasant  Township.  After  the  death 
of  his  father  he  sold  his  farm  and  bought  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1907 
his  neighborhood  was  visited  by  a destructive 
cyclone  and  all  of  his  buildings  except  the  residence 
were  blown  down,  but  since  then  he  has  erected 
new  ones  and  has  improved  the  house.  Here  he 
carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is 
justly  numbered  among  the  leaders  in  his  com- 
munity. He  belongs  to  the  Baptist  Church. 


On  October  1,  1890,  Mr.  Menges  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Jennie  Stover,  a daughter  of  Isaac 
and  Emma  (Tubbs)  Stover.  Isaac  Stover  was  born 
in  Ohio,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Huron  County, 
of  that  state.  In  young-manhood  Mr.  Stover  came 
to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  and  became  a farmer 
of  Salem  Township,  where  he  died  in  1869.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : George 

Stover  and  Mrs.  Menges.  The  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Menges  are  as  follows : Zeno,  who  died 
when  small;  L.  D.,  who  married  Olivia  Lacey;  and 
June. 

J.  H.  Nye,  M.  D.  The  community  of  Cromwell 
in  Noble  County,  has  had  the  able  and  kindly 
services  of  Dr.  J.  H.  Nye  as  a physician  and 
surgeon  for  nearly  twenty  years.  Dr.  Nye  is  a 
man  of  high  attainments  in  his  profession,  of 
thorough  training,  and  experience  has  brought  him 
a general  recognition  of  his  talents. 

He  was  born  in  Dix,  New  York,  in  April,  1870, 
a son  of  Ebenezer  and  Margaret  (Sharp)  Nye, 
both  natives  of  New  York  State.  His  father  was 
a graduate  of  the  Buffalo  Law  School  and  spent 
many  years  as  a successful  lawyer  in  Schuyler 
County,  New  York.  He  served  for  a number  of 
years  as  a justice  of  the  peace  and  was  active  in 
republican  politics. 

Dr.  J.  H.  Nye  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Yates  and  Schuyler  counties,  graduating 
from  the  Dundee  High  School,  and  for  seven  years 
he  earned  his  living  as  a teacher  in  the  schools  of 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania.  He  finally  entered 
the  Medical  College  of  Indiana,  and  after  the  full 
course  was  graduated  M.  D.  in  1892.  The  following 
two  years  he  was  located  at  Buffalo,  where  he 
practiced  medicine  with  his  brother  Dr.  O.  S.  Nye. 
He  then  entered  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons  at  Baltimore  and  took  a post-graduate 
course,  and  in  1901  came  to  Indiana  and  located 
at  Cromwell,  where  his  work  has  been  greatly  ap- 
preciated ever  since.  He  has  served  as  deputy 
coroner  of  Noble  County,  and  is  a member  in  good 
standing  of  the  County  and  State  Medical  Societies 
and  the  American  Medical  Association.  Doctor  Nye 
is  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and 
a Knight  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 
Among  other  local  interests  he  is  a stockholder  and 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Sparta  State  Bank 
at  Cromwell.  Doctor  Nye  married  Miss  Pearl 
Voorhees,  daughter  of  Doctor  Voorhees.  She  is 
a graduate  of  the  Mansfield  Normal  School  of 
Pennsylvania  and  was  also  a teacher  of  the  public 
schools  of  that  state  and  of  New  Jersey  before  her 
marriage. 

W.  P.  Steward  is  a popular  figure  in  business  cir- 
cles in  the  southern  part  of  DeKalb  County,  being 
proprietor  of  the  Steward  Lumber  & Grain  Company 
at  Spencerville. 

He  was  born  in  Spencer  Township,  formerly  Con- 
cord Township,  March  7,  1887,  a son  of  L.  W.  and 
Cora  C.  (Barr)  Steward.  His  father  was  born  in 
Jackson  Township  of  DeKalb  County  in  1862,  and 
his  mother  in  Spencer  Township  in  1864.  She  is 
still  living.  L.  W.  Steward  was  a sawmill  operator 
and  a retail  lumberman  for  many  years  and  died 
in  1912.  He  was  a Methodist.  He  and  his  wife  had 
four  children,  one  of  whom  was  the  late  Fred  Stew- 
ard, a partner  with  his  brother  W.  P.  in  the  lumber 
business.  Fred  Steward  was  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  went  into  the  army  and  died  at  Camp 
Taylor  in  1918.  He  married  Laura  Worley  and  left 
one  son.  The  three  living  children  are  Arminta,  W. 
P.  and  Jennie,  wife  of  Roscoe  Walters. 

W.  P.  Steward  is  a high  school  graduate  and  from 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


167 


school  entered  his  present  business  and  has  carried 
it  on  successfully  for  a number  of  years.  He  is  one 
of  the  leading  men  of  Spencerville,  being  a director 
of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  State  Bank,  president 
of  the  Town  Hall  Association,  and  is  a stockholder 
in  a hardware  business  at  Fort  Wayne. 

He  married  Hazel  Berry  of  St.  Joe,  Indiana, 
March  20,  1909.  She  is  a graduate  of  the  St.  Joe 
High  School.  They  have  two  children,  Ercil  and 
Florence.  Mrs.  Steward  is  a member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  He  is  affiliated  with  Concord  Lodge 
of  Masons,  is  a member  of  the  thirty-second  degree 
Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at  Fort  Wayne,  both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star,  and 
she  is  a past  worthy  matron  and  a member  of  the 
Grand  Lodge.  He  is  a past  chancellor  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 
Politically  Mr.  Steward  is  a republican. 

Charles  A.  Dohner  is  not  only  a farmer  but  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  livest  business  men  of  Troy 
Township,  DeKalb  County.  He  owns  120  acres,  all 
of  which  he  has  acquired  and  made  as  a result  of 
years  of  hard  work  and  saving  and  careful  co-opera- 
tion between  himself  and  his  wife.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Arctic  Co-operative  Livestock 
Shipping  Association  and  is  one  of  the  directors  of 
the  Butler  Grain  Shipping  Association. 

Mr.  Dohner  was  born  in  St.  Joe  Township  of  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio,  August  20,  1876,  a son  of  Isaac 
and  Rachel  (Adams)  Dohner.  Isaac  Dohner  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  December  31,  1838, 
and  died  in  a hospital  at  Detroit,  Michigan,  July  7, 
1911.  He  came  to  DeKalb  County  in  1859.  On  No- 
vember 28,  i860,  he  married  Susan  Bratten,  of  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio.  He  left  home  and  on  March 
28,  1864,  enlisted  in  Company  H of  the  Eighty-Eighth 
Indiana  Infantry  and  was  in  active  service  until 
wounded  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina,  in  one  of 
the  last  battles  of  the  war,  on  March  19,  1865.  While 
he  was  in  the  army  his  wife  died,  leaving  one  child, 
Clara,  wife  of  Adolph  Vogal,  a resident  of  Chicago. 
On  November  1,  1866,  Isaac  Dohner  married  Rachel 
A.  (Adams)  Johnston,  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
widow  of  Cyrus  Johnston,  who  was  also  a Union 
soldier  and  died  while  in  the  war.  Mrs.  Johnston 
by  her  first  marriage  had  one  son,  Robert,  now  de- 
ceased. Isaac  Dohner  and  wife  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children : William  H. ; May,  wife  of  Charles 

Jennings;  Etta,  wife  of  William  Wilson;  Ella,  wife 
of  Jacob  Cole;  Mary,  wife  of  Floyd  Hollinger; 
Charles  A.,  and  John,  of  Williams  County.  The 
parents  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  at  Big  Run.  Mrs.  Isaac  Dohner  is  still  liv- 
ing at  Butler.  Her  husband  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Butler  and  a repub- 
lican in  politics. 

Charles  A.  Dohner  spent  much  of  his  early  life  in 
Steuben  County,  where  he  attended  the  common 
schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  went  to  work 
on  a farm  and  then  for  five  years  was  employed  in 
a basket  factory  at  Edgerton  and  Sherwood,  Ohio. 
On  coming  to  DeKalb  County  he  worked  on  a farm 
and  on  September  19,  1896,  married  Jessie  M.  Souder. 
She  was  born  in  Troy  Township  April  19,  1880,  a 
daughter  of  George  B.  and  Sarah  M.  (Adams) 
Souder.  Her  father  was  born  in  Perry  County, 
Pennsylvania,  June  30,  1846,  and  in  1859  went  with 
his  parents  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  In  1874  he  settled  on  section  24 
of  Franklin  Township,  DeKalb  County,  and  in  1879 
moved  to  Troy  Township,  where  he  is  still  living, 
the  owner  of  eighty  acres  of  land.  Mr.  Souder  mar- 
ried Sarah  M.  Adams  February  27,  1868,  who  was 


a daughter  of  Andrew  Adams,  of  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  where  she  was  born  January  14,  1848. 

Mrs.  Dohner  grew  up  on  her  father’s  farm  and 
had  a common  school  education.  For  one  year  after 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dohner  lived  at  Butler 
and  since  then  have  been  farmers  in  Troy  Town- 
ship. They  have  three  children ; George,  born  April 
28,  1898,  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and 
married  Edith  Worthington,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Howard  E.  Glen,  born  June  22,  1899,  graduated  from 
the  common  schools  at  the  age  of  fifteen;  Ross,  born 
September  7,  1902,  finished  his  common  school  edu- 
cation at  the  age  of  twelve.  Mr.  Dohner  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
at  Butler  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Butler  Grange.  He  is  a republican  and  on  that 
ticket  was  elected  a member  of  the  DeKalb  County 
Council  November  5,  1918. 

William  H.  Huntsman.  While  much  is  heard 
in  these  days  of  farming  as  a business,  there  are  a 
number  of  men  in  Northeast  Indiana  who  at  the 
outset  of  their  careers  had  practically  nothing  but 
experience,  ambition  and  hope,  and  have  managed 
to  rear  their  families  and  provide  for  all  their  needs 
and  comforts  through  strict  dependence  upon  the 
tilling  of  fields  and  the  raising  of  livestock.  One 
of  these  is  William  H.  Huntsman,  a prosperous 
farmer  in  Greene  Township,  in  section  7,  Noble 
County. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides 
November  25,  1875.  His  parents  were  George  and 
Susanna  (Hosier)  Huntsman,  both  natives  of  Ohio. 
His  father  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  that  state, 
grew  up  and  married  there,  and  on  coming  to  In- 
diana located  in  Greene  Township  of  Noble  County. 
They  spent  the  rest  of  their  days  on  the  old  home 
farm.  They  were  devout  church  members  and  in 
politics  the  father  was  a democrat.  They  had  nine 
children  and  five  are  still  living : Elza,  a farmer 

in  Noble  Township;  Alice,  wife  of  D.  A.  Harlan, 
of  Noble  Township;  William  H. ; Cora,  who  is  mar- 
ried and  lives  in  Noble  Township;  and  Anson  L., 
of  Greene  Township. 

William  H.  Huntsman  has  spent  practically  all 
his  life  on  the  home  farm  and  as  a boy  he  attended 
the  local  district  schools.  In  October,  1896,  he 
married  Miss  Emmaretta  Ott.  She  was  born  in 
Noble  Township  of  Noble  County  and  had  a district 
school  education.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huntsman  started 
life  with  no  capital,  and  for  eleven  or  twelve  years 
he  worked  for  his  father  on  the  farm.  Having 
saved  all  he  could  during  this  interim  and  at  the 
same  time  having  provided  for  the  expenses  of  a 
growing  family,  he  then  bought  a half  interest  in 
the  home  farm,  and  his  prosperity  has  been  growing 
steadily  with  the  passing  years. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Huntsman  were  born  eleven  chil- 
dren, ten  of  whom  are  still  living:  Cleo,  Blanche, 

Fern,  Wilda,  Lavon,  Martha,  Hays,  Raymond,  Lydia 
and  Robert.  Cleo  is  the  wife  of  R.  Weber.  Mr. 
Huntsman  is  a democrat  and  was  the  nominee  of 
his  party  for  county  commissioner  in  1918. 

Perry  W.  Bowerman.  Some  of  the  best  land 
of  Jackson  Township  in  Steuben  County  has  been 
developed  through  the  enterprise  of  members  of  the 
Bowerman  family,  some  of  whom  have  been  here 
for  over  thirty-eight  years.  After  an  active  career 
spent  on  one  of  the  farms  there  Perry  W.  Bower- 
man is  now  living  retired  at  Flint,  but  still  owns  a 
large  farm. 

Mr.  Bowerman  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
July  5,  1856,  a son  of  Simon  and  Lydia  (Spangle) 
Bowerman.  The  maternal  grandfather  was  Jacob 


168 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Spangle.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Ritter)  Bowerman,  the  former  a native  of 
New  York  State,  who  moved  to  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  in  1S27,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  that  locality,  having  lived  there  from 
earliest  pioneer  times.  Jacob  Bowerman’s  children 
were  Simon,  Michael,  Henry,  John,  Jacob,  Isaac, 
Joshua,  Charles,  Catherine,  Susan  and  Mary.  Of 
this  large  family,  two  are  still  living,  Charles  and 
Mary. 

Simon  Bowerman  was  born  in  New  York  State, 
January  4,  1820.  He  was  a child  when  taken  to 
Ohio  and  after  reaching  manhood  became  a farmer 
in  Seneca  County.  In  1872  he  brought  his  family 
to  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County,  locating 
in  sections  16  and  17,  and  made  the  bulk  of  his 
prosperity  while  living  there.  He  acquired  the 
ownership  of  240  acres  of  land.  He  died^  April  27, 
1903.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State 
in  1823,  died  in  November,  1907.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Dunkard  Church.  The  children  of 
Simon  Bowerman  and  wife  were:  Rachel,  who  be- 

came the  wife  of  William  Oury ; Cassie,  who  died 
in  childhood;  Joshua;  Perry  W. ; Clarence,  who 
died  when  a small  boy;  and  Charles,  who  died  in 
early  life. 

Perry  W.  Bowerman  was  sixteen  years  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  Steuben  County.  He  finished 
his  education  in  School  No.  4 of  Jackson  Township, 
and  soon  afterward  began  farming  there.  In  1879 
he  married  Jennie  Johns,  a daughter  of  Peter  Johns. 
After  his  marriage  he  bought  a farm  in  section  16, 
adjoining  the  old  Bowerman  estate,  and  for  nearly 
forty  years  was  diligently  engaged  in  its  manage- 
ment and  cultivation,  putting  up  all  the  buildings 
and  carrying  on  his  business  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser  until  the  spring  of  1918.  At  that  date 
he  moved  to  a good  home  in  Flint,  and  his  farm  of 
180  acres  is  now  carried  on  by  a son.  Mr.  Bower- 
man is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Flint. 

He  and  his  wife  have  four  children : William, 

who  married  Myrtle  Daily  and  has  five  sons,  named 
Carrol,  Cleo,  Willis,  Devere  and  Walter.  Lydia, 
the  wife  of  John  Stayner.  Branch,  who  married 
Fred  Seybert  and  has  one  son,  Howard.  Ora  B., 
who  rents  his  father’s  farm,  married  Ruth  Boyer 
and  has  a son,  Keith. 

Frank  W.  McWilliams.  One  of  the  most  inter- 
esting farms  in  the  rural  district  of  Greene  Town- 
ship, Noble  County,  is  'widely  known  as  the  Old 
Homestead,  an  estate  that  has  been  continuously 
in  the  name  and  ownership  of  the  McWilliams  fam- 
ily for  eighty-five  years  and  has  been  the  home  of 
portions  of  five  generations  of  the  McWilliams 
family.  It  comprises  190  acres  of  well  cultivated 
land  with  modern  improvements  and  is  now  in  the 
ownership  of  Frank  W.  McWilliams. 

The  land  was  entered  by  his  grandfather  Oliver 
P.  McWilliams  as  early  as  1834.  There  has  never 
been  a transfer  of  title  since  that  date.  Frank  W. 
McWilliams  is  a son  of  John  P.  and  Josephine 
(White)  McWilliams.  His  father  was  born  in  Ju- 
niata County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  about  eighteen 
years  old  when  his  parents  came  to  Noble  County. 
He  lived  on  the  old  McWilliams  farm  and  died 
there.  His  wife  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  he  was  a democrat,  and  was  quite  prom- 
inent in  county  affairs.  In  i860  he  was  elected 
county  recorder,  serving  tw>o  terms,  and  later  was 
county  commissioner  two  terms.  He  was  also 
assessor  of  Greene  Township.  In  early  life  he  taught 
school  for  several  terms.  John  P.  McWilliams  and 
wife  had  nine  children:  Alma,  wife  of  Oliver  Fred- 
erick, of  Rice  County,  Kansas;  Frank  W. ; William 


H.,  who  is  unmarried  and  is  employed  by  the  Pull- 
man Company  of  Chicago;  Alta,  wife  of  M.-  D.. 
Brackney,  of  California;  Walter  P.,  of  Idaho; 
Charles,  of  South  Chicago ; while  the  other  children 
are  now  deceased. 

Frank  W.  McWilliams  spent  part  of  his  youth  at 
Albion,  and  afterward  returned  to  the  home  farm 
and  attended  the  district  school  nearby.  On  October 
6,  1881,  he  married  Elzada  Hines.  She  was  born  in 
Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Noble  County 
with  her  parents  and  received  her  education  here- 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McWilliams  have  two  children. 
Mina  M.  is  the  wife  of  A.  L.  Budd,  of  Greene 
Township.  Carlos  P.  is  a graduate  of  the  Albion 
High  School  and  also  attended  the  Tri-State  College 
at  Angola,  Indiana.  He  now  lives  on  the  home 
farm.  He  married  Helen  Earnhart,  and  has  two 
children,  John  C.  and  George  H. 

Frank  W.  McWilliams  is  a member  of  Albion 
Lodge  No.  178,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  also  belongs  to  the  Eastern  Star.  He  is  a dem- 
ocrat and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank 
and  a stockholder  and  director  in  the  grist  mill  at 
Albion. 

Isaiah  Smith  is  a farmer  both  by  inheritance 
and  by  choice,  and  has  spent  all  his  life  on  the  old 
Smith  homestead  in  Spencer  Township,  DeKalb 
County.  His  model  country  home  is  located  three 
and  a half  miles  southeast  of  Spencerville,  close  to 
the  Allen  County  line. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  on  that  farm  November  23, 
1856,  a son  of  Levi  and  Harriet  (Robb)  Smith.  His 
father  was  born  in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1828,  a son  of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  Smith, 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  he  grew  up  a farm 
boy  and  shoemaker's  apprentice.  In  1849  he  mar- 
ried Harriet  Robb,  a native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Robb.  In  the  same  year 
he  bought  land  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1854  removed  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  He  be- 
gan here  with  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved 
land,  and  many  years  before  his  death  was  pos- 
sessor of  a highly  improved  farm  of  320  acres,  and 
possessed  ample  means  for  all  his  needs.  He  lived 
on  the  farm  until  his  death  in  September,  1900.  His- 
wife  passed  away  in  April,  1904.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  he  was  for  a 
number  of  years  a leading  democrat  in  his  section  of 
the  county.  He  was  especially  liberal  in  behalf  of  his 
church  and  always  favored  public  improvements. 
He  and  his  wife  had  two  sons,  Ira  E.  and  Isaiah. 

Isaiah  Smith  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  where 
he  has  always  lived  and  had  a common  school  edu- 
cation. In  1878  he  married  Eliza  Sibert.  They- 
have  two  children,  Samuel  L.,  who  is  married  and 
lives  in  Spencer  Township,  and  Emery  R.,  who  lives 
in  the  same  Township  and  is  married.  The  mother 
of  these  sons  died  in  1887.  June  17,  1888,  Mr.  Smith 
married  Delilah  Kinsley.  She  was  born  in  Allen 
County,  Indiana,  March  12,  1861.  To  this  union 
were  born  three  children  : Effie,  born  July  20,  .1889, 

wife  of  James  Stewart;  Warren,  born  July  30,  1893, 
and  still  at  home ; Clara,  born  April  10,  1899.  Mrs,. 
Smith  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Mr.  Smith  is  a democrat.  In  addition  to  his  inherit- 
ance of  160  acres  of  the  old  homestead  he  bought 
150  acres  more  and  has  310  acres  under  complete  and 
successful  operation  for  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising. 

Samuel  Hook,  present  trustee  of  Stafford  Town- 
ship, DeKalb  County,  is  a farmer  on  the  extreme 
eastern  line  of  the  county  and  has  spent  practically- 
all  his  life  in  that  one  locality.  His  home  is  in 
section  16. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


169 


He  was  born  there  March  17,  1872,  a son  of  Henry 
and  Ursula  (Strohl)  Hook.  Henry  Hook  was  born 
in  Germany,  and  was  eleven  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  the  United  States  by  his  parents,  who 
settled  in  Summit  County,  Ohio,  where  his  father 
Spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  Henry  Hook  came  to  De^ 
Kalb  County,  Indiana,  when  a young  man  and  after 
his  marriage  settled  on  land  in  Stafford  Township. 
His  first  wife  was  Rachel  Miller,  who  died  in  1861. 
She  was  the  mother  of  four  children : Mary  A., 

wife  of  John  Zimmerman,  of  Defiance  County,  Ohio; 
John  J.,  a prosperous  farmer  in  Stafford  Township; 
Amanda  and  Sarah,  both  deceased.  Henry  Hook 
married  Ursula  Strohl  for  his  second  wife.  She  is 
still  living  on  the  same  farm  with  her  son.  By  his 
second  marriage  there  were  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living:  William,  of  Defiance  County; 
Ida,  wife  of  Uri  Murphy,  in  Allen  County,  Indiana ; 
Irene,  Samuel  and  Rosa.  Henry  Hook  besides  being 
a prosperous  farmer  was  a leader  in  local  affairs 
and  at  one  time  served  as  trustee  of  Stafford  Town- 
ship. 

Samuel  Hook  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools.  He  was  a small 
child  when  his  father  died  and  when  he  became  old 
enough  he  took  charge  of  the  homestead  and  at 
present  owns  140  acres,  but  manages  and  cultivates 
320  acres.  This  extensive  property  he  uses  for  gen- 
eral farming  and  stockraising. 

Mr.  Hook  has  always  been  a democrat.  He  served 
four  years  as  township  assessor  and  on  November 
5,  1918,  was  elected  township  trustee.  He  had  a ma- 
jority of  six  votes  over  his  opponent  though  the 
township  is  normally  republican  by  about  ten.  He 
has  also  been  active  as  a member  of  the  County 
Central  Committee  of  his  party. 

John  L.  Anspaugh.  It  is  the  good,  honest  record 
of  farmers  and  capable  citizens  that  bring  the 
Anspaugh  family  frequently  into  the  annals  of 
Steuben  County.  Several  of  the  name  have  given 
good  accounts  of  themselves,  including  Mr.  John 
L.  Anspaugh,  who  grew  up  in  Steuben  County  and 
for  a number  of  years  has  been  one  of  the  chief 
farmers  in  the  Crooked  Lake  district  of  Pleasant 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 5,  i860.  His  grandparents,  Jacob  and  Barbara 
Anspaugh,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  settled 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1808,  and  moved  to 
Williams  County  in  1844,  where  Jacob  Anspaugh 
died  in  October,  1857,  and  his  wife  in  1874.  John 
Anspaugh,  father  of  John  L.,  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  and  married  Sarah  Ann  Cain,  who 
was  born  in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  in  1830.  John 
Anspaugh  lived  for  several  years  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  March.  1870,  settled  in  section 
5 of  Richland  Township,  Steuben  County,  where 
he  acquired  a good  farm  and  where  he  did  his 
duties  as  a private  citizen  and  a worthy  member 
of  the  community  for  many  years. 

John  L.  Anspaugh,  who  was  ten  years  old  when 
the  family  came  to  Steuben  County,  finished  his 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Richland  Town- 
ship, and  began  farming  in  that  township  when  a 
j'oung  man.  In  1880  he  moved  to  Pleasant  Town- 
ship and  in  1892  became  superintendent  of  the 
Steuben  County  Farm.  He  held  that  office  until 
he  had  rounded  out  a term  of  twenty  years  and  six 
months,  and  had  made  a record  of  administration 
entitled  to  the  highest  praise  and  commendation. 
He  left  the  County  Farm  in  1912  and  has  since 
been  identified  with  his  own  business  interests  in 
Pleasant  Township.  In  1915  he  built  the  home 
where  he  now  lives  on  the  banks  of  Crooked  Lake. 


For  about  ten  years  he  owned  seven  cottages  at 
Pebble  Beach  on  Crooked  Lake,  and  they  were  in 
regular  demand  during  the  summer  seasons  by 
resorters.  He  sold  this  property  March  15,  1919- 
Mr.  Anspaugh  now  owns  about  100  acres  in  Pleas- 
ant Township,  in  section  8,  on  the  north  branch  of 
Crooked  Lake.  That  is  his  home  farm,  and  ht 
also  has  160  acres  in  section  31  of  Millgrove  Town- 
ship. , , 

All  of  this  property  represents  the  steady  accumu- 
lation of  years  of  hard  work,  thrifty  management 
and  successful  farming.  n n.  , , 

September  5?  1885?  be  married  Cora  B.  Tvicharcl- 
son,  daughter' of  Henry  Richardson,  a well  known 
family  of  Pleasant  Township  spoken  of  more  m 
detail  on  other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anspaugh 
have  one  son,  Glenn  E.,  who  is  a graduate  ot  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola  and  is  now 
looking  after  one  of  his  father  s farms. 

David  W.  Eberly  is  a successful  farmer  and  stock- 
man  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County,  and  for 
years  has  been  one  of  the  public  spirited  citizens  of 
that  locality,  having  to  his  credit  a most  efficient 
administration  as  township  trustee  for  six  years. 

He  was  born  in  Greene  Township  of  Noble 
County  January  i,  1863,  son  of  David  D.  and  Mar- 
garet ( Kanagy)  Eberly,  the  former  a native  ot 
Pennsjdvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  After  their 
marriage  in  Ohio  they  moved  to  Indiana  and  settled 
in  Allen  County,  later  in  Whitley  County,  and  from 
there  came  to  Noble  County,  where  they  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days.  Both  were  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  the  father  was 
a republican  voter.  There  were  five  children,  three 
living;  Susanna,  wife  of  John  Waterson;  Zachariah 
and  Ruanna,  both  deceased;  Emma,  wife  ot  Eli 
Spear;  and  David  W. 

David  W.  Eberly  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
had  a district  school  education,  and  lived  at  home 
to  the  age  of  twenty-one,  but  from  the  age  of  seven- 
teen has  been  self-supporting  and  by  industry  and 
intelligent  management  has  carved  his  own  destiny 
without  particular  help  from  anyone. 

He  married  Miss  Dessie  Krider.  At  the  time  of 
his  marriage  he  had  bought  a small  piece  of  land, 
and  he  took  his  bride  to  that  farm  and  in  that  one 
locality  has  steadily  worked  toward  better  fortune 
and  now  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the  town- 
ship, comprising  ninety-one  acres  devoted  to  gen- 
eral crops  and  livestock.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eberly  have 
two  children:  Bertha,  wife  of  Frank  Fulk,  of  Swan 
Township,  and  Leslie,  who  is  still  at  home. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Church  of  God, 
and  Mr.  Eberly  is  affiliated  with  Churubusco  Lodge 
No.  37,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Churubusco  Lodge  No. 
515,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Eastern  Star  lodge  of  the  same 
place.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Exchange  Bank 
of  Churubusco.  He  is  keenly  interested  in  local  im- 
provements and  has  served  as  superintendent  of  the 
county  stone  road,  and  his  term  as  township  trustee 
from  1908  to  1914  was  signalized  by  many  important 
services  in  behalf  of  the  public  schools  and  other 

matters  entrusted  to  his  official  charge.  Mr.  Eb- 

erly is  a republican  in  politics. 

A.  Frank  Wilson,  a well-to-do  farmer  of  Rich- 
land Township  in  Steuben  County,  has  made  the 
successive  years  of  his  active  career  count  for 

steady  progress  towards  better  things  and  is  re- 

garded as  one  of  the  most  useful  members  of  his 
home  community. 

He  was  born  in  Otsego  Township,  on  the  old 
Wilson  homestead,  March  9,  1872.  a son  of  Alex- 
ander G.  and  Mary  Ann  (Maxwell)  Wilson.  This 


170 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


is  one  of  the  well  known  families  of  Steuben  County. 
Mr.  Wilson  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  attended 
local  schools,  and  spent  the  winter  of  1893-94  in  the 
Normal  School  at  Angola.  For  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury he  has  devoted  his  best  efforts  to  farming.  In 
1899  he  bought  forty  acres  in  Richland  township 
and  in  1902  he  bought  the  farm  of  eighty  acres  on 
which  he  now  lives.  He-  sold  his  first  forty  acres 
in  1904.  He  has  kept  the  improvements  increasing 
as  a measure  of  his  prosperity.  He  remodeled  the 
house  in  1912  and  has  a fine  barn  that  was  built  in 
1910. 

Mr.  Wilson  is  a republican  and  served  two  years 
as  assessor  of  Richland  Township  and  for  four  years 
as  a member  of  the  advisory  board.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
at  Mount  Pleasant. 

October  30,  1895,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Lint. 
She  was  born  in  Richland  Township  April  1,  1873, 
a daughter  of  John  S.  and  Rebecca  J.  (Allomong) 
Lint.  John  S.  Lint  has  long  been  a well  known 
resident  of  Richland  Township.  He  was  born  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  September  15,  1845,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Lint,  natives  of  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio.  The  Lint  family  settled  in  Williams 
county  in  1841.  John  S.  Lint  and  his  brother  Wil- 
liam were  both  Ohio  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  en- 
listing in  September,  1862.  They  served  all  through 
until  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington,  participat- 
ing in  the  greatest  battles  of  the  Middle  West  and 
South,  including  the  Atlanta  campaign  and  the 
march  to  the  sea.  John  S.  Lint  married  Rebecca 
Allomong  on  August  1,  1869.  She  was  born  in 
Richland  Township  of  Steuben  County,  March  6, 
1847,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Catherine  Allo- 
mong. The  Allomongs  were  pioneers  in  Steuben 
County.  Joseph  Allomong  had  the  reputation  of 
being  the  most  corpulent  man  in  Steuben  County, 
but  that  did  not  interfere  with  his  very  successful 
business  career.  At  one  time  he  owned  about  600 
acres  of  land  and  many  fine  horses.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 11,  1889,  and  his  wife  on  April  16,  1869.  John 
S.  Lint  for  half  a century  lived  on  a farm  in  section 
20  of  Richland  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had 
three  children:  Flora,  wife  of  John  Penrod,  of 

Bryan,  Ohio ; Mary  E. ; and  Martha,  wife  of  Rev. 
S.  L.  Cunningham.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lint  are  members 
of  the  Lhiited  Brethren  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  one  son,  Robert  Burns. 
He  was  born  October  23,  1900,  and  completed  the 
eighth  grade  in  school  work  in  1913.  He  attended 
high  school  at  Eden,  Ohio,  graduating  in  1918.  He 
spent  two  summers  in  the  Tri-State  College  and 
during  the  winter  of  1918-19  was  employed  to  teach 
the  Alvarado  School  in  Richland  Township.  He 
was  given  a teacher’s  license  for  two  years  and  is 
employed  to  teach  the  Bethel  School  during  the 
year  of  1919-20. 

Oscar  F.  Rakestraw.  Everyone  in  Steuben 
County  knows  Mr.  Rakestraw  as  the  veteran  editor 
of  the  Steuben  Republican.  He  has  been  continu- 
ously identified  with  that  publication  for  over  forty 
years  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  newspaper  men  in 
Northern  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Mahoning  County,  Ohio,  October 
30,  1849,  a son  of  Caleb  and  Elezan  Rakestraw,  who 
came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  1858. . Oscar 
Rakestraw  finished  his  education  at  Hillsdale  Col- 
lege, Hillsdale,  Michigan,  and  his  first  important 
business  experience  was  as  general  agent  for  an  in- 
surance company  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  working 
much  of  the  time  as  general  agent  in  New  Eng- 
land. He  followed  that  business  for  a few  years, 
until  1877,  when  he  entered  the  Steuben  Republican 
office  at  Angola,  and  since  then  has  been  connected 


with  every  phase  of  the  business,  most  of  the  time 
as  editor  and  proprietor. 

He  is,  like  his  paper,  republican  in  politics,  is 
affiliated  with  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  for  over  forty  years  has  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church  at  Angola.  On  June  10, 
1879,  at  Angola,  he  married  Melissa  Cline,  daughter 
of  Michael  and  Barbara  Cline.  They  have  two 
daughters,  Zanna  and  Dorothy.  Dorothy  is  the  wife 
of  S.  P.  Hull,  formerly  of  Baraboo,  Wisconsin,  and 
now  living  at  Montgomery,  Michigan.  Zanna  is 
organist  at  the  Jefferson  Theater  in  Fort  Wayne. 

Eli  B.  Griffin.  Food  is  the  great  necessity  of 
the  next  few  years  and  many  of  the  patriotic  and 
far-visioned  men  of  the  country,  especially  those 
who  have  had  experience  in  farming,  are  returning 
to  the  soil,  realizing  that  in  cultivating  it  they  will 
be  rendering  a valuable  service  to  humanity."  One 
of  these  men  who  are  practically  demonstrating 
their  love  of  country  is  Rev.  Eli  B.  Griffin  of  Pleas- 
ant Township,  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  a man 
already  distinguished  in  the  ministry  of  the  United 
Brethren  faith. 

The  birth  of  Eli  B.  Griffin  took  place  on  his 
present  farm  in  Pleasant  Township  August  1,  1867. 
He  is  a son  of  Charles  and  Jane  (McBride)  Griffin, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
New  York,  January  12,  1834.  The  latter  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  October  6,  1839,  a daughter 
of  William  McBride,  a native  of  Ireland.  The 
paternal  grandparents,  Eli  and  Eliza  (Bundy) 
Griffin,  were  natives  of  New  York  State  and 
Cayuga  County,  New  York,  respectively.  They 
came  west  from  New  York  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  settling  on  a farm  near  Auburn. 

Charles  Griffin  attended  the  schools  of  DeKalb 
County,  and  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits 
until  he  was  twenty-two  years  old,  when  he  met 
with  an  accident  which  resulted  in  the  loss  of  an 
arm.  He  was  driving  a team  operating  an  old- 
fashioned  threshing  machine  when  it  ran  away,  and 
so  injured  him  that  amputation  resulted.  It  is  a 
remarkable  fact  that  although  he  was  thus  crippled 
he  attained  a wide  reputation  as  an  expert  wood 
chopper.  With  the  loss  of  his  arm,  however,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  adopt  some  calling  which 
would  enable  him  to  earn  a living  without  too  much 
physical  effort,  and  he  became  a student  at  Wayne 
Seminary,  where  he  prepared  himself  for  teaching. 
At  one  time  he  was  professor  of  mathematics  at 
Fort  Wayne,  and  always  was  an  able  instructor. 
With  the  salary  paid  him  for  teaching  he  bought 
and  paid  for  a farm  in  DeKalb  County,  which  he 
later  sold  and  purchased  a mercantile  business  at 
Sedan,  Indiana,  but  in  1867  traded  it  for  a farm  in 
section  33,  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben  County. 
When  he  took  possession  of  it  the  only  building 
then  standing  was  a log  cabin,  and  only  six  acres  of 
the  land  were  cleared.  Immediately  he  began  im- 
proving the  place,  erecting  suitable  buildings  and 
installing  appliances,  and  here  he  spent  the  remain- 
der of  his  life,  at  the  time  of  his  death  owning  182 
acres  of  land.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children : Emma  J.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty 

years;  John  N. ; Eli  B.,  whose  name  heads  this 
biography;  Ida,  who  married  Walter  Ward;  and 
Byron.  The  parents  of  these  children  were  con- 
sistent members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Eli  B.  Griffin  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
native  township,  and  then  took  a three  years’  course 
at  the  Angola  Tri-State  College.  A United  Breth- 
ren by  inheritance:  and  'inclination,  Mr.  Griffin 
entered  the  ministry  of  that  church  and  continued  to 
serve  as  such  continuously  until  October,  1917-  He 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


171 


is  now  on  an  inactive  leave  for  one  year,  and  is 
making  good  use  of  his  vacation  by  operating  his 
fine  farm  of  fifty-five  acres.  Mr.  Griffin  has  been 
very  active  in  his  church,  serving  for  twelve  years 
as  presiding  elder  of  the  Michigan  Annual  Con- 
ference of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  For 
twenty  successive  years  he  has  been  elected  as  a 
member  of  the  General  Conference  of  the  church. 

On  June  23,  1892,  Mr.  Griffin  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Nettie  May  Dirrim,  a daughter  of  Hugh 
W.  Dirrim,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere 
in  this  volume.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffin  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children:  Charles  Wesley, 

who  married  Zana  Oberst;  Etta  May,  who  married 
Clarence  Munger ; Elcie  Fae,  who  married  Paul 
Irvin;  Wilhelmina  Daisy;  and  Henry  L.  Mrs. 
Griffin  died  October  2,  1918,  having  been  a devoted 
wife  and  mother  and  true  Christian,  and  her  loss 
is  mourned  by  her  many  friends. 

Mr.  Griffin  is  a man  who  has  always  given  boun- 
tifully of  his  gifts  to  his  people,  and  has  exerted 
a wonderful  influence  for  good  in  his  community. 
He  is  not  one  to  be  readily  deceived  in  men  or 
misled  in  measures,  and  so  has  naturally  been  chosen 
as  a leader.  His  work  has  been  carried  on  capably 
and  effectively.  Always  accessible  and  sympathetic 
to  those  who  seek  his  help,  sincere  and  unselfish, 
he  has  always  been  an  inspiration  for  activities  of 
the  best  sort. 

James  A.  Stewart  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
good  farms  in  Noble  County.  His  home  is  near 
Laotto,  where  for  a number  of  years  a goodly  tract 
of  1 15  acres  has  responded  to  his  wise  and  intelli- 
gent methods  of  cultivation,  and  where  he  has 
gained  prosperity  sufficient  “for  his  own  needs  and 
at  the  same  time  has  provided  liberally  for  those 
dependent  upon  him. 

Mr.  Stewarr  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  March  19,  1857,  a son  of  John  W.  and  Su- 
sanna (DeHoff)  Stewart.  His  parents  were  natives 
of  the  same  county  and  state.  John  W.  Stewart 
was  a son  of  Samuel  Stewart  and  a grandson  of 
Mathias  Stewart,  a native  of  Scotland  who  came 
to  the  United  States  and  settled  in  Maryland.  Sam- 
uel Stewart  . was  born  in  Maryland,  January.  30, 
1793,  and  was  one  of  the  pioneers  to  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  his  life  as  a farmer 
and  died  in  1872.  Samuel  Stewart  married  Eliza- 
beth Long,  who  was  born  June  10,  1790.  John  W. 
Stewart  and  wife  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  in 
Allen  County,  where  he  died.  She  died  February 
15,  1919.  Both  were  active  members  of  their  church, 
and  he  was  a democrat  in  politics,  being  quite  radi- 
cal in  his  beliefs.  There  were  five  children:  Benja- 
min, of  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  who  died  May  20, 
1919;  James  A.;  David  D.,  of  Avilla,  Indiana;  Eliz- 
abeth, wife  of  Robert  Teare;  and  Belle,  wife  of 
John  Wilken. 

James  A.  Stewart  came  to  Allen  County  in  1884, 
and  on  December  20,  1884,  married  Miss  Rittie 
DeHoff,  of  Noble  County.  She  was  born  in  Colum- 
biana County,  Ohio,  January  19,  1855,  a daughter  of 
Anthony  and  Elizabeth  (Hampshire)  DeHoff.  An- 
thony DeHoff  was  born  in  Columbiana  County  Sep- 
tember 10,  1824,  and  died  May  19,  1876.  In  1862  he 
moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Swan 
Township,  and  cleared  up  a farm  from  the  midst 
of  the  woods.  Mrs.  Stewart  was  reared  in  Swan  ' 
Township  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stewart 
rented  land  for  some  years,  and  removed  to  their 
present  farm  in  1900.  They  have  two  children : W. 
Edward,  born  June  3,  1888,  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  still  at  home,  unmarried,  and 
Alice  H.,  wife  of  Virgil  Harter  of  Swan  Township. 


The  family  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church,  and  Mr.  Stewart  is  one  of  the  trustees 
and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  In  poli- 
tics he  votes  as  a republican. 

Noah  V.  Zumbrun  is  one  of  the  best  known 
farmers  and  citizens  of  Green  Township,  Noble 
County,  being  proprietor  of  the  Fairmount  Farm, 
comprising  134  acres  in  section  29  in  Green  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Zumbrun  was  born  on  a farm  in  Thorn 
Creek  Township  of  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  Octo- 
ber 9,  1871,  a son  of  Christian  K.  and  Louisa  J. 
(Ott)  Zumbrun,  the  former  a native  of  Montgomery 
county  and  the  latter  of  Preble  County,  Ohio.  Both 
were  reared  in  Indiana,  and  after  their  marriage 
they  moved  to  a farm  in  Whitley  County,  and  for 
three  years  Christian  Zumbrun  was  in  the  nursery 
business  at  Columbia  City,  Indiana.  He  then  re- 
turned to  a farm  in  Whitley  County,  lived  there 
about  six  years,  traded  that  property  for  a place 
in  Thorn  Creek  Township,  and  finally  moved  to  a 
farm  in  Noble  County,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death  in  1916.  His  widow  is  still  living.  Christian 
Zumbrun  was  an  active  member  and  minister  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  his  long  life  was  spent 
in  industry  and  in  honorable  relations  with  every 
community  where  he  lived.  Of  their  ten  children 
eight  are  still  living:  Noah  V.;  Charles  W. ; Jere- 

miah F. ; Mary  E.,  wife  of  Howard  Harter,  of 
Kosciusko  County;  Elsie,  wife  of  Winfield  Gaertie, 
of  Noble  County;  Clara,  wife  of  William  Norris; 
Omer  O.,  of  Green  Township;  and  Laura,  widow 
of  E.  Frick,  and  living  at  home  with  her  mother. 

Noah  V.  Zumbrun  grew  up  in  Whitley  and  Noble 
counties  and  had  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools.  He  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
In  1893  he  married  Miss  Della  Anspaugh,  a native 
of  Whitley  County.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Zumbrun  lived  on  the  old  home  farm  one  year 
and  they  then  moved  to  another  place  in  Noble 
County  and  were  for  fourteen  years  on  one  farm 
in  Green  Township.  Selling  that  place,  they  moved 
to  their  present  home,  the  Fairmount  Farm,  where 
they  have  found  their  ambitions  as  home  owners 
and  farmers  thoroughly  realized  and  have  so  pro- 
vided that  their  future  years  are  secure  with  every 
comfort.  Mr.  Zumbrun  is  a stockholder  in  the  Al- 
bion Grist  Mill. 

He  and  his  wife  have  four  children : Wildah,  a 

graduate  of  high  school  and  now  a teacher  in  the 
Merriam  school  of  Noble  Township ; Hearl,  a grad- 
uate of  the  common  and  high  schools,  was  for  one 
year  in  North  Manchester  College  and  is  now  a 
student  at  the  I.  B.  C.  at  Fort  Wayne;  Obra  and 
Loetta  R.  are  the  youngest  of  the  family.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren, 
and  Mr.  Zumbrun  is  a republican. 

Christian  M.  Borntrager  has  had  the  good  for- 
tune to  call  LaGrange  County  his  home  from  birth 
to  the  present  time,  and  his  life’s  activities  have 
been  chiefly  expressed  through  the  business  of  farm- 
ing, of  which  he  has  made  a notable  success.  His 
home  is  in  section  4 of  Eden  Township,  where  he 
was  born  February  5,  1884. 

He  is  the  ninth  child  in  the  family  of  eleven  born 
to  Manassas  and  Lydia  (Yoder)  Borntrager,  early 
settlers  in  LaGrange  County.  The  Borntrager  fam- 
ily was  established  in  the  American  colonies  in  1767, 
and  many  generations  have  proved  their  useful  citi- 
zenship and  fidelity  to  the  best  interests  of  their 
communities. 

Christian  Borntrager  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  Eden  Township,  attended  the  district  schools  in 
winter  and  worked  for  his  father  in  the  summer. 


172 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


February  9,  1905,  he  married  Mary  Ann  Miller.  She 
was  born  in  Elkhart  County  December  6,  1882,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  J.  and  Susana  (Keim)  Miller, 
the  former  a native  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and 
the  latter  of  Eden  Township,  LaGrange  County,  In- 
diana. Joseph  Miller  came  to  LaGrange  County  and 
was  married  February  5,  1882,  and  is  now  living  in 
Elkhart  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager  have 
eighty  acres  of  land  in  their  farm,  and  both  are 
active  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church. 
They  had  four  children  : Edna  May,  deceased ; Ina, 
Elizabeth  and  Alice. 

Adam  D.  Boyer  is  a progressive  and  enterprising 
farmer.  His  farm  home  is  in  Salem  Township, 
and  he  has  spent  all  his  life  in  Northeast  Indiana, 
having  come  to  Steuben  from  DeKalb  County.  Mr. 
Boyer  is  one  of  the  pleasant  gentlemen  in  Salem 
Township,  is  father  of  a fine  family,  and  has  worked 
hard  to  provide  for  them  and  meet  his  obligations 
as  a citizen  and  member  of  a farm  community. 

Mr.  Boyer  was  born  in  Smithfield  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  October  20,  1866,  a son  of  Balis  H. 
and  Susan  (Oberlin)  Boyer.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Franklin  Township,  DeKalb  County, 
daughter  of  David  Oberlin.  Balis  H.  Boyer  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  a son  of  Adam  and 
Rebecca  (Houlten)  Boyer.  Adam  Boyer  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  DeKalb  County,  and  spent 
his  active  life  as  a farmer  in  that  locality.  His 
children  were : Elmina,  who  married  Andrew 

Dunkin ; Balis;  Mary  Ann,  wife  of  Royal  Fisk; 
Irene,  who  married  Archie  Smith ; and  Ira,  who 
died  when  eighteen  years  old. 

Balis  H.  Boyer  when  a young  man  bought  eighty 
acres  of  wild"  and  uncleared  land  in  Smithfield 
Township  of  DeKalb  County.  He  had  to  clear 
away  a place  in  which  to  erect  his  first  log  cabin, 
and  all  his  children  were  born  in  a log  house. 
Eventually  he  had  good  improvements  and  most  of 
the  land  under  cultivation.  Finally  this  first  farm 
was  sold  and  he  moved  to  another  in  Franklin 
Township,  where  he  died  eight  years  later,  on  June 
1,  1907.  His  wife  passed  away  April  6,  1897.  Their 
children  were:  Warren  J. ; Mary  Minnie,  wife  of 

Martin  Smurr ; Adam  D. ; and  Francis  M.,  who  died 
on  his  eighteenth  birthday. 

Adam  D.  Boyer  had  the  advantages  of  the  dis- 
trict schools  in  his  native  township,  and  his  first 
experiences  as  a farmer  were  in  the  same  locality. 
He  rented  for  two  years  and  then  bought  forty- 
seven  acres  in  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County. 
In  1897  he  traded  this  DeKalb  County  farm  for 
the  place  he  now  owns  in  Salem  Township.  He 
has  a larger  farm,  comprising  no  acres  in  section 
20,  has  built  a new  barn,  remodeled  the  house,  and 
there  is  hardly  a foot  of  the  ground  which  is  not 
under  cultivation  and  put  to  some  useful  purpose. 
He  keeps  a good  deal  of  grade  livestock,  and  in 
his  farm  work  now  has  the  assistance  of  some  of 
his  children  who  are  at  home. 

September  21,  1887,  he  married  Blanche  Conrad, 
daughter  of  Demn  and  Margaret  (Linsey)  Conrad. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyer  have  nine  children : Grace, 

Ralph,  Bruce  H.,  Ruth,  Bertha  B.,  Ruby,  Naomi, 
Amy  and  Merritt.  Grace  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Leas, 
had  two  children,  Ross,  dying  in  childhood,  and 
the  other  being  Marjorie.  Ralph  married  Delphia 
Martin  and  has  two  children,  Donald  and  Robert. 
Bruce  H.  served  in  the  United  States  Marine  Corps 
during  the  war,  being  stationed  along  the  eastern 
coast.  Ruth  is  the  wife  of  Ora  Bowerman  and  has 
a son,  Keith  Harold.  Bertha  B.  is  married  to 
Harvey  Wilson. 


William  S.  Bryan  of  Swan  Township,  Noble 
County,  is  a young  man  upon  whom  enterprise  has 
evidently  set  every  mark  of  approval  and  commen- 
dation. He  is  one  of  the  younger  men  in  the  agri- 
cultural field,  alert  to  every  opportunity,  and  has 
made  a most  satisfactory  record  of  progress  in  the 
years  that  his  career  has  been  in  full  swing. 

Mr.  Bryan  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
July  17,  1884,  son  of  J.  A.  and  Martha  (Dice) 
Bryan.  His  father  was  born  in  Hancock  County, 
Ohio,  in  1850.  His  mother  was  born  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, and  came  to  Ohio  before  her  marriage.  In  1893 
J.  A.  Bryan  brought  his  family  to  Indiana,  and 
settled  in  Whitley  County.  The  parents  are  now 
living  in  Churubusco,  Indiana.  He  is  a past  master 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  and  is  a republican 
in  politics.  There  are  six  children  in  the  family: 
Blanche,  wife  of  Newton  L.  McGuire;  Linne  and 
Letta  twins ; Earl ; George ; and  William  S. 

William  S.  Bryan  was  nine . years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Indiana,  and  in  Whitley  County 
he  completed  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
He  also  had  one  year  in  high  school.  His  active 
career  on  his  own  account  began  at  the  age  of 
nineteen.  At  Erie,  Pennsylvania,  he  learned  the 
trade  of  stove  plate  molder,  and  worked  at  it  three 
years.  Returning  to  Indiana,  he  was  a resident  of 
Fort  Wayne  two  years.  He  then  married  and  settled 
on  his  present  farm  of  120  acres  in  Swan  Township, 
where  since  then  he  has  been  working  hard  and 
has  much  to  show  'for  his  labors.  He  raises  Duroc 
hogs  and  the  Leghorn  poultry,  and  besides  his  farm 
interests  is  stockholder  in  a local  nursery.  Mr. 
Bryan  is  a republican  voter.  He  and  his  wife  have 
one  son,  Darwin  R.,  born  July  5,  1908,  and  now  in 
the  fifth  grade  of  the  public  schools. 

Edward  M.  Kalb  is  one  of  the  live  and  progressive 
citizens  of  Washington  Township,  and  for  a number 
of  years  has  done  much  to  contribute  to  the  volume 
of  agricultural  production  in  Noble  County.  He 
has  a splendid  farm  in  sections  4 and  8,  and  while 
his  individual  ownership  comprises  eighty-one 
acres,  he  cultivates  and  handles  altogether  about 
200  acres. 

Mr.  Kalb  was  born  on  the  old  Kalb  homestead 
in  Washington  Township,  March  31.  1872.  He  is  a 
son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Haning)  Kalb.  Peter 
Kalb,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1837,  is  still 
living  in  Noble  County,  one  of  the  venerable  and 
highly  respected  citizens.  He  and  his  wife  had 
eight  children:  Amanda,  wife  of  Sam  Shoupe; 

Wesley,  Steward  and  Mary,  all  deceased;  Phoebe, 
wife  of  Adam  Stumn ; Millie,  wife  of  Marshall 
Draim  ; and  Charles  E.  and  Edward  M.,  twins,  the 
former  now  deceased. 

Edward  M.  Kalb  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  and 
made  good  use  of  the  advantages  supplied  by  the 
local  district  schools.  After  leaving  home  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  he  worked  out  for  a year,  and 
he  and  his  twin  brother  then  rented  a farm  and 
worked  it  together  for  three  years. 

March  23,  1898,  Mr.  Kalb  married  Lestie  Schla- 
bach.  She  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble 
County  in  1881,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Samuel 
Schlabach.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kalb  have  three  children : 
Shirley  L.,  born  in  igoi ; Orris  M.,  born  in  August, 
1007;  and  Orpha  E.,  born  in  July.  1916.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Kalb  also  have  two  grandchildren. 

The  Kalb  family  are  active  members  of  the 
Christian  Church.  Mr.  Kalb  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Kimmell  and 
is  a past  grand  of  his  lodge.  He  is  also  active  in 
the  republican  party  in  his  section  of  the  county. 


JOHN  S.  FRISKNEY  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


173 


John  S.  Friskney,  one  of  the  prominent  farmers 
of  Greene  Township  of  Noble  County,  has  long  oc- 
cupied an  enviable  position  in  local  affairs,  and  his 
popularity  and  the  confidence  in  his  judgment  has 
been  such  that  he  was  able  to  overcome  the  normal 
democratic  majority  and  is  the  second  republican 
to  hold  the  office  of  trustee  in  the  township.  He  is 
now  serving  his  second  term. 

Mr.  Friskney  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
March  3,  1862,  son  of  John  and  Jemima  (Jesson) 
Friskney.  His  father  was  a native  of  England,  grew 
up  and  married  there,  and  his  first  wife  died  in 
England.  Later  he  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  where  he  married 
his  second  wife  and  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
years.  He  was  a quiet,  unassuming  man,  a devout 
Baptist,  and  faithful  to  all  the  duties  and  responsi- 
bilities of  life.  Of  his  eight  children  five  are  still 
living:  Jemima,  unmarried  and  a resident  of  Ohio; 

Allie,  widow  of  Elias  Carpenter;  John  S.;  Thomas, 
a farmer  in  Whitley  County,  Indiana ; and  Elizabeth, 
wife  of  Daniel  Lowe,  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio. 

John  S.  Friskney  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Ashland  County  and  received  his  education  in 
the  common  schools.  He  came  to  Indiana  in  1880 
and  in  1881  he  married  Mary  M.  Harlan,  whom 
he  had  known  from  childhood.  She  was  born  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  February  24,  1855,  and  her 
parents  moved  to  Indiana  in  1865.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Friskney  started  out  with  no  capital,  and  by  their 
o\Yn  exertions  have  budded  toward  independence 
until  they  now  have  a well  proportioned  farm  of 
160  acres. 

They  are  the  parents  of  a family  of  five  children  : 
John  Arthur,  a farmer  in  Greene  Township,  mar- 
ried Vanice  Smith.  Bessie  and  Dessie  are  twins,  the 
latter  unmarried  and  living  at  home.  Bessie,  who 
like  her  sister  is  a graduate  of  the  Albion  High 
School,  was  a teacher  until  her  marriage  to  Chauncey 
Baughman  and  they  now  live  in  Noble  Township. 
Archie  married  Clara  Ott.  Frank  R.,  the  youngest, 
married  Iva  Sinderson. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church  and 
Mr.  Friskney  is  a deacon  and  trustee,  is  a charter 
member  of  the  church  and  has  served  in  past  years 
as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners.  He 
has  long  been  active  in  local  affairs  and  was  re- 
elected for  a second  term  as  trustee  of  Greene 
Township  in  1918. 

Henry  Gurtner,  an  honored,  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  has  for  half  a century  been  a factor  in  the 
farming  and  community  life  of  the  vicinity  of  Ham- 
ilton, and  is  now  enjoying  a well  earned  retirement 
and  the  comforts  gained  by  a life  of  industry.  He 
was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  February  14, 
1845,  a son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Tiernans)  Gurtner, 
the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Peter  Gurtner  died  in  Ohio 
in  1853,  when  his  son  Henry  was  only  eight  years 
old.  The  widow  and  her  family  of  three  sons  and 
two  daughters  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1855,  and 
she  spent  her  last  days  near  Hudson. 

Henry  Gurtner  grew  up  in  Jackson  Township,  had 
a public  school  education,  and  in  1863,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  enlisted  in  Company  C of  the  Twelfth 
Indiana  Cavalry.  He  saw  some  of  the  hard  fight- 
ing and  scouting  service  of  Jhe  cavalry  branch  until  - 
the  close  of  the  war.  In  1866  he  and  his  father-in- 
law,  David  Cummings,  bought  the  David  Morgan 
farm  of  ninety  acres,  and  he  lived  there  about  nine 
years.  Selling  his  interests,  he  moved  to  DeKalb 
County  and  bought  eighty  acres,  and  successfully 
farmed  it  for  about  twenty-five  years.  He  also 


owned  ten  acres  in  DeKalb  County  near  the  railway 
depot  at  Hamilton,  and  he  lived  on  that  place  for 
ten  years.  Since  selling  it  he  has  bought  a com- 
fortable house  and  lot  in  Hamilton  village. 

Mr.  Gurtner  has  always  been  a stanch  republican 
and  is  a member  of  Griffith  Post  No.  648,  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic,  and  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  His  wife  is  a Methodist. 

In  1866  he  married  Sarah  Cummings.  Their  five 
children  were  named  Adelbert,  Minnie,  Ella  May 
(wife  of  Warren  Arnold,  a merchant  at  Flint,  In- 
diana), David  and  Harriet  Elizabeth. 

After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Gurtner  mar- 
ried Joanna  Clark.  They  had  two  daughters:  Rena 
and  Ina,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Professor  Forney, 
superintendent  of  the  Waterloo  schools.  For  his 
third  wife  Mr.  Gurtner  married  Mrs.  Lucretia  (Cas- 
per) Clark,  of  Hamilton. 

Peter  Crowl.  Americans  have  been  accused  of 
being  too  unstable,  too  much  inclined  to  go  from 
one  locality  to  another  and  experiment  with  dif- 
ferent callings,  thus  wasting  valuable  time  and 
making  no  permanent  location.  It  is  stated  that 
such  action  tends  to  do  away  with  a proper  pride  in 
one  community,  and  destroys  concerted  co-operation. 
That  such  conditions  do  prevail  with  a few  is  true, 
but  the  great  agricultural  regions,  especially  in  In- 
diana, give  many  instances  of  men  who  have  spent 
their  lives  in  the  neighborhood  in  which  they  were 
born,  and  who  have  concentrated  their  efforts  upon 
making  themselves  perfect  in  the  business  of  farm- 
ing. One  of  these  men  who  is  now  living  on  the 
fa:  m acquired  by  his  father  when  he  was  but  an 
infant,  and  on  which  he  has  spent  practically  all  of 
his  life,  is  Peter  Crowl  of  Steuben  Township,  Steu- 
ben County. 

Peter  Crowl  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  June  9,  1863,  a son  of  William  and  Nancy 
(Freed)  Crowl.  William  Crowl  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, but  was  brought  to  Ohio  in  his  boyhood,  and 
there  he  was  reared  and  married  to  the  daughter 
of  Peter  Freed,  who  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  following  which  he  began  farming. 
In  the  fall  of  1863  he  brought  his  family  to  Steuben 
County,  and  for  a year  lived  in  Salem  Township, 
but  then  bought  a farm  of  120  acres  on  section  4, 
Steuben  Township,  on  which  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life,  dying  in  February,  1907,  his  wife  having- 
passed  away  in  1904.  Their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows : Lina,  who  married  Addison  Feifer ; Peter, 

whose  name  heads  this  review;  Ida,  who  married 
William  Ensley;  Cora,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years ; and  Edward,  deceased. 

Peter  Crowl  attended  the  public  schools  of  his 
district,  and  has  always  been  engaged  in  conducting 
his  present  farm,  first  for  his  father  and  later  on 
his  own  account.  He  has  120  acres  of  exceedingly 
valuable  land,  on  which  he  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing^ and  stockraising,  and  as  he  understands  his 
business  thoroughly  he  has  been  deservedly  success- 
ful in  his  operations. 

On  December  25,  1887,  Mr.  Crowl  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Cora  Wolf,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Menges)  Wolf.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crowl 
have  one  son  living  and  one  deceased.  Glenn,  who, 
after  being  graduated  from  the  Pleasant  Lake  High 
School,  attended  Angola  Tri-State  College  one  year, 
and  then  began  teaching  school.  After  two  years’ 
experience  in  the  educational  field  he  returned  to  the 
farm,  and  is  occupied  in  working  with  his  father. 
He  was  married  to  Minnie  Sturgis,  and  they  have 
a son,  Richard  L.  Peter  Crowl  and  his  son  are 
rightly  numbered  among  the  good,  substantial  farm- 
ers of  Steuben  County,  who  are  doing  their  part 


174 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  maintaining  the  agricultural  supremacy  of  this 
region. 

Charles  W.  Sloffer,  owner  and  proprietor  of  a 
well  improved  farm  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble 
County,  started  his  career  as  a renter  and  has  used 
his  opportunities  to  such  good  purpose  that  he  now 
possesses  an  enviable  prosperity  and  is  one  of  the 
influential  men  of  his  community. 

He  was  born  in  Eel  River  Township  of  Allen 
County,  Indiana,  December  7,  1862,  son  of  William 
and  Rebecca  (Miller)  Sloffer,  the  former  a native 
of  New  York  State  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Their 
respective  families  came  to  Indiana  in  early  days 
and  located  in  Allen  County.  William  Sloffer  and 
wife  were  married  in  that  county,  and  were  farmers 
there  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

Charles  W.  Sloffer  grew  up  on  a farm  two  miles 
east  of  where  he  now  lives  in  Allen  County,  and 
received  his  education  from  the  district  schools. 
On  October  21,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Edith  Bow- 
man. She  is  a native  of  Noble  County  and  received 
her  education  in  the  common  schools  there. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sloffer  rented 
land  for  several  years,  and  then  bought  the  eighty- 
six  acres  in  the  present  home  farm.  They  have  done 
much  to  improve  this,  and  conduct  it  as  a general 
farm  and  stock  proposition. 

They  have  two  children : Glenn,  a graduate  of 

the  common  schools  and  a teacher  in  Swan  Town- 
ship; and  Leah,  who  was  born  November  12,  1896, 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  Laotto  High  School. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sloffer  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  God,  and  he  is  one  of  the  church  trustees.  He 
is  affiliated  with  Churubusco  Lodge  of  Masons  and 
in  politics  is  a republican. 

Charles  S.  McLouth.  The  place  he  owns,  the 
extent  of  his  acreage,  its  improvement  and  general 
management  indicates  that  Charles  S.  McLouth  is 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Steuben  County.  His 
home  is  in  Clear  Lake  Township,  and  he  is  today 
cultivating  the  same  land  which  his  father  cultivated 
when  the  son  was  born. 

Mr.  McLouth  was  born  November  24,  1864,  and 
is  a son  of  Benjamin  Mason  and  Sophia  (Duguid) 
McLouth  and  a grandson  of  Benjamin  and  Patience 
P.  (Ashley)  McLouth.  His  grandparents  were  both 
natives  of  Massachusetts.  Benjamin  McLouth,  who 
was  born  in  1806,  came  to  Clear  Lake  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1854.  He  had  lived  for  ten  years 
in  New  York  State.  He  was  a good  business  man, 
a man  of  high  principles,  and  besides  managing  his 
property  he  gave  much  of  his  time  to  the  work  of 
the  Baptist  ministry.  He  had  preached  for  several 
years  in  New  York  State,  and  after  coming  to 
Indiana  he  continued  preaching  as  a member  of  the 
Baptist  Church.  In  Clear  Lake  Township  he  ac- 
quired 480  acres  of  land  and  lived  on  the  farm  and 
supervised  its  management  in  connection  with  his 
ministerial  engagements.  The  last  two  years  of  his 
life  were  spent  in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  where 
he  died  in  1868.  His  children  were  Mary,  Benjamin, 
Adelia,  Ellen,  Jennie  and  Wilbur. 

Benjamin  Mason  McLouth,  who  was  born  in 
Massachusetts,  was  partly  reared  and  attended 
schools  in  New  York  State,  took  up  the  work  of  the 
farm  in  Steuben  County  in  early  manhood,  and 
continued  farming  where  his  son  Charles  now  lives 
until  1876.  He  then  retired,  moved  to  Ray,  Indiana, 
and  during  the  rest  of  his  life  was  devoted  to  the 
ministry  of  the  Baptist  Church.  For  two  years  he 
had  a circuit,  and  after  that  did  local  _ preaching. 
The  death  of  this  honored  old  time,  minister  and 
farmer  occurred  September  5,  1912.  His  widow,  who 
is  still  living,  was  born  in  Fremont  Township  of 


Steuben  County,  a daughter  of  John  and  Ellen 
(Stewart)  Duguid.  She  was  the  mother  of  eight 
children:  Elmer  E.,  Luella,  Charles  S.,  John  A., 

Arthur,  Edith,  George  and  Edna.  Only  three  are 
now  living,  Charles  S.,  John  and  Edna.  Luella  died 
in  1918  and  the  rest  in  early  childhood. 

Charles  S.  McLouth  as  a boy  attended  the  district 
schools  of  his  native  township,  also  attended  school 
at  Fremont  and  for  three  years  was  a student  in 
the  college  at  Hillsdale,  Michigan.  He  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  college  fraternity.  On 
completing  his  education  Mr.  McLouth  spent  six 
years  as  a farmer  in  Branch  County,  Michigan, 
taught  school  three  years,  was  a salesman  of  agri- 
cultural machinery  in  Steuben  County  for  about 
seven  years,  and  in  1905  moved  to  Fremont  in  order 
to  give  his  children  the  advantages  of  better  schools. 
In  the  spring  of  1912  Mr.  McLouth  moved  to  a farm 
on  .the  line  between  Fremont  and  Clear  Lake  Town- 
ship, and  from  there  in  the  spring  of  1919  moved  to 
the  farm  where  he  was  born.  Besides  his  holdings 
in  this  county  he  owns  500  acres  of  land  in  Missis- 
sippi. 

Mr.  McLouth  married  Anna  Vance,  September  24, 
1891.  She  is  a daughter  of  Alexander  and  Mary 
(Barnhill)  Vance.  They  have  four  children,  Lisle, 
Ruth,  Donald  and  Janet.  The  daughter  Ruth  is  the 
wife  of  J.  O.  Hochstedler.  The  son  Donald  en- 
listed in  the  United  States  Navy  July  6,  1918.  He 
was  still  in  service  in  the  early  summer  of  1919.  His 
first  duty  was  on  the  battleship  New  Jersey,  with 
which  he  made  one  voyage  to  Europe.  Since  then 
he  has  been  with  the  Liberator,  and  on  that  vessel 
made  three  trips  to  Europe. 

John  H.  Strong.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  this 
country  has  today  so  many  young  men  just,  or  about 
to  be,  discharged  from  the  army,  it  is  interesting  to 
note  that  the  majority  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Civil 
war,  after  their  return  to  civil  life,  developed  into 
prosperous  business  men,  giving  their  government 
just  as  efficient  service  as  private  citizens  as  they 
did  during  the  dark  days  of  the  war.  The  strict 
discipline  and  rigorous  training  of  army  life  brings 
into  being  qualities  which  make  for  the  best  type 
of  citizenship,  and  for  some  decades  past  the  people 
of  every  community  have  been  proud  of  their  old 
soldiers.  One  of  these  veterans  of  the  conflict  be- 
tween the  states,  now  living  in  retirement  at  Pleas- 
ant Lake,  Indiana,  is  John  H.  Strong,  who  after 
a gallant  service  as  a soldier  for  many  years  car- 
ried on  an  extensive  contracting  and  building  busi- 
ness at  Pleasant  Lake. 

John  H.  Strong  was  born  at  Fort  Wayne,  In- 
diana, April  3,  1843,  a son  of  Henry  and  Angeline 
Strong.  Henry  Strong  was  born  in  Holland  April 
5,  1812,  and  died  in  1896,  his  wife  having  passed 
away  in  1857.  He  brought  his  wife  to  the  United 
States  in  1838,  and  after  some  months  in  New  York 
City  came  west  as  far  as  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life,  being  en- 
gaged in  business  as  a shoe  merchant.  He  and  his 
wife  had  the  following  children : Clara,  William, 

Henry,  Lena,  John  H.  and  Louisa,  all  of  whom  are 
now  deceased  except  John  H.  Strong. 

Until  he  was  eighteen  years  old  John  H.  Strong 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
but  at  that  time  he  enlisted  as  a private,  on  August 
28,  1861,  in  Company  Cj  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  In- 
fantry for  service  during  the  Civil  war,  and  was 
honorably  discharged  January  3,  1864.  During  this 
period  of  service  he  participated  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Perrysville,  Stone  River, 
Chickamauga  and  many  skirmishes,  and  had  the  re- 
markable record  of  not  only  never  being  wounded 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


175 


but  also  of  keeping  in  such  excellent  health  that  it 
was  not  necessary  to  administer  to  him  a single  dose 
of  medicine.  There  are  few  of  the  soldier  boys  of 
today  who  can  truthfully  say  the  same  thing.  His 
gallantry  in  action  earned  him  successive  promo- 
tions and  he  was  discharged  as  a second  lieutenant. 

Following  his  discharge  Mr.  Strong  returned  to 
Fort  Wayne,  where  he  worked  as  a carpenter,  but 
the  confines  of  the  old  home  town  did  not  offer  him 
the  opportunities  his  ambition  sought  and  in  1877  he 
moved  to  Pleasant  Lake,  where  he  has  since  re- 
mained, growing  with  the  place  and  expanding  into 
a contractor  and  builder.  Some  of  the  most  impor- 
tant contracts  have  been  executed  by  him.  It  has 
been  characteristic  of  him  that  he  not  only.  lived 
up  to  the  letter  of  these  contracts,  but  the  spirit  as 
well.  For  forty  years  he  has  lived  in  the  same  house, 
to  which  he  is  deeply  attached. 

In  1864,  after  his  return  from  the  war,  Mr.  Strong 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Elizabeth  A.  Bower, 
a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Bower,  and  they  had 
the  following  children : William  F. ; Edward  and 

Harry,  both  of  whom  died  in  childhood ; Lillie,  who 
was  married  June  30,  1903,  to  Worthy  E.  Tuttle; 
and  Claude,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  years. 
Mrs.  Strong  died  April  18,  1915,  having  been  a de- 
voted wife  and  mother  and  a kind  neighbor,  and 
she  was  deeply  mourned  by  all  who  had  the  pleasure 
of  her  acquaintance.  Mr.  Strong  is  a devout  mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church,  to  which  he  gives  gen- 
erous support.  Having  lived  at  Pleasant  Lake  for 
forty-two  years,  he  is  one  of  its  oldest  residents, 
and  has  seen  many  interesting  and  important  changes, 
in  some  of  which  he  has  taken  an  important  part. 
Never  caring  for  public  life,  he  has  not  sought 
political  honors,  but  has  always  been  willing  and 
ready  to  render  aid  in  forwarding  any  movement 
which  in  his  estimation  would  work  out  for  the 
benefit  of  his  community  and  the  betterment  of  its 
people. 

Guy  W.  Sanders,  whose  active  career  has  identi- 
fied him  with  Pleasant  Township  in  Steuben  County, 
where  he  owns  one  of  the  well  improved  farms, 
was  at  birth  an  interesting  factor  in  the  life  and 
affairs  of  the  little  community  of  Steubenville  in 
Glenn  Township.  On  March  29,  1874,  when  he 
came  into  the  world,  he  was  hailed  as  the  first 
boy  born  in  the  village. 

His  father  was  William  Henry  Sanders,  a son 
of  Samuel  Sanders.  William  Henry  was  born  De- 
cember 26,  1847,  and  died  December  20,  1917.  He 
was  an  early  merchant  in  the'  hardware  business.  at 
Wolcottville  and  Hudson,  Indiana,  and  on  selling 
his  store  moved  to  a farm  near  Angola  and  followed 
agriculture  until  he  retired  in  1915-  He  married 
Loretta  Wickwire,  daughter  of  George  W.  and 
Loretta  (Lemmon)  Wickwire. 

Guy  W.  Sanders,  oldest  of  his  father’s  children, 
attended  district  schools  in  Pleasant  Township,  also 
the  Angola  High  School,  and  took  a commercial 
course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  College.  His  career 
as  an  agriculturist  began  on  a rented  farm  in  Pleas- 
ant Township,  and  in  1907  he  bought  his  present 
place  of  162  acres,  part  of  which  lies  in  section  17, 
though  the  building  improvements  are  in  section  16. 
Mr.  Sanders  has  worked  not  only  to  the  end  of 
producing  good  crops  and  getting  the  most  profit 
out  of  his  soil,  but  also  to  give  his  farm  permanent 
improvement  and  increased  value  from  year  to  year. 
He  has  repaired  the  buildings,  and  the  farm  stands 
as  one  of  the  good  ones  in  that  locality.  He  does 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  is  a breeder  of 
blooded  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  and  is  one  of  the  largest 
stock  feeders  in  the  county. 


Mr.  Sanders  married  March  10,  1897,  Jennie 
Smiley,  a daughter  of  George  and  Catherine  Smiley. 
Mrs.  Sanders  taught  school  in  the  district  schools 
of  Steuben  County  for  about  seven  years  before 
her  marriage.  She  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  of  Steuben  County  and  in  the  Tri-State 
Normal.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sanders  have  two  children, 
Mark  C.  and  Hugh  George.  Mr.  Sanders  is  a 
Knight  Templar  Mason,  a trustee  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge,  and  Mrs.  Sanders  is  worthy  matron 
of  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  at  Angola.  Both  are 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Cary  R.  Frisbey.  It  is  difficult  to  estimate  and 
value  properly  the  life  and  character  of  such  a man 
as  Cary  R.  Frisbey  of  Clay  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  He  is  the  type  of  man  to  whom  his  fellow 
citizens  .give  honors  and  responsibilities  gladly 
Everyone  knows  where  and  how  he  stands,  and  that 
he  could  be  relied  upon.  Mr.  Frisbey  and  his  good 
wife  have  lived  on  one  farm  for  over  half  a cen- 
tury, and  that  long  residence  is  of  itself  character- 
istic of  the  solid  and  enduring  qualities  of  this  hon- 
ored couple. 

Mr.  Frisbey  was  born  in  Morgan  County,  Ohio, 
February  2,  1836,  but  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County 
since  early  youth.  His  grandparents  were  William 
and  Ruth  Frisbey.  His  father,  John  Frisbey,  was 
born  in  Luzerne  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  June, 
1817,  married  Mary  A.  Van  Clief,  a native  of  Wash- 
ington County,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Peter  Van 
Clief.  John  Frisbey  brought  his  family  to  La- 
Grange County  in  1844,  spent  a year  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, was  then  in  Lima  Township  until  1855,  in 
which  year  he  returned  to  Clay  Township,  and  was 
there  until  his  death  on  November  1,  1858.  He  and 
his  wife  had  a family  of  ten  children : James,  Jane, 
Daniel,  Ephraim,  Peter,  Mary  Ann,  Ruth,  Cary, 
Sarah  and  John. 

Cary  R.  Frisbey  was  eight  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  LaGrange  County.  He  attended 
his  first  school  at  Chester  Hill,  Ohio,  and  later  at- 
tended the  district  schools  of  Lima  township.  He 
finished  his  education  in  the  Ontario  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute in  Indiana. 

September  30,  1861,  Mr.  Frisbey  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H,  of  the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  On 
July  17,  1862,  he  was  mustered  out  on  account  of 
disability.  In  the  meantime  he  had  been  a part  of 
General  Grant’s  army  in  the  capture  of  Fort  Donel- 
son.  On  September  30,  1864,  he  re-enlisted  in  Com- 
pany D of  the  One  Hundred  Forty-Second  Infan- 
try of  Indiana,  and  remained  until  the  close  of 
hostilities.  During  the  battle  of  Nashville  his  regi- 
ment formed  a part  of  the  reserves. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Frisbey  at  once  entered  upon 
a busy  career,  one  productive  of  much  service  to 
his  community.  He  taught  public  school  for  fifteen 
winters  and  for  over  forty  years  was  a veteran 
singing  master,  being  a leader  in  many  singing 
schools.  On  April  2,  1864,  he  married  his  first 
wife,  Julia  Osborn,  who  died  September  22,  1864. 
On  October  27,  1867,  he  married  Elizabeth  Boyd, 
daughter  of  James  and  Catherine  (Engle)  Boyd. 
They  moved  to  their  farm  in  1868,  and  probably  no 
couple  in  Clay  Township  had  lived  longer  in  one 
home  and  one  locality. 

For  a period  of  forty-eight  years  Mr.  Frisbey  has 
been  a writer  of  the  local  news  for  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  probably  knows  the  history  and  the  people 
of  that  community  better  than  any  other  man.  He 
served  as  deputy  county  treasurer  under  Treas- 
urers Hoff,  Preston,  Anderson,  Halbert,  McCally 
and  Musser,  altogether  a period  of  twenty-four 
years.  He  was  county  coroner  by  election  and  ap- 
pointment four  years;  jury  commissioner  one  year; 


176 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


was  census  enumerator  in  1890;  spent  thirty-five 
days  on  a jury;  was  justice  of  the  peacefor  Clay 
Township  by  appointment  and  election  for  seven 
years,  and  re-elected  for  another  four  year  term ; 
served  as  township  assessor  two  years ; was  deputy 
real  estate  appraiser  under  Lampman  and  Schermer- 
horn  two  years ; has  been  superintendent  of_  the 
Ridge,  Pointer  and  Clay  Sunday  schools  for  fifteen 
years ; was  deacon  of  his  church  three  years  and 
township  president  of  the  Sunday  School  Associa- 
tion twenty-nine  years.  He  has  been  a popular  mem- 
ber of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  has 
attended  both  the  State  and  National  Encampments. 
He  has  had  some  active  relations  with  practically 
everything  that  has  taken  place  in  his  township  for 
the  past  half  century. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frisbey  had  three  children:  Erie 
S.,  who  married  Olive  Crowl  and  has  two  children, 
Roger  and  Audrey;  Minnie  May,  who  married  Ed- 
ward Pyle  and  has  three  children,  Beth,  Juanita  and 
Edith;  and  Frances,  wife  of  Henry  Frank,  and 
mother  of  a daughter,  Phyllis.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Frisbey  celebrated  their  golden  wedding  anniversary 
in  1917. 

James  Boyd,  father  of  Mrs.  Frisbey,  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1801.  His  wife, 
Catherine  Engle,  was  a native  of  the  same  county. 
This  family  moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in 
1842,  living  near  Wawaka,  and  in  1855  established 
their  home  in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange  County, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  James 
Boyd  died  in  1877.  He  was  the  father  of  a numer- 
ous family  of  seventeen  children,  their  names  in 
order  of  birth  being  Delilah,  Eston,  Arion,  Har- 
rison, Edward,  John,  Charles,  Elizabeth,  James, 
Mary,  Peter,  Jacob,  Douglas,  Urias,  Samuel,  Daniel 
and  Corinda. 

Moses  P.  Miller  is  a LaGrange  County  citizen 
whose  part  has  been  played  laboriously  and  efficiently 
in  agricultural  affairs.  He  has  lived  here  for  half 
a century,  has  endured  the  vicissitudes  as  well  as  the 
fortune  of  this  long  period  of  time,  and  is  still  able 
to  take  his  part  in  management  and  farm  work  at 
his  home  place  in  Clay  Township. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Cambria  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, July  28,  1845,  a son  of  Joseph  D.  and  Nancy 
(Yoder)  Miller.  His  grandparents  were  Daniel  and 
Mary  (Mast)  Miller/  Joseph  D.  Miller  and  wife 
were  both  natives  of  Somerset  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, the  latter  being  the  daughter  of  Yost  Yoder. 
Joseph  D.  Miller  was- a Pennsylvania  farmer  until 
1857,  when  he  went  to  Eden  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana.  Here  he  farmed  until  1871,  when 
he  moved  to  Hickory  County,  Missouri,  and  lived 
there  until  1873.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Daniel,  Frances,  Moses  P.,  Eliza- 

beth, Jacob.  Nancy  and  Samuel. 

Moses  P.  Miller  was  twelve  years  old  when 
brought  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  finished  his 
education  here  in  the  public  schools.  _ For  three 
years  of  his  early  manhood  he  farmed  in  Newbury 
Township  and  in  i860  sought  a new  home  in  Hickory 
County,  Missouri.  He  remained  there  three  years, 
but  in  1872  returned  to  Eden  Township,  was  there 
four  years,  and  in  1876  moved  to  his  present  farm  in 
section  3,  Clay  Township.  He  owns  108  acres,  has 
gathered  crops  from  the  land  for  forty  years,  and 
practically  all  the  good  buildings  represents  his  in- 
vestment and  labor. 

In  1865  Mr.  Miller  married  Eva  Hostetler,  a 
daughter  of  Moses  J.  Hostetler.  To  their  marriaere 
were  born  a family  of  eleven  children,  noted  briefly 
as  follows : Betsey  Anna,  who  died  September  4. 

1896;  Josiah;  Nancy  M.,  who  died  June  16,  1898; 


Moses  M. ; Uriah  M. ; Polly  E.,  who  died  December 
4,  1903;  Fannie  Jane,  who  died  January  30,  1896; 
Minnie  May,  who  died  March  3,  1903 ; Eva  Adaline ; 
Samuel,  who  died  March  3,  1919 ; arid  Katie,  who 
died  in  1903.  Mr.  Miller  is  a member  of  the  Men- 
nonite  Church. 

Samuel  Miller,  a son  of  Moses  P.  Miller,  married 
Katie  Bontrager.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  at 
home  and  farmed  the  old  place  for  his  father  until 
his  death.  Since  then  his  widow  and  her  children 
have  remained  with  Moses  P.  Miller  and  have  car- 
ried on  the  operations  of  the  home  farm.  Samuel 
and  Katie  Miller  had  seven  children,  named  Fayma 
Irene,  Maud  Adaline,  Martha  Lydia,  who  died  July 
21,  1912,  Freeman,  Oscar  Moses,  Orpha  Catherine, 
who  died  January  8,  1918,  and  Mary  Elizabeth. 

Samuel  F.  Loney  came  to  man’s  estate  thirty- 
five  years  ago  and  since  then  has  made  many  changes 
in  his  circumstances  and  every  change  for  the  better. 
He  started  farming  with  very  little  capital  and  very 
little  land,  and  now  owns  one  of  the  most  complete 
and  best  adapted  farms  in  Pleasant  Township  of 
Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Loney  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  March 
4,  1862,  a son  of  Hugh  and  Mary  (Freighley)  Loney, 
of  an  old  and  well  known  family  of  Steuben  County. 
Lie  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and  soon  after 
leaving  public  schools  went  to  work  as  a farm  hand 
In  fact  he  was  only  fifteen  years  old  when  he  earned 
his  first  wages,  $8  a month.  He  continued  in  this 
way  for  several  years,  later  started  farming  on  his 
own  account,  and  bought  his  first  place  of  sixty-four 
acres  in  Otsego  Township.  He  sold  that,  bought 
another  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  the  same  township, 
and  after  holding  it  four  years  came  to  his  present 
place  in  Pleasant  Township  in  February,  1918.  Mr. 
Loney’s  farm  comprises  130  acres  with  good  im- 
provements, and  is  only  three  miles  from  Angola, 
the  county  seat.  All  the  property  he  has  represents 
his  individual  work  and  good  management  spread 
over  a number  of  years. 

Mr.  Loney  is  a democrat  and  has  never  asked  for 
a political  office. 

March  20,  1890,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Jane 
Hutchins,  member  of  the  well  known  and  prominent 
Hutchins  family  of  Steuben  County.  She  was  born 
in  Scott  Township  June  26,  1866,  a daughter  of  John 
Riley  and  Waty  Ann  (Sowle)  Hutchins.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,,  in  1832,  and  her 
mother  was  born  in  the  same  state  in  1834.  Her 
mother  was  a daughter  of  Joseph  T.  and  Mary 
(Brown)  Sowle,  the  Sowle  family  having  furnished 
several  pioneer  settlers  to  Steuben  County.  Mrs. 
Loney  was  one  of  five  children:  Joseph,  deceased; 

Tohn  R. ; Mary  Jane;  Cora  Dell,  deceased;  and 
Fred. 

Mr.  and  "Mrs.  Loney  had  two  children : Mont- 

gomery G.  died  January  18,  1904.  Ethel  May,  born 
March  24,  1895,  is  the  wife  of  Jay  Bollinger  and 
has  two  children,  Opal  Ilene,  born  June  22,  1916,  and 
Donald  S.,  born  July  22,  1918. 

Mrs.  Loney  has  a nephew,  Lewis  Hutchins,  son  of 
her  brother  John  Hutchins  and  wife,  Lottie  V. 
Hutchins,  who  enlisted  at  Toledo  while  serving  as 
a brakeman  with  the  New  York  Central  line  and 
joined  the  noted  Railroad  Engineers’  Division.  He 
went  into  the  service  in  April,  1918,  and  after  some 
training  at  Camp  Laurel,  Maryland,  was  sent  over- 
seas in  June  and  had  some  of  the  interesting  experi- 
ence of  the  Railroad  Engineers’  Division,  which  made 
a splendid  record  and  introduced  some  of  the  effi- 
ciency of  American  railroad  management  into  the 
handling  of  transportation  facilities  in  France. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


177 


Edward  G.  Crain.  For  over  sixty-five  years  one 
farm  in  Otsego  Township  has  responded  to  the 
labors  and  care  of  the  Crain  family,  and  most  of 
the  land  contained  in  it  has  probably  produced  at 
least  sixty  crops.  The  present  possessor,  Edward 
G.  Crain,  son  of  the  late  Lucius  H.  Crain,  settled 
on  the  land  in  1853. 

The  Crain  family  has  a long  and  honorable  record 
in  American  history.  Edward  Crain’s  great-grand- 
father, Elijah  Crain,  was  a Revolutionary  soldier 
and  was  a participant  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 
He  died  in  Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  in  1848, 
in  the  ninety-ninth  year  of  his  age.  The  grand- 
parents of  Mr.  Crain  were  Lucius  and  Paulina 
(Frink)  Crain.  The  former  visited  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  as  early  as  1836,  when  most  of  the  land 
was  a wilderness  and  still  owned  by  the  Govern- 
ment. He  bought  part  of  section  36  in  Steuben 
Township  and  in  September,  1837,  moved  his  family 
there.  The  following  year  they  returned  to  New 
York  and  settled  permanently  in  Steuben  County 
in  1840.  Lucius  Crain  died  August  31.  1848. 

Lucius  H.  Crain  was  born  at  Eden  in  Madison 
County,  New  York,  June  6,  1827,  and  was  thirteen 
years  old  when  the  family  settled  permanently  in 
"Steuben  County.  On  January  29,  1851,  he  married 
Nellie  Aldrich,  who  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1830, 
a daughter  of  Isaac  T.  and  Lovina  Aldrich.  Her 
parents  settled  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  in  1837. 
For  a brief  time  after  his  marriage  Lucius  H.  Crain 
lived  in  DeKalb  County  and  in  1853  he  settled  on 
a tract  of  wild  land  in  section  31  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship. He  built  a log  house  in  the  midst  of  the 
timber  and  began  clearing  around  it,  and  in  course 
of  years  had  eighty  acres  cleared  and  the  greater 
part  under  cultivation.  He  was  one  of  the  good 
farmers  and  good  citizens  of  that  locality  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  1912.  His  wife  died  in 
1904.  He  was  reared  in  the>  United  Brethren  Church 
and  his  wife  was  a Methodist,  and  in  politics  he 
was  a democrat.  Lucius  H.  Crain  and  wife  had 
four  children,  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven 
years,  Charles  T.,  Mary  P.  and  Edward  G. 

Edward  G.  Crain  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides  in  Otsego  Township  June  15,  1873. 
He  attended  district  schools  and  for  a number  of 
years  was  working  with  his  father  and  since  1898 
has  been  farming  for  himself  on  the  old  homestead. 
He  has  increased  its  area  to  about  ninety-nine  acres 
and  devotes  his  land  to  general  agriculture.  Mr. 
Crain  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In 
1904  he  married  Pearl  Harris,  daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (Zedekar)  Harris.  Two  children  were 
born  to  their  marriage,  Charles  Clair  and  Ivan  Carl. 

Abraham  A.  Yoder.  One  of  the  substantial 
farmers  and  a very  highly  respected  citizen  of  Clay 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  is  Abraham  A.  Yo- 
der. who  belongs  to  an  old  family  of  this  section 
that  has  lived  and  prospered  in  this  county  for 
over  seventy  years.  Mr.  Yoder  was  born  in  New- 
bury Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  July 
16.  1871. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Yoder  were  Aaron  T.  and 
Magdalena  (Kauffman)  Yoder.  The  father  was 
Torn  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  February  12, 
1843,  a son  of  Tobias  C.  and  Maria  (Swartsen- 
tooker)  Yoder,  who  came  to  Newbury  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  in  1847,  bought  160  acres  of  land 
and  added  forty  acres,  and  a part  of  this  old  farm 
is  yet  in  the  family.  The  mother  of  Abraham  A. 
Yoder  was  born  April  14,  1848.  and  died  April  16, 
1007,  survived  by  the  father  until  January  21.  1908. 
The  maternal  grandparents  were  John  J.  and  Kath- 
erine (Miller)  Kauffman,  who  were  pioneers  in 
Newbury  Township.  The  grandfather  operated  a 

Vol.  11—12 


sawmill  until  he  removed  to  Douglas  County,  Illinois, 
but  later  returned  to  Newbury  Township  and  died 
there,  the  grandmother  dying  in  Elkhart  County. 

Aaron  T.  Yoder  remained  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  was  a farmer  all  his  life,  owning  440  acres  of 
well  developed  land.  Both  he  and  Ms  wife  be- 
longed to  the  Amish  Church.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Rudolph,  born  April  17,  1867;  John, 

born  June  1,  1868;  Barbara,  born  November  27, 
1869;  Abraham  A.;  Daniel,  born  February  17,  1873, 
died  January  4,  1875;  Peter,  born  August  20,  1874; 
Amos,  born  December  6,  1876,  living  on  the  old 
home  farm;  Aaron,  born  April  17,  1879;  and  To- 
bias, born  January  6,  1882. 

Abraham  A.  Yoder  had  country  school  advan- 
tages and  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  with  his 
brothers  and  sisters.  His  father  was  a man  of 
practical  good  sense,  one  who  trained  his  sons  to 
be  industrious  and  useful.  In  1894,  when  Mr.  Yo- 
der came  to  his  present  farm,  he  found  himself 
well  qualified  to  operate  it  economically  and  profita- 
bly, and  is  considered  one  of  the  most  successful 
general  farmers  and  stockraisers  in  Clay  Township. 
In  1904  he  bought  the  farm  in  Clay  Township  and 
has  made  all  the  improvements  on  the  place  and 
erected  all  the  buildings  except  the  barn.  Mr.  Yo- 
der has  always  taken  great  interest  in  his  work  as 
a farmer,  and  his  undertakings  have  usually  turned 
out  satisfactorily. 

On  January  15,  1893,  Abraham  A.  Yoder  was 
married  to  Miss  Lydia  Miller,  a daughter  of  Isaac 
D.  and  Mary  (Hostitler)  Miller,  who  still  survive 
and  reside  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder.  The  latter 
have  the  following  children : Amos,  born  October 
7,  1893,  died  July  8,  1912;  Martha,  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1894 ; Mary,  born  August  30,  1896 ; Ezra, 
born  May  28,  1898;  Joseph,  born  June  27,  1900; 
Katie,  born  April  12,  1902,  died  November  9,  1918; 
William,  born  February  17,  1904;  Susie,  born  Jan- 
uary 7,  1906;  Polly,  born  February  16,  1908;  To- 
bias, born  April  2,  1910;  Amelia,  born  February 
18,  1912,  died  September  13,  1912;  and  Lydia,  born 
September  7,  1913.  Mr.  Yoder  and  his  family  all 
belong  to  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church,  and  follow 
the  quiet  peaceful  teachings  of  this  faith. 

Marion  A.  Oberst  is  proprietor  of  a valuable  and 
productive  farm  in  Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  He  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  that 
county  and  represents  several  famity  names  that 
have  had  much  to  do  with  the  development  of  the 
county  from  pioneer  times. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township,  January  17,  1865. 
His  father,  Christopher  Oberst,  who  was  born  in 
Ottawa  County,  Ohio,  August  26,  1841,  died  July  10, 
1919.  His  parents,  John  and  Barbara  Oberst,  were 
natives  of  Germany  and  came  to  America  about 
1830,  living  for  three  years  at  Rochester,  New  York, 
and  then  moving  to  Ottawa  County,  Ohio,  where 
Barbara  Oberst  died  in  1856  and  her  husband  in 
1877.  Christopher  Oberst  was  the  youngest  of  eight 
children,  and  he  grew  up  and  received  his  education 
in  Ottawa  County.  He  was  honored  among  other 
things  for  his  record  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war. 
He  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  A of  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Stone  River  and 
Chickamauga.  He  was  wounded  at  Chickamauga 
in  September,  1863,  lay  on  the  battlefield  ten  days 
and  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  After  his 
parole  he  was  sent  to  a hospital  and  did  not  rejoin 
his  command  until  May,  1864.  After  being  mus- 
tered out  of  the  army,  in  November,  1864.  he  came 
to  Steuben  County  and  bought  a farm  in  Clear  Lake 
Township  and  was  identified  with  that  community 
for  over  half  a century.  On  September  3,  1861’, 


178 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Christopher  Oberst  married  Mary  M.  Lord.  Her 
parents,  Henry  A.  and  Catherine  (Flora)  Lord, 
came  to  Steuben  County  in  1849  and  were  early 
settlers  in  Clear  Lake  Township.  Mrs.  Mary  Oberst 
died  in  April,  1901.  On  March  30,  1903,  Mr.  Oberst 
married  Mrs.  Elvira  Fletcher,  widow  of  Milton 
Fletcher.  She  still  makes  her  home  on  the  farm 
in  Clear  Lake  Township.  Christopher  Oberst  by 
his  first  marriage  had  two  sons,  Marion  A.  and 
George  A.  George  A.  Oberst,  who  died  September 
16,  1914,  married  Linnie  McElhenie. 

Marion  A.  Oberst  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  worked  on  the  farm  with  his 
father  for  a number  of  years.  In  1886  he  married 
Miss  Addie  Laughlin,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Kate 
Laughlin.  Since  his  marriage  he  has  given  his  time 
to  farming,  and  for  over  thirty  years  has  lived  in 
sections  31  and  32  of  Clear  Lake  Township,  where 
he  has  102  acres,  the  buildings  and  other  improve- 
ments representing  his  personal  labor  and  invest- 
ment. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oberst  had  two  children : Zana  and 
Walter  Keith,  the  latter  still  at  home.  Zana  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  Griffin,  and  three  children  were  born 
to  their  marriage,  Marvin,  Thelma  and  Velma,  the 
last  two,  twins.  Marvin  and  Thelma  are  now  de- 
ceased. 

Robert  Laughlin,  father  of  Mrs.  Oberst,  was  for 
many  years  a farmer  in  Camden  Township  of  Hills- 
dale County,  Michigan.  He  died  September  25, 
1905,  and  is  survived  by  his  widow.  They  had  four 
children : Addie,  Mabel,  who  died  at  the  age  of  five 
years,  Earl  and  Pearl,  twins,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
O.  V.  McFadden. 

Theodore  McNaughton,  who  for  many  years  has 
been  prominent  as  a banker,  grain  merchant  and 
farmer  in  the  Ray  community  of  Steuben  County, 
is  a member  of  a family  that  has  been  in  Steuben 
County  for  over  fifty  years. 

Mr.  McNaughton  was  born  in  Fremont  Township 
February  13,  1854,  son  of  Joseph  and  Jeanette  (Du- 
guid)  McNaughton.  His  father  was  a native  of 
New  York  State,  while  his  mother  was  born  in 
Steuben  County,  a daughter  of  James  and  Eleanor 
(Jones)  Duguid.  Joseph  McNaughton  was  a farmer 
in  Fremont  Township  from  early  manhood  until 
his  death.  He  owned  eighty  acres  there.  By  his 
first  wife  he  had  five  children,  Theodore,  Louisa, 
John  B.  (who  died  in  childhood),  Eleanore  and 
Robert.  Later  he  married  Mrs.  Robert  Duguid,  and 
by  that  marriage  had  four  children,  French,  Leslie, 
James  and  Nettie. 

Theodore  McNaughton  acquired  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Fremont  Township  and  ac- 
quired his  early  knowledge  of  farming  in  the  same 
locality.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  bought  eighty 
acres  in  California  Township  of  Branch  County, 
Michigan,  and  spent  four  years  in  that  country  com- 
munity. After  selling  his  Michigan  property  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  13.  He 
has  sold  off  portions  of  this  land  until  he  now  re- 
tains only  about  fifty  acres. 

He  still  makes  his  home  on  his  farm,  though  for 
thirty-one  years  he  has  operated  the  elevator  at 
Ray,  part  of  this  time  in  partnership  with  his  brother 
Robert.  About  1904  Mr.  McNaughton  was  instru- 
mental in  establishing  the  Ray  Bank,  and  has  been 
president  and  directing  head  of  that  sound  financial 
institution  ever  since. 

In  1877  he  married  Edith  Fulton,  a daughter  of  J. 
R.  and  Ellen  (Reynolds)  Fulton.  Five  children  have 
come  into  their  home : Earl,  who  married  Pearl 

Ford;  Ruth,  who  died  March  4,  1919;  Foye,  who 


married  Cecille  McMillin;  Dean,  who  died  in  1912; 
and  Miriam. 

Robert  C.  McNaughton  is  one  of  the  oldest  busi- 
ness men  of  the  village  of  Ray  in  Fremont  Town- 
ship. Associated  with  other  members  of  the  Mc- 
Naughton family,  who  were  prominently  identified 
with  the  pioneer  settlement  of  this  section  of  Steu- 
ben County,  he  had  been  a grain  merchant  and 
dealer  for  a quarter  of  a century  or  more. 

Mr.  McNaughton  was  born  in  Fremont  Township 
November  17,  1865,  a son  of  Joseph  and  Jeanette 
(Duguid)  McNaughton.  His  father  was  born  in 
New  York  State  in  1830,  a son  of  Alexander  Mc- 
Naughton, and  of  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry.  The 
McNaughton  family  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1836 
and  were  among  the  first  settlers  of  Fremont  Town- 
ship. They  were  prominent  in  the  early  organiza- 
tion of  the  Reformed  Presbyterian  Church  in  that 
section  of  the  county. 

Robert  McNaughton,  who  was  one  of  the  four 
children  of  his  father’s  first  marriage,  grew  up  on 
the  home  farm,  attended  the  district  schools  and  the 
high  school  at  Fremont.  As  a young  man  he  did 
farming  and  has  owned  several  different  farms  in 
the  county.  About  1890  he  engaged  in  the  grain 
business  with  his  brother  Theodore.  Since  1905  he 
has  been  associated  with  his  half  brother,  Leslie,  in 
the  lumber  business  at  Ray.  Mr.  McNaughton  is 
independent  in  politics,  was  reared  in  the  Reformed 
Presbyterian  Church  but  he  and  his  wife  are  now 
members  of  the  Methodist  denomination. 

In  March,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Elnora  Griffin,  a 
daughter  of  Edward  and  Mary  (Magnus)  Griffin,  a 
well  known  old-time  family  of  Steuben  County.  Her 
father  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McNaughton 
have  four  children:  Brock  Waldo,  born  March  27, 

1900,  a graduate  of  the  Fremont  High  School,  now 
in  the  sophomore  class  of  DePauw  University; 
Geraldine  Pearl,  born  in  1904,  a sophomore  in  high 
school ; Rosamond  Fern,  born  in  March,  1905 ; and 
Frederick  Lavern,  born  in  March,  1916. 

Homer  Watkins.  There  is  one  farm  in  Otsego 
Township,  Steuben  County,  that  has  been  continu- 
ously occupied  by  its  owner,  Homer  Watkins,  for 
over  forty  years.  Mr.  Watkins  is  a successful  man 
in  the  agricultural  field,  and  is  also  widely  known 
to  many  appreciative  patrons  as  owner  and  pro- 
prietor of  one  of  the  most  attractive  summer  re- 
sorts in  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben 
County  June  23,  1855,  a son  of  Simpson  Watkins. 
Simpson  Watkins  was  born  in  New  York  State 
and  was  a pioneer  in  Northeast  Indiana,  coming  to 
Steuben  County  in  1836  and  entering  a tract  of 
land  in  Richland  Township.  In  1840  he  brought 
his  family  west  and  settled  permanently  on  his 
farm.  In  1870  he  moved  to  Otsego  Township,  and 
after  some  years  of  residence  in  Michigan  spent 
his  last  days  in  Otsego,  where  he  died  December 
23,  1901.  Simpson  Watkins  married  Adelia  Thomp- 
son, and  they  reared  a large  family  of  children. 
Some  further  references  to  the  Watkins  family  are 
made  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

Mr.  Homer  Watkins  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  Richland  Township,  attended  the  district  schools, 
and  worked  for  his  father.  He  has  lived  in  section 
14  of  Otsego  Township  since  1871.  For  many  years 
he  has  owned  a good  farm  of  ninety-six  acres,  has 
developed  the  land,  constructed  good  buildings,  and 
carries  on  a large  business  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser.  Mr.  Watkins  entered  the  resort  busi- 
ness in  1897  when  he  built  a hotel  on  Fish  Lake. 


CHRIS  CHRISTENSEN  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


179 


Every  season  it  has  enjoyed  a large  patronage  and 
in  1913  it  was  necessary  to  construct  an  addition 
to  the  hotel.  This  is  known  as  the  Cold  Springs 
Resort,  and  is  located  on  the  Watkins  farm  two 
miles  north  of  Hamilton. 

Mr.  Watkins  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order. 
August  28,  1880,  he  married  Emily  Haughey,  daugh- 
ter of  Timothy  Haughey.  The  Haughey  family  has 
long  been  a part  of  the  history  of  Steuben  County 
and  many  of  its  members  have  intermarried  with 
other  well-known  families.  Frequent  references  to 
the  name  appear  on  these  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Watkins  have  four  children:  Josie,  wife  of  Charles 
Chard : Roscoe,  who  married  Georgia  Todd  and 
has  three  children,  named  Lyle,  Marjorie  and 
Robert;  Odie,  a school  teacher  at  Boyne  City, 
Michigan ; and  Harold. 

Chris  Christensen.  A native  of  Denmark,  and 
with  all  the  sturdy  characteristics  of  the  Danes, 
Chris  Christensen  is  an  example  of  a man  of  for- 
eign birth  who  came  to  the  United  States  without 
means  and  with  no  knowledge  of  American  tradi- 
tions, and  by  hard  work  and  good  management  has 
achieved  a prosperity  such  as  few  native  born 
Americans  surpass.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  farm- 
ers and  stock  raisers  in  Swan  Township,  near  Laotto, 
Indiana. 

Mr.  Christensen  was  born  in  Denmark,  May  12, 
1862,  son  of  Jesse  and  Margaret  (Bodter)  Chris- 
tensen. His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in  Denmark. 
They  had  seven  sons,  six  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Two  of  these  sons  were  compelled  to  give  their 
services  to  Germany  during  the  great  World  war. 
Their  names  are  Hans  and  Peter.  The  other  four 
are  residents  of  the  United  States.  Nels  is  in 
Montana,  Christian,  in  Illinois,  and  Christopher  is 
also  in  this  country. 

Chris  Christensen  spent  the  first  nineteen  years 
of  his  life  in  Denmark  and  was  educated  in  the 
Danish  schools.  In  April,  1882,  he  landed  at  New 
York  City  and  soon  went  to  Petersburg,  Illinois. 
He  reached  there  with  only  $2.00,  and  owed  $50 
for  his  passage  money.  He  was  soon  working  as  a 
farm  hand  in  Illinois  for  $10  a month,  putting  in 
fourteen  to  sixteen  hours  a day  of  hard  labor  and 
he  kept  that  up  for  several  years,  gradually  getting 
some  capital  and  acquiring  a working  experience  of 
American  farming  conditions. 

Mr.  Christensen  married  Anna  Hansen,  also  a 
native  of  Denmark.  She  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1894.  For  several  years  Mr.  Christensen  was  a 
renter  and  in  1909  he  came  to  Noble  County  and 
moved  to  his  farm  on  March  1,  1910.  He  went  in 
debt  $7,400  for  160  acres  of  land,  but  has  paid  that 
and  has  also  made  a good  living,  chiefly  by  raising 
hogs  and  cattle.  He  sold  forty  acres  of  his  farm 
in  1918. 

He  and  his  wife  had  four  sons : Elmer,  Harvey, 

Walter  and  Cicero.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church  and  he  is  a republican  in  pol- 
itics. Mr.  Christensen  acquired  his  second  citizen- 
ship papers  March  1,  1890,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
thoroughly  loyal  Americans  in  Noble  County. 

Milo  H.  Rowan.  Of  such  great  importance  are 
the  agricultural  interests  of  the  United  States  at  the 
present  time  that  people  not  only  of  our  own  but 
of  other  lands  anxiously  watch  our  crop  reports 
and  market  conditions.  The  farmer  today  is  the 
most  valuable  man  in  the  country,  for  when  the 
world  is  hungry  it  is  to  the  tillers  of  the  soil  it 
must  look  for  relief.  There  are  many  experienced 
farmers  and  stockmen  in  LaGrange  County,  a sub- 
, stantial  representative  being  found  in  Milo  H.  Row- 
an, whose  well  cultivated  acres,  lying  in  Clay  and 


Clear  Spring  townships,  thoroughly  demonstrate: 
his  efficiency  as  an  agriculturist. 

Milo  H.  Rowan  was  born  in  Clajr  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  July  26,  1864.  His  parents 
were  Jacob  and  Anna  (Carr)  Rowan,  the  former 
of  whom  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  was  mother- 
less when  he  accompanied  his  father,  Jesse  Rowan, 
to  LaGrange  County.  He  grew  up  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, attended  the  early  schools,  became  a pros- 
perous farmer  and  at  the  time  of  death,  in  1877, 
owned  200  acres  of  land  situated  one-half  mile  west 
of  his  son’s  property.  He  married  a daughter  of 
David  and  Sarah  Carr,  who  were  early  settlers  in 
Noble  County,  Indiana.  She  died  in  1901,  the  de- 
voted mother  of  a large  family  of  children,  six  of 
whom  are  living.  The  parents  of  Mr.  Rowan  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The 
father  gave  his  political  support  to  the  democratic 
party. 

Milo  H.  Rowan  was  reared  in  Clay  Township  and 
had  educational  advantages  in  the  country  schools. 
He  worked  for  his  father  and  neighboring  farmers 
through  early  manhood  and  then  went  to  Kansas, 
where  he  spent  sixteen  years  as  a farmer.  When 
he  returned  to  LaGrange  County  he  bought  a tract 
of  eighty  acres  in  Clay  Township,  to  which  he  later 
added  eighty  acres,  continuing  to  add  as  circum- 
stances favored  until  he  now  has  327  acres,  situated 
in  both  Clay  and  Clear  Spring  townships.  A prac- 
tical and  experienced  farmer,  he  has  given  intelli- 
gent attention  to  the  proper  development  of  his 
land,  choice  of  standard  stock,  and  may  justly  be 
numbered  with  the  successful  agriculturists  of  the 
count3c  Mr.  Rowan  keeps  well  posted  on  all  mat- 
ters pertaining  to  his  line  of  business,  and  in  his 
farm  operations  makes  use  of  improved  machinery. 
He  has  adequate  and  substantial  buildings  and  all 
his  farm  undertakings  prosper  because  of  his  good 
judgment  and  the  close  attention  he  gives  them. 

In  1892  Mr.  Rowan  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Ella  Beaty.  Her  parents  were  Samuel  and 
Eliza  (Mosier)  Beaty,  very  early  settlers  in  Clay 
Township  who  entered  land  from  the  government 
and  in  the  course  of  time  acquired  500  acres.  Sam- 
uel Beaty  died  in  1897  and  his  wife  in  1909,  aged 
respectively  eighty-nine  and  eighty-two  years.  Of 
their  eight  children  four  are  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Rowan  have  three  children,  namely : Samuel,  who 
is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School,  mar- 
ried Pearl  Scott  and  they  live  on  the  old  Beaty 
farm  on  which  his  mother  was  born;  Noel,  who  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools  and  assists  his  father 
on  the  home  farm;  and  Fern,  who  is  a graduate  of 
the  high  school  at  LaGrange.  Mr.  Rowan  is  broad- 
minded in  his  political  views  and  casts  an  inde- 
pendent vote. 

J.  E.  Rarick,  M.  D.  A physician  and  surgeon  at 
Wolcottville  since  1906,  Dr.  Rarick  has  found  his 
time  and  talents  fully  engaged  in  a busy  professional 
practice.  He  is  a prominent  member  of  the  com- 
munity, has_  a high  standing  as  a physician,  and  is 
also  active  in  local  business  and  civic  affairs. 

He  was  born  on  a farm  in  Rock  Creek  Township 
of  Huntington  County,  Indiana,  April  25,  1881,  a 
son  of  Samuel  W.  and  Cornelia  (Cupp)  Rarick. 
He  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents,  and  during 
his  boyhood  he  engaged  in  the  diversions  and  work 
of  the  home  farm  in  his  native  township.  He  at- 
tended the  public  schools  at  Markle,  graduating 
from  high  school,  and  took  his  college  work  in 
Heidelberg  College  at  Tiffin,  Ohio.  He  graduated 
there  with -the  degree  Bachelor  of  Science"  and  pur- 
sued his  medical  studies  in  the  Indiana  University 
School  of  Medicine,  from  which  he  received  the 
Medical  Doctor  degree.  Before  taking  up  private 


180 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


practice  he  spent  a year  as  interne  at  Hope  Hospital 
in  Fort  Wayne.  Dr.  Rarick  began  his  professional 
career  at  Wolcottville  December  11,  1906.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County,  State  and  American  Medi- 
cal Associations  and  for  three  years  served  • as 
health  officer  of  Wolcottville. 

He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Wildman  State  Bank. 
Fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  Wolcottville  Lodge 
of  Masons,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  LaGrange,  is 
a democrat,  and  still  retains  his  membership  in  the 
Reformed  Church  in  Rock  Creek  Township,  Hunt- 
ington County. 

Cassius  M.  Barr.  The  farming  element  of  any 
section  of  the  state  is  justly  included  among  the 
most  representative  and  important  of  its  citizens,  for 
not  only  is  the  vocation  of  farming  one  of  the  lead- 
ing branches  of  industry,  but  the  men  engaged  in  it 
are  essentially  of  the  highest  type  of  mankind.  Steu- 
ben County  is  contributing  some  of  the  best  of  these 
progressive  agriculturists,  one  of  them  being  Cas- 
sius M.  Barr  of  Otsego  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Otsego  Township  April  4,  1877,  a son  of  Henry 
K.  Barr. 

Henry  K.  Barr  was  born  in  1828,  and  he  was 
married  in  Ohio  to  Almeda  Souders,  born  November 
6,  1836.  They  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1870, 
settling  on  a farm  in  Otsego  Township,  where  they 
resided  for  many  years,  but  after  their  retirement 
from  farming  they  moved  to  Hamilton,  where  he 
died  June  17,  1918,  aged  ninety  years,  she  surviving 
him  until  September  15,  1918,  when  she  passed  away, 
aged  eighty-two  years.  Politically  he  was  a demo- 
crat. The  United  Brethren  Church  held  his  mem- 
bership, while  she  was  an  equally  earnest  member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  Their  children  were  as 
follows : Marcella,  who  is  the  widow  of  George 

McNeal;  Berdella,  who  is  the  wife  of  John  Dargue, 
of  Hamilton;  Hattie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Hagerty  of  Hamilton ; Alta,  who  is  the  wife  of 
George  S.  Malone,  of  Chicago ; and  Cassius  M. 

Cassius  M.  Barr  attended  district  school  No.  1.  of 
Otsego  Township,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's 
farm.  In  1903  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Otsego  Township,  to  which  he  later  added 
more  land  until  he  now  has  113  acres  of  valuable 
land.  He  erected  the  comfortable  modern  residence 
on  this  property  and  made  other  improvements,  and 
here  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stockraising. 
By  inheritance  and  inclination  he  is  a democrat,  and 
is  faithful  in  his  adherence  to  the  principles  of  his 
party. 

On  June  4,  1902,  Mr.  Barr  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Myra  Cary,  born  in  Salem  Township  December 
12,  1877,  a daughter  of  George  and  Elmira  (Shaff- 
stall)  Cary,  early  settlers  of  Salem  Township,  Steu- 
ben County.  Several  brothers  of  George  Cary, 
David,  Flenry  and  Phineas  Cary,  were  soldiers  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war,  one  of  them  dying  during  General 
Sherman’s  march  to  the  sea,  and  the  other  two  soon 
after  the  close  of  the  war  from  the  effects  of  their 
military  service.  Adam,  Frank  and  Nathaniel  Shaff- 
stall,  the  maternal  uncles  of  Mrs.  Barr,  were  also 
soldiers  of  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Cary  died  August 
10,  1911,  having  been  a farmer  and  prominent  citi- 
zen. Mrs.  Barr  attended  the  public  schools,  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola  and  the  Epsworth  Hos- 
pital Training  School  for  Nurses,  from  which  she 
was  graduated  July  9,  1901.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr 
have  three  children : Henrietta,  who  was  born  Octo- 
ber 30,  1903 ; Marguerite,  who  was  born  March  29, 
1913;  and  Georgiana,  who  was  born  January  18, 
1916. 

The  circle  of  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr  have 
gathered  about  them  numbers  some  of  the  leading- 


people  in  this  part  of  the  county,  and  all  enjoy  at 
frequent  intervals  the  delightful  hospitality  of  the 
rural  home  of  the  Barrs,  where  they  are  always 
made  cordially  welcome.  While  Mr.  Barr  has  never 
sought  political  honors,  his  popularity  and  fitness  for 
office  would  doubtless  result  in  his  securing  many 
votes  if  he  cared  to  devote  the  time  to  such  matters, 
but  so  far  he  has  been  so  occupied  with  the  farm 
and  house  affairs  that  he  has  not  wished  to  go  be- 
fore the  people  for  their  suffrage. 

Dorilas  L.  Teegardin,  who  since  the  age  of  seven 
has  been  a resident  of  Steuben  County,  has  been 
a well  satisfied  and  prosperous  agriculturist  of 
Otsego  Township  for  more  than  thirty  years.  At 
one  time  in  his  early  manhood  he  had  an  ambition 
to  achieve  success  as  a homesteader  in  the  far 
West,  but  a brief  experience  convinced  him  that 
there  was  no  country  better  than  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Teegardin  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Ohio, 
October  18,  1862.  His  father,  Josiah  Teegardin, 
was  born  in  the  same  county  January  3,  1839,  and 
was  a son  of  Joseph  and  a grandson  of  William 
Teegardin.  Records  of  this  interesting  family  are 
noted  on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  Josiah 
Teegardin  and  other  members  of  his  family  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1869,  and  Josiah  became  one 
of  the  extensive  farmers  and  land  owners  in  Otsego 
Township. 

Dorilas  L.  Teegardin  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Otsego  Township,  worked  in  the  fields  and  at- 
tended school,  and  made  his  pioneer  adventure  to 
the  Northwest  in  1885.  He  went  to  South  Dakota, 
which  was  then  Dakota  Territory,  and  prospected 
for  a homestead,  but  soon  became  convinced  that 
the  country  was  not  to  his  liking  and  in  December 
returned  to  Steuben  County  and  accepted  the  forty 
acres  given  him  by  his  father  for  a start  in  life. 
He  put  all  the  buildings  and  other  improvements 
on  that  land,  and  gradually  expanded  his  scope  of 
enterprise  to  include  186  acres,  devoted  to  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Teegardin  inherits 
the  skill  of  his  father  as  a cabinetmaker  and  wood- 
worker. The  son  has  in  fact  displayed  some  rare 
ability  in  this  line  and  if  he  had  followed  it  as  a 
profession  would  undoubtedly  have  made  a great 
success.  As  it  is  he  has  exercised  his  skill  on  the 
furniture  in  his  own  home  and  has  produced  a 
number  of  pieces  of  splendid  art  and  equalling  the 
fine  lines  of  the  famous  masters. 

December  20,  1885,  Mr.  Teegardin  married  Sarah 
Adelia  Baker,  daughter  of  Christopher  and  Roseman 
(Watkins)  Baker.  They  have  had  six  children: 
Elmer  Clinton,  deceased ; Clarence  B.,  who  married 
Laura  Decker  and  has  one  child,  Hollis ; Izola  E., 
wife  of  Harris  Dirrim  and  the  mother  of  a daugh- 
ter, Henrietta;  Lester  L.,  Prentice  and  Verald.  Mr. 
Teegardin  and  family  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Church  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Grange. 

Christopher  Baker,  father  of  Mrs.  Teegardin,  was 
born  in  Virginia  April  18,  1836.  His  father,  Samuel 
Baker,  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1850,  locating 
in  Otsego- Township,  where  Christopher  Baker  fol- 
lowed farming  for  many  years.  August  28,  1859, 
Christopher  Baker  married  Roseman  Watkins.  She 
died  February  13,  1876,  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, Samuel,  Adelia  and  Frank.  On  May  24,  1877, 
Mr.  Baker  married  Annie  J.  Fox.  They  had  two 
children,  Leno  C.  and  Leora  E.  Christopher  Baker 
died  January  23,  1893. 

George  F.  Eshelman,  whose  career  as  a farmer  , 
brought  him  substantial  success  as  fruitage  of  long 
years  of  toil  and  well  directed  effort,  is  now  living 
retired  at  Wolcottville,  and  moved  to  that  village 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


181 


in  April,  - 1907,  at  that  time  building  the  beautiful 
modern  home  of  native  stone  in  which  he  and  his 
family  reside.  Mr.  Eshelman  is  widely  known  in 
LaGrange  County,  which  he  served  as  a county 
commissioner. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County 
January  21,  1864,  a son  of  Levi  and  Nancy  (New- 
nan)  Eshelman.  His  father  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  in  1837  and  died  in  1906.  His  mother 
was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  1839.  They 
were  married  in  Johnson  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  and  a year  later  moved  to  Orange  Township 
of  Noble  County,  where  they  had  their  home  about 
six  years.  Returning  to  Johnson  Township,  they 
lived'  on  the  southeast  bank  of  Adams  Lake  two 
years,  then  for  several  years  the  home  was  on  the 
north  of  that  lake,  and  from  there  the  parents 
moved  to  Wolcottville,  where  they  spent  their  last 
years.  They  were  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  and  Levi  was  a republican.  In  the  family 
were  seven  children : George  F. ; Leroy,  of  La- 

Grange; Henry  of  Seattle,  Washington;  Harvey 
G.,  of  Noble  County;  John  J.,  the  only  member  of 
the  family  now  deceased;  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Riley 
Case,  of  Johnson  Township;  and  Nellie,  widow  of 
Garland  Case. 

George  F.  Eshelman  grew  up  and  spent  his  child- 
hood chiefly  in  Johnson  Township,  where  he  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  common  schools.  After 
reaching  his  majority  he  had  the  interesting  experi- 
ence of  life  in  Montana  for  one  year  and  then  re- 
turned to  LaGrange  County,  and  on  March  14,  1888, 
married  Emma  S.  Hall.  She  was  born  in  Spring- 
field  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  April  9,  1866, 
a daughter  of  Charles  G.  Hall  and  received  her 
education  in  the  local  schools  of  Indiana. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Eshelman  began  as  a 
farm  renter  and  at  the  end  of  four  years  was  able 
to  buy  a place  of  his  own.  His  accumulations  have 
mounted  rapidly  since  then  and  now  includes  390 
acres  of  good  farm  land,  nearly  all  of  which  he  has 
made  himself.  He  and  his  wife  have  two  children : 
Eva  is  the  wife  of  Sabin  Austin,  living  on  the  home 
farm.  Hilda,  who  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and 
spent  two  years  in  the  State  University  became  a 
teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Albion,  Indiana.  She 
was  married  July  9,  1919,  to  Glode  Ruppert,  of 
Albion,  Indiana. 

Since  coming  to  Wolcottville  Mr.  Eshelman  has 
been  interesting  himself  in  local  affairs  and  is  a 
director  of  the  Cement  Products  plant  there.  His 
service  on  the  board  of  county  commissioners  was 
for  six  years,  between  1908  to  1914.  He  is  an 
active  republican,  is  a member  of  Ionic  Lodge  No. 
380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  past  noble 
grand  of  Aldine  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has 
sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge.  Mrs.  Eshelman  is  active 
in  the  Eastern  Star  and  Rebekahs,  and  has  filled 
the  highest  chairs  in  the  latter. 

Francis  F.  Wolf.  With  the  problem  of  feeding 
the  destitute  of  Europe  in  addition  to  supplying  the 
needs  of  our  own  country  before  us,  we  have  come 
to  appreciate  more  thoroughly  the  work  accom- 
plished by  our  farmers,  and  to  accord  them  the  credit 
they  have  long  deserved  but  not  oftentimes  re- 
ceived. The  farmer  has  always  been  a very  im- 
portant factor  in  the  life  of  his  country,  because  if 
he  did  not  labor  people  could  not  eat.  All  have  not 
appreciated  him  until  through  the  pressure  of  cir- . 
cumstances  brought  about  by  the  late  war  the  de- 
mand for  foodstuffs  increased  in  so  remarkable  a 
manner  as  to  make  the  production  of  food  of  para- 
mount importance,  and  will  result  in  the  future  of 
bringing  back  to  the  soil  many  who  have  left  it, 
thinking  to  gain  much  by  gathering  in  the  more 


congested  regions.  There  are  a number  of  intelli- 
gent men,  however,  who  did  not  need  any  such 
rousing,  having  long  ago  adopted  farming  as  their 
life  work,  and  kept  at  it  until  they  have  accumu- 
lated a fair  proportion  of  this  world’s  goods.  One 
of  these  representative  men  of  northeastern  Indiana 
is  Francis  F.  Wolf  of  Steuben  Township,  Steuben 
County,  who  is  now  operating  the  homestead  of  his 
family. 

Francis  F.  Wolf  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  December  26,  1856,  a son  of  William  and 
Catherine  (Fetterhoof)  Wolf,  and  grandson  of 
Adam  Wolf.  Adam  Wolf  was  a pioneer  of  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  he  having  located  near  Hamilton 
when  the  county  was  undeveloped,  although  he  was 
then  of  advanced  age.  William  Wolf  was  born  in 
Louden  County,  Virginia,  August  6,  1805,  and  his 
wife  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  December  31,  1812, 
she  being  a daughter  of  Jacob  Fetterhoof.  Until 
1864  William  Wolf  was  engaged  in  farming  in  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio,  but  in  that  year  he  came  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  locating  on  the  farm  now 
owned  by  his  son,  Francis  F.,  in  Steuben  Township. 
This  farm  contains  160  acres,  and  at  the  time  he 
bought  it  there  were  but  few  improvements  upon  it, 
and  he  had  to  work  hard  to  put  it  in  prime  condi- 
tion. Here  he  lived  and  was  engaged  in  farming 
until  his  death  in  1889,  his  widow  surviving  him 
many  years,  dying  in  1902,  when  about  ninety  years 
old.  They  had  the  following  children:  John,  Su- 

sanna, Andrew,  Jacob,  Adam,  Joseph,  Mary  Ann, 
Catherine,  Magdalena,  Sarah  Ann,  William,  Amos, 
Lydia,  Francis  F„  Phoebe  and  two  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Francis  F.  Wolf  grew  up  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead amid  ideal  family  relationships,  and  assisted 
him  while  attending  the  district  school  and  after  he 
had  completed  his  schooling.  In  1880  he  went  to 
Leadville,  Colorado,  where  he  spent  six  months  in 
a mining  camp,  and  then  went  into  Kansas.  Pre- 
ferring Indiana  to  these  western  states,  in  1882  he 
drove  a team  back  to  his  old  home.  The  year  fol- 
lowing he  was  married,  March  10,  1883,  to  Eliza  J. 
Shoemaker,  a daughter  of  John  and  Amanda  Shoe- 
maker, and  they  had  two  children,  Bert  C.  and  Earl 
F.  Mrs.  Wolf  died  November  21,  1894.  After  her 
demise  Mr.  Wolf  was  married  to  Emma  LIughes,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Martha  Hughes,  and  they  be- 
came the  parents  of  the  following  children : Hazel, 

Waldo,  Wayne,  Estol  and  Leo.  Of  these  children 
Hazel  is  a member  of  Company  D,  I32d  Machine 
Gun  Battalion  of  the  Thirty-Sixth  Division,  Ameri- 
can Expeditionary  Forces,  and  went  to  France  in 
September,  1918.  He  is  one  of  the  brave  boys  of 
Steuben  County  who  have  helped  to  make  the  name 
of  the  “Yanks”  a synonym  for  bravery  and  clean 
living. 

Six  months  after  his  first  marriage  Francis  F. 
Wolf  moved  to  the  family  farm,  and  here  he  has 
since  resided,  carrying  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  in  which  he  is  pre-eminently  successful. 
His  farm  is  a model  one,  and  his  buildings,  fences 
and  machinery  show  that  he  is  a man  who  knows 
how  to  take  care  of  things  and  is  proud  of  his  place. 
Mr.  Wolf  is  a Mason,  and  lives  up  to  the  ideals  of 
his  order.  His  interest  in  his  community  is  of  such 
a character  as  to  inspire  wholehearted  endeavor  on 
the  part  of  others  in  the  direction  of  securing  im- 
provements for  the  township  and  county. 

Joseph  Robinett.  The  year  1919  marks  the  seven- 
tieth anniversary  of  the  residence  of  the  Robinett 
family  in  Steuben  County.  As  a family  they  have 
been  distinctive  not  only  for  their  long  residence 
but  by  very  unusual  ability  and  other  substantial 
qualities.  They  have  been  large  land  owners,  have 


182 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


built  up  several  extensive  tracts  from  wilderness  con- 
ditions and  many  of  them  are  still  tillers  of  the  soil 
and  recognized  as  splendid  citizens  of  their  com- 
munity. 

The  first  generation  to  settle  here  were  Samuel 
and  Julia  (McDonald)  Robinett.  The  former  was 
born  in  1802  and  died  May  3,  1893.  The  latter  was 
born  in  1800  and  died  September  9,  1888.  When 
they  came  to  Richland  Township  in  1849  they  ac- 
quired 233  acres  of  land,  and  there  lived  the  rest  of 
their  lives  as  farmers. 

Their  son,  Thomas  Robinett,  who  was  born  m 
Ohio  August,  19,  1827,  was  a young  man  when  he 
came  to  Steuben  County  with  his  parents.'  He  lived 
on  225  acres  known  as  the  old  homestead,  and  later 
bought  326  acres.  As  these  ample  possessions  indi- 
cate, he  was  a very  successful  farmer.  He  was  a 
man  of  special  note  in  his  community.  He  had 
strength,  skill  and  endurance  much  beyond  that  of 
the  average  man.  He  especially  excelled  as  a grain 
cradler  at  a time  when  the  cradle  was  the  only  known 
implement  for  cutting  and  harvesting  grain.  He 
never  met  a man  who  could  keep  up  with  him  in 
swinging  the  cradle  hour  after  hour.  He  estab- 
lished a record  when  he  cut  seven  acres  of  oats  in 
one  day.  He  and  another  man  cut  and  put  into 
shocks  fifty-five  acres  in  eleven  days.  While  his 
services  were  naturally  in  great  demand  in  harvest 
time,  he  spent  a considerable  part  of  the  year  fol- 
lowing his  trade  as  a carpenter.  He  was  a democrat 
and  though  liberal  in  religious  views  was  a thor- 
oughly moral  man  and  his  parents  had  been  strict 
Baptists.  Thomas  Robinett  died  November  18,  1901. 
He  married  Helen  Buell,  who  was  born  in  Vermont 
July  7,  1837,  and  died  May  6,  1872.  She  was  the 
mother  of  nine  children:  Samuel,  deceased;  Elnora, 
Elijah,  Joseph,  Juliette,  Thomas,  Myrtie,  James, 
Byron,  also  deceased ; and  Dolly.  Thomas  Robinett 
married  for  his  second  wife  Elizabeth  Rosenberry, 
and  their  six  children  are  still  living,  named  Germ 
Oliver,  Vada,  Jennie,  Alta,  Florena  and  Ferm. 

Joseph  Robinett  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
of  his  father  March  14,  1863,  and  as  a boy  attended 
the  local  public  schools.  In  1894  he  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  no  acres  in  Richland  Township.  He 
still  lives  there  and  has  done  much  to  improve  it 
with  good  buildings.  He  now  rents  out  his  land  and 
is  practically  retired.  In  politics  Mr.  Robinett  is  a 
democrat. 

January  1,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Etta  E.  Brunner 
of  Troy  Township,  DeKalb  County.  She  died  in 
1901,  the  mother  of  three  children.  Ethel,  the  older, 
•was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  is  the  wife 
of  Galon  Campbell,  and  had  four  children,  only  one 
of  whom  Mary  Janette,  is  living.  The  three  deceased 
were  named  Helen,  Clifton  Dale  and  Joseph.  Mary 
B.,  the  second  daughter  of  Mr.  Robinett,  is  a grad- 
uate of  the  Edon  High  School  in  Ohio,  and  the 
teacher’s  training  course  at  the  Tri-State  College, 
after  which  she  taught  school,  and  then  attended 
business  college  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  during  the 
period  of  the  war  has  been  a typewriter  in  Govern- 
ment offices  at  Washington. 

In  1903  Mr.  Robinett  married  Miss  Sarah  Somer- 
lot.  They  have  a daughter,  Sevilla  Irene,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  eighth  grade  in  1919.  Mr.  Robinett 
has  been  a member  of  the  Liberal  United  Brethren 
Church  since  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  and  has 
been  a trustee  of  the  church  for  over  ten  years  and 
was  treasurer  when  the  new  church  was  built  in 
Troy  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  His  first  wife 
was  a member  of  the  same  church  and  joined  it 
when  a little  girl.  Their  daughter  Mary  was  the 
youngest  child  ever  formally  admitted  as  a member 


of  the  church,  being  only  nine  years  old  at  the  time. 
The  present  Mrs.  Robinett  is  also  a member  of  this 
congregation. 

J.  H.  Metz  has  spent  forty  years  as  one  of  the 
progressive  and  practical  farmers  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship in  Steuben  County.  The  farm  occupied  by 
him  and  his  family  is  situated  in  section  10,  and  is 
land  that  has  been  in  a state  of  improvement  for 
over  half  a century. 

Mr.  Metz,  who  has  long  been  one  of  the  valued 
citizens  of  Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  March  14,  1856.  His  father,  Chris- 
topher Metz,  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany.  He 
married  in  February,  1842,  Eva  Katharine  Gretch- 
man.  She  was  born  in  Baden  April  2,  1822,  daugh- 
ter of  Carl  and  Marguerite  Gretchman.  Christopher 
Metz  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1854.  They 
were  103  days  on  the  ocean.  One  of  their  sons 
died  in  Germany,  they  buried  a daughter  at  sea, 
and  another  son  was  buried  in  New  York.  When 
they  embarked  on  the  ship  they  carried  with  them 
supplies  of  clothing  and  other  goods,  but  all  these 
possessions  were  lost  in  New  York.  The  family 
went  on  to  Ohio  and  about  i860  came  to  Otsego 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  where  with  the  ex- 
ception of  two  years  Christopher  Metz  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life.  His  children  besides  those  above 
mentioned  were : Catherine,  who  was  born  in  Ger- 
many; Joshua,  who  was  also  born  in  Germany  and 
was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war;  J.  H.,  William, 
Martha  and  Nathan. 

J.  H.  Metz  attended  district  school  in  Otsego 
Township,  and  his  people  being  in  modest  circum- 
stances he  went  out  to  work  when  a boy  and  has 
found  prosperity  after  traveling  a long  road  of 
diligent  effort. 

April  13,  1879,  he  married  Mary  Teegarden, 

daughter  of  Aaron  W.  and  Katie  Ann  (Tharp) 
Teegarden.  The  year  following  their  marriage 
they  moved  to  the  farm  they  still  occupy.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Metz  have  100  acres,  all  thoroughly  cultivated, 
and  with  improvements  of  the  best.  Practically  all 
of  the  buildings  have  been  constructed  under  Mr. 
Metz’  ownership.  He  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Church. 
He  and  his  wife  have  two  children.  Bertha  is  the 
wife  of  George  Mortoff  and  has  two  children,  Nova 
and  Wayne.  Virgil  married  Hazel  Kissinger  and 
their  one  child  is  named  Wilodine. 

Aaron  W.  Teagarden,  father  of  Mrs.  Metz,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1812.  His  wife,  Katie  Ann 
Tharp,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1819.  William  Tea- 
garden, father  of  Aaron,  moved  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Pickaway  County,  Ohio,  and  spent  the  rest  of 
his  life  in  that  state.  He  was  the  father  of  eleven 
children,  five  sons  and  six  daughters.  In  order  to 
give  his  numerous  family  opportunities  of  land 
ownership  he  entered  extensive  tracts  in  Allen 
County,  and  bestowed  upon  each  of  his  children 
160  acres. 

Aaron  Teagarden  went  to  Allen  County  and  per- 
sonally cleared  up  his  quarter-section  and  made  a 
good  farm.  He  lived  there  about  twenty-five  years 
and  in  1864  came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled 
in  Otsego  Township.  He  bought  an  improved  farm 
and  owned  420  acres  of  land,  part  of  which  is  now 
occupied  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz.  Aaron  Teagarden 
died  in  Steuben  County  in  1896  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1901.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  active  in  the  Christian  Church. 
The  Teagarden  children  were:  Eliza,  Susannah 

and  Abram,  twins,  Margaret,  George,  Lucinda, 
Jacob,  Elizabeth,  Elias,  Mary  M.  and  Thomas  W. 
The  son  Abram  was  killed  in  the  Battle  of  Bull 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


183 


Run  while  a Union  soldier.  George  and  Lucinda 
both  died  in  infancy  and  Elias  is  also  deceased. 

Charles  W.  Reed  has  been  a well  known  figure 
in  the  business  and  agricultural  community  of  York 
Township  for  a number  of  years,  and  in  1918  was 
elected  trustee  of  the  township  for  the  regular  term 
of  four  years,  an  office  which  of  itself  is  sufficient 
proof  of  the  esteem  in  which  he  is  held  by  _ his 
fellow  citizens  and  of  the  many  enviable  qualities 
he  possesses. 

Mr.  Reed  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble 
County,  August  23,  1870.  He  grew  up  in  Sparta 
Township,  attending  the  district  schools  there. 
When  only  thirteen  years  old  he  started  out  to  make 
his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  the  success  and  posi- 
tion he  today  enjoys  is  entirely  the  product  of  his 
own  aims,  ambitions  and  industry.  He  worked  at 
wages  paid  by  the  month  and  by  the  year  for 
farmers,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  had  saved  a 
considerable  sum  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight 
he  established  a home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage 
to  Ida  D.  Secrist,  of  Kosciusko  County.  Mrs.  Reed 
was  born  in  Noble  County,  but  was  reared  in  Kos- 
ciusko County. 

After  their  marriage  they  located  at  Cromwell, 
where  for  ten  years  Mr.  Reed  was  connected  with 
the  Moore  & Company  lumber  yards,  being  yards 
foreman  most  of  the  time.  He  then  located  on  his 
present  farm,  where  he  has  fifty  acres  and  is  prov- 
ing his  ability  to  get  results  from  a small  farm 
well  and  intelligently  handled. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  two  children.  Hugh  is  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  is  now  in  the 
third  year  of  the  Cromwell  High  School.  Le- 
nora  was  born  in  1910.  The  family  are  active 
members  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  at 
Cromwell.  Mr.  Reed  is  past  chancellor  of  Crom- 
well Lodge  No.  408,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is 
a past  noble  grand  of  Lodge  No.  78 7 of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has  repre- 
sented both  orders  in  the  Grand  Lodge.  In  politics 
he  is  a republican. 

Carl  E.  Tuttle.  During  the  days  of  reconstruc- 
tion following  the  great  war  the  greatest  problem 
to  be  solved  is  how  to  secure  sufficient  food  to  supply 
the  world.  Not  only  have  millions  of  men  been 
sacrificed  in  this  titantic  struggle,  but  vast  areas 
have  been  devastated  to  such  an  extent  that  it  will 
be  several  decades  before  they  can  again  be  devoted 
to  agricultural  purposes.  Therefore  it  is  but  nat- 
ural that  the  world  looks  to  America  for  food,  and 
upon  the  farmers  of  this  country  devolves  the  meet- 
ing of  this  legitimate  demand.  As  never  before,  in 
consequence  of  this  pressure  of  circumstances,  the 
work  of  the  farmer  has  become  a dignified  and 
necessary  calling,  and  the  men  who  are  devoting 
their  energies  and  capabilities  to  this  line  of  en- 
deavor are  displaying  patriotism  and  sound  business 
sense.  One  of  the  men  now  numbered  among  the 
successful  agriculturalists  of  Steuben  County  is 
Carl  E.  Tuttle  of  Steuben  Township,  who  comes 
of  a long  line  of  ancestors  who  tilled  the  soil  and 
helped  to  develop  this  part  of  Indiana. 

Carl  E.  Tuttle  was  born  in  Steuben  Township, 
June  19,  1868,  a son  of  Chester  V.  and  Tillie  (Belles) 
Tuttle,  and  grandson  of  that  stalwart  pioneer 
woodsman,  Lemmon  Tuttle.  Lemmon  Tuttle  was 
a native  of  New  York  State,  where  he  was  born  in 
1813,  but  did  not  spend  many  years  there,  as  his 
parents  moved  to  Ohio  when  he  was,  still  a small 
boy.  In  1838  the  spirit  of  adventure  led  him  to 
walk  from  Clyde,  Ohio,  to  Indiana  in  search  of  a 
suitable  location,  which  he  found  in  1840,  when  he 


settled  permanently  in  Steuben  County.  Here  he 
secured  fifty  acres  of  land  from  the  Government, 
and  a little  later  bought  forty  acres  more,  and  worked 
the  remainder  of  his  life  developing  and  improving 
it,  having  when  he  died  in  June,  1881,  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  his  neighborhood.  He  married  Filora 
Gould,  born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  in  1818, 
a daughter  of  Kiah  and  Mehitable  (Sturges)  Gould, 
who  died  December  25,  1880.  The  children  born  to 
Lemmon  Tuttle  and  his  wife  were  as  follows : 
Lorana,  Emeret,  Chester  V.,  Frank  M.  and  Alptha, 
all  of  whom  lived  into  old  age ; Adesta,  who  died  in 
1880;  and  Sylvester,  Arad  and  Byron,  all  of  whom 
died  in  infancy. 

Chester  V.  Tuttle  was  born  in  Steuben  Township 
in  July,  1847.  Like  the  young  men  of  the  present 
period,  when  his  country  had  need  of  his  services 
he  responded  and  enlisted  in  1863,  in  the  Seventh 
Indiana  Cavalry,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 
Civil  war,  participating  in  a number  of  important 
battles  which  took  place  in  the  territory  covered  by 
the  Department  of  the  Mississippi,  to  which  his 
regiment  was  assigned.  After  having  done  his  duty 
as  a soldier  Mr.  Tuttle  returned  home  and  was 
equally  useful  as  a private  citizen,  first  in  the  mer- 
cantile field  at  Pleasant  Lake  and  later  as  an  agri- 
culturalist of  Steuben  Township,  where  he  was 
fortunate  enough  to  own  eighty  acres  of  land  in 
section  26.  Still  later  he  was  called  upon  to  serve 
his  county  as  treasurer  for  two  terms,  and  when 
these  responsibilities  were  acceptably  discharged  he 
retired  and  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  in  his 
comfortable  home  at  Pleasant  Lake,  where  his 
widow  still  resides.  His  death  occurred  December 
7,  1902.  Mrs.  Tuttle  is  a native  of  Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania,  and  she  is  a daughter  of  George  and 
Caroline  (Bridinger)  Belles.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tuttle 
became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : Earl, 
Carl  E.,  Worthy  and  Harry.  Mr.  Tuttle  was  both 
a Mason  and  Odd  Fellow. 

Carl  E.  Tuttle  was  reared  in  Steuben  Township 
and  attended  its  schools.  From  boyhood  he  has 
worked  at  farming,  and  it  was  but  natural  that  he 
should  adopt  agriculture  as  his  life  work.  He  car- 
ries on  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  a 
breeder  of  blooded  Spotted  Poland  China  hogs. 
His  100  acres  of  land  are  kept  in  a magnificent  con- 
dition, his  buildings  are  adequate  and  the  premises 
indicate  that  a capable  man  is  in  charge  and  one 
who  takes  a justifiable  pride  in  his  farm. 

On  March  22,  1894,  Cad  E.  Tuttle  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Lotta  Hanver,  a daughter  of  Henry 
and  Adoline  (Brandeberry)  Hanver.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Tuttle  have  the  following  children:  Winnefred, 

who  was  born  September  8,  1896;  Hanver,  who  was 
born  November  16,  1897;  and  James  Warren,  who 
was  born  January  10,  1910.  Hanver  Tuttle  served 
during  the  great  war  in  the  aviation  branch  of  the 
army,  being  a member  of  the  294th  Aero  Squadron, 
stationed  at  Mather  Field,  Sacramento,  California. 
He  has  to  his  credit  a flight  of  one  hour  and  ten 
minutes,  on  which  he  served  as  the  mechanic.  Carl 
E.  Tuttle  is  a member  of  the  Pleasant  Lake  Baptist 
Church,  and  his  wife  belongs  to  the  Metz  Christian 
Church.  They  are  fine  people  and  are  held  in  high 
esteem  by  all  who  know  them. 

George  L.  Mishler.  In  order  to  measureably 
realize  the  agricultural  wealth  of  Indiana,  the  ob- 
serving and  interested  traveler  should  make  a lies- 
urely  journey  among  the  finely  cultivated  farms  of 
LaGrange  County,  stopping,  perhaps,  to  partake  of 
hospitality  often  generously  proffered  by  many  of 
the  fine  people  of  Newbury  as  well  as  of  other  town- 
ships. Here  he  may  find  George  L.  Mishler,  who 


184 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


owns  many  acres  of  improved  land  and  many  head 
of  standardized  swine  and  other  stock.  Mr.  Mishler 
came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1879. 

George  L.  Mishler  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 15,  1857,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  C.  and  Rachel 
(Livingston)  Mishler.  The  mother  died  in  1877, 
aged  forty-nine  years  and  six  months.  Her  first 
marriage  was  to  Simon  Miltenberger,  and  a daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth,  survived  her  father.  In  1878  Joseph 
C.  Mishler  came  to  LaGrange  County,  where  he 
died  in  1916,  aged  eighty-six  years,  two  months  and 
nineteen  days,  having  spent  the  last  thirty-five  years 
of  his  life  with  his  son  George  L.  His  children  were 
as  follows:  Lucy,  James,  George  L.,  Jacob,  Susan, 
Sarah,  John  and  Moses,  all  of  whom  survive.  They 
are  a religious  people  and  some  hold  church  offices, 
James  being  a deacon  in  the  Mennonite  Church  ; 
Jacob,  a deacon  in  the  Dunkard  Church  in  Cali- 
fornia; John,  a minister  in  the  Dunkard  Church; 
and  Moses,  a minister  in  the  Dunkard  Church  at 
Newton,  Kansas. 

George  L.  Mishler  had  country  school  advantages 
in  Pennsylvania,  and  until  1879  worked  on  a farm 
there  and  then  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana. 
In  1880  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Newbury 
Township,  upon  which  he  lived  until  I905>  then  sold 
and  bought  the  farm  of  120  acres  on  which  he  re- 
sides. This  was  the  old  Eash  farm  and  belonged 
to  the  parents  of  Mr.  Mishler’s  wife,  who  settled 
here  in  1864.  Mr.  Eash  put  good  improvements  on 
the  place,  to  which  Mr.  Mishler  added  when  he 
bought  it  in  the  way  of  a silo  and  new  and  modern 
buildings.  It  is  well  kept  up  and  is  one  of  the  most 
valuable  properties  in  the  country.  Mr.  Mishler 
carries  on  general  farming  and  is  an  extensive 
breeder  of  Ohio  Improved  Chester  White  hogs. 

In  1880  George  L.  Mishler  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Polly  Eash,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
August  21,  1856,  a daughter  of  Jonathan  and  Cath- 
erine (Miller)  Eash.  They  were  highly  respected 
people  in  Newbury  Township,  where  they  settled  in 
1864.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Mishler  died  in  1907,  when 
aged  seventy-three  years,  and  the  mother  in  1914, 
aged  seventy-five  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mishler 
have  four  children,  namely : Della,  who  is  the  wife 

of  Jesse  Brandebery,  and  they  have  six  children, 
Viola,  Roy,  George  R.,  Gertrude,  John  R.  and  Floyd; 
Levi,  who  married  Georgia  Haines,  has  one  son, 
Don  Le  Roy;  Joseph,  who  married  Bernice  Hulbert, 
has  one  son,  Joseph;  and  Katie,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Emmon  J.  Yoder.  They  are  rearing  a boy,  Jacob 
Miller  by  name.  Mr.  Mishler  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Mennonite  Church,  and  all  are  people 
who  stand  high  in  the  estimation  of  their  neighbors 
far  and  near. 

Fred  Kankamp,  owner  of  two  good  farms  _ in 
Steuben  County,  has  spent  all  his  life  in  that  section 
of  Northeast  Indiana,  and  is  rated  as  one  of  the 
men  in  the  farming  industry  who  know  how  to  get 
the  best  results  and  the  largest  profits  consistent 
with  good  management  and  conservation  of  the 
resources  of  the  soil. 

Mr.  Kankamp,  whose  home  is  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, was  born  at  Angola  June  25,  1875-  His  father, 
Henry  Kankamp,  was  a native  of  Germany  and  was 
brought  to  this  country  when  a boy,  spending  most 
of  his  life  in  Steuben  County.  For  a number  of 
vears  he  was  well  known  in  Angola  as  a teamster 
and  drayman,  but  for  the  last  four  or  five  years 
lived  with  his  son  Fred  and  died  at  the  latter’s  home 
in  Steuben  Township  in  1913.  Henry  Kankamp 
married  Martha  Brown,  who  was  born  in  New  York 
State  and  is  a sister  of  George  M.  Brown  of  Steu- 


ben County.  Fred  Kankamp  was  the  older  of  two 
sons,  his  brother  being  Frank. 

Mr.  Kankamp  attended  public  schools  in  Angola, 
and  since  early  manhood  has  been  farming.  The 
first  place  where  he  made  his  labors  productive  as 
a farmer  was  in  section  36  of  Pleasant  Township, 
where  he  owns  his  present  home.  After  about  three 
years  he  moved  to  another  farm  in  sections  1 and 
2 of  Steuben  Township,  but  in  the  summer  of  1918 
returned  to  the  Pleasant  Township  farm,  where 
he  owns  ninety  acres.  His  other  farm  in  sections 
1 and  2 of  Steuben  Township  comprises  157  acres. 
Both  farms  are  well  improved  with  good  buildings 
and  are  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising. 

Mr.  Kankamp  married  July  13,  1895,  Etta  Hayden, 
daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Boyls)  Hayden, 
the  latter  still  living.  John  Hayden,  who  died  March 
18,  1918,  was  for  a number  of  years  a farmer  in 
Hillsdale  County,  Michigan.  His  children  were 
Lawrence,  Mary  Ann,  Etta,  Michael  James  and 
Clyde.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kankamp  have  two  children, 
Harry  and  Ettafred.  Mr.  Kankamp  is  affiliated 
with  the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose. 

Justin  F.  Faux  is  a prosperous  farmer  of  Noble 
County  who  has  spent  nearly  all  the  days  of  his  life 
in  one  locality  in  Orange  Township,  and  now  has  a 
good  farm  and  home  five  miles  west  of  Kendall- 
ville. 

He  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  February 
23,  1871,  son  of  Charles  and  Maria  (Stockdale) 
Faux.  His  father  was  born  in  Northumberland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother  in  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  were  married.  In  1874 
the  family  came  to  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County,  and  the  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  days 
there.  They  were  active  members  of  the  Baptist- 
Church  and  the  father  was  a democrat  and  at  one 
time  served  as  a trustee  and  as  a justice  of  the 
peace  in  Morrow  County.  These  parents  had  a large 
family  of  children,  fourteen  in  number,  seven  of 
whom  are  still  living:  M.  B.  Faux,  of  Orange 

Township;  Sadie,  wife  of  Josiah  Ziegler,  of  Rome 
City;  Charlotte,  wife  of  John  Spice,  of  South  Mil- 
ford, Indiana;  Alpheus  K.,  of  Allen  Township; 
Wallace,  .a  bachelor  living  with  his  brother  Justin; 
Justin  F. ; and  Estella,  wife  of  John  W.  Harvey,  of 
Jefferson  Township. 

Justin  F.  Faux  was  three  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents came  to  Noble  County,  and  he  grew  up  on 
the  old  farm  and  received  his  education  in  the  local 
schools.  He  has  always  continued  to  live  in  the 
home  locality  and  was  with  his  parents  until  his 
marriage. 

October  17,  1908,  he  married  Charlotte  A.  Gret- 
zinger.  Mrs.  Faux  was  born  in  Swan  Township  of 
Noble  County  and  was  only  three  weeks  old  when 
her  mother  died,  after  which  she  was  reared  in 
the  home  of  her  uncle,  George  Gretzinger.  She  has 
made  her  own  living  since  she  was  thirteen  years 
of  age  and  for  eleven  years  she  was  employed  in 
the  home  of  her  husband’s  mother.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Faux  have  two  adopted  children,  Harvey  E.  Stiver 
and  Helen  Louise  Stiver.  They  now  have  the 
names  Robert  Fulton  Faux  and  Helen  Marie  Faux. 

Mrs.  Faux  is  an  active  member  of  the 'United 
Brethren  Church  at  Zion.  Mr.  Faux  has  main- 
tained a steady  interest  in  local  affairs  and  is  a 
democrat  in  politics.  He  has  sixty  acres  of  the  old 
homestead  and  in  1916  erected  a modern  home. 
He  uses  his  land  for  general  farming  and  stock 
raising. 

Robert  A.  Lacey.  Farming  is  a business  and  one 
which  requires  long  experience  and  a natural  in- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


185 


clination  for  it  if  the  one  engaged  in  this  line  de- 
sires to  do  something  more  than  “just  make  a liv- 
ing.” Land  values  have  materially  increased  since 
the  days  when  our  forefathers  could  obtain  large 
grants  of  land  from  the  Government  for  the  entry 
fee  in  such  magnificent  agricultural  states  as  In- 
diana. Then,  perhaps,  there  might  have  been  some 
excuse  for  a farmer  being  something  of  a slacker, 
but  not  today,  when  every  acre  is  needed  to  pro- 
duce the  amount  of  food  required  for  our  own 
country  and  starving  Europe  as  well.  However, 
the  progressive  farmers,  especially  those  of  North- 
east Indiana,  knew  of  the  importance  of  their  un- 
dertaking long  before  the  great  war  opened  the 
eyes  of  others  to  the  necessity  of  production  and 
conservation.  They  have  held  on  to  their  land, 
improved  and  developed  it,  and  today  as  a result  of 
their  industry,  thrift  and  broad  vision  stand  among 
the  most  useful  citizens  of  their  nation.  One  of 
these  men  whose  family  has  long  been  established 
in  Indiana,  and  who  is  now  living  on  the  farm 
entered  by  his  father  from  the  Government,  is 
Robert  A.  Lacey  of  Steuben  Township,  Steuben 
County. 

Robert  A.  Lacey  was  born  in  Steuben  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  March  21,  1849,  a son  of 
Thomas  M.  and  Nancy  (McGaughey)  Lacey,  and 
grandson  of  William  Lacey.  The  latter  died  when 
his  son,  Thomas  M„  was  a small  boy,  after  coming 
to  Eastern  Ohio  from  Virginia.  Thomas  M.  Lacey 
was  born  in  Virginia  in  1803,  and  his  wife  was  born 
in  Washington  County,  Maryland,  in  1807,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  McGaughey,  who  came  to  Eastern 
Ohio  when  his  daughter  was  a child.  Growing  up 
in  Belmont  County,  Ohio,  Thomas  M.  Lacey  was 
there  married,  and  following  that  event  he  came 
to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  but  later  returned  to 
Ohio  and  lived  for  a time  in  Seneca  County.  In 
1837  he  came  back  to  Steuben  County  and  entered 
240  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  Township,  he  paying 
$1.25  per  acre  for  it,  and  then  returned  to  Ohio 
once  more.  Having  thus  provided  a home  for  his 
wife  and  six  children,  he  brought  them  to  it,  and 
the  first  cabin  he  erected  was  only  sixteen  feet 
square.  There  were  two  rooms,  one  upstairs  and 
the  other  below.  Not  a nail  was  used  in  this  primi- 
tive home,  and  the  furnishings  were  quite  as  pioneer 
in  character  as  the  house.  Here  three  more  chil- 
dren were  born,  making  nine  in  the  family.  The 
land  was  entirely  undeveloped  and  much  hard  labor 
was  required  to  put  it  in  shape  to  yield  crops  that 
made  farming  worth  while.  Thomas  M.  Lacey 
lived  here  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  i860, 
his  widow  surviving  him  until  1890.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows : William,  Nathan,  John, 

Mary,  James,  Thomas,  Rosanna,  Marian,  Robert  A. 
Of  these  children  John  and  Thomas  are  veterans  of 
the  Civil  war.  Thomas  M.  Lacey  and  his  excellent 
wife  were  consistent  members  of  the  Baptist  faith. 

Robert  A.  Lacey  attended  the  district  schools  and 
for  eight  terms  was  a student  of  the  Angola  school. 
For  the  succeeding  four  or  five  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  teaching  school,  but  for  the  past  forty 
years  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  owns  106^3 
acres  of  land.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and 
stock  raising,  specializing  in  breeding  Jersey  cattle 
and  Duroc  hogs.  He  has  erected  practically  all  of 
the  buildings  on  the  farm,  and  made  numerous 
other  improvements,  and  has  one  of  the  best  rural 
properties  in  his  part  of  the  township. 

On  January  d,  1877,  Mr.  Lacey  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Sarah  C.  Gramling,  a daughter  of 
Henry  and  Sabilla  (Foltz)  Gramling,  and  they  had 
three  children,  namely:  Mabel  S.,  who  married 

Chester  Klink:  Nancy  Madge,  who  married  Carl 
Ingals ; John  Mark,  who  married  Alice  Shachford. 


Mrs.  Lacey  died  in  1884,  and  Mr.  Lacey  was  subse- 
quently married  to  Margaret  Wills,  a daughter  of 
Elmus  and  Sarah  Clingerman.  By  his  second  mar- 
riage Mr.  Lacey  has  two  children,  Hazel  Lynn  and 
Florence.  The  latter  married  Leonard  Rohm.  Mr. 
Lacey  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  gives  it  a generous  support.  Having  spent  prac- 
tically all  of  his  life  in  Steuben  Township,  his  in- 
terest is  centered  here  and  he  has  been  instrumental 
in  securing  some  improvements  for  his  neighbor- 
hood. He  is  a friend  of  the  public  schools  and  an 
advocate  of  good  roads,  and  in  his  farming  uses 
modern  methods  and  lives  up  to  the  sanitary  regula- 
tions of  his  state. 

Isaac  W.  McConnell  is  one  of  the  most  progres- 
sive factors  in  the  agricultural,  livestock  and  business 
community  of  Green  Township,  Whitley  County. 
He  is  still  a young  man,  has  a great  deal  of  concen- 
trated effort  and  achievement  to  his  credit,  and  the 
promise  of  many  years  of  continued  and  enlarged 
usefulness. 

Mr.  McConnell  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio, 
January  1,  1881,  a son  of  William  J.  and  Louisa  E. 
(Hallabaugh)  McConnell,  both  of  whom  were  na- 
tives of  Ohio,  the  father  born  in  Putnam  County 
and  the  mother  in  Hancock  County.  Both  were 
educated  in  the  common  schools,  and  after  their  mar- 
riage settled  on  a farm  in  Putnam  County,  four  miles 
north  of  Leipsic.  In  the  spring  of  1888,  when  Isaac 
was  seven  years  old,  they  sold  their  Ohio  posses- 
sions and  moved  to  a farm  near  Ligonier,  Indiana. 
In  1898  they  bought  a farm  in  Whitley  County, 
Indiana,  where  the  father  is  still  active  as  a farmer 
and  stock  man.  They  are  members  of  the  Chris- 
tian Churcth,  in  which  he  is  serving  as  a deacon,  and 
he  is  affiliated  with,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees 
and  in  politics  is  a republican.  There  are  five  chil- 
dren in  their  family:  Bertha,  wife  of  Volney  King, 

of  Whitley  County;  Isaac  W. ; George,  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools  and  a farmer  in  Whitley  County ; 
Ross,  who  graduated  from  the  Churubusco  High 
School ; and  Mary,  wife  of  Sidney  Ortt,  who  at  the 
close  of  the  war  was  a second  lieutenant  in  the  army 
at  Atlanta,  Georgia. 

Isaac  W.  McConnell  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Ligonier,  and  graduated  from 
the  high  school  at  Churubusco  May  3,  1901.  He 
spent  five  years  working  at  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
and  was  a building  contractor  for  three  years.  On 
May  3,  1906,  Mr.  McConnell  married  Oma  Diffen- 
daffer.  They  have  two  children : Wiladean,  born 

November  12,  1907,  and  Leo,  born  May  14,  1910. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConnell  be- 
gan farming  at  their  present  location.  He  started 
with  eighty  acres,  and  by  an  unusual  display  of 
energy,  good  judgment  and  careful  management  has 
acquired  a fine  farm  of  220  acres,  well  improved. 
As  a stockman  he  specializes  in  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Poland  China  hogs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McConnell  are 
active  members  of  the  Church  of  God  at  Sugar 
Grove,  and  he  is  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the 
church  and  is  superintendent  of  its  Sunday  school. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Besides  his  private  interests  as  a farmer  Mr.  Mc- 
Connell has  taken  an  energetic  part  in  the  co-oper- 
ative movement  of  his  locality.  He  is  secretary  and 
treasurer  of  the  Churubusco  Livestock  Shippers’  As- 
sociation, Incorporated.  He  is  also  a stockholder  in 
the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Churubusco  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Advisory  Board. 

Edwin  Ditmars,  of  Swan  Township,  Noble 
County,  has  lived  a most  useful  life,  is  a prosperous 
farmer  and  citizen  of  his  community,  and  has  been 


186 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


known  in  that  section  of  Noble  County  from  earliest 
boyhood  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Ditmars  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
December  io,  1850,  a son  of  Henry  and  Catherine 
(Lybarger)  Ditmars,  the  former  a native  of  New 
Jersey  and  the  latter  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio. 
Henry  Ditmars  was  a son  of  Abram  and  Cornelia 
(Striker)  Ditmars,  who  were  pioneer  settlers  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  where  they  spent  their  last 
days.  Henry  Ditmars  was  one  of  a family  of  eight 
sons  and  two  daughters.  From  Holmes  County  he 
moved  to  Ashland  County,  married  .there,  and  in 
1853  brought  his  family  to  a farm  in  Swan  Town- 
ship, Noble  County.  In  that  community  he  and 
his  wife  spent  their  last  years.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and  he 
was  one  of  the  local  leaders  in  the  republican  party. 
Of  eleven  children  six  are  still  living:  Elizabeth, 

wife  of  William  Lawrence;  Cecelia,  wife  of  Henry 
Bloxson;  Edwin;  Henry,  of  Churubusco;  Elmer  E., 
a farmer  of  Swan  Township;  and  Emmett,  of  Fort 
Wayne.  _ 

Edwin  Ditmars  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in  Swan 
Township  and  secured  those  advantages  to  be  had 
in  the  local  district  schools.  His  life  was  at  home 
and  with  his  parents  to  the  age  of  twenty-three. 
Then,  on  December  25,  1873,  he  married  Sophia 
Simon.  Mrs.  Ditmars  was  born  in  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  January  30,  1845,  a daughter  of  Peter  and 
Louisa  (Fair)  Simon.  Her  mother  was  born  in 
Frederick  County,  Maryland,  and  her  father  in 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio.  They  were  married  after 
they  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  settling 
in  Butler  Township  they  lived  there  the  rest  _ of 
their  lives.  They  were  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church.  Mrs.  Ditmars  was  reared  in  that 

^Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ditmars  started  life  on  a scale  of 
utmost  simplicity.  They  built  a house  in  the  midst 
of  the  woods  and  added  to  their  comforts  and  con- 
veniences  as  they  could  afford  them.  Farming  has 
been  his  lifelong  pursuit,  and  besides  raising  crops 
for  forty  years  or  more  he  has  cleared  away  many 
acres  of  land  and  developed  a good  farm.  His  pres- 
ent place  comprises  100  acres. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ditmars  had  five  children,  hour 
are  still  living:  Silas  G.  owns  part  of  the  old  Simon 

farm  in  DeKalb  County;  Sidney  also  lives  in  De- 
Kalb County;  Treat  S.  is  a farmer  at  home;  and 
lames  T.  farms  in  DeKalb  County.  Mr.  Ditmars 
is  ci  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  a.nd  3. 
republican  in  politics. 

Fred  Hutchins.  Some  of  the  best  farms  and 
some  of  the  best  farmers  in  Steuben  County  are 
found  in  Otsego  Township.  One  of  them  is  Fred 
Hutchins,  a renter  of  a place  of  300  acres  where 
he  does  an  extensive  business  in  producing  crops 
and  livestock.  He  is  well  qualified  for  the  re- 
sponsibilities he  enjoys,  his  experience  _ since  early 
youth  having  been  identified  with  practical  agricul- 

He  was  born  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben 
County  December  15.  1873.  He  is  a son  of  John  R. 
and  Wadie  Ann  (Sowles)  Hutchins,  and  member 
of  the  well-known  Hutchins  family  that  came  to 
Steuben  County  over  three-quarters  of  a century 
ago.  Further  reference  to  this  family  will  be  found 
on  other  pages.  John  R.  Hutchins  followed  farm- 
ing in  Scott  Township  until  his  death  in  1888.  He 
and  his  wife  had  five  children:  Joseph,  John, 

Jane,  Cora  and  Fred.  Joseph  died  in  early  child- 
hood. • 

Fred  Hutchins  attended  public  school  m his  native 
township,  and  was  only  a youth  when  he  began 
cultivating  crops  on  his  own  responsibility.  In 


1912  he  moved  to  his  present  place  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship. Mr.  Hutchins  married,  September  4,  1898, 
Melinda  Ann  Zimmerman,  daughter  of  John  and 
Netta  (Stevens)  Zimmerman.  They  have  a family 
of  five  children:  Frances,  Paul,  Leon,  Lawrence 

and  Lewis.  Frances  is  a graduate  of  the  Hamilton 
High  School  and  is  now  a teacher  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Hutchins  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Masons. 

James  L.  Machan.  One  of  the  families  well 
and  favorably  known  in  agricultural  circles  in  La- 
Grange  County  is  that  of  Machan,  represented  by 
James  L.  Machan,  who  after  a number  of  years  of 
work  at  a mechanical  trade  retired  to  a farm  in 
Johnson  Township,  and  is  enjoying  both  the  com- 
forts and  the  profits  of  rural  life. 

He  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  the  same 
county,  December  15,  1869,  a son  of  Samuel  and 
Nancy  (Preston)  Machan.  His  father  was  a native 
of  Tuscarawus  County,  Ohio,  and  his  mother  of  the 
same  state.  Their  respective  families  pme  to 
Indiana  in  early  days  and  located  in  LaGrange 
County,  where  Samuel  and  Nancy  were  married. 
Samuel  died  in  1909  and  his  widow  is  still  living 
in  Clay  Township.  Both  were  active  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  LaGrange.  There  were 
four  children:  Harry,  who  lives  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship and  married  Viola  Alwatter ; Lawrence  S., 
deceased;  Garfield  A.,  a Bloomfield  Township 
farmer;  and  James  L. 

James  L.  Machan  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Bloomfield  Township,  and  received  his  public 
school  education  in  LaGrange.  For  a time  he  was 
employed  in  a LaGrange  grocery  store,  and  then 
learned  the  trade  of  carriage  ironing.  That  trade 
furnished  him  his  regular  occupation  for  a period 
of  twenty-one  years,  and  for  eight  years  he  was 
foreman  of  the  shop. 

May  4,  1892,  in  Johnson  Township,  he  married 
Catherine  M.  Hallett.  She  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  she  now  resides  and  is  a graduate  of  the 
LaGrange  High  School.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Machan 
retired  to  their  farm  in  1907.  They  have  147  acres 
and  it  is  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  They  have  one  daughter,  Wilma  J.,  now 
a student  in  the  public  schools  of  LaGrange.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Machan  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  LaGrange  and  both  are  very  active  in  the 
Rebekah  Lodge,  Mrs.  Machan  being  a past  grand. 
He  is  a past  grand  and  past  chief  patriarch  of  the 
Lodge  and  Encampment  of  Odd  Fellowship  and 
has  sat  in  the  grand  lodge.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  and  on  November  4,  1918,  was  elected 
a member  of  the  LaGrange  County  Council. 

Curtis  Shontz  is  one  of  the  fortunate  young 
men  whose  experience  and  mature  powers  were  de- 
veloped in  time  to  share  in  the  generous  prosperity 
now  accorded  the  agricultural  class  in  America.  Mr. 
Shontz  began  his  career  as  a farm  hand,  and  today 
owns  one  of  the  high  class  farms  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship in  the  county  of  that  name. 

He  is  a native  of  Northeast  Indiana,  having  been 
born  at  Sedan  in  DeKalb  County,  October  23,  1880, 
a son  of  Ferdinand  and  Rachel  (Lidge)  Shontz. 
His  mother  was  a native  of  Ohio,  daughter  of 
Adam  and  Elizabeth  Lidge.  Adam  Lidge  was  a 
pioneer  in  Fairfield  Township  of  DeKalb  County, 
going  there  when  all  the  country  was  wild,  clear- 
ing a farm  and  rearing  a family  of  five  children. 
Ferdinand  Shontz  was  a young  man  when  he  ar- 
rived in  DeKalb  County.  He  was  an  expert  black- 
smith, conducted  a shop  at  Fanselers  Mills  on  the 
Ashley  and  Auburn  road,  later  was  a blacksmith  at 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


187 


Sedan,  and  finally  ran  a shop  at  Steubenville  and 
continued  the  work  until  his  death  in  1890.  His 
widow  is  still  living  at  Ashley.  Their  five  children 
are  named  Henry,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Sarah  Jane  and 
Curtis. 

Curtis  Shontz  received  most  of  his  education  in 
the  California  School  House  of  Steuben  Township. 
Then  followed  a period  when  he  was  earning  his 
own  living  and  getting  valuable  experience  as  a 
farm  hand  at  monthly  wages,  and  on  May  13,  1908, 
he  married  Martha  M.  Dahuff,  a daughter  of  Simon 
Dahuff.  In  1909,  the  year  following  his  marriage, 
he  bought  a farm  of  ninety-five  acres  in  section  19 
of  Steuben  Township.  His  industry  brought  him 
a comfortable  living  on  the  farm  from  1909  to  1916. 
In  March  of  the  latter  year  he  bought  the  farm 
which  he  occupies  today,  comprising  126  acres, 
known  as  the  old  Mountz  place.  His  home  im- 
provements and  eighty  acres  are  in  section  19,  while 
forty-six  acres  lie  across  the  road  in  section  30. 
For  a time  Mr.  Shontz  farmed  both  places,  but  in 
1918  sold  his  first  farm  of  ninety-five  acres  and 
with  his  home  place  is  doing  a successful  business  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Shontz  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  No. 
257  at  Hudson. 

Noah  M.  Bontrager  besides  being  one  of  the 
prosperous  agriculturists  of  Eden  Township  in  La- 
Grange  County  is  prominent  in  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church  as  bishop  and  supervising  head  of  that  con- 
gregation in  this  section  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Bontrager  was  born  October  27,  1881,  on  the 
farm  where  he  now  lives  in  section  4 of  Eden  Town- 
ship, four  miles  north  and  four  miles  west  of  Topeka. 
He  is  the  son  of  Manassas  and  Lydia  (Yoder)  Bon- 
trager, of  a prominent  family  in  Indiana,  his  earliest 
American  ancestor  having  come  from  Germany  to  this 
country  in  1767.  Manassas  Bontrager  was  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  his  wife  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
and  he  was  brought  to  Indiana  when  five  months 
old,  while  his  wife  came  here  when  a girl.  After 
his  marriage  he  settled  in  section  4 of  Eden  Town- 
ship. Manassas  Bontrager  and  wife  had  twelve  chil- 
dren, eleven  of  whom  are  still  living,  Noah  being 
the  eighth  in  order  of  birth. 

The  latter  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  attended 
the  district  schools  in  winter  sessions,  working  for 
his  father  in  the  summer.  On  February  1,  1906,  he 
married  Katie  Glick,  who  was  born  in  Eden  Town- 
ship February  18,  1887,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bontrager  have  always  lived  on  the  Bontrager 
homestead.  They  have  three  children : Mahlon, 

born  December  21,  1906;  Rosa,  born  November  26, 
1911;  and  Enos,  born  October  10,  1917. 

Mr.  Bontrager  owns  160  acres  in  his  home  farm 
and  has  forty  acres  more  in  another  part  of  the 
township.  As  bishop  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church  he  has  the  supervision  of  the  two  churches 
known  as  the  East  Side  and  West  Side  churches 
in  the  Honeyville  district.  He  is  the  man  responsible 
for  making  the  rules  of  the  church,  and,  as  is  cus- 
tomary in  that  denomination,  he  gives  all  his  services 
without  remuneration,  depending  on  his  farm  for  his 
material  prosperity. 

Eber  J.  Williamson.  For  over  fifty  years  the 
Williamson  family  has  been  identified  with  Steuben 
County,  chiefly  as  farmers,  and  always  as  good  citi- 
zens and  people  who  neglect  none  of  their  responsi- 
bilities to  their  community. 

Representing  the  third  generation  in  this  county 
is  Eber  J.  Williamson,  owner  of  one  of  the  fine 
farms  in  York  Township.  He  was  born  in  York 


Township  January  12,  i860,  and  is  a son  of  Peter 
and  Hannah  (Gamble)  Williamson,  both  natives 
of  New  York  State,  his  mother  being  a daughter  of 
Solomon  Gamble.  The  grandparents,  Cornelius  and 
Elizabeth  (Singer)  Williamson,  the  former  a native 
of  New  York  State,  came  to  Steuben  County  some 
years  prior  to  the  Civil  war  and  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days  in  York  Township.  They  reared  a family 
of  children  named  Jacob,  John,  George,  Arthur, 
Cornelius,  James,  Peter,  Mary  and  Annett. 

Peter  Williamson  was  an  arrival  in  York  Town- 
ship about  1857,  coming  direct  from  New  York 
State.  He  had  a farm  and  was  busily  engaged  in 
its  cultivation  until  late  in  the  Civil  war.'  About 
1863  he  went  into  the  army  and  died  while  still  in 
service,  on  September  2,  1865.  His  widow  remained 
on  the  farm,  reared  her  children,  and  died  July  17, 
1894.  She  was  the  mother  of  three,  Debbie,  Eber  J. 
and  Izora. 

Eber  J.  Williamson  hardly  remembers  his  father 
at  all.*  He  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his  mother,  en- 
joyed such  advantages  as  could  be  obtained  from 
the  local  schools  in  the  intervals  of  his  own  em- 
ployment, and  has  always  worked  the  home  place 
since  reaching  manhood.  Mr.  Williamson  owns  a 
good  farm  of  ninety-seven  acres  and  is  engaged 
in  general  cropping  and  stock  raising.  He  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  lodges  at  Metz. 

In  October,  1883,  he  married  Emma  Betzer,  a 
daughter  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Betzer.  They  have 
two  children.  Lottie  is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Morison 
and  has  three  children,  named  Sidney,  Wilbur  and 
Inie.  Vertie  married  Sylvia  Kentigh. 

John  F.  Holsinger.  For  many  years  the  name 
Holsinger  in  LaGrange  and  Noble  counties  has  been 
synonymous  with  extensive  holdings  of  land.  The 
Holsingers  are  farmers  and  business  men,  and  their 
practical  energy  has  enabled  several  of  the  family 
to  overcome  the  handicaps  of  initial  poverty  and 
achieve  such  material  success  as  few  men  can  equal. 
The  same  has  been  true  of  John  F.  Holsinger,  as 
it  was  of  his  father.  The  son  is  an  extensive  land 
owner  and  farmer  in  Noble  County,  and  is  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  State  Bank  of  Wolcottville  and 
identified  with  other  business  organizations  there. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County,  October  16,  1850,  a son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Stroman)  Holsinger.  His  father  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1817,  and  his  mother  was  a 
native  of  Summit  County,  Ohio.  After  their  mar- 
riage they  moved  from  Ohio  to  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  settling  on  a farm,  and  from  there  moved 
to  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County.  John  Hol- 
singer spent  his  last  years  in  Kendal'lville,  but  his 
wife  died  on  the  farm.  They  were  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church  and  the  father  was  a republican. 
John  Holsinger  came  to  Northeast  Indiana  with 
practically  all  his  goods  and  possessions  in  a wagon, 
and  by  hard  work  and  constant  exercise  of  good 
judgment  achieved  a striking  success.  He  owned  at 
one  time  733  acres  of  land.  He  was  a popular 
member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge.  Of  eleven  chil- 
dren by  three  marriages  the  following  are  still  liv- 
ing; Dora,  who  lives  in  I, os  Angeles.  California; 
Frank,  of  Wolcottville;  Walter,  of  Indianapolis; 
John  F. ; Ida,  wife  of  Martin  Fanning,  of  Angola; 
and  Adrin,  of  LaGrange. 

John  F.  Holsinger  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
had  a district  school  education,  and  lived  at  home 
until  nearly  the  age  of  twenty-two.  He  worked  for 
his  brother  William  for  one  year,  rented  his  father’s 
farm  four  years,  managing  it  in  association  with 
his  brother,  and  later  farmed  by  himself.  A fter 
his  experience  justified  it,  he  adventured  upon  farm 


188 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


owning  independently  and  made  his  first  purchase 
of  122  acres.  He  went  in  debt  for  a considerable 
part  of  it,  but  paid  out,  then  bought  another  ioo 
acres,  then  60  acres,  then  40  acres,  later  222  acres, 
and  46  acres,  these  various  purchases  giving  him  a 
splendid  body  of  land  622  acres  in  extent,  all  in  the 
northwest  part  of  Orange  Township. 

March  30,  1879,  Mr.  Holsinger  married  Sarah 
Raber.  She  was  born  in  Orange  Township  July 
28,  1854,  a daughter  of  David  and  Susanna  (Dice) 
Raber,  the  former  a native  of  Stark  and  the  latter 
of  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  Her  parents  after  their 
marriage  in  Ohio  came  to  Indiana  in  1853  lo- 
cated in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County,  where 
they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Of  the  ten  chil- 
dren in  the  Raber  family  four  are  still  living: 
David;  Elias,  whose  home  is  in  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington; John,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  and  Mrs.  Sarah 
Holsinger.  Mrs.  Holsinger  had  a good  common 
school  education.  She  is  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren. Olive  M.  graduated  from  the  common  schools 
and  is  the  wife  of  Garfield  Eschelman,  living  at 
Wolcottville.  Clark  graduated  from  high  school, 
has  his  home  in  Orange  Township  and  married 
Bessie  Rowe.  Ellis  is  a high  school  graduate  and 
married  Marie  Eschelman,  of  Orange  Township. 

Mrs.  Holsinger  is  a member  of  the  Evangelical 
Church.  Mr.  Holsinger  was  one  of  the  first  di- 
rectors of  the  State  Bank  of  Wolcottville.  He  and 
his  family  have  had  a town  home  in  Wolcottville 
since  the  fall  of  1912,  but  they  still  retain  their 
rural  residence  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County.  Mr.  Holsinger  is  a director  in  the  Cement 
Products  Factory.  He  has  been  a stock  buyer  for 
about  fourteen  years,  and  does  an  extensive  business 
in  that  line,  buying  and  feeding  cattle  by  the  car- 
load lots. 

James  Skelly  is  the  fortunate  owner  of  a good 
farm  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County.  His 
farm  contains  a group  of  handsome  buildings  and 
in  every  way  is  adapted  for  comfort  and  for  maxi- 
mum efficiency  in  every  department  of  its  manage- 
ment. Mr.  Skelly  started  life  on  a modest  scale, 
beginning  with  a very  small  amount  of  land  under 
his  ownership,  and  has  made  steady  strides  during 
the  different  years  to  the  possession  of  what  he 
enjoys  today. 

A resident  of  Steuben  County  for  many  years,  he 
was  born  in  Millersburg,  Ohio,  October  1,  1855,  a 
son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Steele)  Skelly,  the 
former  a native  of  Cumberland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  the  latter  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
where  her  father,  James  Steele,  was  a farmer. 
James  Skelly  is  a grandson  of  James  Skelly,  who 
spent  his  active  life  as  a farmer  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio.  William  Skelly  acquired  his  early  knowledge 
of  agriculture  in  the  same  county,  but  about  1875 
came  to  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County,  ac- 
quiring a farm’  near  Hudson.  That  was  the  scene 
of  his  activities  until  the  last  year  of  his  life,  when 
he  moved  to  DeKalb  County.  He  and  Sarah  Steele 
Skelly  had  four  children,  named  Martha,  wife  of 
John  Calhoun,  Tames,  David  and  Leander.  When 
the  mother  of  these  died  the  father  married  Mrs. 
Ellen  (Baughman)  Buckmaster.  By  that  union 
there  were  also  four  children : Mary,  wife  of 

Hiram  Towns;  Elizabeth,  who  married  Amos 
Myers ; Robert ; and  Olive,  wife  of  George  Putt. 

James  Skelly  was  about  twenty  years  of  age  when 
his  father  came  to  Steuben  County.  He  began 
farming  about  the  same  time  on  his  own  account 
and  about  1879  was  able  to  buy  thirty-four  acres 
three-quarters  of  a mile  west  of  Hudson.  He  made 
good  as  a farmer  there,  remained  about  nine  years, 
and  in  1888  traded  for  his  present  farm  in  section 


19  of  Salem  Township.  Here,  with  his  wife,  he 
owns  175  acres  besides  fifty  acres  across  the  road 
in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  The 
building  improvements  all  represent  his  own  plan- 
ning, labor  and  investment. 

In  1879  Mr.  Skelly  married  Flora  A.  Gonser, 
daughter  of  Moses  and  Louisa  (Wright)  Gonser. 
Her  father,  an  old  time  resident  of  Northeast  In- 
diana, was  born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1829,  a son  of  David  and  Catherine  (Miller) 
Gonser.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  DeKalb 

County  in  1848  and  in  1869  moved  to  Steuben 

County.  He  acquired  a large  property  of  250  acres 
in  sections  35  and  36  of  Salem  Township  and  across 
the  line  in  Fairfield  Township  of  DeKalb  County 
built  a fine  two-story  brick  home  in  1880  and  owned 
much  other  property,  all  of  which  represented  his 
thrifty  and  industrious  career  from  early  youth  to 
mature  years.  He  filled  several  offices  in  his  com- 
munities and  at  one  time  was  a county  commissioner 
of  Steuben  County.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for  the 
whig  candidate  of  1852,  and  became  an  original 

republican.  He  and  his  wife  had  six  children, 
Amanda,  Albert,  Flora  A.,  Marietta,  Robert  M.  and 
Martha  L. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Skelly  were  born  four  children : 
Grace,  Elsie  Maude,  Willis  R.  and  Esther. 

Grace  is  the  wife  of  Clyde  Perkins,  and  has  four 
children : Dorothy,  Mildred,  Ralph  and  Donald. 

Maude  married  Dr.  C.  C.  Wright  and  has  one  child, 
Louise,  and  Esther  is  the  wife  of  Professor  Charles 
G.  Hornaday. 

Willis  R.  Skelly  is  an  expert  agriculturist  and  is 
giving  much  energy  to  the  management  of  the  home 
farm,  he  and  his  father  being  associated  in  the 
business.  He  was  graduated  in  1911  with  the  Bache- 
lor of  Science  degree  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege at  Angola,  in  1914  received  his  degree  Bachelor 
of  Science  in  agriculture  from  Purdue  University, 
and  in  1916  was  awarded  the  Master’s  degree  by 
the  same  institution.  For  three  years  he  had  the 
valuable  experience  of  working  in  connection  with 
the  Purdue  University  Agricultural  Department  as 
instructor  in  farm  crops.  Willis  Roy  married  Ar- 
villa  Hornaday,  of  Lafayette,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Virginia  Mae. 

Henderson  M.  Richey  is  a young  man  whose 
abilities  and  services  have  been  much  appreciated  by 
the  City  of  Auburn.  He  is  the  present  city  treasurer, 
having  been  appointed  by  the  City  Council  on  May 
1,  1919,  as  successor  to  E.  E.  Shilling,  who  resigned. 

Mr.  Richey,  who  served  the  Government  during  the 
period  of  the  war,  is  by  profession  a newspaper  man. 
He  was  born  at  Angola,  Indiana,  September  20, 
1894,  a son  of  David  H.  and  Luella  A.  (Moore) 
Richey.  When  he  was  a year  and  a half  old  his 
parents  moved  to  Auburn,  where  his  father  was  a 
buggy  manufacturer  and  where  he  spent  the  rest 
of  his  life  with  the  exception  of  several  years  in 
the  newspaper  business  in  Monroe,  Michigan,  and 
Fostoria,  Ohio.  Henderson  Richey’s  mother  is  still 
living. 

He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of 
Auburn,  graduating  from  the  senior  class  of  high 
school  in  1915.  He  had  already  made  considerable 
progress  in  a business  way,  having  worked  in  news- 
paper offices  carrying  papers  before  and  after  school. 
On  leaving  high  school  he  was  given  a regular  place 
as  reporter  with  the  Evening  Star  at  Auburn,  and 
is  the  present  city  editor  of  that  well  known  journal 
of  DeKalb  County. 

February  5,  1918,  Mr.  Richey  enlisted  in  the 
Spruce  Production  Division  of  the  Air  Service,  and 
for  thirteen  months  was  employed  in  that  work  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


189 


the  states  of  Washington  and  Oregon.  He  was  dis- 
charged with  the  rank  of  master  electrician  in  the 
Air  Service,  the  highest  non-commissioned  rank  in 
that  branch.  He  returned  home  March  16,  1919,  and 
has  found  an  abundance  of  civil  and  business  duties 
to  employ  him. 

Mr.  Richey,  who  is  unmarried,  is  a member  of 
the  Phi  Delta  Kappa  Fraternity,  is  treasurer  of  the 
Men’s  Class  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Red  Cross  Committee  of  DeKalb 
County. 

William  Metz.  For  thirty  consecutive  years 
William  Metz  has  planted  and  cultivated  crops  on 
his  farm  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
and  he  has  properly  earned  and  deserves  all  the 
generous  prosperity  he  now  enjoys. 

Mr.  Metz  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio, 
March  13,  1838,  a son  of  Christopher  and  Eva  Cath- 
erine (Gretchman)  Metz.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  Baden,  Germany,  and  came  with  their 
family  to  America  in  1854.  They  had  a long  and 
tedious  ocean  journey  of  over  100  days,  and  one 
of  their  daughters  was  buried  at  sea.  About  i860 
the  Metz  family  came  to  Otsego  Township,  and 
Christopher  Metz  spent  the  rest  of  his  days  there. 

William  Metz  was  only  an  infant  when  brought 
to  Steuben  County  and  as  a boy  he  attended  the 
district  schools  of  Otsego  Township.  He  left  home 
in  order  to  make  his  own  way  in  the  world  and 
for  about  twelve  years  was  a farm  hand  whose 
steadiness  and  industry  commended  him  to  all  his 
employers. 

On  March  14,  1888,  he  married  Lucetta  Davis, 
and  they  at  once  began  farming  independently  in 
section  14  of  Otsego  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz 
own  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  the  buildings  have 
been  placed  under  their  ownership.  Mr.  Metz  does 
general  farming  and  stock  raising,  keeps  good  grades 
of  all  live  stock  and  takes  splendid  care  of  it. 
fraternally  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

Emmet  Fulghum  was  born  and  reared  in  Wayne 
County,  Indiana,  in  one  of  the  fine  old  Quaker 
communities  of  that  section  of  the  state,  and  be- 
came identified  with  Northeast  Indiana  as  a station 
clerk  with  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railroad. 
He  finally  resigned  that  position  to  become  cashier 
of  the  State  Bank  of  Wolcottville,  duties  in  which 
he  is  engaged  at  the  present  time. 

Mr.  Fulghum  was  born  in  Wayne  County.  In- 
diana, August  23,  1886,  a son  of  Calvin  and  Mar- 
garet (Woodruf)  Fulghum.  His  father,  also  a 
native  of  Wayne  County,  was  a farmer  and  for 
many  years  was  active  in  public  affairs,  being  one 
of  the  leaders  of  the  republican  party  in  his  county. 
He  served  two  terms  as  trustee  of  New  Garden 
Township,  and  also  served  as  county  assessor  of 
Wayne  County.  He  died  in  1905  and  his  wife  in 
1907.  They  were  prominent  members  of  the  Friends 
Church  at  New  Garden  and  the  father  was  a Ma- 
son and  Knight  of  Pythias.  Of  their  family  of  six 
children  three  are  now  living:  Florence  received  a 
liberal  education  in  high  school  and  Earlham  Col- 
lege, and  was  a teacher  before  her  marriage  to 
Harry  Woofers.  George  B.  is  a high  school  gradu- 
ate and  a train  dispatcher  at  Fort  Wayne  for  the 
Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railroad. 

Emmet  Fulghum  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  finished  his  education  in  the  high  school  at 
Fountain  City.  He  then  returned  to  the  farm  and 
worked  a year,  learned  telegraplty,  and  was  given 
his  first  position  with  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana 
Railroad,  and  served  that  company  faithfully  at 


Wolcottville  and  LaGrange.  Since  August  1,  1917. 
he  has  been  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  of  Wolcott- 
ville. 

He  married  Miss  Lottie  Taylor,  daughter  of  S.  P. 
Taylor,  of  Wolcottville.  She  was  educated  in  the 
grammar  and  high  schools.  They  have  one  son, 
Ralph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fulghum  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  in  politics  he  is  a republican. 

George  K.  Wisel.  One  of  the  names  most  fre- 
quently met  with  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County  is  that  of  Wisel.  As  a family  they  were 
among  the  earliest  settlers,  and  the  second  child 
born  in  the  township  was  Daniel  R.  Wisel,  whose 
birth  occurred  March  9,  1837. 

The  late  George  K.  Wisel  was  a son  of  Otis  Wisel. 
The  Wisel  family  for  many  generations  lived  at 
Providence,  Rhode  Island.  Otis  Wisel  was  a son 
of  David  Wisel,  who  was  born  in  1777  and  was  the 
seventh  son  in  the  seventh  generation  of  seven  sons. 
The  name  of  each  of  this  particular  number  in  each 
generation  was  David,  and  all  of  them  prior  to  the 
David  that  came  to  Steuben  County  operated  a 
foundry  in  Rhode  Island.  David  Wisel  with  his 
family,  consisted  of  his  wife  and  three  youngest 
children  and  his  two  oldest  sons  and  their  families, 
settled  in  Salem  Township,  October  25,  1836.  He 
entered  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  10  from  the 
Government,  erected  a log  house  and  improved 
twenty  acres,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1844. 
The  five  children  to  come  with  him  to  Indiana  were 
David,  Otis,  Ira,  Phoebe  and  Laura,  while  his  other 
five  children  subsequently  came  from  New  York 
and  joined  him  in  that  county. 

Otis  Wisel  was  born  at  Watertown,  New  York, 
in  1810,  and  was  twenty-six  years  of  age  when  he 
came  to  Indiana.  He  bought  fifty  acres  from  his 
father,  and  improved  that  and  lived  on  it  until  the 
spring  of  1853,  when  he  bought  a quarter  section 
in  section  22.  He  improved  a large  amount  of  land 
and  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  his  locality 
for  many  years.  He  married  Betsey  Van  Pelt,  who 
was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  New  York,  in 
1811.  Their  children  were:  Otis,  Jr.,  Daniel  R., 

mentioned  above,  Elizabeth  and  George  K. 

George  Wisel  was  born  in  Salem  Township, 
March  23,  1850.  He  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  as  a young  man  began  farming 
in  section  22  and  remained  on  the  same  farm  for 
more  than  fifty-five  years.  He  was  a man  of  fine 
qualities,  successful  in  his  affairs,  was  a charter 
member  of  Lodge  No.  376  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
at  Salem  Center,  and  in  many  ways  played  a useful 
part  in  his  community.  He  died  May  17,  1908. 

On  February  10,  1873,  he  married  Annie  Coombs. 
She  was  born  in  Livingston  County,  New  York, 
March  22,  1853,  a daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
(Wheeler)  Coombs,  both  natives  of  England. 
George  K.  Wisel  and  wife  had  five  children.  Elsie 
is  a well  know  educator,  has  taught  exclusively  for 
over  twenty  years  in  Salem  Township  and  is  now 
a teacher  in  the  grammar  grades  at  Salem  Center ; 
Tellie  was  also  a successful  teacher  for  ten  years 
and  is  the  wife  of  Amos  Grady;  the  third  child  is 
George  O.  Wisel,  now  proprietor  of  the  old  home- 
stead ; Anna  was  a teacher  for  one  year,  married 
Charles  Twitchell,  and  for  the  past  thirteen  years 
has  been  a nurse ; Sabrina  spent  four  years  as  a 
teacher  in  the  primary  grades  at  Helmer  and  is  the 
wife  of  Ray  Teeters  and  lives  on  a farm  east  of 
Pleasant  Lake. 

Cornelius  Altland,  a leading  farmer  of  Van 
Buren  Township,  LaGrange  County,  has  lived  in  this 
county  since  early  boyhood,  and  his  early  life  was  one 
of  much  struggle  and  hard  work,  while  his  later 


190 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


years  have  brought  him  an  enviable  degree  of  pros- 
perity and  the  highest  esteem  of  his  community. 

Mr.  Altland  was  born  in  York  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  27,  1843,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth (Chamberlain)  Altland.  His  father  was  a na- 
tive of  York  County  and  his  mother  of  Maryland. 
They  were  married  in  York  County  and  in  1854 
moved  to  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  buying  a farm 
a mile  east  of  that  old  town.  Jacob  Altland  farmed 
there  for  many  years  and  finally  moved  to  Waterloo, 
Iowa,  buying  a farm  in  Blackhawk  County.  He  died 
there  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  widow 
subsequently  returned  East  and  died  at  White  Pigeon 
in  1885,  also  about  sixty-three  years  of  age.  Jacob 
Altland  was  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Dunk- 
ard  Church.  His  children  were  Edward,  Sarah, 
Maria,  Cornelius,  Jacob,  Elizabeth,  William,  Cath- 
erine, Jane,  Anne  and  George. 

Cornelius  Altland  received  a limited  education  in 
the  public  schools,  having  attended  school  for  about 
two  months  in  Pennsylvania.  When  about  fifteen 
years  old  he  came  to  LaGrange  County  and  worked 
for  his  uncle,  Peter  Altland.  Later  he  was  on  a 
farm  in  Michigan  for  a year,  and  for  over  half  a 
century  has  occupied  his  present  location.  This  was 
the  farm  of  John  Dalton,  and  Mr.  Altland  leased  it 
for  twelve  years,  and  subsequently  he  and  his  wife 
acquired  possession.  This  homestead  was  originally 
347  acres,  but  Mr.  Altland  has  sold  off  fifteen  acres. 
He  built  a fine  house  and  other  buildings  and  has 
followed  general  farming  and  has  done  much  buy- 
ing and  selling  of  livestock.  His  farm  has  always 
been  notable  for  its  good  stock.  He  raised  one  horse 
that  was  later  sold  to  Theodore  Roosevelt  as  a driv- 
ing horse.  Mr.  Altland  is  a republican  but  has  been 
a quiet  citizen  and  without  any  aspirations  for  po- 
litical office.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

In  1866  he  married  Frances  Dalton.  She  was  born 
on  the  farm  where  she  now  resides  January  27,  1847, 
and  has  spent  all  her  life  in  LaGrange  County  except 
for  one  year.  Her  parents  were  John  and  Anna 
(Hayner)  Dalton,  of  an  old  and  prominent  family 
of  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Altland  had 
six  children,  Inez,  Zelda,  Walter,  Anna,  Mortimer 
and  Merle.  The  first  two  died  in  infancy  and  Merle 
died  when  five  years  old.  Walter,  who  was  born 
November  3,  1874,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
at  Scott,  and  married  Myrtie  Reed,  their  one  daugh- 
ter, Verna,  having  been  born  November  11,  1905. 
Anna,  who  was  born  October  26,  1878,  was  educated 
in  the  Scott  schools,  was  a teacher  for  one  year,  and 
is  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  Rehm.  Mortimer  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  is  a resident  of  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan,  being  superintendent  of  an  enamel 
works  in  that  city.  He  married  Mary  Miller. 

Wtlson  Crain.  No  history  of  Steuben  County 
would  be  complete  without  considerable  mention  of 
the  Crain  family,  for  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  as  well 
as  most  important  of  those  established  in  this  part 
of  Indiana  during  the  pioneer  period.  By  mar- 
riage the  members  of  the  Crain  family  are  con- 
nected with  other  old  families,  among  them  being 
that  bearing  the  name  of  Frink,  and  all  have  con- 
tributed much  toward  securing  the  present  pros- 
perity of  this  locality.  One  of  the  best  representa- 
tives of  these  two  old  families  is  Wilson  Crain  of 
Steuben  Township. 

Wilson  Crain  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in 
section  36,  Steuben  Township,  August  14,  1875,  a son 
of  James  Madison  Crain  and  grandson  of  Lucius 
Crain  and  Selah  Frink.  Lucius  Crain,  born  in 
Connecticut,  was  reared  in  New  York  State,  where 
he  was  married  to  Paulina  Frink,  a daughter  of 


Selah  Frink.  Word  of  the  fertility  of  the  Indiana 
farming  land  came  to  the  people  along  the  Atlantic 
Coast,  and  the  Crains  and  Frinks  decided  to 
migrate.  Selah  Frink  came  first,  locating  in  Otsego 
Township,  Steuben  County,  and  in  1837  Lucius  Crain 
followed.  The  latter  selected  land  in  section  36, 
Steuben  Township,  in  the  same  county,  but  after 
he  had  erected  a log  cabin  and  cleared  off  about 
five  acres  he  became  discouraged  on  account  of  the 
prevailing  ill  health  of  his  neighbors,  and  went 
back  to  his  old  home.  Learning  of  bettering  con- 
ditions a little  later,  after  two  and  one-half  years 
absence,  he  came  back  and  lived  on  his  farm  until 
his  death  in  1849,  and  here  he  reared  his  five  chil- 
dren. 

James  Madison  Crain,  father  of  Wilson  Crain, 
was  born  in  Madison  County,  New  York,  in  1830, 
and  so  spent  practically  all  of  his  life  in  Steuben 
County.  When  his  father  died  he  took  charge 

of  the  homestead,  and  this  property  has  descended 
to  his  two  sons  and  daughter,  Lucius,  Wilson  and 
Arvilla.  James  Madison  Crain  was  married  to 
Margaret  J.  Renner,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  a 
daughter  of  John  P.  Renner,  and  they  had  three 
children:  Arvilla,  Lucius  and  Wilson.  When 

James  Madison  Crain  died  in  1896  he  was  justly 
numbered  among  the  prosperous  farmers  and  sub- 
stantial men  of  Steuben  County. 

Wilson  Crain  was  brought  up  in  a moral  atmos- 
phere, being  watched  over  by  careful  parents,  who 
believed  in  teaching  their  children  how  to  become 
useful  to  themselves  and  their  neighbors.  During 
the  formative  period  of  his  life  he  attended  the 
Windfall  School  of  District  No.  7,  and  at  the  same 
time  assisted  with  the  work  of  the  homestead. 
With  his  brother  and  sister  he  inherited  the  family 
property  of  276  acres  lying  along  the  township  line 
between  Otsego  and  Steuben  townships,  Wilson 
Crain  living  in  the  last  named  township  and  his 
brother  in  the  former.  The  brothers  operate  their 
land  together  and  have  never  been  separated  in 
their  business  operations. 

On  August  16,  1918,  Wilson  Crain  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Helen  Renner,  a daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Kate  Renner.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crain  have  no 
children.  Mr.  Crain  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  Both  he  and  his  brother  are  representa- 
tive men,  who  take  an  interest  in  public  affairs 
and  the  advancement  of  their  neighborhood.  They 
are  engaged  in  general-  farming  and  breeding 
Shorthorn  cattle,  and  their  farm  equipment  is  of 
the  finest,  they  recognizing  that  in  order  to  produce 
the  best  results  it  is  necessary  to  have  modern 
buildings  and  machinery,  and  their  success  proves 
that  they  are  right. 

George  C.  Morgan,  cashier  of  the  Wildman  State 
Bank  at  Wolcottville,  has  been  a prominent  factor  in 
LaGrange  County  affairs  for  many  years,  is  a former 
clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court,  and  was  long  identified 
with  the  newspaper  business.  Mr.  Morgan  still 
makes  his  home  at  LaGrange. 

He  was  born  in  South  Wales,  November  20,  1859, 
a son  of  Henry  and  Martha  (Parry)  Morgan.  His 
parents  were  also  natives  of  Wales,  and  on  coming 
to  the  United  States  in  1873  settled  in  Pennsylvania 
and  later  moved  to  LaGrange,  Indiana.  Henry 
Morgan  followed  the  business  of  gardening,  and 
that  was  his  first  trade  throughout  his  life  in  the 
United  States.  His  wife  was  a member  of  the 
Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  he  was  a Meth- 
odist and  a democrat..  Of  six  children  only  two  are 
now  living.  Mary  E.  is  the  widow  of  George  Shap- 
land  and  lives  at  LaGrange. 

George  C.  Morgan  was  only  thirteen  years  old 
when  he  came  to  this  country  and  up  to  that  time 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


191 


his  education  had  been  acquired  in  the  private  and 
public  schools  of  Wales.  He  also  attended  school 
in  LaGrange,  and  as  a boy  went  to  work  in  the 
offices  of  the  LaGrange  Standard.  He  learned 
printing  and  the  newspaper  business  with  that 
paper  and  served  it  in  various  capacities.  From  1900 
to  1903  he  was  associated  with  Carl  H.  Rerick  in 
the  ownership  of  the  Standard.  Mr.  Morgan  in 
1903  was  appointed  clerk  of  the  LaGrange  Circuit 
Court,  and  in  1904  was  regularly  elected  for  a four 
year  term  on  the  republican  ticket.  He  gave  all 
his  time  to  the  duties  of  the  office  until  January, 
1909.  In  October,  1910,  he  bought  a half  interest 
in  the  Saturday  Call  from  W.  D.  Rheubottom,  and 
continued  with  that  paper  until  he  sold  out  four 
years  later  to  the  LaGrange  County  Democrat. 
From  1914  to  August,  1918,  Mr.  Morgan  conducted 
a profitable  general  insurance  business  at  LaGrange. 
At  the  latter  date  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the 
Wildman  State  Bank  at  Wolcottville. 

In  1880  he  married  Emma  E.  Speed.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Leda  S.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 
LaGrange  High  School  and  is  the  wife  of  Adolph 
Gaertner,  of  Toledo,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gaertner 
have  three  children,  named  Morgan,  Carl  and 
Martha. 

Mr.  Morgan  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a past  grand 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  was 
financial  secretary  of  his  lodge  for  twenty-five 
years,  until  December  31,  1918.  He  is  also  a Ma- 
son and  a member  of  the  Encampment  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, being  past  chief  patriarch  and  district  deputy 
grand  patriarch,  and  is  a member  of  the  LaGrange 
Rebekahs.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  and  served 
five  terms  as  a member  of  the  LaGrange  school 
board,  having  been  a member  of  the  board  for 
fifteen  years. 

Charles  A.  Griffith  spent  several  years  as  a 
railroad  man,  but  recently  resumed  farming,  the 
occupation  to  which  he  was  reared  and  trained  in 
youth.  He  operates  some  of  the  most  productive 
land  in  Steuben  Township,  with  home  at  Pleasant 
Lake. 

He  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  December  15, 
1870,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Crandall)  Griffith  and 
a grandson  of  John  Griffith,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Steuben  County.  Grandfather  John  Griffith  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  1813  and  came  to  Indiana  in  1850, 
locating  in  DeKalb  County  and  some  years  later 
acquired  business  interests  that  brought  him  to 
Steuben  County.  He  died  in  i860. 

Charles  A.  Griffith  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship. In  early  years  he  began  working  for  monthly 
wages, ^ later  rented  a farm,  and  from  that  went  into 
the  railroad  service,  in  the  building  department,  as  a 
carpenter.  That  was  his  work  and  employment  for 
about  seven  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  re- 
turned to  farming.  In  the  fall  of  1917  Mr.  Griffith 
-bought  a farm  adjoining  Pleasant  Lake,  and  in  ad- 
dition to  that  he  also  rents  a place  of  157  acres  a 
mile  from  Pleasant  Lake.  His  time  and  energies 
are  therefore  fully  taken  up  with  the  business  of 
general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Griffith  is  a republican  in  politics  and  is  affil- 
iated with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Pleasant  Lake  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Hamil- 
ton. He  and  his  wife  are  identified  with  the  Bap- 
tist Church. 

July  1,  1894,  he  married  Miss  Ella  King.  She 
was  born  in  Richland  Township,  September  9,  1874, 
a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Martha  (Heller)  King. 
Her  parents  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Steuben 
County  when  children.  Samuel  King  was  a son 


of  Peter  and  Elizabeth  King,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  1880,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  the  latter 
in  1884.  Samuel  King  spent  his  active  life  as  a 
farmer,  was  a republican  and  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  and  died  in  March,  1911,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-four.  Mrs.  Griffith’s  mother  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  eighty.  There  were  nine  chil- 
dren in  the  King  family,  six  of  whom  are  still 
living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  have  four  children,  all  liv- 
ing. Weir  Eugene  was  born  August  18,  1895,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School,  and  in 
1913  married  Lucile  Matson,  a daughter  of  James 
Matson  and  a granddaughter  of  Lewis  Matson,  of  a 
prominent  family  elsewhere  referred  to.  Weir  E. 
Griffith  and  wife  have  three  children,  named  Mau- 
rice, Naomi  and  Johan.  Ford  Lauren  Griffith,  the 
second  child,  was  born  June  24,  1897,  graduated 
from  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School,  attended  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen went  west  to  Montana  and  has  spent  several 
years  as  a teacher  in  that  state.  When  the  war 
closed  he  was  in  an  officers  training  school  at  Camp 
Taylor,  Kentucky.  The  two  younger  children  are 
Edith  Lyle,  born  April  6,  1902,  now  a junior  in  the 
Pleasant  Lake  High  School,  and  Gertrude  Luella, 
born  September  3,  1908. 

Bernard  F.  Haines  represents  the  thrifty  and 
progressive  element  of  the  agricultural  citizenship 
in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County.  He  has  a 
good  farm,  one  well  tended  and  productive,  and 
has  made  himself  a factor  in  that  rural  community. 
His  home  is  two  miles  north  of  Avilla. 

Mr.  Haines  was  born  in  Adrian,  Michigan,  Au- 
gust 28,  1890,  son  of  Frank  J.  and  Alice  (Fowler) 
Haines.  Frank  J.  Haines  was  born  at  Albany,  New 
York,  September  11,  1867,  and  when  he  was  three 
years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Adrian,  Michi- 
gan. There  he  married  Alice  Fowler,  who  was 
born  in  Adrian,  August  30,  1865.  Both  had  at- 
tained educations  in  the  local  schools,  including  high 
school,  and  Alice  Fowler  had  also  attended  Adrian 
College.  After  they  married  they  located  on  a 
farm,  and  Frank  J.  Haines  still  cultivates  200  acres 
of  the  fine  soil  of  Southern  Michigan.  His  first 
wife  died  in  1902  and  he  then  married  his  wife’s 
sister.  Bernard  F.  Haines  was  the  only  child  of 
his  father’s  first  marriage. 

He  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  the  farm,  attended 
the  public  and  high  schools  of  Adrian,  and  in  1910 
graduated  Ph.  B.  from  Adrian  College.  He  re- 
ceived a license  to  teach  school  but  never  used  it, 
and  has  found  farming  more  to  his  liking  and  more 
profitable  withal. 

A fellow  student  with  him  in  Adrian  College  was 
Orpha  A.  King.  They  were  married  September  10, 
1911.  Mrs.  Haines  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
she  now  lives  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  March  9, 
1888,  the  only  child  of  Hiram  L.  and  Margaret  A. 
(Brundige)  King.  Further  reference  to  her  hon- 
ored father,  one  of  the  old  timers  of  Noble  County, 
is  made  in  a later  paragraph.  Mrs.  Haines  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  before  she  attended  col- 
lege, and  was  a student  in  that  institution  three 
years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haines  have  one  child,  Ruth 
Alice,  born  August  8,  1916. 

Mr.  Haines  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge 
No.  276,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  with 
the  Royal  Arch  Chapter,  with  the  Council,  Royal  and 
Select  Masters,  and  with  the  Knight  Templar  Com- 
mandery  at  Kendallville.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star  at 
Kendallville.  Politically,  like  many  young  men  of 
modern  times,  he  votes  independently.  Mr.  Haines 
has  200  acres  in  his  farm  and  has  discharged  his 


192 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


responsibilities  as  a farmer  and  stock  man  with  a 
high  degree  of  success.  He  breeds  Shorthorn  cat- 
tle, and  feeds  a large  number  of  cattle  and  sheep 
every  year.  He  also  has  a farm  in  Michigan. 

Hiram  L.  King,  father  of  Mrs.  Haines,  was  born 
in  Perry  Township  of  Geauga  County,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 2,  1826,  and  was  a child  when  his  parents 
moved  to  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Car- 
roll  County,  and  in  May,  1837,  established  their 
pioneer  home  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble  County, 
Indiana.  Hiram  L.  King  was  a son  of  Hiram  and 
Catherine  (Lowe)  King.  Hiram  King,  Sr.,  was 
born  in  New  York  State  July  13,  1799.  Catherine 
Lowe  was  born  in  the  same  state  May  4,  1803.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  they  moved  to  Ohio  and  then 
more  than  eighty  years  ago  chose  a homestead  in 
Noble  County,  in  section  3,  Swan  Township,  where 
they  lived  and  labored  and  where  their  lives  came  to 
a close,  Hiram  King  on  April  16,  1866,  and  Cath- 
erine King  December  14,  1883.  Both  were  active 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  In  their  fam- 
ily were  six  children. 

Hiram  L.  King  was  eleven  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Noble  County,  and  he  finished  his  edu- 
cation in  the  common  and  subscription  schools  here 
of  the  early  days.  He  early  made  a hand  on  his 
father’s  farm  of  400  acres.  He  was  at  home  to 
the  age  of  twenty-three  and  eventually  bought  his 
father’s  place  of  400  acres  and  took  his  young  bride 
to  that  as  their  first  home.  June  7,  1859,  Hiram  L. 
King  married  Frances  A.  Mumford.  She  died  Oc- 
tober 9,  1864,  the  mother  of  two  children : Herbert 

H.,  who  died  October  21,  1884,  and  Helen  F.,  born 
June  29,  1862,  and  died  in  June,  1893.  On  May  9, 
1886,  Hiram  L.  King  married  Mrs.  Margaret  (Brun- 
dige)  Craig,  widow  of  William  N.  Craig.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  King  had  one  child,  Orpha  A.,  now  Mrs.  B.  F. 
Haines.  Hiram  L.  King  for  many  years  was  one  of 
the  leading  citizens  of  Noble  County,  a progressive 
and  broad-minded  farmer,  and  equally  open  minded 
and  open  hearted  in  all  his  public  views  and  actions. 
Lie  was  a republican  in  politics.  He  died  in  Noble 
County  October  23,  1907,  and  his  widow  passed 
away  January  4,  1914. 

Lewis  Fetch  started  into  the  world  empty  handed 
so  far  as  inheritance  was  concerned,  had  only  his 
native  industry  and  intelligence  to  rely  upon,  and 
for  several  years  was  known  in  LaGrange  County 
as  a farm  laborer  and  day  workman.  He  had  de- 
termination, thrift  and  unlimited  energy,  and  for 
many  years  there  has  been  a steady  progress  in  his 
material  circumstances.  He  is  regarded  as  one  of  the 
best  farmers  and  has  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Van 
Buren  Township. 

Mr.  Fetch  was  born  in  Prussia,  Germany,  July  13, 
1857,  but  has  been  an  American  since  infancy.  His 
parents  were  Henry  and  Caroline  (Walter)  Fetch, 
both  natives  of  Germany.  They  came  to  America 
in  the  spring  of  1859,  locating  at  White  Pigeon  in 
St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan.  Henry  Fetch  moved 
to  Van  Buren  Township  in  1861,  and  in  December 
of  that  year  his  first  wife  died.  Two  years  later 
he  married  Carolina  Enderly.  Henry  Fetch  showed 
his  patriotism  by  enlisting  in  the  Fourteenth  Michi- 
gan Infantry  in  1864,  and  was  with  his  regiment  in 
all  its  engagements  until  the  close  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  then  returned  home  to  Van  Buren  Township  and 
lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life,  becoming  the  owner 
of  a farm  of  sixty-eight  acres.  He  died  in  1882, 
at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  Lewis  Fetch  was  the  only 
child  of  his  first  marriage.  By  his  second  wife  he 
was  the  father  of  Lena,  Henry,  William,  Richard, 
Anna  and  Albert. 

Lewis  Fetch  acquired  all  his  education  at  the  Stone 


Lake  School  in  Van  Buren  Township.  He  was 
working  to  pay  his  own  way  in  the  world  when  only 
a boy  and  for  six  years  he  was  employed  by  different 
farmers  and  accepted  any  work  that  would  afford 
him  an  honest  living.  He  realized  his  ambition  to 
become  a land  owner  by  a very  modest  start,  his 
first  purchase  being  eleven  acres.  With  that  as  a 
nucleus  he  has  gradually  increased  his  property  un- 
til he  now  owns  311  acres  in  Van  Buren  Township. 
This  land  comprises  three  farms,  with  a complete  set 
of  buildings.  The  building  improvements  represent 
his  individual  investment  with  the  exception  of  one 
house  and  part  of  another.  He  has  this  land  well 
equipped  for  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

In  May,  1884,  Mr.  Fetch  married  Lavada  Kline,  a 
daughter  of  Reuben  and  Mary  Ann  (Snook)  Kline. 
Her  father  was  a farmer  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  and  died  in  1911.  The  children  of  Reuben 
Kline  were  Viola,  Lavada,  Fred,  Curtis  and  Ada. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fetch  have  two  sons,  Homer  Charles 
and  Oliver  Lewis.  The  former  married  Mary  Blair 
and  has  two  children,  Helena  Opal  and  LeRoy 
Homer.  Oliver  married  Myrtie  Dunker,  and  their 
family  consists  of  Lewis,  Lorema  and  Loretta  May. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fetch  were  reared  in  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

Fred  Chadwick.  The  Chadwick  family  is  one 
of  the  old-established  ones  in  Steuben  County,  where 
its  representatives  have  made  the  name  synonymous 
with  integrity  and  public  spirit  For  many  years 
there  have  been  Chadwicks  engaged  in  developing 
the  fertile  land  of  Northeastern  Indiana,  their  ef- 
forts being  directed  toward  gaining  a living  from’ 
tilling  the  soil,  so  that  they  are  intimately  associated 
with  the  agricultural  history  of  this  region.  Other 
members  of  this  family  have  achieved  distinction 
along  commercial  and  mercantile  lines,  and  all  of 
them  are  100  per, cent  Americans  and  loyal  citizens 
of  the  highest  type. 

One  of  the  members  of  the  Chadwick  family  liv- 
ing in  Steuben  County  is  Fred  Chadwick,  who  owns 
eighty-seven  acres  of  farm  land  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  at  Angola,  Indiana,  August  22, 
1856,  and  he  is  a brother  of  Frank  H.  Chadwick, 
who  is  on  the  advisory  board  connected  with  the 
issuance  of  this  history. 

Growing  up  in  Steuben  Township,  Fred  Chadwick 
was  reared  by  careful  parents  and  given  the  educa- 
tional advantages  offered  by  the  excellent  rural 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  His  natural  inclina- 
tions made  him  a farmer,  and  he  has  been  engaged 
in  this  calling  all  of  his  life,  his  field  of  operation 
being  Steuben  Township  with  the  exception  of  the 
years  between  1880  and  1886,  inclusively,  when  he 
was  in  the  State  of  Kansas.  Upon  his  return  to 
Indiana  Mr.  Chadwick  acquired  his  present  farm 
of  eighty-seven  acres,  on  which  he  carries  on  gen- 
eral farming. 

In  April,  1886,  Mr.  Chadwick  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Elnora  Shaver,  a daughter  of  Franklin 
and  Fila  Shaver.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chadwick  have  the 
following  children : Fern,  who  married  Charles 

Cook ; Harry,  who  is  one  of  Steuben  County’s  sol- 
dier boys,  is  serving  in  the  Eighth  Replacement 
Unit,  Section  Five,  Base  Hospital  Seven  Hundred 
and  Sixteen,  American  Expeditionary  Forces ; Merle, 
who  married  Roland  Gramlin  ; Mildred  ; Carl ; Olga 
and  John.  Mr.  Chadwick  belongs  to  the  Masons 
and  Gleaners,  and  his  son  Harry  belongs  to  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Solomon  Nichols  is  proprietor  of  a particularly 
fine  farm  in  Scott  Township,  valuable  and  produc- 
tive, and  of  especial  interest  to  members  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


193 


Nichols  family,  since  it  has  been  part  of  the  family 
possessions  in  Steuben  County  through  three-  gen- 
erations. The  land  was  acquired  in  its  virgin  state 
by  Mr.  Nichols’  grandfather  in  the  year  1852. 

Solomon  Nichols  was  born  in  Scott  Township 
April  27,  1866,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Reek) 
Nichols.  His  grandparents  were  Samuel  and  Pa- 
tience (Wellington)  Nichols,  both-  natives  of  Ohio, 
the  former  born  in  1796  and  the  latter  in  1801.  They 
came  to  Steuben  County  about  1840,  settling  in 
Scott  Township,  near  Scott  Center,  and  later  on 
the  land  where  Solomon  Nichols  lives.  Samuel 
Nichols  died  there  September  18,  1861,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-five  years,  six  months  and  thirteen  days. 
From  the  time  of  his  death  the  farm  was  owned 
by  his  son  Solomon  until  1890,  and  was  bought 
by  Benjamin  Nichols  and  he  in  turn  passed  it  on  to 
the  present  owner,  Solomon  Nichols.  Samuel  and 
Patience  Nichols  had  the  following  children:  Perry, 
Esther,  Nancy,  Martha,  Lucinda,  Solomon,  Benja- 
min and  Betsey. 

Benjamin  Nichols  was  born  in  Guernsey  County, 
Ohio,  in  1834,  and  was  a small  boy  when  brought  to 
Steuben  County.  He  received  a public  school  edu- 
cation and  became  an  expert  mechanic,  a stone 
mason,  a painter  and  a carpenter,  and  lived  at  Fre- 
mont and  worked  at  his  trade  for  a number  of 
years.  After  twenty-one  years  of  residence  in  Fre- 
mont he  bought  in  1890  the  old  homestead  of 
eighty  acres,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  son  Solomon 
made  many  improvements  in  his  buildings  and  gen- 
eral equipment  and  also  purchased  thirty-five  acres 
of  adjoining  land.  He  left  the  farm  in  1904,  and 
with  his  wife  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  spent 
his  last  days  and  where  he  died  September  2,  1906, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-two.  He  was  a republican  in 
politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  liberal  in  their 
religious  views.  Benjamin  Nichols  was  widely  es- 
teemed as  a veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  He  enlisted 
in  Company  C of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  Cavalry,  and 
served  during  the  last  eighteen  months  of  the  war. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  at  Angola. 

July  31,  1865,  Benjamin  Nichols  and  Miss  Mary 
Reek  were  married.  Mrs.  Benjamin  Nichols,  who 
is  still  living  at  Angola,  was  born  in  Allegheny 
County,  Pennsylvania,  three  miles  from  McKees- 
port, June  26,  1843,  daughter  of  George  and  Nancy 
Jane  (Mahood)  Reek.  George  Reek  was  born  in 
Germany  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1827.  In  1852  George  Reek  came  to  Pleasant  Town- 
ship and  bought  a farm  in  Otsego  Township  of  forty 
acres.  John  Mahood,  maternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Nichols,  put  up  what  was  known  as  the 
old  Davis  sawmill  and  was  a prominent  pioneer 
miller  in  the  county.  He  also  ground  meal  in  this 
mill  on  a stone  burr  that  he  made  from  a large 
native  rock.  He  arrived  in  Steuben  County  about 
1854.  Mrs.  Nichols’  parents  after  selling  their  farm 
in  Otsego  Township  bought  eighty  acres  in  Pleas- 
ant Township,  in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  and  later 
sold  that  and  bought  a farm  in  Scott  Township, 
where  they  spent  their  last  years.  In  the  Reek 
family  were  the  following  children:  Mary,  Mrs. 

Benjamin  Nichols,  William,  Martha  Jane,  Mar- 
garet Ann,  Sarah,  Emaline,  George  and  John.  Ben- 
jamin Nichols  and  wife  had  three  children:  Solo- 
mon, Samuel,  of  Fort  Wayne,  and  Lottie,  widow 
of  Jacob  Raber,  also  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Solomon  Nichols  spent  most  of  his  youth  and  . 
early  manhood  in  Fremont,  was  educated  in  the 
public  schools  there  and  became  a skilled  carpenter 
and  mason,  trades  which  he  followed  until  he  began 
giving  all  his  time  and  attention  to  the  farm.  Since 
his  father  left  the  farm  he  has  kept  its  improve- 
ments going  forward,  and  has  both  the  land  and 
the  equipment  required  for  his  business  as  a farmer 
Voi.  n— 13 


and  stock  raiser.  He  keeps  a number  of  grade 
Shorthorn  cattle.  Mr.  Nichols  has  also  taken  a 
public  spirited  part  in  local  affairs,  serving  as  a 
member  of  the  advisory  board  when  the  Scott 
High  School  was  built.  He  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

. Mr.  Nichols  married  Miss  Etta  Burch,  January 
12,  1896.  They  have  two  children,  Ardith,  a junior 
in  the  Scott  High  School,  and  Arthur,  in  the  first 
year  of  the  local  high  school.  Mr.  Nichols  is  a 
member  of  the  Angola  Co-operative  Shippers  As- 
sociation. 

Mrs.  Nichols  is  a daughter  of  Chester  and  Jane 
(Maxton)  Burch.  Her  father  was  born  in  Otsego 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  July  29,  1848,  and  died 
in  Scott  Township,  May  24,  1904.  His  father,  Ches- 
ter Burch,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1810,  son 
of  Oliver  Burch.  He  grew  up  in  New  York  State 
and  in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1831,  in  the 
latter  locality,  married  Polly  Davis,  who  was  born 
in  1812.  Chester  Burch,  Sr.,  came  to  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, Indiana,  in  the  pioneer  year  of  1837,  settling  in 
Otsego  Township  and  some  years  later  buying 
eighty  acres  in  section  10  of  that  township,  where 
he  lived  until  his  death  in  1879.  He  and  his  wife 
had  seven  children.  Chester  Burch,  Jr.,  was  an 
active  farmer  for  many  years,  was  a republican,  an 
Odd  Fellow,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Christian  Church.  On  June  28,  1868,  Ches- 
ter Burch  married  Jane  Maxton,  Mrs.  Nichols  be- 
ing their  only  child.  Jane  Maxton  was  born  in 
Richland  County,  Ohio,  May  6,  1847,  and  is  now 
living  with  her  daughter.  Her  parents  were  John 
and  Christina  (Ralston)  Maxton,  both  natives  of 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania.  From  Pennsylva- 
nia they  moved  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  lived 
there  many  years  and  in  i860  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  settling  in  Otsego  Township, 
where  John  Maxton  died  January  8,  1901,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-seven,  and  his  wife  on  October  23, 
1902,  aged  seventy-nine. 

George  Shumaker  is  one  of  those  fortunate  men 
who  have  never  been  obliged  to  go  far  from  home 
and  birthplace  to  secure  their  opportunities  for  use- 
ful labor  in  the  world.  He  is  living  today  on  the 
farm  where  he  was  born  in  Steuben  Township,  and 
for  many  seasons  has  helped  produce  the  generous 
crops  on  a farm  that  was  formerly  owned  by  his 
father. 

Mr.  Shumaker  was  born  November  30,  1876,  a 
son  of  John  and  Amanda  (Chard)  Shumaker,  the 
former  born  in  Virginia  December  31,  1824,  and 
the  latter  in  Ohio  in  1833.  John  Shumaker  was  a 
pioneer  settler  of  Steuben  County.  He  came  to  this 
section  of  Northeast  Indiana  a poor  man,  seeking 
opportunities  to  better  his  condition,  and  his  hard 
work  and  his  ability  in  handling  livestock  and  in 
all  other  branches  of  agriculture  brought  him  a 
striking  success.  He  first  settled  east  of  Pleasant 
Lake  four  miles,  on  a farm  that  he  later  sold  to 
Lewis  Fifer.  Subsequently  he  bought  the  farm  oc- 
cupied by  his  son,  George,  and  lived  there  until  his. 
death  in  1887.  Besides  the  166-acre  farm  where 
his  son  George  lives  he  owned  160  acres  in  Salem 
Township  and  another  place  of  eighty  acres  in  the 
same  township.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics  and 
his  wife  was  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  Their  children  were : Cyrenus,  born  in 

1853;  Dolly,  born  in  1855;  Sylvester,  born  in  1858; 
Eliza,  born  in  1862;  John,  born  in  1864;  Ella,  born 
in  1867;  Elijah,  born  in  1870;  and  George,  born 
in  1876. 

George  Shumaker,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  is 
joint  owner  with  his  brother  Elijah  of  the’ old 
homestead.  As  a boy  he  attended  the  Parsell  school, 


194 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  he  learned  habits  of  industry  from  his  father. 
He  was  about  twelve  3^ears  old  when  his  father 
died,  and  his  share  of  the  inheritance  was  forty-six 
acres  of  the  homestead.  He  soon  after  went  to 
work  for  himself  and  subsequently  rented  some  of 
his  brother’s  land.  Gradually  his  efforts  have  borne 
fruit  and  he  is  one  of  the  substantial  property  own- 
ers of  Steuben  County.  The  substantial  house 
in  which  he  lives  was  built  by  his  mother  after  his 
father’s  death.  The  barn  represents  one  of  Mr. 
Shumaker’s  many  improvements. 

He  is  independent  in  politics  and  attends  the 
Trinity  Reformed  Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a 
member. 

In  1900  Mr.  Shumaker  married  Miss  Rosa  Parker. 
She  was  born  in  Marshall  County,  Indiana,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Pena  Parker,  who  lived  in 
Steuben  County  for  a few  years  but  afterward  re- 
turned to  Marshall  County,  where  her  father  died 
in  1918.  Her  mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shumaker  have  three  sons,  Harry,  born  March  19, 
1901 ; Oscar,  born  May  16,  1902 ; and  Ora,  born 
September  2,  1905.  These  boys  have  all  received 
good  advantages  both  at  home  and  in  the  public 
schools. 

Ulysses  S.  Willard,  who  for  many  years  has 
been  one  of  the  familiar  and  popular  figures  in  the 
State  Bank  of  Lima  at  Howe,  is  a member  of  an 
old  LaGrange  County  family,  though  he  was  born  in 
Morris  County,  Kansas,  May  2,  1873.  ' His  parents 
are  Ransom  j.  and  Susan  M.  (Horner)  Willard, 
whose  careers  are  noted  on  other  pages  of  this  pub- 
lication. 

Mr.  Willard  was  a small  child  when  his  parents 
settled  at  Pleasant  Lake  in  Steuben  County  and  in 
1884  they  removed  to  Ontario,  where  Ulysses  S. 
Willard  completed  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
He  graduated  in  1892  from  the  Lima  High  School  at 
Howe,  and  then  for  a period  of  six  years  was  a 
teacher.  Since  1899  he  has  had  his  home  continu- 
ously at  Howe.  For  a year  and  a half  he  worked 
in  a local  hardware  store,  then  for  one  year  was 
a rural  mail  carrier,  delivering  mail  over  one  of  the 
first  routes  established  in  LaGrange  County,  and  in 
1903  entered  the  service  of  the  State  Bank  of  Lima, 
with  which  he  has  been  identified  ever  since. 

Mr.  Willard  is  a republican  and  for  the  past  four 
years  has  served  as  trustee  of  Lima  Township.  He 
is  affiliated  with  Howe  Lodge  No.  698,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons.,  LaGrange  Chapter  No.  102, 
Royal  Arch  Masons,  Council  No.  50,  Royal  and  Select 
Masters,  at  Kendallville,  and  is  a member  of  the 
Scottish  Rite  bodies  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  also 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe  and 
he  and  his  wife  belong  to  the  Episcopal  Church. 
They  own  the  old  Will  Block  in  LaGrange. 

Mr.  Willard  married  Miss  Harriet  R.  Schaeffer 
on  April  29,  1896.  She  is  a daughter  of  James  W. 
Schaeffer  of  Howe.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
three  children : Ruth  S.,  who  has  completed  the 

work  of  the  Lima  High  School  at  Howe;  Paul,  a 
senior  in  the  Lima  High  School ; and  Kenneth  S., 
who  is  in  the  junior  year  of  his  high  school  work. 

Clarence  F.  Dally.  Members  of  the  Dally  fam- 
ily have  been  residents  of  Steuben  County  for  over 
half  a century.  They  have  been  known  as  farmers, 
intelligent  and  public-spirited  citizens,  and  people 
of  the  utmost  personal  and  community  worth. 

One  of  them  is  Clarence  F.  Dally,  who  now  has 
a well-ordered  farm  in  Otsego  Township,  where 
he  was  born  September  27,  1882.  His  grandfather, 
Vincent  Dally,  was  born  in  Vermont,  May  24,  1812, 
and  died  October  25,  1888.  On  March  17,  1842,  he 


married  Hannah  Mumper.  She  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania January  4,  1821,  and  died  March  26,  1888. 
Vincent  Dally  came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled 
in  Richland  Township  about  1863,  and  lived  there 
the  rest  of  his  life,  for  twenty-five  years.  The 
record  of  his  children  is : Margaret,  born  March 

24,  1843,  was  married  to  Silas  Shoup  on  March  22, 
1865;  Marion,  born  November  14,  1846,  died  March 
21,  1902;  Mary  Jane,  born  January  16,  1849,  became 
the  wife  of  Hortie  Lamport  on  May  27,  1875;  Sarah, 
born  August  25,  1851,  married  Richard  Burrell 
February  15,  1881 ; Lovine  Ellen,  born  January  15, 
1856,  married  Frank  Metzler  August  20,  1876; 
Emma,  born  September  2,  1858,  died  December  8th 
of  the  same  year;  Relifa  Alice,  born  February  26, 
1863,  married  on  April  10,  1881,  Elsworth  Cary. 

Marion  Dally,  father  of  Clarence,  was  born  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  November  14,  1846.  He 
married,  April  25,  1875,  Miss  Jennie  Bland,  a native 
of  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  William 
Bland.  As  a young  man  he  began  farming  in  Rich- 
land Township  and  after  his  marriage  moved  to 
Otsego  Township,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life  and  where  he  acquired  the  ownership  of  a 
good  farm  of  120  acres.  His  first  wife  died  Octo- 
ber 17,  1882,  the  mother  of  two  children,  Clyde  F. 
and  Clarence  F.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 
Rhoda  A.  Bland,  sister  of  his  first  wife.  They 
have  one  daughter,  Elsie  B. 

Clarence  F.  Dally  after  attending  the  public 
schools  of  Otsego  Township  went  to  work  on  his 
father’s  farm  and  continued  to  work  the  fields  after 
his  father’s  death.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he 
rented  the  home  place  for  three  years,  and  in  1905 
came  to  his  present  home,  where  he  bought  sixty 
acres.  Since  then  he  has  bought  thirteen  and  one- 
third  acres,  and  now  has  his  land  in  fine  condition. 
His  farm  is  in  sections  1 and  12  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship, and  is  devoted  to  general  crops  and  stock 
raising. 

January  6,  1904,  Mr.  Dally  married  Ethel  J.  Par- 
rott, a daughter  of  Orson  and  Mary  Parrott.  They 
have  two  daughters,  Mabel,  born  August  27,  19x0, 
and  Marjorie,  born  April  3,  1913.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dally  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Metz. 

William  Lepley  is  proprietor  of  one  of  the  val- 
uable small  farms  of  Salem  Township,  a place 
where  he  has  spent  practically  all  his  life,  and 
which  his  father  took  and  improved  from  the  woods 
more  than  half  a century  ago. 

Mr.  Lepley  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ohio, 
February  7,  1862,  and  was  about  two  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  came  to  Indiana.  He  is  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Catherine  (Hender)  Lepley,  the  former 
a native  of  Greenfield  Township,  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  the  same  locality.  His  grand- 
parents were  Peter  and  Catherine  (Dick)  Lepley. 
Peter  Lepley,  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  from 
there  to  Huron  County,  Ohio,  and  spent  the  rest  of 
his  active  life  on  a farm  there.  His  last  two  or 
three  years  were  spent  in  Salem  Township  at  the 
home  of  his  only  son,  Samuel.  He  had  one  daugh- 
ter, who  was  the  wife  of  Levi  Ludwig.  Samuel 
Lepley  came  to  Salem  Township  in  1864,  and  at 
that  time  bought  seventy  acres  in  section  15,  the 
land  being  covered  with  heavy  woods.  He  cleared 
away  a considerable  part  of  it  and  lived  there  the 
rest  of  his  industrious  life.  He  and  his  wife  were 
active  members  of  the  Reformed  Lutheran  Church. 
They  had  two  children,  Ella  and  William. 

William  Lepley  acquired  his  education  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Salem  Township,  and  even  as  a boy 
took  some  heavy  responsibilities  in  the  field  and  in 
the  other  work  around  the  farm.  He  also  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade,  and  has  used  his  skill  not 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


195 


only  at  home  but  in  the  service  of  a large  com- 
munity. In  connection  with  farming  he  has  done 
more  or  less  carpenter  work  during  the  past  twenty 
years.  He  has  been  the  responsible  manager  of 
the  old  farm  since  1889,  and  today  owns  fifty-five 
acres.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Reformed  Church. 

July  4,  1888,  Mr.  Lepley  married  Deborah  Conk- 
lin. She  was  born  at  the  village  of  Salem,  Sep- 
tember 2,  1861,  a daughter  of  Ensign  and  Elizabeth 
(Hollister)  Conklin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lepley  have  a 
family  of  six  children:  Guy,  who  married  Gladys 
Spangler  and  has  three  children,  Udell,  Winifred 
and  Oneta;  Hazel,  Cecil,  who  during  the  war  was 
a member  of  Battery  A of  the  Third  Regiment  of 
Field  Artillery  at  Camp  Jackson;  Herbert,  who 
sailed  overseas  in  March  1918,  as  a member  of 
Company  A of  the  Twenty-Fourth  Engineers,  and 
was  part  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces; 
Sheldon;  and  Katheryn. 

Ensign  Conklin,  father  of  Mrs.  Lepley,  was  born 
in  Ohio,  son  of  David  Conklin  and  a grandson  of 
Isaac  Conklin.  The  Conklins  were  among  the  first 
families  to  settle  in  Steuben  County.  Isaac  Conklin 
arrived  here  in  1842.  David  Conklin  came  to  Steu- 
ben County  in  September,  1844,  locating  in  section 
15  of  Salem  Township.  He  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1803  and  married  Polly  Van  Vleet.  They 
were  the  parents  of  seven  children.  Ensign  Conk- 
lin spent  his  life  as  a farmer  in  Salem  Township. 
His  wife,  Elizabeth  Hollister,  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, a daughter  of  Artemus  and  Clarissa  Hollister. 
Artemus  Hollister,  also  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
came  from  there  to  Salem  Township  in  the  early 
days  and  had  to  cut  a road  four  miles  between 
Pleasant  Lake  and  the  place  of  his  settlement.  He 
lived  on  a farm  in  Salem  Township  the  rest  of  his 
life  and  reared  a family  of  three  sons  and  three 
daughters. 

Ensign  Conklin,  who  was  the  oldest  of  the  family 
of  seven  children,  had  the  assistance  of  his  brothers 
in  clearing  up  a good  farm  of  160  acres.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Salem  Center  and  he  was  a democrat  in  politics. 
Their  children  were  six  in  number,  George,  Dora, 
Estella,  Guy,  Deborah,  and  Flora.  Dora  and  Es- 
tella  are  both  deceased. 

Theodore  F.  Wood,  M.  D.  If  it  were  the  purpose 
to  single  out  the  physician  whose  service  has  been 
longest  and  whose  work  has  been  most  represent- 
ative of  the  high  character  of  the  medical  profes- 
sion in  Steuben  County,  choice  would  inevitably  fall 
upon  the  veteran  Theodore  F.  Wood,  who  handled 
his  first  cases  in  this  locality  while  the  Civil  war 
was  in  progress,  and  rounded  out  a full  half  cen- 
tury of  effective  work  in  his  profession  and  in  be- 
half of  his  fellow  men. 

He  is  not  the  only  member  of  the  Wood  family 
conspicuous  in  the  medical  profession  in  Steuben 
County.  He  was  one  of  four  brothers  and  all  of 
them  adopted  medicine  as  their  career  and  all  of 
them  practiced  in  Steuben  County. 

His  forefathers  were  English  people,  and  his 
grandfather  was  born  in  Canada  and  moved  from 
there  to  New  York  State,  where  he  reared  his 
family.  The  father  of  Dr.  Wood  was  Joseph 
Wheeler  Wood,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State 
in  1801.  His  first  wife  died  young,  the  mother  of 
one  daughter.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 
Sarah  Farnham,  who  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
August,  1804.  She  was  of  Welsh  ancestry..  They 
had  eight  children : Warren  Alphonso,  Elizabeth, 

Sarah,  Phedima,  Hugh  D.,  Melvina,  Theodore  F. 
and  Frederick  B.  In  1843  the  Wood  family  moved 
to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1846  settled  in 


DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  where  Joseph  Wheeler 
Wood  died  in  February,  1851,  and  his  wife  in  1859. 

Of  the  four  physician  brothers  the  oldest,  Warren 
Alphonso,  began  practice  in  1850  at  Metz  in  Steuben 
County  and  later  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  died 
in  1868,  at  the  age  of  forty-two.  Hugh  D.,  the 
second  brother,  was  born  in  1836,  worked  his  way 
through  college  by  teaching  and  farming,  studied 
medicine  under  his  brother  Warren  A.  and  later  in 
college,  and  began  practice  at  Metz  in  1861.  In 
1869  he  moved  to  Angola  to  succeed  to  the  prac- 
tice of  his  deceased  brother,  and  was  engaged  in 
his  professional  work  there  until  his  death,  Decem- 
ber 17,  1918,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-three. 
He  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Steuben 
County  in  many  ways.  He  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  Fort  Wayne  Medical  College,  held  a chair  in  its 
faculty,  was  president  of  the  County  Society,  of 
the  Northeast  Indiana  Medical  Society,  and  other- 
wise widely  known  in  medical  circles.  He  was  the 
first  secretary  of  the  County  Board  of  Health,  and 
led  in  the  organization  and  was  the  first  president 
of  the  Tri-State  Normal  College  Association  at 
Angola.  The  youngest  of  the  four  brothers,  Fred- 
erick B.,  began  practice  at  Big  Rapids,  Michigan, 
in  1866,  later  moved  to  LaGrange,  Indiana,  and 
finally  to  Garrett,  Indiana,  and  spent  his  last  days 
with  his  brother,  Theodore,  at  Angola.  He  had  a 
record  of  service  as  a soldier  during  the  Civil  war. 

Of  the  sisters  of  Dr.  Wood  Elizabeth  married 
Dr.  Solomon  Stough,  of  DeKalb  County,  and  both 
are  now  deceased.  Sarah  died  in  DeKalb  County 
when  a young  woman.  Phedima  became  the  wife  of 
Leveret  Williams  and  died  in  DeKalb  County.  Mel- 
vina is  the  wife  of  David  Ferrier,  of  Steuben 
County,  later  moving  to  Kansas,  where  he  died. 
Dr.  Theodore  F.  Wood  was  born  in  Chenango 
County,  New  York,  June  2,  1840,  and  was  three 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio  and  six 
when  they  settled  in  DeKalb  County.  After  the 
death  of  his  father  he  lived  with  his  sister,  Mrs. 
Stough.  and  while  there  attended  district  schools 
and  did  chores  at  home  and  around  his  brother-in- 
law’s  office.  This  early  association  with  Dr.  Stough 
was  the  primary  influence  leading  to  a career  as  a 
physician.  Like  his  brothers  he  paid  for  his  prep- 
aration by  his  own  earnings.  He  was  a farm  hand 
and  also  a teacher,  and  by  the  earnings  of  these 
occupations  paid  for  four  years  at  Hinsdale  Col- 
lege in  Michigan.  He  also  studied  medicine  with 
his  brother,  Warren  A.,  at  Metz,  and  for  six  con- 
secutive terms  taught  school  in  Otsego  Township. 
During  the  winter  of  1863-64  he  attended  Rush 
Medical  College  at  Chicago  and  then  began  practice 
at  Metz  with  his  brother.  He  remained  in  the  prac- 
tice there  when  his  brother  moved  to  Angola  in 
1865.  Progressiveness  has  always  been  a feature 
characterizing  the  professional  careers  of  the  Wood 
brothers.  Dr.  Wood  never  neglected  an  opportunity 
to  improve  his  skill  and  experience.  Though  well 
established  in  private  practice,  he  took  additional 
courses  in  the  Charity  Hospital  Medical  College  at 
Cleveland  in  1868-69,  where  he  received  his  Medical 
Doctor  degree,  again  spent  some  time  in  Rush 
Medical  College,  and  in  1872-73  attended  lectures  in 
New  York  and  Philadelphia.  In  1887  he  and  his 
brother,  Hugh,  went  abroad  and  spent  much  time 
in  the  hospitals  of  London  and  the  Continent.  His 
reputation  as  a physician  brought  him  an  extensive 
practice  not  only  over  Steuben  County,  but  over 
DeKalb  County  and  Williams  County,  Ohio.  Dr. 
Wood  has  served  as  president  and  secretary  of  the 
County  Medical  Society,  also  as  president  and  in 
other  offices  of  the  Northeast  Indiana  Medical  So- 
ciety, and  has  long  been  a member  of  the  Indiana 
State  and  the  American  Medical  associations.  He 


196 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


was  made  a Mason  in  1861  and  an  Odd  Fellow  in 
1863,  and  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of  these 
orders.  He  is  affiliated  with  Angola  Commandery 
No.  45  of  the  Knights  Templar  and  Fort  Wayne 
Consistory  of  the  Scottish  Rite.  Dr.  Wood  is  lib- 
eral in  his  religious  views,  but  has  assisted  finan- 
cially in  building  churches  in  a number  of  localities 
in  this  part  of  Indiana  and  also  in  Ohio.  He  was 
■one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First  National  Bank 
■of  Angola,  and  has  always  been  on  its  Board  of 
Directors.  Among  property  interests  he  owns  two 
good  farms  a mile  and  a half  from  Angola. 

April  12,  1863,  Dr.  Wood  married  Miss  Elizabeth 
Powers,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  County  in  Jan- 
uary, 1842,  daughter  of  Calvin  and  Emeline  Powers, 
well  known  farming  people  of  Steuben  County. 
Mrs.  Wood  died  May  5,  1908.  They  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children : Lillie,  the  oldest,  died  at 

the  age  of  fourteen  months.  Edna  B.  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  Thomas  J.  Creel  of  Angola. 

Alphonso  Calvin  Wood,  the  only  son  of  Dr.  Wood, 
chose  the  profession  of  law  as  his  life  work  and  is 
one  of  the  leading  attorneys  of  the  Steuben  County 
bar.  He  was  born  in  Richland  Township  of  this 
county,  January  23,  1874,  and  lived  at  Metz  to  the 
age  of  eighteen.  While  there  he  attended  the  public 
schools  and  on  July  7,  1895,  graduated  in  the  classi- 
cal course  from  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola, 
and  on  June  22,  1899,  received  his  LL.  B.  degree 
from  the  law  department  of  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan. Since  then  he  has  been  in  active  practice, 
having  been  admitted  to  the  bar  in  April,  1897.  Mr. 
Wood  is  a democrat,  served  as  town  clerk,  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  and  is  a 
Knight  Templar  and  Scottish  Rite  Mason. 

June  28,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Mayme  Moffett, 
daughter  of  Thomas  R.  and  Mary  (Moffett)  of 
Angola.  They  have  one  son,  Theodore  Thomas, 
who  represents  the  fourth  generation  of  the  Wood 
family  in  this  part  of  Indiana,  and  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 2,  1905,  and  is  now  a high  school  student  at 
Angola. 

Thomas  J.  Creel,  M.  D.  Recently  Dr.  Creel  con- 
cluded a quarter  of  a century  of  steady  practice  as 
a physician  and  surgeon  in  Steuben  County.  His 
work  has  been  attended  with  every  degree  of  suc- 
cess and  attainment,  and  he  is  easily  one  of  the 
leaders  in  his  profession  in  Northeast  Indiana. 

Dr.  Creel  was  born  at  Parkersburg,  West  Vir- 
ginia, April  5,  1868,  son  of  John  N.  and  Calesta  D. 
(Parmenter)  Creel,  the  former  a native  of  West 
Virginia  and  the  latter  of  New  York.  Dr.  Creel’s 
mother  died  in  1873  at  Parkersburg.  John  N.  Creel 
spent  his  last  days  in  Steuben  County,  where  he  died 
in  1895.  There  were  seven  children : Hattie  V., 

Kate,  Emma,  Anna,  Gilly,  Lorenzo  D.  and  Thomas  J. 

Dr.  Creel  attended  district  schools  near  Parkers- 
burg, and  in  r886,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  came  to 
Angola,  Indiana  to  enter  the  Tri-State  College.  He 
first  graduated  in  the  commercial  course  and  later 
in  the  normal  course  and  prepared  for  teaching. 
After  two  years  of  teaching  he  entered  upon  the 
study  of  medicine  in  1888  at  Metz  with  Dr.  Theo- 
dore F.  Wood  whose  daughter  he  later  married. 
In  1889  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College  at  Chicago, 
from  which  he  graduated  in  1893.  He  at  once 
located  at  Angola,  and  has  long  been  associated 
with  Dr.  Wood.  He  is  a member  in  good  standing 
in  the  County  and  State  Medical  societies  and  the 
American  Medical  Association.  Dr.  Creel  is  a 
democrat  and  at  one  time  served  as  mayor  of 
Angola.  He  is  active  in  Masonry,  being  affiliated 
with  Angola  Commandery  No.  45,  Knights  Templar, 
Fort  Wayne  Consistory  of  the  Scottish  Rite,  and 


the  Mystic  Shrine.  He  and  his  family  attend  the 
Congregational  Church. 

March  31,  1891,  Dr.  Creel  married  Miss  Edna  B. 
Wood,  daughter  of  Dr.  T.  F.  Wood.  They  have  two 
children:  Joyce  V.  and  Donald  W.,  the  latter  now 
a student  in  the  Angola  High  School.  Joyce  after 
graduating  from  the  local  high  school  attended  Bel- 
mont College  for  Girls  at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  was 
two  years  in  St.  Mary’s  Academy  at  South  Bend, 
and  prior  to  her  marriage  was  a successful  teacher 
of  domestic  science  in  the  high  school  at  Angola 
and  also  the  Tri-State  College.  She  is  now  the  wife 
of  Martin  Eastburn  of  Indianapolis.  Mr.  Eastburn 
during  a portion  of  the  war  was  training  as  a sol- 
dier in  one  of  the  camps  in  Kentucky. 

David  E.  Wright.  The  fine  record  of  a family 
through  four  generations  in  Steuben  County  is 
properly  considered  in  the  individual  career  of 
David  E.  Wright,  one  of  the  leading  farmers  and 
citizens  of  Salem  Township. 

This  record  goes  back  to  his  great-grandfather 
Jeptha  A.  Wright,  who  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire in  June,  1788,  and  married  in  that  state  Betsey 
Emerson.  From  New  Hampshire  they  went  to  New 
York,  all  their  children  were  born  there,  and  Jeptha 
Wright  followed  the  trade  of  blacksmith  and  later 
bought  a farm  in  Orleans  County.  In  1837  he 
made  a further  stage  of  his  western  journey,  going 
to  Southern  Michigan  and  buying  a farm  of  eighty 
acres  near  Ypsilanti.  The  following  fall  he  came 
to  Steuben  County  to  get  land  for  his  sons,  several 
of  whom  had  reached  manhood.  Acquiring  133 
acres  in  section  19  of  Salem  Township,  he  was  so 
pleased  with  the  country  that  he  soon  followed  with 
his  family  from  Michigan.  He  found  Steuben 
County  practically  a wilderness,  his  own  land  with- 
out a stick  cut,  and  the  first  home  to  which  he 
introduced  his  family  was  a log  house.  His  first 
wife  died  in  1848  and  his  second  wife  in  1872.  He 
lived  until  June,  1874,  when  almost  eighty-six  years 
of  age.  Those  of  his  children  to  reach  mature  age 
were : Edward,  Hemen,  Mary,  Evans,  Elbridge, 

Chauncy,  Charles  and  Richard.  Jeptha  Wright 
during  his  residence  in  Steuben  County  together 
with  his  sons  acquired  the  ownership  of  about  700 
acres  of  land. 

The  family  history  is  carried  on  through  his  son 
Elbridge,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State  Decem- 
ber 28,  1822,  and  died  May  28,  1879.  He  was  about 
fifteen  years  old  when  brought  to  Steuben  County, 
grew  up  on  the  pioneer  farm  in  Salem  Township, 
and  was  one  of  the  highly  successful  farmers  in 
the  county,  owning  300  acres  of  land.  He  married 
Martha  Ann  Cochran,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  March 
3,  1824.  His  widow  survived  him  several  years, 
and  their  children  were  Elnora,  Henry,  Cyrus,  Mon- 
roe and  Marion,  twins,  Elsie  and  Dora. 

The  representative  of  the  third  generation  was 
Henry  Wright,  who  was  born  in  Salem  Township 
May  29,  1850.  With  the  exception  of  three  years 
he  spent  all  his  life  on  a Salem  Township  farm  in 
sections  19  and  20  now  owned  by  his  son  David. 
For  three  years  he  operated  a sawmill  at  Fairfield 
Center,  and  aside  from  that  time  his  vocation  con- 
tinuously was  one  of  an  agriculturist.  He  acquired 
the  160  acres  in  sections  19  and  20  in  1881,  and  that 
combined  with  twenty  acres  in  section  21  gave  him 
the  large  farm  now  owned  by  his  son.  He  was 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows, Knights  of  Pythias  and  Improved  Order  of 
Red  Men.  Henry  Wright  died  February  15,  1909. 
He  married  Mary  E.  Frederick.  She  was  born  in 
Salem  Township  June  26,  1850,  and  died  September 
12,  1906.  Her  parents  were  David  and  Mary 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


197 


(Fisher)  Frederick,  the  former  a native  of  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  and  moving  to  Salem  Township  of 
Steuben  County  prior  to  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he 
served  as  a Union  soldier.  After  the  war  he  spent 
the  rest  of  his  active  life  as  a Salem  Township 
farmer  and  lived  retired  at  Hudson  for  about  three 
years  before  his  death.  The  children  of  David 
Frederick  and  wife  were  Susanna,  Mary  E.  and 
Sarah,  twins,  Joseph  and  Josie,  Ephraim  and  Jennie. 

David  E.  Wright,  who  was  born  during  the  brief 
residence  of  his  parents  at  Fairfield  Center  in 
DeKalb  County  September  28,  1873,  was  one  of  two 
children,  his  brother  Charles  E.  dying  when  nine 
years  old.  He  acquired  a good  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Salem  Township,  attended  school 
at  Angola  one  term,  and  in  early  life  assumed  in- 
creasing responsibilities  in  the  management  of  the 
fine  farm  of  his  father  and  eventually  succeeded  to 
its  ownership  and  has  lived  there  since  he  was  eight 
years  old.  His  affairs  have  prospered  and  the  farm 
represents  a valuable  property.  In  1902  he  built 
the  farm  house  in  which  he  lives,  and  nearby  is 
another  dwelling  occupied  by  a tenant. 

October  30,  1895,  Mr.  Wright  married  Miss  Celia 
A.  Hunt.  She  was  born  near  Kendallville,  Indiana, 
a daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Spero)  Hunt.  They 
had  three  children : Russell  L.,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fifteen  months;  Floyd  E.,  born  September  11, 
1900;  Laurence,  born  January  2,  1905. 

Urvan  J.  Troyer.  The  country  owes  much  to  the 
intelligent  labors  of  its  farmers  and  stockraisers, 
for  it  is  largely  dependent  on  their  efforts.  While 
there  are  but  few  farms  of  the  old-fashioned  type 
remaining  in  LaGrange  County,  where  antiquated 
farm  methods  are  still  pursued,  not  every  farmer 
here  is  as  progressive  and  enterprising  as  Urvan  J. 
Troyer,  who  carries  on  his  industries  in  Clay  Town- 
ship and  is  widely  known  as  a breeder  of  Holstein 
cattle. 

Urvan  J.  Troyer  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  October  6,  1880,  and  is 
a son  of  Samuel  and  Fannie  (Eash)  Troyer,  the 
latter  of  whom  was  born  in  1862,  and  the  former  in 
i860,  in  Harvard  County,  Indiana.  Extended  men- 
tion of  his  father,  Jeremiah  Troyer,  will  be  found 
in  this  work.  When  fourteen  years  old  Samuel 
Troyer  accompanied  his  parents  to  Newbury  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  where  he  became  a farmer 
and  owned  210  acres  of  land.  In  1911  he  removed 
to  Elkhart  County  and  now  resides  on  his  farm  of 
forty  acres  there.  His  seven  children  were  as  fol- 
lows : Emma,  Urvan  J.,  Matie,  Lizzie,  Martha,  Ber- 
tha (deceased),  and  Edith.  Samuel  Troyer  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  family  belong  to 
the  Mennonite  Church. 

Urvan  J.  Troyer  continued  in  school  until  he 
left  the  Shipshewana  High  School,  and  then  began 
the  business  of  cultivating  land  and  raising  stock, 
to  which  he  has  given  his  close  attention.  He  owns 
212  acres  of  valuable  land,  which  he  operates  intel- 
ligently, according  to  the  best  approved  modern 
methods,  and  is  greatly  interested  in  his  stock,  hav- 
ing the  sensible  opinion  that  the  best  grade  is  the 
most  profitable.  As  one  evidence  of  his  good  judg- 
ment his  investment  for  breeding  purposes  in  Hol- 
stein cattle  may  be  cited.  At  the  present  time  he  has 
in  his  fine  herd  a cow  with  the  record  of  twenty- 
four  pounds  of  butter  in  seven  days,  which  almost 
equals  the  butter  record  of  the  famous  champion 
Holstein  cow  that  was  sold  at  Philadelphia  in  June, 
1919,  and  brought  $26,000.  Mr.  Troyer  has  been 
equally  judicious  in  the  selection  of  his  other  high 
grade  stock  of  pure  bred  swine  and  Shropshire 
sheep. 


In  1902  Mr.  Troyer  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Addie  Miller,  who  was  born  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  November  28,  1881,  and  is 
a daughter  of  Moses  P.  Miller,  mention  of  whom 
will  be  found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Troyer  have  four  children,  namely:  Ma- 
rie, Wavia,  Bernice  and  Glenn.  Mr.  Troyer  and 
his  family  are  of  the  Mennonite  faith.  Mr.  Troyer 
is  a republican  in  politics. 

Doak  Robert  Best.  Of  the  present  bar  of  Steuben 
County  one  of  the  men  longest  in  practice  and  with 
many  accumulated  honors  of  the  profession  and 
public  life  is  Judge  Doak  Robert  Best. 

He  was  born  in  Huntington  County,  Indiana,  June 
16,  1850,  son  of  James  C.  and  Jane  Eliza  (Doak) 
Best.  His  grandfather,  James  Best,  and  wife,  Mary 
(Coulter)  Best,  were  both  natives  of  Virginia  and 
spent  all  their  lives  there.  Of  their  family  of  fifteen 
children  all  but  one  daughter  removed  from  Vir- 
ginia to  other  states.  James  C.  Best  was  born  in 
Augusta  County,  Virginia,  in  1800  and  his  wife  in 
1805.  They  married  in  Virginia  and  about  1822 
moved  to  Kentucky,  and  about  1836  settled  among 
the  pioneers  of  Huntington  County,  Indiana,  where 
they  bought  a farm  three  miles  north  of  the  county 
seat.  James  C.  Best  lived  there  until  his  death  in 
1869,  his  wife  surviving  until  1872.  He  was  a whig 
and  later  a republican  and  a strong  abolitionist  in 
sentiment.  At  one  time  he  was  a member  of  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners  in  Huntington 
County.  He  and  his  wife  had  seven  sons  and 
seven  daughters,  twelve  of  whom  reached  adult 
years. 

Judge  Best,  youngest  of  the  family  and  the  only 
one  now  living,  was  reared  on  a farm  in  Huntington 
County  and  lived  there  to  the  age  of  nineteen.  He 
supplemented  a district  school  education  by  attend- 
ing the  Warsaw  High  School,  and  for  a time  was 
a teacher  at  Leesburg  in  Kosciusko  County  and  also 
in  Huntington  County  at  Andrews.  He  received 
the  degree  Bachelor  of  Science  from  the  Lebanon 
Normal  College  in  1872,  and  was  a student  of  law 
all  the  time  he  was  teaching.  He  was  also  in  the 
office  of  his  brother,  George  W.  Best,  a well  known 
attorney  at  Elkhart.  Judge  Best  located  at  Angola 
in  the  spring  of  1875,  and  has  continuously  been  a 
member  of  the  bar  for  over  forty  years.  He  has 
owned  some  property  in  Angola  ever  since  1875,  and 
has  some  farm  lands  in  the  county.  In  1875  he 
became  associated  with  Jesse  M.  Gale  and  Leland  H. 
Stocker,  both  old  and  prominent  lawyers  of  Steuben 
County,  under  the  firm  name  of  Gale,  Stocker  & 
Best.  The  senior  partners  retired  about  1883,  and 
afterward  for  six  years  Judge  Best  and  Judge 
Emmet  A.  Bratton  were  in  partnership.  Charles 
A.  Yotter  became  a member  of  the  firm  in  1893, 
and  the  title  of  the  firm  was  Best,  Bratton  & Yotter 
until  Judge  Bratton  was  elected  circuit  judge.  It 
then  remained  Best  & Yotter.  Judge  Best  has  fre- 
quently been  appointed  a special  judge,  and  there- 
fore his  popular  title  is  not  merely  honorary.  He  is 
an  active  republican,  has  served  as  a member  of 
the  School  Board  six  years,  was  county  attorney 
for  a number  of  years  in  his  earlier  career,  and  is 
now  serving  his  second  four  year  term  as* city  at- 
torney. He  served  as  a member  of  the  Legislature 
in  1883  and  again  in  1885.  Judge  Best  is  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  Angola  Bank  Trust  Company, 
the  name  of  the  institution  being  suggested  by  him. 
For  the  past  three  years  he  has  been  its  president 
and  is  one  of  the  directors.  For  many  years  he  has 
taken  a helpful  part  in  the  affairs  of  the  Tri-State 
College,  served  several  years  as  a trustee,  and  is 
now  dean  of  the  law  department.  Judge  Best  is  a 


198 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

March  II,  1875,  Judge  Best  married  Mary  E. 
Lancaster,  of  Baltimore,  Maryland.  She  graduated 
from  the  State  Normal  School  at  Baltimore,  com- 
pleted a classical  course  in  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  and  for  several  years  was  a teacher  in  pub- 
lic schools.  She  is  now  employing  her  time  as 
teacher  of  French  in  the  Tri-State  College,  and  she 
instructed  a class  of  soldier  boys  in  that  language  in 
1918. 

Frank  D.  Munger  was  born  on  a farm  in  North- 
east Indiana,  has  always  been  more  or  less  inter- 
ested in  farming  and  farm  ownership,  but  his  main 
tastes  and  talents  have  run  along  mechanical  lines. 
It  is  doubtful  if  a more  skillful  machinist  can  be 
found  in  this  section  of  the  state  than  Frank  D. 
Munger.  He  has  served  several  large  corporations 
and  at  present  is  connected  with  the  Western  Gas 
Company  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Mr.  Munger  was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
June  25,  1863,  a son  of  Orin  and  Mary  (Ayers) 
Munger,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  latter  of  New  Jersey.  His  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Enoch  and  Nancy  (Riker)  Ayers. 
Enoch  Ayers  was  a native  of  New  York,  was  a 
turner  and  millwright  by  trade,  and  was  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Pleasant  Township  in  Steuben 
County.  His  children  were  named  Mary,  ITestran, 
Nancy,  Armstrong,  Margaret,  and  Isaac. 

Orin  Munger  came  to  Pleasant  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1864  and  bought  a farm  from 
his  father-in-law,  Enoch  Ayers.  He  lived  on  that 
farm  in  Pleasant  Township  until  about  1874,  when 
he  moved  to  Jackson  Township  and  became  the 
owner  of  a place  of  160  acres,  which  he  cultivated 
and  occupied  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  had 
the  following  children:  Lorenzo  D. ; Virginia  J., 

who  became  the  wife  of  Alexander  Hallstead; 
Frank  D.;  Brazil;  and  Edith,  who  married  Gran- 
ville McClure. 

Frank  D.  Munger  spent  his  early  life  on  his 
father’s  farm,  attended  public  schools  in  Pleasant 
and  Jackson  townships,  and  in  early  manhood 
learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith.  Working  in  iron 
proved  a fascinating  occupation  to  him,  and  he 
gradually  developed  his  skill  as  a machinist  and 
for  upwards  of  thirty  years  has  been  a machinist 
of  rare  and  skillful  workmanship.  About  1899  he 
bought  a farm  of  275  acres  in  section  36  of  Jackson 
Township,  and  still  owns  that  fine  place.  He  im- 
proved it  with  buildings,  and  personally  supervised 
its  cultivation  and  management  for  sixteen  years. 
Since  then  the  farm  has  been  rented  to  his  son 
Clarence.  After  leaving  the  farm  Mr.  Munger 
was  employed  as  a machinist  by  S.  F.  Bowers  at 
Fort  Wayne,  eight  months  later  joined  the  Western 
Gas  Company  there,  and  in  January,  1919,  moved 
to  Angola,  where  for  four  or  five  months  he  was 
in  the  machine  works.  Since  then  he  has  resumed 
his  place  with  the  Western  Gas  Company. 

Mr.  Munger  married  Allie  Zimmerman,  a daugh- 
ter of  John  Zimmerman.  Both  are  members  of  the 
Methodis't  Church  at  Angola.  To  their  marriage 
were  born  nine  children,  Ralph,  Lula,  Roy,  Eula, 
Vera,  Clarence,  Etta,  Clyde  and  Paul.  Eula  and 
Etta  died  in  early  childhood.  Ralph  married  for 
his  first  wife  Della  Meeks,  and  their  children  were 
Orlow,  Ora,  Waldo,  Harold  and  Ruth.  She  died 
at  the  birth  of  her  daughter  Ruth,  and  Ralph  Mun- 
ger has  since  married  Mrs.  Edna  Brown.  The 
daughter  Lula  was  the  wife  of  Herbert  Jackson 
and  has  a daughter,  Pauline,  and  her  second  hus- 


and  is  Lloyd  Pairon.  Roy  is  the  soldier  representa- 
tive of  the  family,  having  served  in  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-Seventh  Field  Artillery  with  the 
Expeditionary  Forces.  He  married  Jennie  Pairon 
and  has  a son,  Donald.  Clarence,  manager  of  the 
home  farm,  married  May  Griffin  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Ida  May  and  John. 

Everitt  W.  Shank  is  in  the  opinion  of  many,  one 
of  the  very  best  and  most  successful  farmers  in 
Eden  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  He  lives  on 
the  old  Short  estate  in  section  6,  and  both  his 
crops  and  livestock  show  the  evidence  of  his  skill 
and  management.  He  now  farms  over  200  acres. 

Mr.  Shank  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  of  In- 
diana, June  3,  1864,  a son  of  Jonas  and  Lucinda 
(Bentley)  Shank,  the  former  a native  of  Virginia 
and  the  latter  of  New  York  State.  Jonas  Shank 
came  with  his  parents  to  Elkhart  County  in  1836. 
The  family  were  pioneers  in  the  Forest  Grove 
community,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  The  Bent- 
ley family  were  also  early  settlers  in  Elkhart 
County.  Jonas  Shank  and  wife  after  their  marriage 
moved  to  LaGrange  County,  where  they  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives.  Of  their  five  children  three  are 
still  living:  Jane,  widow  of  Oscar  Short,  of  Go- 

shen, Indiana;  Lucy,  wife  of  C.  C.  Method,  of  Mil- 
lersburg,  Indiana ; and  Everitt. 

The  latter  grew  up  in  LaGrange  County  and  at- 
tended the  district  schools  to  the  age  of  seventeen. 
On  December  31,  1893,  he  married  Burdette  Kauff- 
man. She  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  in  1875,  and 
had  a common  and  high  school  education.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  on  their  present  farm 
of  200  acres,  and  Mr.  Shank  has  been  handling 
that  fine  property  for  a quarter  of  a century.  As 
a livestock  man  he  is  well  known  as  a breeder  of 
thoroughbred  Hereford  cattle,  Poland  China  hogs 
and  Belgian  horses.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  at  Fish  Lake  and  he  has 
served  as  church  trustee.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shank  have  five  children : Helen, 
Willis,  Irene,  Wilma  and  Carl.  Helen  is  the  wife 
of  Ray  Larimer,  of  Eden  Township,  while  the  other 
children  are  still  at  home. 

David  H.  Reese.  The  Reese  family  had  a very 
interesting  and  useful  part  in  the  pioneer  develop- 
ment of  Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  from  that  sec- 
tion their  interests  many  years  ago  were  trans- 
ferred to  Steuben  County.  David  H.  Reese,  a na- 
tive of  Williams  County,  has  lived  in  Steuben 
County  for  a quarter  of  a century,  part  of  the  time 
as  a farmer  and  latterly  as  a successful  merchant 
at  Angola. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  September  13, 
1866,  a son  of  Herman  J.  and  Frances  Amanda 
(Merchant)  Reese.  His  father  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1828  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  in  1832.  They  married  in  Seneca 
County  and  in  1852  moved  to  Williams  County.  The 
section  of  Williams  County  in  which  they  settled  had 
been  neglected  by  the  earlier  residents  of  North- 
west Ohio,  and  was  virtually  a wilderness.  Her- 
man Reese  and  wife  went  through  all  the  trials  and 
hardships  incident  to  pioneering.  Their  first  home 
was  a log  cabin.  There  were  no  doors  nor  windows, 
and  the  spaces  between  the  logs  were  chinked  with 
clay  and  mud.  Every  night  they  kept  a vigorous 
fire  burning  in  order  to  scare  away  the  wolves.  The 
nearest  and  most  convenient  trading  point  was  De- 
fiance, Ohio,  thirty-five  miles  away.  Herman  Reese 
acquired  his  land  at  $1.25  an  acre,  and  started  his 
career  in  Williams  County  with  only  50  cents  in 
cash.  In  spite  of  all  these  difficult  circumstances 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


199 


at  first  he  had  the  true  pioneer  grit  and  the  ability 
to  raise  himself  above  the  level  of  poverty.  For 
some  time  he  spent  his  days  working  in  a saw  mill, 
and  then  would  continue  with  his  day’s  labor  several 
hours  at  night  cutting  wood  and  clearing  up  his 
farm.  This  life  of  industry  and  toil  brought  its 
sure  reward,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
160  acres,  constituting  a good  farm  in  Williams 
County  and  also  eighty  acres  in  Richland  Township 
of  Steuben  County.  For  eight  years  he  was  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business  at  Edon,  where 
he  owned  a good  residence  and  also  a business  block. 
He  was  very  active  in  politics  as  a republican  and 
at  first  was  affiliated  with  the  United  Brethren  and 
later  with  the  Edon  Methodist  Church.  Herman 
Reese  died  in  Edon  in  1894  and  his  wife  in  1902. 
By  a previous  marriage  he  had  a daughter,  named 
Elizabeth.  He  and  his  wife  Frances  Amanda  had 
a large  family  of  eleven  children,  named  Calvin  A., 
John  H.,  Alwilda  Jane,  Lewis  Jackson,  Amandus  E., 
Ida  Bell,  David  H.,  Burton  B.,  Joseph  E.,  Mary  B. 
and  Frances  Ella. 

David  H.  Reese  spent  his  own  early  life  on  the 
farm  which  his  father  had  in  the  meantime  cleared 
out  from  the  woods.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went 
to  Edon  and  attended  high  school  and  then  for  nine 
years  was  engaged  in  the  implement  business.  In 
1891  he  married  Miss  Angelina  L.  Fetters,  of  Wil- 
liams County.  She  is  well  known  in  that  county, 
where  for  seventeen  terms  she  taught  school.  Mr. 
Reese  for  three  years  after  his  marriage  was  en- 
gaged in  the  implement  business,  until  his  store  at 
Edon  was  burned  in  July,  1894.  He  then  took 
possession  of  the  farm  in  Richland  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  which  his  father  had  formerly 
owned.  He  remained  there  in  the  diligent  cultiva- 
tion of  his  soil  and  crops  for  eighteen  years,  and 
had  eighty  acres.  He  sold  this  land  in  1912  and  on 
the  7th  of  March  in  that  year  moved  to  Angola, 
where  he  has  since  built  up  a large  trade  in  coal. 
Mr.  Reese  is  a republican  in  politics  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Edon, 
Ohio,  of  which  he  is  a charter  member.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reese  have  two  sons,  Paul  D.,  who 
was  born  May  30,  1894,  was  educated  in  the  Edon 
High  School  and  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola. 
He  married  Lola  Rinehart  and  has  a son  named 
Claud  Burton.  Claud  Burton  Reese  was  born 
August  18,  1900,  and  is  now  a student  in  the  Tri- 
State  College.  He  has  been  appointed  for  four 
years  to  Annapolis  to  prepare  for  a naval  officer. 
He  secured  the  appointment  by  making  highest  per 
cent  in  grades. 

Wilbert  T.  Hines  for  over  forty  years  has  been 
one  of  the  practical  and  progressive  farmers  of 
Jefferson  Township,  Noble  County,  and  is  widely 
known  over  the  county  by  his  former  service  for 
two  terms  as  county  treasurer. 

Mr.  Hines  was  born  in  Noble  County  February 
29,  1864,  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  (Koontz)  Hines. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Knox  County,  Ohio,  and 
his  mother  of  Harper's  Ferry,  Virginia.  They  mar- 
ried in  Ohio,  and  on  coming  to  Indiana  first  lo- 
cated in  LaGrange  County  for  one  year,  and  follow- 
ing another  interval  spent  in  Ohio  came  to  Noble 
County.  Thomas  Hines  had  the  following  children : 
Anna  E.,  Mrs.  William  Bowen;  Lucetta,  wife  of 
Jerry  Henney;  Melvin,  a farmer  in  Jefferson  Town- 
ship; Mary,  wife  of  George  Black;  Ella,  wife  of 
Martin  Halferty;  Lydia,  wife  of  Albert  Singery; 
and  Wilbert  T. 

Wilbert  T.  Hines  grew  up  in  Jefferson  Township, 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools  there.  He 
lived  at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-three,  when  he 


established  a home  of  his  own  by  his  marriage  with 
Miss  Eva  Black,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Ruth 
Black.  Mrs.  Hines  was  born  in  Jefferson  Township 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools. 

After  their  marriage  they  located  on  their  pres- 
ent farm,  where  Mr.  Hines  has  220  acres,  and  has 
given  a very  fine  account  of  his  possessions  as  a 
stock  farmer.  He  built  his  modern  home  in  1903, 
and  has  one  of  the  valuable  estates  of  the  county 
and  also  an  ideal  home  for  his  family. 

He  is  the  father  of  two  children : Glenn  B.,  now 

assistant  cashier  and  bookkeeper  of  the  Noble 
County  Bank;  and  Fern  R.,  wife  of  Charles  Lem- 
mon of  Jefferson  Township.  There  are  also  four 
grandchildren. 

Mr.  Hines  is  a democrat,  and  it  was  on  that  ticket 
that  he  was  elected  for  his  two  terms  of  service 
as  treasurer  of  Noble  County.  He  is  affiliated  with 
Albion  Lodge  No.  94,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  Kendallville  Chapter  No.  64,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  has  always  interested  himself  in  any 
movement  for  the  welfare  of  his  community. 

Archie  Gaskil  after  a number  of  years  in  the 
service  of  the  Wabash  Railroad  returned  to  the 
old  home  farm  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  and  is  now  numbered  among  the  pros- 
perous and  progressive  agriculturists  of  that 
section. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  January  8,  1882, 
a son  of  Guy  and  Florence  (Emerson)  Gaskil  and 
a grandson  of  George  and  Theodosia  (Reeves) 
Gaskil.  His  grandparents  were  natives  of  New 
York  State  and  settled  in  York  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County  about  1850.  George  Gaskil  as  one  of 
the  early  settlers  took  up  and  developed  a good 
farm  and  lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  Benjamin,  Charlotte,  Martha, 
Garrett,  Mary,  Louisa,  Diantha,  Lydia  and  Guy. 

Guy  Gaskil,  who  was  born  in  York  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  became  a farmer  there  and  about 
1900  moved  to  the  place  where  his  son  now  lives  in 
section  1 of  Otsego  Township.  He  was  a man  held 
in  the  highest  esteem,  was  prospered  in  his  business 
enterprise  and  was  in  comfortable  circumstances 
when  he  died  in  July,  1916.  His  wife,  Florence 
Emerson,  was  a native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
daughter  of  Ira  and  Almira  (Teeters)  Emerson. 

Archie  Gaskil  acquired  a good  public  school  edu- 
cation in  York  and  Otsego  townships,  and  as  a 
young  man  entered  the  service  of  the  Wabash  Rail- 
road. He  was  a railroad  man  for  eight  years,  and 
during  that  time  made  his  home  at  Montpelier, 
Ohio.  In  1914  he  returned  to  the  home  farm.  He 
was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  July,  1908,  Mr.  Gaskil  married  Ruth  Soule, 
daughter  of  Darwin  and  Margaret  Soule.  They 
have  two  children,  Florence  Imo  Jean  and  Bettie 
Jean. 

Henry  H.  Yoder.  Another  of  the  notable  family 
group  of  Yoders  whose  records  are  scattered 
through  this  publication  is  Henry  H.  Yoder,  pro- 
prietor of  the  Grand  View  Stock  Farm,  comprising 
15654  acres  and  located  six  miles  southwest  of  Ship- 
shewana  in  Eden  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  on  an  adjoining  farm  March 
10,  1883,  and  is  the  seventh  son  and  youngest  child 
of  Valentine  T.  and  Catherine  (Schrock)  Yoder. 
He  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  after  graduating 
from  the  common  schools  remained  with  his  parents, 
helping  in  the  fields,  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of 
asre.  January  5,  1905,  Mr.  Yoder  married  Mary  L. 
Wingard.  She  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  September  8,  1884,  and  died 
December  28,  1918,  after  nearly  fourteen  years  of 


200 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


happy  married  life.  She  was  the  mother  of  five 
children,  one  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Those  liv- 
ing are  Beulah,  Leroy,  Katie  and  Carrie  A. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  on  an  adjoining  farm  March 
a generous  prosperity,  and  besides  the  farm  on 
which  he  lives  he  has  123  acres  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan.  It  is  something  of  a family  characteristic 
of  the  Yoders  to  be  successful  stockmen.  Mr.  Yo- 
der’s specialty  is  registered  Guernsey  cattle  and 
Belgian  horses,  also  Duroc  hogs.  He  is  a demo- 
crat in  politics  and  a member  of  the  Amish  Men- 
nonite  Church. 

Roscoe  Conklin.  The  Conklins  were  among  the 
pioneers  in  Steuben  County,  and  many  of  the  family 
have  been  esteemed  as  prosperous  farmers  and  pub- 
lic spirited  citizens  in  Salem  Township.  Mr.  Roscoe 
Conklin,  who  represents  the  third  generation  of  the 
family  to  reside  here,  is  still  living  on  a fine  farm 
adjoining  Salem  Center  where  he  was  born  on 
September  9,  1865. 

The  Conklin  family  for  many  years  lived  in  New 
York  State,  at  first  in  Dutchess  and  later  in  Cayuga 
County.  The  great-grandfather,  Isaac  Conklin, 
brought  his  family  from  Cayuga  County  to  Rich- 
land County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  among  the  pio- 
neers. About  1842  he  moved  to  Steuben  County 
with  his  youngest  son,  James,  and  settled  in  Salem 
Township.  Isaac  Conklin  spent  his  last  days  in 
Kansas. 

His  son,  David  Conklin,  grandfather  of  Roscoe, 
was  born  in  New  York  in  1803  and  arrived  in 
Steuben  County  in  1844.  He  settled  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  15,  Salem  Township.  In 
1874  he  moved  to  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
died  in  1881.  He  married  Polly  Van  Fleet,  who 
died  in  Ohio.  Their  seven  children  to  reach  mature 
years  were  named  Ensign,  Calvin,  Nelson,  William, 
Elizabeth,  Cynthia  and  Lime. 

Calvin  Conklin,  father  of  Roscoe,  was  born  in 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  in  1832,  and  was  twelve 
years  of  age  when  the  family  moved  to  Steuben 
County.  He  acquired  eighty  acres  of  his  grand- 
father’s estate,  also  another  eighty  acres,  and  was 
a prosperous  farmer  at  the  time  of  his  death  on 
April  17,  1916.  He  married  Lydia  Ann  Boss,  daugh- 
ter of  Dr.  Jacob  Boss  of  Kosciusko  County.  She 
is  now  living  at  Angola  at  the  age  of  eighty-two. 
She  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  her 
husband  was  a democrat. 

Roscoe  Conklin,  only  son  of  his  parents,  was 
reared  on  the  homestead  and  educated  in  the  local 
schools  and  the  Angola  High  School,  and  for  many 
years  has  been  proprietor  of  a large  farm  in  Salem 
Township,  his  land  holdings  aggregating  338  acres. 
He  has  been  extensively  engaged  in  stock  raising, 
especially  as  a feeder  of  cattle  and  sheep.  His  farm 
has  all  the  modern  improvements.  He  is  a repub- 
lican in  politics,  but  has  never  asked  for  office. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Etta  Weaver,  of  Pauld- 
ing County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  October  23, 
1869.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Conklin  have  one  daughter, 
Ruth,  born  February  8,  1904.  Mrs.  Conklin  is  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Sarah  Jane  (Shade)  Weaver, 
the  former  a native  of  Toledo  and  the  latter  of 
Crawford  County,  Ohio.  She  was  the  only  child 
of  her  parents,  and  her  mother  died  October  29, 
1884. 

Thomas  Hall.  For  about  forty-five  years 
Thomas  Hall  has  been  engaged  in  the  business  of 
agriculture,  part  of  the  time  in  Michigan  and  part 
of  the  time  in  Steuben  County.  He  owns  one  of 
the  large  and  valuable  farms  of  York  Township, 
and  is  one  of  the  men  of  highest  standing  in  that 
community. 


He  was  born  in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  Octo- 
ber 18,  1854,  but  came  to  Steuben  County  when  a 
small  boy.  His  parents  were  James  and  Mary 
(Ford)  Hall,  his  father  born  in  New  York  State 
in  1819  and  his  mother  a native  of  Ireland.  James 
Hall  went  to  Branch  County,  Michigan,  about  1840. 
He  acquired  160  acres  of  raw  land,  which  he  de- 
veloped as  a farm  and  improved  with  buildings, 
but  in  i860  left  Michigan  and  moved  over  the 
Indiana  line  to  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  That  locality  was  his  home  until  his  death 
in  1891.  The  children  of  these  parents  were: 
Maria,  who  was  the  wife  of  Horace  Lyons ; John 
R. ; James;  Thomas;  William;  Ida;  and  Alma,  wife 
of  John  Rogers. 

Thomas  Hall  acquired  his  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Jamestown  Township,  and  had  his 
first  experience  as  a practical  farmer  in  that  lo- 
cality. He  lived  there  several  years  and  in  1885 
moved  to  Hillsdale  County,  Michigan,  but  in  1902 
returned  to  Steuben  County  and  has  since  been  a 
farmer  in  sections  8 and  9 of  York  Township,  where 
he  owns  163  acres.  He  keeps  most  of  this  in  cultiva- 
tion and  has  a good  set  of  buildings,  all  of  which 
have  been  rebuilt  or  remodeled  under  his  ownership 
and  supervision. 

Mr.  Hall  married  Keziah  Weaver,  daughter  of 
Jonathan  Weaver.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
four  children : Guy,  who  died  in  July,  1916,  married 
Nellie  Rowe  and  had  three  children,  named  Gail, 
Mildred  and  Harland.  Ray  married  Maude  Welch 
and  has  one  child,  Ledean.  Vera  is  the  wife  of 
James  Wicoff  and  the  mother  of  a daughter,  Esther. 
Bessie  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Dally  and  has  one 
child,  Olin. 

John  C.  Gillian  has  been  a factor  in  business 
affairs  in  Northern  Indiana  for  many  years,  and  is 
widely  known  to  the  trade  as  a traveling  salesman 
out  of  Kendallville.  He  gained  his  early  experience 
and  training  in  Noble  County,  and  was  born  in 
Allen  Township  of  that  county  June  6,  1858.  His 
parents  were  John  and  Margaret  (Householder) 
Gillian. 

His  father,  a native  of  Germany,  came  to  this 
country  at  the  age  of  fourteen,  and  grew  up  on 
a farm  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County.  He 
married  in  that  county,  his  wife,  a native  of  France, 
having  been  brought  to  the  United  States  by  her 
parents  when  seven  years  of  age.  John  Gillian 
was  a farmer  and  lived  on  the  farm  until  after  the 
death  of  his  wife,  when  he  retired  to  Kendallville, 
where  he  is  still  living.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  as  was  his  wife.  They  had  six 
children,  five  still  living:  John  C. ; Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Martin  Parr ; Mary,  widow  of  Lemuel  J. 
Holmes;  Katie,  wife  of  George  Snyder;  and 
Charles,  a farmer  in  Allen  Township. 

John  C.  Gillian  spent  his  early  life  on  the  old 
farm,  and  besides  the  district  schools  had  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  Methodist  College  at  Fort  Wayne. 
After  graduating  there  he  took  up  work  as  a teacher, 
and  followed  the  profession  of  educator  for  eight- 
een years.  He  also  gained  a knowledge  of  business 
as  salesman  in  a local  dry  goods  store.  When  he 
first  went  on  the  road  it  was  as  representative  for 
the  McCray  Refrigerator  Company.  He  was  with 
that  house  nine  years  and  introduced  the  noted 
McCrav  refrigerators  in  .many  parts  of  the  country. 
Later  he  was  with  the  Mishawaka  Woollen  Manu- 
facturing Company,  but  for  the  past  seventeen  years 
has  been  a traveling  representative  of  Cooper,  Wells 
& Company,  manufacturers  of  hosiery  at  St.  Jo- 
seph, Michigan.  He  has  always  lived  at  Kendall- 
ville, and  has  some  local  interests  there,  being  a 
stockholder  in  the  Noble  County  Bank  and  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


201 


Noble  Motor  Truck  Corporation.  In  Masonry  he 
is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  and 
also  with  the  thirty-second  degree  Consistory.  He 
is  a republican  and  Mrs.  Gillian  is  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

January  9,  1881,  he  married  Elizabeth  Geanger. 
She  was  born  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County, 
January  6,  1862,  daughter  of  Frederick  Geanger. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gillian  grew  up  as  children  together 
and  attended  the  same  school.  They  are  the  parents 
of  four  sons:  Walter  A.,  a graduate  of  the  Hunt- 
ington Business  College,  is  now  cashier  of  the  Noble 
County  Bank;  Herman  A.,  a graduate  of  the  same 
school,  is  now  secretary  of  the  Bacon  Brothers 
Company,  at  Toledo,  Ohio;  Clarence  C.,  a graduate 
of  the  local  high  school,  Fort  Wayne  Business  Uni- 
versity and  Purdue  University,  is  associated  with 
his  father  as  salesman  in  the  state  of  Indiana ; and 
Carl  J.,  the  youngest,  is  a student  and  still  at  home. 

Irvin  W.  Pence.  Certainly  one  of  the  outstand- 
ing features  of  the  personal  and  family  record  of 
Irvin  W.  Pence,  of  Angola,  is  civic  loyalty  and 
patriotism.  Steuben  County  has  been  a fervent 
center  of  patriotism  in  all  its  history,  and  the  Pence 
family  has  contributed  not  a few  of  the  names  that 
have  made  up  the  roll  of  honor,  including  a son  of 
Mr.  Pence,  who  was  the  first  man  to  volunteer  from 
Steuben  County  for  the  war  with  Germany. 

Long  well  known  in  the  State  of  Indiana  as  a 
newspaper  man,  Irvin  W.  Pence  is  now  serving  as 
county  auditor  of  Steuben  County.  He  was  born 
at  Ligonier,  Indiana,  February  5,  1869,  son  of  Sam- 
uel N.  and  Eliza  (Simmons)  Pence.  Samuel  N. 
Pence  was  born  near  Ligonier,  in  Mifflin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  28,  1820.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife  Miss  Hannah  Gerber,  a relative  of  Hon. 
E.  B.  Gerber,  of  Ligonier,  Indiana.  By  that  mar- 
riage there  were  born  three  children : Harvey  A., 

who  died  in  infancy;  David  S. ; and  Eliza,  wife  of 
W.  K.  Sheffer,  the  veteran  Angola  editor  and  pub- 
lisher. David  S.  Pence,  who  died  in  December, 
1917,  had  the  misfortune  when  a child  to  have  all 
his  fingers  burned  off.  Notwithstanding  that  handi- 
cap he  became  a proficient  and  successful  instructor 
in  penmanship  and  was  well  educated.  At  one  time 
he  was  an  instructor  in  the  Ohio  Northern  Univer- 
sity at  Ada,  also  taught  school  at  Angola  and  finally 
removed  to  Kansas,  where  for  twenty-eight  years 
before  his  death  he  served  as  county  superintndent 
of  schools  of  Sedgwick  County. 

The  mother  of  these  children  died  in  Ohio,  and 
Samuel  N.  Pence  later  married  Eliza  Simmons. 
Her  father,  Jonathan  Simmons  came  to  Ligonier  in 
1865,  and  had  a farm  adjoining  that  of  the  Pence 
family.  Samuel  Pence  in  1866  moved  to  his  farm 
a half  mile  from  Ligonier.  In  1870  he  moved  to 
Ligonier,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1902. 
His  wife  died  November  15,  1897.  He  was  a re- 
publican, but  outside  of  his  family  and  business  his 
chief  interest  was  in  the  Christian  Church.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  church  at  Ligonier 
and  an  elder  for  many  years.  Hi$  wife  was  also 
a member.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children : 
Mrs.  Maggie  Yonker,  deceased;  Ida,  wife  of  J.  D. 
Hendrickson,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  Emma,  of  An- 
gola; John,  who  died  in  Ligonier;  William,  who 
also  died  in  Ligonier;  Carroll,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Irvin  W. ; and  two  others  that  died  in  infancy. 

Irvin  W.  Pence,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  at  Ligonier,  Indiana,  February  5,  1869, 
and  received  his  education  there,  attending  the  high 
school,  and  in  1884  entered  the  Tri-State  Normal  at 
Angola,  taking  the  commercial  branches.  October 
4,  1884,  he  went  to  work  in  the  office  of  the  Angola 
Herald,  learning  the  trade  of  printer.  He  was  there 


seven  years,  and  on  March  2,  1889,  married  Miss 
Cora  Jarvis,  of  Angola.  In  May,  1890,  he  was  em- 
ployed on  the  Kendall ville  News  and  Standard,  but 
in  1892  returned  to  Ligonier  and  for  nine  years  was 
connected  with  the  Ligonier  Leader,  and  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1901,  'established  the  Plain  Dealer  in  that 
city,  which  he  published  until  September  21,  1904. 
Following  that  for  thirteen  years  he  was  connected 
with  the  Steuben  County  Republican,  and  left  that 
paper  upon  his  election,  in  1916,  as  county  auditor. 
He  is  still  serving  his  four-year  term. 

Mr.  Pence  is  an  ardent  republican.  For  several 
years  he  was  a member  of  the  National  Guard  Com- 
pany at  Ligonier,  and  went  with  that  company  when 
it  was  absorbed  by  the  157th  Indiana  Regiment  at 
the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war,  serving 
in  Company  H of  this  regiment.  During  the  late 
war  he  was  in  many  ways  a leader  in  patriotic  ac- 
tivities, and  was  a member  of  the  publicity  com- 
mittee for  the  Steuben  County  War  Conference  and 
exerted  himself  in  every  possible  way  to  maintain 
the  high  standing  Steuben  County  has  always  en- 
joyed among  the  counties  of  Indiana  as  a center  of 
sterling  patriotism. 

Mr.  Pence,  about  1907,  published  a book  entitled: 
“Steuben  County  and  Her  Lake  Resorts,”  and  later 
published  another  work  called  “Camera  Glimpses 
of  Angola.”  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Angola,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  both 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  Pence  is  the  father  of  a family  of  eight  chil- 
dren : Linda  Jane,  the  eldest,  was  married  Decem- 

ber 18,  1918,  to  Major  Guy  J.  Shaughniss ; Nora, 
the  second  in  age,  is  the  wife  of  E.  B.  Gilmore,  who 
during  the  war  was  in  the  trench  motor  service  in 
France;  Arlie  is  the  wife  of  F.  R.  Rogers,  superin- 
tendent of  schools  at  Salem  Center,  Indiana ; Sam- 
uel A.,  the  eldest  son,  was  the  young  man  who 
gained  the  enviable  distinction  of  being  the  first  to 
enlist  from  Steuben  County.  He  enlisted  April  7, 
1917,  and  was  for  a time  company  clerk  and  was 
promoted  to  lieutenant  at  Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky. 
He  was  in  the  army  nineteen  months  and  since  his 
release  has  served  as  deputy  auditor  under  his 
father.  Dorothea  the  fifth  child,  is  the  wife  of 
William  Aranguren  of  Fort  Wayne.  The  three 
younger  children  are  Richard  A.,  Oscar  W.  and 
Byron  J.,  all  students  in  the  Angola  High  School. 

John  W.  Chrysler.  A native  of  Steuben  County 
and  now  one  of  the  prosperous  farm  owners  in 
Jackson  Township,  John  W.  Chrysler  represents  a 
family  of  three  generations  resident  in  this  section 
of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben 
County  June  17,  1866.  His  parents  were  John  Wes- 
ley and  Martha  (Wilsey)  Chrysler,  the  former  a 
native  of  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  and  the 
latter  of  New  Jersey.  The  paternal  grandparents, 
Abraham  and  Martha  (Bowers)  Chrysler,  were 
early  pioneer  settlers  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
moving  into  the  woods  and  creating  a home  from 
the  wilderness.  Later  they  came  to  Steuben 
County  and  were  connected  with  the  early  settle- 
ment of  Jamestown  Township.  Their  children  were 
named  John  Wesley,  William,  Henry,  George, 
Eugene,  Joseph,  Martha,  Manda,  Helen  and  Emma. 

John  Wesley  Chrysler  took  up  farming  as  soon  as 
he  reached  his  majority,  living  on  a place  in  Jack- 
son  Township  near  Flint,  later  going  to  Jamestown 
Township,  and  was  a resident  of  that  community 
until  his  death.  He  owned  a good  farm  of  sixty 
acres.  He  and  his  wife  had  three  children,  named 
John  W.,  Frank  D.  and  William  H.  The  mother  of 
these  died  and  he  married  Viola  Sugars,  who  was 
the  mother  of  two  children,  Ora  M.  and  Nora. 


202 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


John  W.  Chrysler  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  home 
farm  in  Jackson  Township,  attended  school  there, 
and  on  February  27,  1889,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three,  married  Margaret  A.  Nuttle.  She  is  a daugh- 
ter of  Robert  and  Lucinda  Nuttle.  The  two  years 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Chrysler  spent  as  a farmer 
in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  and  then  returned  to 
Jamestown  Township,  where  he  was  a progressive 
member  of  the  agricultural  community  in  that  sec- 
tion until  1905.  In  the  latter  year  he  bought  his 
present  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  18  of  York 
Township,  and  in  addition  to  the  responsibilities 
of  managing  this  place  he  has  taken  an  active  part  in 
local  affairs,  having  been  elected  assessor  of  the 
township  in  1914  and  re-elected  in  1918.  He  is 
identified  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at 
Metz,  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
Christian  Church,  and  he  is  a deacon  and  trustee. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chrysler  have  four  children:  Bell, 

wife  of  Harvey  Shoup ; Hazel,  deceased,  who  was 
married  to  Homer  Teegardin,  also  deceased; 
Claude;  and  Clarence. 

George  W.  Roy  has  spent  his  profitable  and  useful 
life  in  LaGrange  County,  for  many  years  was  a 
farmer,  and  is  now  postmaster  of  Wolcottville. 
While  the  office  of  postmaster  is  conferred  by 
Federal  appointment,  Mr.  Roy  has  a claim  to  the 
office  not  only  by  Federal  commission  but  by  popu- 
lar choice.  When  it  came  to  decide  upon  a new 
postmaster  a hundred  patrons  of  the  office  balloted 
for  a new  incumbent  and  seventy  of  the  votes  went 
to  Mr.  Roy. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  December  14,  1859,  son  of  John  and  Ellen 
(Giggy)  Roy,  the  former  a native  of  New  York 
State  and  the  latter  of  Germany.  His  mother  was 
brought  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  fourteen  and 
grew  up  in  Noble  County,  near  Kendallville.  His 
father  came  from  New  York  State  to  LaGrange 
County,  was  married  there,  and  then  spent  his  life 
on  a farm.  He  was  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of 
his  county,  and  owned  220  acres,  all  of  which  he 
had  made  himself.  He  and  his  wife  were  active 
in  the  Methodist  Church,  and  for  fourteen  years  he 
was  a trustee  of  Clay  Township.  In  politics  he  was 
a democrat.  John  Roy  and  wife  had  six  children, 
two  of  whom  are  still  living.  James  H.  Roy  is  the 
present  postmaster  at  Topeka,  Indiana.  • 

George  W.  Roy  spent  the  first  twenty-one  years 
of  his  life  on  his  father’s  farm,  and  while  helping 
in  the  fields  he  also  attended  district  school.  In 
1879  he  married  Margaret  Zimmerman,  and  they 
began  on  a rented  farm.  Later  they  bought  forty- 
three  acres  and  lived  there  until  they  sold  out  and 
moved  to  Wolcottville  in  June,  1917. 

Mrs.  Roy  died  June  21,  1917.  She  was  the  mother 
of  two  children.  Ethel  is  a graduate  of  high  school 
and  the  wife  of  Lorin  Shanower,  of  Wolcottville. 
H.  J.  Roy  married  Panzy  Preice  and  lives  in  Wol- 
cottville. Mr.  Roy  is  active  in  the  Baptist  Church, 
being  a deacon  and  trustee,  and  is  assistant  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  School.  He  is  a past  noble 
grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
and  has  been  a delegate  to  the  Grand  Lodge.  For 
a number  of  years  he  has  been  one  of  the  most 
influential  democrats  in  his  section  of  LaGrange 
County. 

Elmer  E.  Orewiler  is  a member  of  a family  that 
has  been  identified  with  Steuben  County  since  early 
days.  He  himself  has  played  a varied  role  in  the 
life  of  the  county,  as  a teacher,  farmer,  public  of- 
ficial and  for  half  a dozen  years  has  been  an  active 
business  man  of  Angola. 

He  was  born  in  Scott  Township  in  Steuben 


County,  March  2,  1861,  son  of  David  and  Lucy  (Mas- 
ters) Orewiler,  the  former  a native  of  Richland 
County  and  the  latter  of  Crawford  County,  Ohio. 
The  paternal  grandfather,  Adam  Orewiler,  was  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  David  Orewiler  received 
a public  school  education  in  Ohio,  and  came  to  Scott 
Township  in  Steuben  County  and  acquired  a tract 
of  land  that  was  largely  covered  with  timber  and 
brick.  He  spent  a number  of  years  clearing  up  this 
land,  and  in  company  with  a brother-in-law  acquired 
a large  farm  of  280  acres.  His  share  of  this  prop- 
erty when  it  was  divided  was  160  acres,  comprising 
a valuable  farm  upon  which  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  He  served  ten  years  as  trustee  of  Scott  Town- 
ship and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Church  of 
Christ.  He  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  and  their 
names  are  Alice,  Adam,  Elmer,  Mellisa,  Alta  and 
Jesse. 

Elmer  Orewiler  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
attended  public  schools  of  Scott  Township,  also  at- 
tended school  at  Angola  and  took  his  commercial 
course  at  Hillsdale  College,  Michigan.  Altogether 
Mr.  Orewiler  taught  school  through  seven  winter 
terms.  Besides  teaching  he  was  also  engaged  in 
farming,  and  until  1902  lived  on  a farm  of 
forty  acres  in  Scott  Township.  That  year  he  re- 
moved to  Agola,  and  for  four  years  served  the  office 
of  county  surveyor.  Mr.  Orewiler  engaged  in  the 
coal  business  in  Angola  in  1913,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  coal  dealers  of  the  county  until  1918.  In 
August  of  the  latter  year  he  started  a feed  mill, 
and  has  a business  that  now  supplies  ground  grain 
products  over  a large  part  of  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Orewiler  married  Bertha  Holdridge,  and  they 
have  one  daughter,  Vera.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Orewiler 
are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Steven  Wisner  is  an  old  soldier  of  the  Civil  war, 
his  youngest  son  was  with  the  colors  in  the  World 
war,  and  his  individual  record  has  been  that  of  a 
sterling  citizen,  a good  farmer  and  a man  of 
highest  standing  in  the  Metz  community  of  Steuben 
County. 

He  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  Febru- 
ary 26,  1838.  a son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Rich- 
ardson) Wisner,  the  former  a native  of  New  Jersey 
and  the  latter  of  Columbiana  County,  Ohio.  His 
father  came  to  Steuben  County  during  the  ’50s, 
locating  in  Richland  Township,  where  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life.  The  children  in  the  family  were : 
Delorma,  Steven,  Melissa,  Richard,  Theresa  and 
Abraham. 

Steven  Wisner  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Salem,  Ohio,  and  had  not  yet  reached 
manhood  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County.  From 
this  county  he  enlisted  August  3,  1861,  in  Company 
C of  the  Seventh  Michigan  Infantry.  At  the 
Wilderness  he  was  shot  through  the  finger  and 
spent  more  than  two  months  in  a hospital  at  Balti- 
more. 

A soldier  who  had  deserved  well  of  his  country 
and  fellow  citizens  Mr.  Wisner  at  the  close  of  the 
war  returned  to  Metz  and  except  for  two  years 
spent  northwest  of  Angola  has  lived  in  that  com- 
munity ever  since.  For  half  a century  he  has  been 
engaged  in  agriculture  but  is  now  living  retired  in 
the  Village  of  Metz. 

Mr.  Wisner  married  in  1866  Martha  Ferrier,  and 
they  had  three  children : Evelyn,  Clifford  and  Addie. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife  Malinda  Hannas, 
and  she  was  the  mother  of  Clair,  Justine  and  Clar- 
ence. Mr.  Wisner  married  Leah  Petre,  daughter 
of  Benjamin  Petre,  for  his  third  wife,  and  they 
had  one  son,  Clayton.  Clayton  Wisner  entered  the 
army  May  21,  1918,  as  a member  of  the  Thirty- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


203 


Sixth  Regiment  of  Regular  United  States  Infantry. 
Most  of  his  time  was  spent  at  Camp  Devens, 
Massachusetts,  and  on  March  29,  1919,  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky. 

Moses  H.  Lehman.  LaGrange  County  has  long 
been  noted  for  its  fine  farms  and  valuable  agricul- 
tural development,  but  this  prestige  is  due  to  the 
efforts  of  the  men  who  have  invested  their  time 
and  money  in  the  land  of  this  region.  Because  of 
what  they  have  accomplished  for  themselves  and 
in  constructive  community  progress  they  deserve  in 
no  small  degree  a place  among  the  leading  men  of 
Northeast  Indiana.  Among  them  it  is  but  right 
to  mention  Moses  H.  Lehman  of  Newbury  Town- 
ship. He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  27, 
1862,  a son  of  Harmon  and  Christina  (Harshbarger) 
Lehman,  who  in  1866  came  to  Indiana,  and  after 
stopping  in  Elkhart  County  for  a year  came  to 
LaGrapge  and  bought  the  farm  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship which  their  son,  Daniel  Lehman,  now  owns. 
Here  they  lived  until  death  claimed  them,  he  pass- 
ing away  April  15,  1896,  aged  sixty-three  years,  and 
she,  November  13,  1889,  aged  fifty-five  years.  Their 
children  were  as  follows : Polly,  who  is  deceased, 

Moses  H.,  Daniel,  Noah,  Joseph,  Levi  and  John. 
Both  parents  were  devout  members  of  the  Menno- 
nite  Church. 

Moses  H.  Lehman  remained  on  his  father’s  farm 
until  he  was  sixteen  years  old,  and  then  began  work- 
ing by  the  month  for  the  neighboring  farmers. 
After  his  marriage  in  1885  he  moved  on  a farm  he 
owned,  comprising  120  acres  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship. Since  then  he  has  remodeled  the  buildings 
and  put  everything  in  first-class  shape.  He  has  ac- 
quired the  greater  part  of  his  possessions  through 
his  own  industry  and  thrift,  and  has  every  reason 
to  be  proud  of  what  he  has  accomplished. 

In  1885,  Mr.  Lehman  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Barbara  Borntrager,  a daughter  of  Manassas 
Borntrager,  a sketch  of  whom  appears  elsewhere  in 
this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lehman  became  the 
parents  of  the  following  children : Lydia,  is  the 

wife  of  Joseph  Borntrager,  their  children  being: 
Lizzie,  Moses,  Ruth,  and  Milo ; Polly,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Emanuel  Harshbarger,  has  the  following 
children : Amelia,  Katie,  Mattie,  and  Reuben ; 

Jonas,  married  Fannie  Troyer,  and  their  children 
are : Amos,  Laura,  Mahlon,  Levi,  Enos,  and  Sarah ; 
Anna,  who  married  Benjamin  Raber,  has  the  fol- 
lowing children : Abbie,  Mary,  and  Mattie ; Katie, 

who  is  at  home ; Amelia,  who  married  Levi  Mast, 
has  one  son,  Andrew,  and  Manassas,  who  is  at 
home. 

Harvey  E.  Shoup,  now  serving  his  second  term 
as  county  recorder  of  Steuben  County,  is  one  of 
the  younger  men  in  the  courthouse  at  Angola,  but 
has  thoroughly  justified  the  confidence  of  his  friends 
and  supporters  who  relied  upon  him  for  an  effi- 
cient handling  of  the  routine  of  this  important 
office. 

^ Mr.  Shoup,  who  was  a well  known  educator  in 
Steuben  County  before  taking  public  office,  was 
born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  October  15,  1889. 
His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Mary  (Scheiber)  Shoup. 
His  father  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
October  30,  1852,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Wur- 
temburg,  Germany,  July  20,  1856.  Jacob  Shoup  when 
four  years  old  was  taken  to  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
by  his  parents,  Peter  and  Anna  Catherine  (Field) 
Shoup.  Peter  Shoup  was  an  early  settler  there, 
acquired  a tract  of  eighty  acres  of  timber  land, 
and  cleared  away  the  woods  and  made  a good  farm. 
He  owned  100  acres  there  eventually  and  died  in 
1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  His  wife  also 


passed  away  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  Their  chil- 
dren were : John,  who  enlisted  as  a Union  soldier 

in  the  Civil  war  in  1861,  and  later  re-enlisted  as  a 
veteran  and  was  killed  during  the  siege  of  Atlanta 
while  with  Sherman’s  army;  Margaret,  who  became 
the  wife  of  Charles  Kaellner;  George,  who  died  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio;  Jacob,  Magdalena,  wife  of 
Christian  Smell,  of  Williams  County;  Catherine, 
who  married  Joshua  Michael,  and  both  are  now 
deceased;  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Albert  Harwood, 
of  Altona,  Indiana. 

Jacob  Shoup  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Williams  County,  and  became  a farmer 
there.  In  1895  he  moved  to  Steuben  County  and 
bought  eighty-eight  acres  in  Scott  Township.  He 
was  one  of  the  honored  residents  of  that  locality 
and  lived  there  until  accidentally  killed  while  thresh- 
ing in  September,  1912.  His  widow  now  lives  at 
Angola.  Jacob  Shoup  was  a stanch  republican,  and 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Church,  in  the  family 
were  four  children:  Anna,  wife  of  Burton  R. 

Brown,  and  occupying  the  old  home  farm ; Emma, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  five  years ; Rosa,  who  mar- 
ried John  J.  Greenamayer  of  Scott  Township;  and 
Harvey  E. 

Harvey  E.  Shoup  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  old 
home  farm  in  Scott  Township,  attending  the  public 
schools  there  and  also  the  Fremont  high  school. 
Later  he  was  a student  in  the  Teachers’  Course  at 
the  Normal  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola.  He  also  is  a graduate  of 
the  International  Business  College  at  Fort  Wayne. 
For  one  year  he  was  a teacher  in  Michigan,  and 
then  taught  steadily  in  Steuben  County  for  six  years. 
He  taught  school  every  year  after  leaving  high  school 
until  he  entered  upon  his  duties  as  county  recorder. 
He  took  that  office  January  1,  1916,  and  has  been 
re-elected  for  a second  term.  Mr.  Shoup  is  a re- 
publican, and  he  and  his  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

May  28,  1911,  he  married  Miss  Nadda  Belle  Chrys- 
ler of  York  Township,  daughter  of  John  W.  and 
Margaret  (Nuttle)  Chrysler,  of  York  Township. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoup  are  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren: Otto  Clare,  born  July  1,  1912;  Willis  R.,  born 
August  30,  1914;  and  Miriam  Margaret,  born  March 

13.  1918. 

Frank  Haughey  lived  forty-one  years,  earned 
prosperity  for  himself  and  family,  and  left  a record 
of  achievement  in  his  community,  but  for  all  that 
his  death  on  May  27,  1908,  was  looked  upon  as  a 
calamity  and  the  end  of  a career  which  could  be 
ill  spared. 

He  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben 
County  April  7,  1867,  and  died  at  his  home  in  the 
same  locality.  His  father,  Timothy  Haughey,  was 
born  in  Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  November  5,  1824, 
and  died  June  28,  1914.  Timothy  Haughey  came  to 
Steuben  County  in  1843  and  was  one  of  the  early 
school  teachers  in  Otsego  Township  and  otherwise 
a farmer.  He  married  Mary  Catherine  Gerst,  who 
was  born  in  1823  and  died  in  1800.  They  reared  a 
large  family  of  children,  one  of  the  daughters  being 
the  wife  of  Dr.  John  F.  Cameron  of  Pleasant  Lake. 

Frank  Haughey  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Otsego  Township  and  also  took  a course  in  the 
Northern  Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso. 
Three  years  of  his  early  life  were  spent  in  teaching 
school  in  his  native  county,  but  at  the  same  time 
he  was  following  the  plow  during  his  vacations 
and  working  on  the  farm  in  section  23,  where  he 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life.  He  acquired  the 
ownership  of  120  acres  there  and  altogether  had 
153  acres.  He  improved  the  farm  with  good  build- 
ings, and  since  his  death  it  has  been  capably  man- 


204 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


aged  by  Mrs.  Haughey,  who  now  has  the  assistance 
of  her  son  Dwight. 

From  1904  until  his  death  Mr.  Haughey  served 
as  trustee  of  Otsego  Township.  On  October  7, 
1893,  he  married  Mrs.  Louise  Aldrich,  a daughter 
of  Orlando  and  Hannah  Hicks  and  widow  of 
Simeon  Aldrich.  Her  first  husband  was  a brother 
of  David  W.  Aldrich,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this 
publication.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haughey  had  five  chil- 
dren : Helen  Lucile,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 

Hamilton  High  School  and  wife  of  Samuel  Kohl; 
Inez  Genevieve,  also  a graduate  of  the  Hamilton 
High  School,  wife  of  Don  Isenhart  and  the  mother 
of  one  child,  Donald  D. ; Edna  and  Dwight,  both 
of  whom  are  graduates  of  high  school ; and  Laura 
Wilma,  a student  in  the  high  school  at  Hamilton. 
Mr.  Haughey  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge. 

The  late  Mr.  Haughey  was  distinguished  by  a 
broad-minded  character,  by  an  intelligence  that 
never  ceased  to  seek  information  and  study  prob- 
lems, and  in  all  things  he  was  thorough.  In  serving 
as  trustee  he  applied  the  excellent  rules  of  his 
private  life,  economy  in  expenditure,  accuracy  in 
accounts  and  mastery  of  details,  and  had  a record 
of  faithful  performance  in  that  office.  By  nature 
he  was  somewhat  retiring  in  disposition  and  did  not 
permit  himself  to  press  his  own  claims  for  recog- 
nition. He  was  upright  and  honorable,  and  the 
respect  that  was  paid  him  by  his  friends  and  the 
confidence  shown  him  in  his  election  to  the  office  of 
trustee  were  fully  justified  in  every  particular  and 
in  every  act  of  his  life. 

Frank  C.  Wolfe  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Wolcott- 
ville  Elevator  Company,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
pushing  and  enterprising  business  men  of  LaGrange 
County.  He  and  his  brothers  have  all  achieved  busi- 
ness success  and  prominence,  though  they  grew  up 
next  door  to  poverty  and  early  had  to  assume  seri- 
our  responsibilities  and  become  workers  for  their 
daily  bread. 

Frank  C.  Wolfe  was  born  at  Scott  in  LaGrange 
County,  April  29,  1884,  a son  of  Christian  and  Rose 
(Schwartz)  Wolfe.  His  parents  lived  on  their  farm 
near  Scott  about  eight  years,  and  then  went  to  St. 
Joseph,  Michigan.  Later  Christian  Wolfe  returned 
to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  rented  a large 
farm,  but  lived  there  only  six  months,  when  he  was 
killed  by  lightning  while  plowing  in  the  field.  That 
left  his  widow  with  a family  of  young  children. 
With  the  aid  of  her  sons  she  managed  to  keep  the 
rented  farm  going  for  about  eight  years,  then  moved 
to  another  rented  place  near  Brighton,  and  finally 
she  bought  135  acres  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Mich- 
igan, where  she  is  still  living  with  her  two  unmar- 
ried daughters.  She  is  active  in  the  Evangelical 
Church,  as  was  her  husband,  and  he  was  a repub- 
lican. The  family  comprised  seven  children : C.  G. 

Wolfe,  proprietor  of  the  elevator  at  North  Liberty, 
Indiana;  F.  C.  Wolfe;  W.  F.  Wolfe,  owner  of  an 
elevator  at  Athens,  Michigan ; E.  P.  Wolfe,  a farmer 
near  Kalamazoo,  Michigan ; E.  A.  Wolfe,  proprietor 
iof  the  elevator  at  Shipshewana,  Indiana;  and  Rose 
and  Lucy,  both  of  whom  live  with  their  mother. 

Frank  C.  Wolfe  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  LaGrange 
County,  had  a district  school  education,  and  was 
with  his  mother  until  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He 
wbrked  out  by  the  month,  later  rented  a farm,  and 
in  February,  1911,  married  Bessie  Seybert.  She  was 
also  born  near  Scott  in  LaGrange  County  and  had 
the  benefit  of  a grammar  and  high  school  education. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolfe  rented 
for  three  years  and  in  the  winter  of  1914  moved  to 
Wolcottville  and  bought  the  elevator  on  the  tracks 
of  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railroad.  He  knew 


the  elevator  business,  since  he  had  spent  two  years 
as  an  employe  of  an  elevator  at  Howe,  Indiana.  In 
May,  1915,  the  elevator  was  burned  by  lightning, 
but  in  the  same  year  was  rebuilt  more  substantially 
and  with  greater  capacity  than  ever.  About  that 
time  Mr.  Wolfe  bought  out  his  brother’s  share  and 
formed  the  partnership  of  Wolfe  & Pierce.  They 
own  and  operate  both  the  elevators  in  Wolcottville, 
one  on  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  and  the  other  on 
the  Wabash  road. 

Mr.  Wolfe  and  wife  have  two  children:  Pearl  E., 
born  September  20,  1913,  and  Vivian,  born  October 
11,  1915.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Evangel- 
ical Church  and  Mr.  Wolfe  is  one  of  the  trustees 
and  church  secretary.  Politically  he  is  a repub- 
lican. 

Elmer  J.  Cowan.  Two  of  the  family  names  most 
prominently  identified  with  Otsego  Township  in 
Steuben  County  are  Cowan  and  Swift,  both  having 
been  represented  in  the  person  of  the  late  Elmer 
J.  Cowan,  long  a prominent  farmer  and  land  owner, 
who  spent  his  last  days  at  Angola,  where  Mrs. 
Cowan,  member  of  a pioneer  family  of  DeKalb 
County,  is  still  li-ving. 

The  grandfather  of  the  late  Elmer  J.  Cowan  was 
John  Cowan,  who  came  from  Ireland  to  New  York, 
and  afterward  became  an  early  settler  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  His  wife, 
Lucretia  Cowan,  also  died  at  Ann  Arbor. 

John  Cowan,  Jr.,  was  born  in  New  York  State, 
grew  up  in  Southern  Michigan,  and  from  there 
came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship, where  he  died  on  his  farm  November  10,  1875. 
John  Cowan,  Jr.,  married  Delphena  Swift.  She  was 
also  a native  of  New  York  State,  and  a daughter  of 
George  W.  Swift,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Steuben. 
County. 

George  W.  Swift  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
May,  1804,  a son  of  Ephraim  Swift,  who  died  while  a 
soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  George  W.  Swift  at 
the  age  of  fourteen  went  to  live  with  an  uncle  in 
Broome  County,  New  York,  and  in  1826  married 
Lucretia  Gates,  who  was  born  in  that  county  in 
1807.  They  came  with  their  family  to  Steuben 
County  and  settled  in  Otsego  Township  in  the  early 
year  of  1836.  George  W.  Swift  was  one  of  the 
honored  and  trusted  men  of  that  locality,  served 
as  township  trustee  and  in  other  positions,  and  was 
a deacon  in  the  Baptist  Church.  He  died  after  a 
life  of  great  usefulness  in  1868.  Their  children 
were : Edward,  Oscar,  Alice  Delphena,  Adolphua, 

David  K.,  Susan  L.,  and  Josephine.  The  old  Swift 
homestead  at  Otsego  Township  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Edna  Dole,  a great-granddaughter  of  George 
Swift,  while  the  Cowan  homestead  is  owned  by 
Maud  Sheffer,  a granddaughter  of  John  Cowan, 
Sr.,  both  Mrs.  Dole  and  Mrs.  Sheffer  being  daugh- 
ters of  the  late  Elmer  J.  Cowan.  Mrs.  Delphena 
Swift  Cowan  died  at  Angola  August  4,  1906.  John 
Cowan,  Jr.,  was  a democrat  and  a Baptist,  while  his 
wife  was  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Their 
children  were : Elmer,  Edward,  Josephine,  Lucretia 
and  George. 

Elmer  J.  Cowan,  who  was  born  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship October  31,  1855,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  received  most  of  his  education  under  Dr.  Theo- 
dore Wood.  He  subsequently  acquired  the  old 
Cowan  place  of  180  acres,  also  the  Swift  farm  of 
180  acres,  and  his  wife,  Mrs.  Cowan,  owned  180 
acres  adjoning  the  Cowan  farm.  Thus  they  were 
among  the  largest  land  owners  and  farmers  in  Ot- 
sego Township.  _ Elmer  J.  Cowan  was  an  independent 
democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church,  though  Mrs.  Cowan 
is  now  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  1904 


A' 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


205 


they  moved  to  Angola,  where  Mr.  Cowan  passed 
away  November  4,  1916.  He  and  his  wife  owned 
the  home  now  the  property  of  Doctor  Frazer,  while 
Mrs.  Cowan  lives  on  West  Maumee  Street. 

December  31,  1878,  Mr.  Cowan  married  Miss 
Fannie  Latson.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  December  23,  1855,  a daughter  of  James 
and  Charlotte  (Rowley)  Latson.  Her  parents  came 
from  New  York  State  to  DeKalb  County  and  set- 
tled at  Auburn,  where  her  mother  died  August  14, 
1898.  Her  father  died  in  Angola  November  20, 
1906.  Mrs.  Cowan  was  one  of  nine  children : Wil- 

liam, Emma,  Helen,  Hattie,  Sadie,  Frank  and 
Fannie,  twins;  Joel  and  Alda. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cowan  had  two  daughters,  Edna 
and  Maud.  Edna  is  the  wife  of  Earl  Dole,  of  An- 
gola, and  she  has  a son,  Earl,  Jr.,  born  September 
2,  1917.  Maud  is  the  wife  of  Waldo  Sheffer  and  they 
have  an  adopted  son,  Harold,  born  February  21, 
I9IS- 

George  W.  Fahl  has  been  a leading  farmer  and 
business  man  of  Noble  County  for  the  past  fifteen 
years,  and  has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  North- 
ern Indiana.  His  present  home  is  a mile  west  of 
Ligonier  in  Perry  Township. 

Mr.  Fahl  was  born  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana, 
March  19,  1859,  son  of  Tobias  and  Susan  (Orch- 
ard) Fahl,  His  mother  was  born  in  Preble  County, 
Ohio,  and  came  to  Indiana  with  her  parents.  His 
father  was  born  in  Canada,  a son  of  Andrew  Fahl. 
Tobias  Fahl  died  March  10,  1863,  when  his  son 
George  W.  was  only  four  years  old.  There  are 
four  children  living:  Andrew,  of  Goshen;  Solo- 

mon, of  Perry  Township ; George  W. ; and  Louisa, 
wife  of  John  Price. 

George  W.  Fahl  grew  up  in  Elkhart  County,  and 
his  education  was  limited  to  the  district  schools  until 
he  was  ten  years  old.  Since  that  age  he  has  been 
making  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and  in  the  light 
of  early  handicaps  and  adverse  circumstances  his 
progress  has  been  distinctly  creditable.  As  a boy 
he  worked  as  a farm  hand  at  $7  a month.  For  six 
years  he  was  with  S.  F.  Evans,  and  under  him 
learned  how  to  buy  stock. 

On  March  20,  1881,  he  married  Susan  E.  Hire. 
She  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  and  grew  up  in 
the  same  township  as  her  husband.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fahl  settled  on  a farm  in 
Elkhart  County,  but  in  1904  removed  to  Perry  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County.  In  addition  to  farming  his 
eighty  acres  Mr.  Fahl  is  one  of  the  largest  stock- 
holders and  a director,  in  the  Farmers  Mutual  Fire 
& Cyclone  Insurance  Company  of  Elkhart,  and  so- 
licits business  for  this  company  in  Noble  County. 

He  and  his  wife  have  two  children:  June  M., 

born  in  June,  1882,  is  the  wife  of  O.  V.  Borger, 
and  before  her  marriage  was  a successful  teacher. 
Zelda  is  the  wife  of  Ed  Tyler.  Mr.  Fahl  and  fam- 
ily are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and 
he  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Lucius  F.  Crain.  There  is  something  specially 
gratifying  in  having  the  privilege  of  living  on  prop- 
erty which  has  been  in  the  family  for  a number 
of  years.  Such  possession  differentiates  the  owner 
from  those  others  who  are  here  today  and  gone 
tomorrow  and  gives  him  a standing  in  his  com- 
munity as  a stable  man  and  one  who  has  honorable 
and  substantial  ancestors  behind  him.  Such  a citi- 
zen of  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  is  Lucius  F.  Crain 
of  Steuben  Township.  He  was  born  on  his  present 
farm  in  section  36,  November  6,  1873,  a son  of 
James  Madison  Crain. 

James  Madison  Crain  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  New  York,  in  1830,  a son  of  Lucius  Crain,  a 


native  of  Connecticut,  who  was  taken  in  boyhood 
to  the  State  of  New  York  by  his  parents.  Lucius 
Crain  was  married  in  New  York  State  to  Paulina 
Frink,  and  in  1837  he  started  for  Indiana  with  his 
family,  locating  on  land  which  was  a portion  of 
section  36,  Steuben  Township,  Steuben  County.  On 
this  he  erected  a log  cabin,  and  cleared  off  about 
five  acres  of  land,  but  in  1838,  on  account  of  sick- 
ness, he  decided  to  return  to  his  native  state  until 
the  county  was  more  thickly  populated.  He  there- 
fore went  by  team  to  Toledo,  Ohio,  and  thence 
by  boat  back  to  his  old  home.  Two  years  later 
his  father-in-law,  Selah  Frink,  who  had  become  a 
resident  of  Otsego  Township,  Steuben  County,  sent 
him  word  that  it  was  now  safe  for  him  to  return, 
and  the  little  party  once  more  located  in  Steuben 
Township,  where  Lucius  Crain  died  in  1849.  There 
were  five  children  in  his  family.  Of  them  one  was 
James  Madison  Crain,  father  of  Lucius  F.  Crain. 
After  his  father’s  death  James  Madison  Crain  took 
charge  of  the  homestead,  and  became  its  owner.  He 
was  married  to  Margaret  J.  Renner,  a native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  a daughter  of  John  P.  Renner. 
They  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 
Arvilla,  Lucius  and  Wilson.  James  Madison  Crain 
died  in  1896,  having  become  a very  prosperous 
farmer  and  representative  citizen. 

Lucius  F.  Crain  attended  the  Marshall  School 
of  District  No.  7,  Steuben  Township,  and  from 
boyhood  was  taught  to  make  himself  useful,  those 
early  lessons  of  thrift  and  industry  standing  him 
in  good  stead  in  after  years.  When  he  was  old 
enough  he  began  farming  the  homestead,  and  he 
and  his  brother,  Wilson,  succeeded  to  the  family 
property  in  landed  estate  and  have  always  con- 
ducted it  together.  They  are  very  prosperous  in 
their  work,  and  are  engaged  in  general  farming 
and  the  breeding  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  Their  build- 
ings are  modern,  sanitary  and  convenient,  and 
everything  about  the  property  is  kept  in  fine  condi- 
tion. Lucius  Crain  lives  in  Otsego  Township  and 
Wilson  in  Steuben  Township,  the  farms  running 
along  the  township  line  and  aggregating  276  acres. 

In  1905  Lucius  F.  Crain  was  married  to  Rosa 
May  Musser,  a daughter  of  William  and  Catherine 
Musser.  There  are  no  children  of  this  marriage. 
Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crain  are  very  popular  in  their 
neighborhood,  and  delight  in  entertaining  their 
many  friends  at  their  beautiful  rural  home. 

Sterling  J.  Strickland  has  been  a factor  in  busi- 
ness affairs  in  Wolcottville  in  the  lumber  business 
for  a number  of  years  and  is  manager  of  the  Isbell- 
Strickland  Company.  This  is  now  an  extensive 
retail  lumber  business,  with  yards  at  twelve  different 
points  over  Northern  Indiana,  but  the  original  yard 
was  established  at  Wolcottville,  and  Mr.  Strickland 
has  helped  the  business  grow  and  expand  to  its 
present  large  proportions. 

He  was  born  three  miles  south  of  LaGrange  Au- 
gust 28,  1876,  a son  of  James  and  Mary  (Ams- 
baugh)  Strickland,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  They  were 
married  after  coming  to  Indiana  and  then  located  on 
a farm  three  miles  south  of  LaGrange.  James 
Strickland  was  killed  by  a horse  in  1881,  when  his 
son,  Sterling,  was  only  five  years  old.  After  that 
he  lived  with  his  mother,  and  then  went  to  the  home 
of  an  uncle  two  and  a half  miles  northwest  of 
Wolcottville.  After  the  death  of  his  uncle  he  went 
out  to  work  by  the  month,  and  in  the  meantime  ac- 
auired  a more  or  less  substantial  education  in  the 
district  schools.  On  August  25,  1901,  Mr.  Strick- 
land married  Carrie  Gordon.  She  was  born  in  John- 
son Township  of  LaGrange  County,  four  miles  north 
of  Wolcottville,  andjiad  a common  school  education. 

At  the  time  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Strickland  had 


206 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


about  $600  in  capital,  and  he  farmed  as  a renter  for 
three  years.  Then  moving  to  Wolcottville,  he  ran 
a dray  two  years,  and  since  then  has  been  in  the 
lumber  business.  After  three  years,  having  acquired 
a thorough  knowledge  of  the  technical  details  of 
lumbering,  he  was  made  manager  of  the  company 
and  a stockholder.  The  business  is  incorporated 
with  H.  I.  Isbell,  president;  C.  B.  Isbell,  vice  presi- 
dent ; E.  E.  Isbell,  secretary  and  treasurer ; and  S. 

J.  Strickland,  manager. 

Mr.  Strickland  has  two  children,  Alice  and  Leon 

K. ,  the  former  in  high  school  and  the  latter  in 
grammar  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strickland  are 
active  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  and  he 
is  treasurer,  and  both  are  members  of  the  Rebekah 
Lodge,  of  which  Mrs.  Strickland  is  a past  grand, 
and  he  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  484  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  past  grand.  He  is  a 
republican  and  is  at  present  a member  of  the  town- 
ship advisory  board. 

F.  E.  Rhodes  is  president  of  the  Farmers  and 
Merchants  Bank  at  Spencerville,  and  has  long  been 
identified  with  that  community  as  a practical  farmer, 
and  owns  part  of  the  noted  Rhodes  homestead,  which 
has  been  in  the  possession  of  this  family  continu- 
ously since  earliest  pioneer  times. 

Mr.  Rhodes  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  owns 
a mile  and  a quarter  northeast  of  Spencerville,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1868.  He  is  a son  of  Milus  and  Elizabeth 
(Beams)  Rhodes.  His  father  was  born  on  the  same 
farm  February  22,  1838,  and  died  January  16,  1918, 
at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  The  pioneer  was  grand- 
father Daniel  Rhodes,  who  came  from  Ohio  and 
was  numbered  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  in 
Concord  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  He  en- 
tered 160  acres  of  land,  and  that  farm  has  never 
been  in  any  other  ownership  except  the  Rhodes  fam- 
ily and  the  Government.  Daniel  Rhodes  was  a 
democrat.  His  children  were  Daniel,  Newton,  Milus, 
Nancy,  Mary,  Matilda,  Sarah,  Alice,  Manda  and 
Minerva. 

Milus  Rhodes  had  a common  school  education  in 
pioneer  days  and  after  his  marriage  lived  on  the 
home  farm  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  a democrat 
in  politics  and  also  belonged  to  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  had  two  sons,  Ray- 
mond R.,  of  Spencerville,  and  F.  E.  Rhodes. 

F.  E.  Rhodes  is  a well  educated  man.  As  a boy 
on  the  farm  he  attended  district  schools,  also  had 
a high  school  course  and  finished  his  education  in 
the  college  at  Valparaiso.  For  fourteen  terms  he 
was  a teacher.  May  18,  1893,  Mr.  Rhodes  married 
Amanda  Rhodes,  who  was  born  in  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  in  1867.  Her  family  was  not  related  to 
that  of  her  husband.  She  was  educated  in  the 
district  schools. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Rhodes 
lived  at  New  Paris,  Indiana,  where  he  conducted 
a grocery  and  bakery.  Returning  to  DeKalb  County, 
he  taught  for  a time  at  St.  Joe  and  then  took  up 
farming.  He  owns  230  acres,  including  no  acres 
of  the  old  homestead.  His  brother  has  120  acres  of 
the  Rhodes  farm. 

Mr.  Rhodes  has  one  son,  M.  E.  Rhodes,  a grad- 
uate of  high  school,  and  who  married  Verne  Jolly. 
They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  and  he 
is  one  of  the  most  liberal  supporters  and  a deacon. 
Though  an  active  democrat  he  has  never  held  any 
office. 

The  Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank  of  Spencer- 
ville has  the  following  officials : F.  E.  Rhodes, 

president;  L.  B.  Fisher,  vice  president;  C.  G.  Recten- 
wald,  cashier;  W.  A.  Bierbower,  Albert  H.  Peters, 

F.  E.  Rhodes,  Adam  Shilling,  W.  P.  Stewart,  L.  B. 


Fisher,  John  Beninghoof  and  Reuben  Remm,  direc- 
tors. Mr.  Rhodes  is  also  secretary  and  treasurer 
of  the  Township  Shipping  Association. 

William  W.  Loney.  The  present  generation  has 
no  conception  of  what  the  pioneers  of  Steuben 
endured  before  the  wild  land  and  timber  tracts 
were  put  into  suitable  condition  for  raising  crops. 
Not  only  did  the  great  forest  trees  have  to  be  felled 
and  the  prairie  sod  broken,  but  as  transportation 
facilities  were  so  poor  it  was  difficult  to  secure 
what  the  persons  of  today  consider  the  bare  necessi- 
ties of  life.  Markets  were  far  distant  and  mills 
when  found  were  crude  affairs.  It  was  no  unusual 
thing  for  farmers  to  carry  their  grain  across  their 
saddle  in  bags  for  miles  to  the  nearest  mill  and 
then  wait  two  days  for  their  turn  at  the  little 
horse-power  mill,  the  stones  for  which  had  been 
brought  from  some  far-distant  city.  The  earliest 
settlers  came  up  with  Indians,  but  none  of  them 
continued  hostile  after  the  Government  opened  the 
lands  for  entry.  The  pioneers  cleared  off  their  land, 
put  in  crops  and  gradually  developed  their  farms 
until  today  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  more  valuable 
properties  in  this  part  of  the  country  than  those 
in  Northeastern  Indiana.  One  of  the  families  asso- 
ciated with  the  early  history  of  this  section  is  that 
bearing  the  name  of  Loney,  and  a highly  esteemed 
member  of  this  family  is  William  W.  Loney,  a 
farmer  of  Pleasant  Township. 

William  W.  Loney  was  born  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  Indiana,  August  3,  1859,  a 
son  of  Hugh  and  Mary  (Freligh)  Loney.  In  young 
manhood  Hugh  Loney  came  to  Steuben  County, 
locating  in  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  secured  a 
tract  of  wild  land,  and  for  a number  of  years  was 
engaged  in  clearing  and  cultivating  it.  He  was 
engaged  in  this  township  in  farming  the  rest  of  his 
life,  dying  in  August,  1916.  He  and  his  wife  had ' 
the  following  children : Charlotte,  who  is  de- 

ceased ; Charles ; Mary,  who  died  in  childhood ; 
William  W. ; Harriet;  Samuel;  Joseph;  Hugh,  and 
Effie. 

Growing  to  manhood  in  a pleasant  home,  care- 
fully guided  by  watchful  parents,  William  W.  Loney 
acquired  a practical  knowledge  of  farming  and  the 
fundamentals  of  an  education,  attending  during  the 
winter  months  the  district  schools.  Becoming  a 
farmer  on  his  own  account,  Mr.  Loney  rented  land 
for  fifteen  years,  and  then  bought  sixty-six  acres  of 
land  in  Scott  Township  on  which  he  had  been  living 
as  a tenant,  and  remained  there  until  the  fall  of 
1917,  when  he  moved  to  his  present  farm  of  forty 
acres  in  Pleasant  Township,  which  he  owns  in  addi- 
tion to  his  former  farm  in  Scott  Township,  and 
here  he  is  carrying  on  general  farming. 

William  W.  Loney  was  married  to  Florence  Bolin, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Coleman)  Bolin, 
and  they  have  one  son,  Ralph  W.,  who  married 
Florence  Ganoy,  and  they  have  a son,  Homer  D. 
Mr.  Loney  belongs  to  the  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  one 
of  the  highly  esteemed  men  of  his  township,  and 
is  recognized  as  being  strictly  scrupulous  in  all  his 
transactions  and  one  whose  word  is  as  good  as 
another  man’s  bond. 

Rufus  A.  Lantz.  A well  known  and  highly  re- 
spected citizen  of  LaGrange  County,  who  is  success- 
fully carrying  on  farming  and  stock  raising  in  Clay 
Township,  is  Rufus  A.  Lantz,  who  bought  his  present 
well  improved  farm  in  1913.  Mr.  Lantz  was  born 
in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  January  25,  1870. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Lantz  were  David  and  Nancy 
(Wenger)  Lantz,  the  latter  of  whom  survives  and 
lives  at  Topeka,  Indiana.  She  was  born  in  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  in  1852,  and  is  a daugh- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


207 


ter  of  Joseph  and  Leah  (Hartzler)  Wenger,  who 
were  pioneers  in  Indiana.  They  stopped  for  a time 
in  Elkhart  County,  but  later  moved  to  LaGrange 
County  and  located  permanently  in  Clear  Spring 
Township,  where  Mr.  Wenger  died  in  1891.  His 
widow  survived  until  1917,  passing  away  at  the  ven- 
erable age  of  ninety-two  years.  They  were  fine 
people  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  kind,  charitable, 
industrious  and  thrifty.  David  Lantz,  father  of 
Rufus  A.,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1844  and  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in  his 
childhood.  He  owned  a farm  in  Noble  County,  from 
which  he  moved  to  Topeka,  in  1893,  and  his  death  oc- 
curred in  that  city  in  1894.  In  his  early  political  life 
he  was  a democrat,  but  later  became  a republican. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  belonged  to  the  Mennonite 
faith.  They  had  a family  of  six  children  born  to 
them,  as  follows : Rufus  A. ; Salina,  widow  of  Solo- 
mon Kurtz;  Jesse,  Joseph,  Vernon  and  Blanche. 

During  boyhood  and  youth  Rufus  A.  Lantz  resided 
in  Noble  County,  where  he  received  a good  com- 
mon school  education.  He  then  embarked  in  the 
restaurant  business  and  conducted  a first  class  res- 
taurant at  LaGrange  for  two  years,  removing  then 
to  East  Chicago,  in  Lake  County,  where  he  contin- 
ued in  the  same  business  for  seven  years,  going  then 
to  Crown  Point,  Indiana,  where  he  operated  a 
restaurant  for  two  years,  making  eleven  years  in  all 
in  that  line  of  business.  During  this  time  Mr.  Lantz 
met  many  people  of  public  note  and  formed  a very 
wide  acquaintance.  He  came  to  Newbury  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  after  retiring  from  the 
restaurant  business,  but  later  sold  the  forty  acres  he 
had  purchased,  and  in  1913  came  to  Clay  Township 
and  bought  eighty  acres,  which  constitutes  his  pres- 
ent farm.  This  is  valuable,  well  improved  land  and 
Mr.  Lantz  is  making  his  agricultural  industries 
profitable. 

In  1895  Mr.  Lantz  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Prough,  a daughter  of  Harvey  C.  and  Margaret 
(Hoffman)  Prough,  the  latter  of  whom  is  deceased, 
Mr.  Prough  making  his  home  with  his  daughter, 
Mrs.  Franklin  Lupoid.  The  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Lantz,  John  Prough,  was  known  as  “Coon”  Prough 
because  of  his  many  hunting  exploits  in  very  early 
days  in  this  section.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lantz  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Shipshewana, 
Indiana.  Mr.  Lantz  is  a zealous  republican  and  an 
earnest  citizen,  but  he  never  desired  any  political 
office. 

Albert  H.  Peters.  One  of  the  most  influential 
business  men  and  farmers  of  Jackson  Township  in 
DeKalb  County  is  Albert  H.  Peters,  who  has  spent 
his  life  in  this  county  and  has  been  known  from 
early  manhood  as  a capable  worker  and  industrious 
and  substantial  citizen. 

His  parents,  Ernest  and  Rickey  (Gael)  Peters, 
came  from  Germany  to  America  in  1872  and  settled 
in  DeKalb  County.  They  were  the  parents  of  six 
children:  Albert  H. ; Charles;  Fred,  deceased; 

Sarah,  wife  of  John  Dannenberg;  Edward;  and 
Freda,  wife  of  William  Habig,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Albert  H.  Peters  was  born  in  DeKalb  County 
February  3,  1875,  was  educated  in  the  district  schools 
of  Jackson  Township,  and  began  life  as  a farm 
laborer.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  was  elected 
constable  of  Jackson  Township,  and  held  that  office 
for  eight  years. 

April  11,  1900,  he  married  Della  Kester,  a daugh- 
ter of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Shilling)  Kester.  They 
have  one  child,  June  B.,  born  June  19,  1912.  Mr. 
Peters  owns  a fine  farm  of  ninety  acres.  He  is  also 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants 
State  Bank  at  Spencerville,  having  been  on  the 
board  since  the  organization  of  the  bank.  He  is 


a member  of  the  Lutheran  Evangelical  Church. 
Mrs.  Peters  died  May  24,  1918. 

Elmer  A.  Green.  The  ordinary,  everyday  men, 
engaged  in  the  vocations  which  bring  daily  bread, 
are  the  true  representatives  of  the  nation’s  citizen- 
ship. Such  a man  is  the  normal  type,  and  to  it 
the  community  looks  for  support.  The  great  men 
of  their  age  do  achieve  distinction,  but  after  all 
their  success  depends  upon  the  support  given  them 
by  the  rank  and  file,  just  as  no  general  ever  won 
a battle  unless  his  soldiers  were  behind  him.  As  it 
is  in  military  life,  so  is  it  in  those  tactics  which 
have  to  do  with  the  operation  of  business  activities. 
The  people  of  the  country  and  of  the  whole  world 
are  beginning  to  realize  this  and  to  accord  to  their 
citizens,  past  and  present,  the  credit  due  to  those 
who  were  content  to  pursue  the  ordinary  tenor  of 
their  way  and  do  their  full  duty  in  the  walk  of 
life  to  which  the  capabilities  called  them.  One 
of  these  men,  whose  straightforward  and  honorable 
life  points  the  way  in  which  others  should  walk, 
was  the  late  Elmer  A.  Green,  for  many  years  a 
prosperous  agriculturalist  of  Pleasant  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana. 

Elmer  A.  Green  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township, 
Steuben  County,  February  28,  1864,  a son  of  Marvin 
Green,  and  grandson  of  John  Green  and  his  wife, 
Louisa  (Culver)  Green.  There  were  two  children 
born  to  John  Green  and  his  first  wife,  namely: 
George  and  Marvin,  and  then  she  died  June  27, 
1835,  and  he  was  later  married  second  to  Diantha 
Olin.  The  children  of  his  second  marriage  were 
as  follows : Francis,  who  served  as  a soldier  during 
the  Civil  war,  died  at  Murfreesboro,  Tennessee, 
Henry,  Amos,  Martha,  Eliza,  Emory  and  Allen.  In 
1836  John  Green  located  in  Jamestown  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  where  he  entered  land  in 
section  36,  moving  his  family  thereon  in  September, 
1837.  Here  he  died  February  7,  1865.  Until  the 
organization  of  the  republican  party,  whose  prin- 
ciples coincided  with  his  own  views,  John  Green 
was  a whig,  but  from  1856  voted  the  straight  re- 
publican ticket.  The  Baptist  faith  had  in  him  an 
earnest  supporter,  and  he  belonged  to  the  local 
church  of  that  denomination. 

During  1849  Marvin  Green,  son  of  John  Green, 
came  to  Steuben  County,  at  first  stopping  in  Scott 
Township,  but  moving  from  there  to  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. Still  later  he  moved  back  to  Scott  Township, 
where  he  lived  until  he  retired  from  the  arduous 
labors  of  farming,  at  which  time  he  settled  perma- 
nently at  Fremont,  where  he  died.  Marvin  Green 
was  married  in  Medina  County,  Ohio,  to  Flora 
Jones,  born  in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows : Lewis,  Ella,  Emma,  Elmer, 
Sarah,  Matilda,  Berton  and  Charles.  A hard  work- 
ing thrifty  man,  Marvin  Green  became  prosperous 
and  he  was  also  one  of  the  highly  respected  men  of 
his  community. 

The  late  Elmer  A.  Green  spent  his  life  in  farm- 
ing, and  was  eminently  successful  in  that  line  of 
endeavor.  His  first  experience  was  gained  in  Scott 
Township,  but  in  1886  be  moved  to  Fremont  Town- 
ship, where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for  three 
years.  In  1889  he  returned  to  Scott  Township  and 
lived  there  until  1905,  when  he  bought  a farm  of 
146  acres  of  land  in  Pleasant  Township,  in  section 
13,  on  which  he  continued  to  do  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  until  his  death  July  31,  1916. 

Elmer  A.  Green  was  married  to  Christie  Slick, 
born  in  Salem  Township,  Steuben  County,  Novem- 
ber 5,  1864,  a daughter  of  Hollister  and  Lovina 
(Shaffstall)  Slick,  and  their  children  were  as  fol- 
lows : Leslie  H. ; Lizzie  Pearl,  who  died  in  child- 

hood; and  Freddie  J.  Mr.  Green  was  president  of 


208 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


the  advisory  board  of  Pleasant  Township  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  was  otherwise  prominent,  his 
loss  being  felt  as  a public  calamity.  In  addition  to 
the  farm  which  he  left  his  family,  Mrs.  Green  owns 
forty  acres  of  land,  so  she  and  her  sons  have  two 
adjoining  farms  along  the  Angola  and  Fremont 
road,  about  two  and  one-half  miles  from  Angola. 
These  properties  have  excellent  buildings  on  them 
and  are  well  improved.  Since  the  demise  of  Mr. 
Green  Mrs.  Green  and  her  sons  have  conducted 
these  farms.  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  better 
or  more  representative  people  than  the  Greens,  and 
their  location  in  Steuben  County  was  a decided 
acquisition  for  this  section,  for  those  bearing  the 
name  have  always  been  upright  and  public-spirited, 
and  their  example  has  proved  a stimulus  to  further 
industry  and  good  citizenship. 

Uriah  M.  Miller.  A representative  citizen  and 
excellent  farmer  of  Clay  Township  is  found  in 
Uriah  M.  Miller,  whose  well  cultivated  farm  indi- 
cates careful  management  with  profitable  returns. 
Mr.  Miller  is  one  of  the  best  known  residents  of 
LaGrange  County,  where  almost  all  of  his  life  has 
been  spent.  He  was  born  in  Missouri,  June  3>  1^72, 
and  was  but  four  months  old  when  brought  to  this 
county  by  his  parents,  Moses  P.  and  Eva  (Hostett- 
ler)  Miller,  further  mention  of  whom  will  be  found 
in  this  work. 

When  Uriah  M.  Miller  was  four  years_  old  his 
parents  moved  from  Eden  to  Clay  Township.  Here 
he  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  well  trained  in 
agricultural  industries,  and  obtained  a public  school 
education.  Since  then  in  addition  to  carrying  on 
general  farming  and  stockraising  for  twenty-six 
seasons  he  has  engaged  in  threshing.  After  leaving 
home  he  operated  first  the  old  Robertson  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  next  the  farm  where  John  Troyer  lives, 
then  the  farm  owned  by  Orvin  Troyer,  known  as  the 
Jacob  Rowan  farm.  In  1907  he  bought  the  Parker 
farm,  which  is  his  present  home  place.  Mr.  Miller 
has  eighty  acres,  only  fifteen  acres  having  been 
cleared  when  he  purchased  the  property,  and  he  has 
put  up  first  class  buildings  and  made  many  substan- 
tial improvements. 

In  1893  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to  Miss  Barbara 
Kauffman,  who  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  February  5,  1876.  Her  father, 
Tobias  Kauffman,  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1827,  and  died 
in  Indiana  in  1881.  He  came  when  a young  man  to 
LaGrange  County,  and  was  married  here  to  Bar- 
bara Hershberger,  a daughter  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Lehman)  Hershberger,  who  were  pioneer  set- 
tlers in  Newbury  Township.  The  mother  of  Mrs. 
Miller  died  in  February,  1876.  Mrs.  Miller  was  the 
eighth  in  a family  of  eight  children,  the  others  being 
as  follows:  Daniel  C.  and  John,  both  of  whom  are 

deceased;  Samuel,  who  resides  at  Middlebury; 
Elizabeth,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mary  Ann,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Jonas  Yoder;  Rudolph,  who  is  deceased; 
and  Abram,  who  is  in  the  grocery  business  at  Goshen, 
Indiana. 

To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  the  following  children 
have  been  born : Mary  Ellen,  who  lived  one  year, 

one  month  and  one  day ; Mabel  Edith,  who  passed 
away  in  1918,  when  aged  twenty-one  years  and  ten 
months;  Susie  Elmira,  who  completed  the  eighth 
grade  at  school  and  now  assists  her  mother ; Irma 
Elizabeth,  who  is  a member  of  the  junior  class  in 
the  Shipshewana  High  School ; Elva  Adeline,  who 
is  also  a student  in  the  above  school ; and  Fanny 
Elnora,  Daniel  Truman,  Eva  Arlene,  Uriah  Bernon, 
all  of  whom  are  attending  the  public  schools.  Mr. 
Miller  and  his  family  are  of  the  Mennonite  faith. 
In  politics  he  is  a democrat.  He  is  known  as  an 


honest,  upright  man,  good  farmer  and  trustworthy 
citizen. 

Reuben  E.  Borntrager.  LaGrange  County  has 
been  the  scene  of  some  of  the  most  profitable  agri- 
cultural activity  this  part  of  Indiana  has  known, 
for  the  farmers  who  own  its  broad  acres  have 
known  how  to  make  their  land  produce  banner 
crops,  and  taking  a pride  in  their  properties  have 
not  hesitated  to  expend  considerable  time  and  money 
upon  improving  them  according  to  modern  ideas. 
One  of  the  men  who  is  justly  accounted  as  belong- 
ing to  the  best  class  of  farmers  of  this  region  is 
Reuben  E.  Borntrager  of  Newbury  Township.  He 
was  born  in  Clinton  Township,  Elkhart  County,  In- 
diana, July  13,  1852,  and  the  following  year  was 
brought  to  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
by  his  parents. 

Growing  up  in  LaGrange  County,  Reuben  E.  Born- 
trager here  learned  how  to  be  a practical  farmer 
and  acquired  the  fundamentals  of  a common  school 
education  in  the  neighborhood  schools.  As  he 
earned  money  he  invested  it  in  land,  and  now  owns 
301)4  acres  in  Newbury  Township,  and  at  one  time 
also  owned  320  acres  in  Kansas.  Mr.  Borntrager 
was  a general  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  one  of 
the  substantial  men  of  his  neighborhood.  He  is  a 
Mennonite  in  his  religious  faith. 

In  1872  Mr.  Borntrager  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Elizabeth  Yoder,  a daughter  of  Joseph  Yoder, 
an  early  settler  of  LaGrange  County,  now  deceased. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Borntrager  became  the  parents  of 
children  as  follows:  Anna,  who  is  the  wife  of 

David  Shrock,  and  has  two  children,  Polly  and 
Elizabeth;  Joseph  R.,  who  married  Magdalena 
Schlabach,  has  the  following  children:  Fannie, 

David,  Samuel,  William,  Amanda,  Lizzie,  Polly, 
Mattie  and  Daniel.  Daniel  R.,  who  married  Millie 
Winyard,  who  died  leaving  two  children,  Lizzie  and 
Annie,  and  he  married  second  Gertie  Eash,  a daugh- 
ter of  Tobias  Eash,  of  Eden  Township,  their  chil- 
dren being  Mary  and  Abraham ; Manassas,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years ; Polly,  who  is 
the  wife  of  William  Miller,  has  the  following  chil- 
dren : Lizzie,  Sam,  David,  Millie  and  Amanda 

(twins),  Anna,  Levi,  Nettie  and  Wilma;  David, 
who  married  Lydia  Christner,  has  the  following 
children  : Amanda,  Levi,  Amos,  Lizzie ; Abraham, 

who  died  in  October,  1918,  aged  twenty-eight  years, 
left  a widow  whose  maiden  name  was  Susie  Christ- 
ner, and  the  following  children:  Millie,  Amos,  Har- 

ley and  Abraham ; Levi,  who  married  Anna  Christ- 
ner, a sister  of  the  wife  of  David  Borntrager,  has 
a daughter,  Edna  May;  and  Edward,  who  married 
Mabel  Hostetler,  but  has  no  children. 

After  many  years  of  hard  work  in  1915  Mr.  Born- 
trager felt  that  he  was  entitled  to  a little  rest,  and 
so  relinquished  his  active  supervision  of  the  affairs 
of  his  farm,  although  he  is  still  interested  in  keep- 
ing up  the  improvements.  He  is  a man  who  has 
always  stood  very  high  in  the  public  esteem  and  is 
recognized  as  upright  and  sincere  and  one  who  car- 
ries his  religion  into  his  everyday  life. 

Joshua  Showalter,  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Union  army,  who  also  had  a son  in  the  recent 
great  war,  has  lived  in  Steuben  County  sixty-five 
years.  He  went  from  this  county  into  the  army, 
and  on  his  return  took  up  the  duties  of  civil  life, 
mainly  farming,  which  he  has  followed  for  half 
a century.  He  is  still  living  at  his  rural  home  in 
Pleasant  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  November 
2,  1840,  a son  of  Michael  and  Mary  (Welpmore) 
Showalter,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  latter  of  Virginia.  Michael  Showalter 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


209 


brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County  in  1854, 
locating  on  a farm  in  section  12  of  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. He  was  in  comfortable  circumstances,  owning 
250  acres,  and  lived  in  that  locality  until  his  death. 
Plis  children  were : Elizabeth,  Solomon,  Simon, 

Joshua,  Hiram,  Mary,  Jacob,  Wesley  and  Sarah. 

Joshua  Showalter  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Steuben  County.  Prior  to  that  he  had 
attended  district  schools  in  his  native  county  of 
Ohio.  In  Pleasant  Township  he  completed  his  edu- 
cation in  the  Pleasant  Hill  school.  He  was  not  yet 
twenty-one  when  in  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in 
Company  A of  the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry. 
He  saw  four  years  of  active  service,  receiving  his 
honorable  discharge  in  September,  1865.  He  was  in 
the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing  and 
Stone  River,  in  the  terrible  fighting  at  Chickamauga, 
and  in  various  skirmishes  in  Tennessee  and  Georgia. 
When  he  left  the  army  he  worked  at  the  carpenter’s 
trade  for  three  years  and  since  then  has  been  stead- 
ily identified  with  agricultural  pursuits.  He  bought 
a place  in  Pleasant  Township  and  now  has  forty- 
seven  acres  of  fertile  and  nicely  situated  land  on  the 
east  side  of  the  first  basin  of  Lake  James.  He  has 
lived  on  his  present  farm  since  1895.  Mr.  Sho- 
walter is  an  honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic. 

In  1871  he  married  Amelia  Musselwhite.  She  was 
born  in  London,  a daughter  of  John  Musselwhite. 
To  that  marriage  were  born  five  children:  Alice, 

who  died  in  childhood,  Albert,  Freeman,  Medie  and 
Edith.  In  1885  Mr.  Showalter  married  Ella  Wilsey, 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Lint)  Wilsey. 
They  became  the  parents  of  six  children : Ruth, 

Onia,  Michael,  Ira,  Lena  and  Frederick.  Ira  is  the 
soldier  son  of  the  family,  being  a member  of  Bat- 
tery B of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Fourteenth  Field 
Artillery  in  the  Eightieth  Division.  For  a number 
of  months,  1918-19,  he  was  with  the  American  Ex- 
peditionary Forces  in  France. 

John  P.  Smith.  The  citizenship  of  Clay  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  is  made  up  of  many  fine 
men,  not  all  of  whom  have  had  great  advantages  in 
youth,  and  there  are  some  who  have  earned  all  they 
own  in  middle  life  through  their  own  unassisted 
efforts.  One  of  the  substantial  farmers  here  of  the 
latter  class  is  John  P.  Smith,  who  is  well  known 
all  over  the  county.  Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Clear 
Spring  Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in 
1873. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Smith  were  George  and  Mary 
(Lint)  Smith,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in 
1849  and  the  latter  in  1846,  both  in  Clear  Spring 
Township.  The  paternal  grandfather,  John  P. 
Smith,  married  a Miss  Murray,  and  their  home 
throughout  life  was  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  and 
there  the  father,  George  Smith,  was  born  and  at 
one  time  owned  a farm  there.  In  later  years  he 
moved  to  Van  Buren  Township  and  died  there  in 
1899.  His  widow  survived  until  June,  1919.  They 
had  six  children,  namely:  Jennie,  Mina,  John  P., 

Frank  M.,  Melvin  and  Grace.  Frank  M.  was  killed 
by  a stroke  of  lightning  in  1907. 

After  his  school  attendance  was  over  John  P. 
Smith  made  himself  useful  on  the  home  place  and 
■then  started  out  for  himself  as  a farmer.  He  rented 
land  in  several  townships  and  gained  the  reputation 
of  being  a wise  farmer  and  good  judge  of  stock.  It 
was  in  1907  that  he  felt  prepared  to  invest  in  a farm 
of  his  own,  in  that  year  purchasing  the  150  acres 
where  he  lives  in  Clay  Township.  For  some,  years 
he  devoted  himself  to  raising  grain  but  now  carries 
on  a general  farming  line  and  has  been  unusually 
successful.  He  has  always  worked  hard  and  has 
justly  earned  his  present  financial  independence. 

Vol.  11—14 


In  1896  Mr.  Smith  was  married  to  Miss  Ada 
Keasey,  who  died  in  1898,  leaving  a son,  Howard, 
who  lives  with  his  father.  In  1900  Mr.  Smith  was 
married  to  Miss  Edith  Swank,  no  children  being 
born  to  Mr.  Smith’s  second  union.  In  politics  he 
is  a democrat.  He  belongs  to  the  order  of  Macca- 
bees. 

JamEts  M.  Toder.  A number  of  the  important  dis- 
tinctions of  country  life  belong  to  the  Yoder  fam- 
ily, the  head  of  which  is  James  M.  Yoder  of  New- 
bury Township,  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  Yoder  owns 
a large  and  fine  farm  in  that  township,  is  a general 
farmer  and  also  a successful  peppermint  grower. 
He  has  some  sturdy  sons  who  are  well  fitted  to 
become  successors  to  their  father  in  the  role  of 
agriculture,  and  the  prize  winning  efforts  of  the 
Yoder  boys  are  widely  known  over  Northeast  In- 
diana. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  near  his  present  home  Au- 
gust 29,  1873.  He  is  a son  of  Noah  C.  and  Mary 
M.  (Lambright)  Yoder  and  a grandson  of  Christian 
C.  Yoder,  who  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  29,  1819.  Christian  married  Catherine 
Harshberger  on  June  27,  1841.  She  was  a daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Barbara  (Summey)  Harshbergdr. 
Christian  C.  Yoder  went  to  Elkhart  County,  In- 
diana, in  1843,  and  in  March,  1851,  moved  his  home 
to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  Noah 
C.  Yoder  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  and  was  a boy 
when  the  family  came  to  LaGrange  County.  He 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  Newbury  Township, 
where  he  reared  a family.  He  died  in  1897,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-three.  His  efforts  brought  him  the 
ownership  of  320  acres.  He  and  his  wife  were 
active  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His  widow, 
still  living,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  a daugh- 
ter of  Peter  Lambright.  The  children  of  Noah 
\ oder  and  wife  were:  Albert  C.,  a physician  at 

Goshen;  James  M. ; Sylvia  A.,  widow  of  Samuel  F. 
Nelson ; and  Rolland  Otis,  of  Indianapolis. 

James  M.  Yoder  received  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  be- 
came a farm  worker  at  monthly  wages  for  Rollin 
Ellison.  He  was  with  Mr.  Ellison  for  five  years, 
and  under  him  acquired  much  valuable  knowledge 
of  farming.  He  then  returned  home  and  began 
operating  the  homestead,  and  has  lived  there  ever 
since.  He  is  individually  the  owner  of  270  acres, 
has  remodeled  the  buildings  and  has  put  in  many 
improvements.  For  the  past  twelve  years  he  has 
devoted  part  of  his  land  to  the  culture  of  pepper- 
mint. The  Yoder  farm  is  a model  country  place, 
the  house  having  such  city  equipments  as  electric 
lights,  steam  heat  and  hot  and  cold  water. 

Mr.  Yoder  married  Ella  Large  in  1894.  She  is  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  E.  and  Jane  (Reickard)  Large. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  \oder  and  all  their  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Congregational  Church  at  Shipshewana. 
A brief  record  of  their  family  is  as  follows : Charles 
Fred,  who  married  Bertha  Nelson,  and  they  have 
two  children,  Charles  Fred,  Jr.,  and  Janette ; 'Mabel, 
who  is  a teacher  and  student;  Antoinette,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Lester  Oesch ; Dewey  Dwavne,  who  was  an 
enlisted  member  of  the  Students  ’ Army  Training 
Corps  at  Angola  during  the  war  and  is  now  con- 
tinuing his  studies  in  the  Tri-State  College  there; 
Rollin  Albert,  who  was  also  in  the  Students  Army 
Training  Corps  at  Angola;  and  James  Willard. 

Since  the  organization  of  the  LaGrange  Corn 
School  each  of  the  \oder  boys  has  entered  corn 
or  other  exhibits  and  each  has  been  awarded  prizes 
and  honors.  Charles  Fred  has  been  a prize  win- 
ner every  year  he  has  entered  and  has  won  three 
scholarships  to  Purdue  University.  Dewey  Dwayne 


210 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


has  also  been  successful  at  every  entry  he  has  made 
and  was  given  a twelve  weeks’  scholarship  at  Val- 
paraiso University,  and  in  1913  at  LaGrange  received 
the  silver  cup  as  the  first  prize  for  scoring  corn. 
Rollin  Albert  has  been  honored  for  his  work  in 
scoring  and  in  raising  corn,  while  James  W.  was 
given  a prize  for  an  original  essay  and  also  for  a 
corn  exhibit  and  corn  scoring. 

David  F.  Clink.  Many  winters  and  summers 
have  come  and  gone  since  the  Clink  family  estab- 
lished itself  in  Steuben  County.  David  F.  Clink, 
son  of  the  settler  of  over  sixty  years  ago,  is  living 
on  the  farm  in  Steuben  Township  where  he  was 
born,  and  his  own  part  has  been  that  of  an  indus- 
trious and  capable  farmer,  thus  continuing  the  hon- 
orable record  of  the  family. 

His  father,  John  R.  Clink,  was  born  in  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  April  23,  1836,  a son  of  George  and 
Catherine  (Smith)  Clink,  both  natives  of  Germany. 
George  Clink  came  to  the  United  States  with  his 
parents  when  twelve  years  of  age,  lived  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  afterward  in  Sandusky  County,  where 
he  and  his  wife  died.  John  R.  Clink  came  to  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana,  in  the  spring  of  1855,  and  five 
years  later  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  36  of 
Steuben  Township.  He  lived  in  the  log  cabin  that 
stood  on  the  land,  and  had  a log  barn,  the  latter 
being  replaced  in  1867  by  a large  frame  barn.  The 
home  was  built  in  1873,  and  at  that  time  was  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  in  the  township.  He  did 
much  as  a horticulturist,  setting  out  a large  number 
of  apple,  cherry  and  peach  trees  and  other  small 
fruits.  The  last  few  years  of  his  life  John  R. 
Clink  spent  in  Ashley,  where  he  died  November  20, 
1911.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  old  home  with 
her  son  David.  Her  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
Ritter.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
April  15,  1834,  a daughter  of  Henry  Ritter,  a native 
of  Pennsylvania,  who  came  to  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, in  1851  and  was  "a  pioneer  settler  on  section 
8 of  Steuben  Township. 

David  F.  Clink  was  one  of  the  seven  children  of 
his  parents,  their  names  being  George  H.,  Ezra  E., 
Charles  K.,  Clara  B.,  Cora  E.,  David  F.  and  Fred- 
erick J. 

David  Clink  attended  the  public  schools  of  Steu- 
ben Township,  also  those  of  the  Village  at  Hudson, 
and  began  his  career  as  a farmer  with  his  father. 
He  spent  one  year  railroading  with  the  Wabash 
Railroad  Company  and  for  three  years  worked  in 
the  northern  jvoods.  Since  1909  he  has  given  all  his 
time  to  farming  the  old  homestead.  December  26, 
1906,  Mr.  Clink  married  Lena  Johnson,  a daughter 
of  A.  B.  and  Mary  (Slaybaugh)  Johnson.  Her 
father  died  in  1902  and  her  mother  in  1904.  A.  B. 
Johnson  came  to  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty about  fifty-five  years  ago,  when  a boy,  with  his 
father,  and  later  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  spent 
most  of  his  life.  The  three  children  of  A.  B.  John- 
son and  wife  were  Alsines  B.,  Lena  and  Hannah. 
Mr.  arid  Mrs.  Clink  have  two  children,  John  Ray- 
mond and  Edwin  Willis.  Mr.  Clink  is  affiliated  with 
the  Loyal  Order  of  Moose  and  his  wife  is  active  in 
the  Christian  Church  at  Ashley. 

Charles  W.  Slack.  Perhaps  no  family  in  La- 
Grange  County  is  better  known  than  the  Slacks, 
for  they  have  been  here  many  years  and  have  been 
good  people,  excellent  farmers  and  useful  citizens. 
Charles  W.  Slack,  who  is  engaged  in  farming  and 
stockraising  in  Clay  Township,  is  a grandson  of 
Isaac  Slack,  who  came  here  sixty-seven  years  ago. 

Charles  W.  Slack  was  born  at  LaGrange,  Indiana, 
September  12,  1868,  the  eldest  of  four  children  born 
to  William  J.  and  Lucy  P.  (Preston)  Slack.  Wil- 


liam J.  Slack  was  born  in  Northumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1845,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Ann  F. 
(Sawyer)  Slack,  who  came  to  LaGrange  County  in 
1852.  They  settled  first  in  Johnson  Township,  then 
owned  a farm  in  Van  Buren  Township  and  later  the 
farm  in  Clay  Township,  now  the  property  of  Samuel 
Yoder.  Isaac  Slack  and  wife  died  there,  the  former 
May  29,  1890.  William  J.  Slack  was  married  Octo- 
ber 15,  1867,  to  Lucy  P.  Preston,  who  was  born  in 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  October  27,  1848.  Her 

parents  were  John  and  Fidelia  (Waldo)  Preston, 
who  came  to  LaGrange  County  May  15,  1850.  Wil- 
liam J.  Slack  and  wife  lived  at  LaGrange  until  1877, 
and  then  moved  to  a farm  in  Clay  Township.  The 
father  was  accidentally  killed  on  a bridge  near  La- 
Grange June  18,  1888.  The  mother  of  Charles  W. 
Slack  survived  until  December  28,  1916.  They  had 
the  following  children : Charles  W. ; Grace  M.,  who 
married  John  F.  Boesinger ; Harry  C.,  who  mar- 
ried Clara  A.  Porter;  and  Newton  W.,  who  married 
May  Griffin,  of  North  Yakima,  Washington.  The 
father  was  a republican  in  his  political  views.  Both 
parents  belonged  to  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Charles  W.  Slack  attended  school  for  one  term  in 
the  oldest  schoolhouse  at  LaGrange,  and  after  the 
family  moved  to  the  farm  in  Clay  Township  he  at- 
tended the  country  schools.  He  has  devoted  him- 
self to  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life.  In  1902 
he  bought  his  present  well  improved  farm  of  thirty- 
one  acres  in  Clay  Township  and  established  him- 
self there  in  September  of  that  year.  He  carries 
on  general  farming  and  raises  stock. 

Mr.  Slack  was  married  on  February  1,  1891,  to 
Mary  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  February  11,  1870,  a daughter  of  John  Fred- 
erick, and  Caroline  (Walter)  Smith.  The  mother  of 
Mrs.  Slack  was  born  at  Alstadt,  Germany,  May  7, 
1840,  and  died  in  De  Kalb  County,  Indiana,  March 
10,  1888.  The  father  was  also  born  in  Germany,  No- 
vember 17,  1833,  and  came  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  later  coming  to 
Bloomfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  where  he 
died  in  1891.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Slack  have  three  chil- 
dren, namely : Harley,  Ora  and  Vivian  M.,  the 

youngest  of  whom  was  born  October  23,  1909.  The 
eldest,  Harley  Slack,  was  born  February  18,  1892. 
He  completed  the  high  school  course  and  afterward 
entered  Purdue  University.  He  married  Miss  Mabel 
Gottschalk.  Ora  Slack,  the  second  son,  who  has 
just  been  welcomed  home  from  overseas  military 
service  in  the  World  war,  was  born  in  September, 
1893,  and  was  graduated  from  the  eighth  grade  in 
the  public  schools.  On  November  22,  1917,  he  an- 
swered the  call  to  war  service,  went  to  Camp  Custer 
and  from  there  to  Waco,  Texas,  for  training,  and  on 
February  18,  1918,  left  for  France  .with  a contingent 
of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  and  landed 
at  Brest  March  4,  1918.  He  served  as  a member  of 
Company  F,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Sixth  In- 
fantry, was  transferred  to  Company  I,  One  Hun- 
dred and  Twenty-Eighth  Infantry,  took  part  in  all 
the  battles  of  his  division  with  American  bravery, 
but  rejoiced  to  return  home  when  the  war  was  over, 
crossed  the  Atlantic  on  the  George  Washington  and 
was  safely  landed  in  New  York  harbor  May  5,  1919, 
and  was  honorably  discharged  at  Camp  Custer  May 
17,  1919.  This  young  hero’s  name  should  appear  on 
Indiana’s  roll  of  honor.  He  has  resumed  work  at 
the  carpenter  trade  as  a finisher. 

Mr.  Slack  is  somewhat  independent  in  his  political 
views  but  usually  votes  the  republican  ticket.  He 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  order  of 
Maccabees. 

/ 

Charles  Henry  Bangs,  of  the  Bangs  homestead 
in  Richland  Township,  DeKalb  County,  is  a member 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


211 


of  “The  Edward  Bangs  Descendants,”  one  of  the 
colonial  families  which  traces  its  lineage  back  to 
1297,  at  which  time  the  early  English  records  show 
the  crossing  of  the  family  from  France  to  England. 
They  lived  there  until  their  descendant,  Edward 
Bangs,  came  to  America  to  establish  the  new  branch 
in  1623.  The  early  church  records  of  England  in- 
dicate the  same  family  tendency  as  shown  in  its 
history  in  America,  that  of  following  the  learned 
professions.  “The  Edward  Bangs  Descendants” 
numbers  among  its  members  such  celebrities  as 
John  Kendrick  Bangs,  Governor  Eugene  Foss,  Pro- 
fessor Francis  S.  Bangs  of  Columbia  University; 
Congressmen  Foss  and  Ireland,  George  D.  Bangs, 
superintendent  of  the  Pinkerton  Detective  Agency 
whose  father,  in  the  same  capacity,  planned  and 
carried  out  the  protection  of  Abraham  Lincoln  on 
that  first  momentous  trip  to  Washington,  together 
with  many  other  notables  in  the  professions.  The 
American  lineage  in  brief  is  as  follows : 

Edward  Bangs,  born  in  Chichester,  England,  1591, 
died  at  Eastham,  Massachusetts,  1678.  He  came  to 
America  in  “Ye  Goode  Ship  Anne”  in  July,  1623; 
settled  at  Plymouth  and  superintended  the  building 
of  the  first  bark  there;  was  made  a freeman  in 
1633 ; settled  at  Eastham,  Cape  Cod,  1644 ; town 
treasurer,  1646-1665;  selectman  and  deputy  to 
Colony  Court,  1652.  Was  married  first  to  Lydia, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Margaret  Hickes,  and  sec- 
ond to  Rebecca. 

Jonathan,  sea  captain,  second  son  of  Edward,  born 
1640,  married  July  16,  1664,  Mary  Mayo.  Seal  of 
early  ancestors  used  and  still  preserved. 

Captain  Samuel,  fourth  child  of  Captain  Jonathan, 
born  at  Harwick,  Massachusetts,  July  12,  1680,  died 
June  11,  1750,  married  first  January  13,  1703,  Mary 
Hinckley,  daughter  of  Samuel  H.  She  died  Jan- 
uary 7,  1741,  at  Harwick;  married  second  Widow 
Mary  Rider,  April  1,  1742,  leaving  one  son. 

David  Bangs,  third  child  of  Samuel,  born  March 
29,  1709,  at  Harwick,  married  Eunice  Stone,  daugh- 
ter of  Rev.  Nathaniel  Stone,  son-in-law  of  Gov- 
ernor Thomas  Hinckley.  Moved  to  Wilmington, 
Windham  County,  Vermont,  where  he  died  in  April, 
1803,  aged  ninety-four  years.  His  wife,  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  1721,  went  to  see  her  sixteen  sons  enlist 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  At  death  she  was  aged 
one  hundred  and  four  years  and  nine  months. 

Azariah  Bangs,  sixth  child  of  David  B.,  was  born 
April  8,  1740. 

Nathaniel  Bangs,  son  of  Azariah,  was  born  May 
4,  1770,  died  at  Bakersville,  Vermont,  January  14, 
1867,  carpenter,  cabinetmaker,  millwright.  Children 
of  his  first  marriage  were : Amos  Parker,  born 

December  29,  1794,  died  September  21,  1856,  and 
Azariah,  born  December  7,  1797,  died  March  7,  1875. 
Married  second  Judah  Elwell,  having  two  children. 
Sally  Georgia  Lyons,  born  September  26,  1809,  died 
December  10,  1893 ; and  Heman.  The  mother  was 
drowned  in  the  Erie  canal  at  Lockport,  New  York, 
while  on  her  way  to  visit  her  son  Heman.  From 
1842  to  death,  Nathaniel  Bangs  lived  with  his  son 
Azariah. 

Heman  Bangs,  youngest  child  of  Nathaniel  and 
Judah  (Elwell)  Bangs,  born  at  Shaftsbury,  Ver- 
mont, June  14,  1813,  died  May  31,  1902;  went  to 
live  with  Robert  Madison,  neighboring  farmer  at 
eleven  years  and  at  fifteen  accompanied  him  to 
Genesee  County,  New  York.  Started  out  with  $100, 
purchased  farm  in  1837  of  Holland  Company  in 
Niagara  County,  New  York,  sold  farm  in  1839,  spent 
winter  in  Kalamazoo,  Michigan.  On  March  13, 
1840,  settled  on  the  Bangs  homestead  in  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana.  He  was  a carpenter,  joiner  and 
farmer  and  a man  who  was  liked  by  every  one  and 
became  very  prosperous.  He  was  married  Novem- 


ber 22,  1842,  to  Catherine  Elmira  Chaffy,  born  March 
7,  1821,  died  August  21,  1899,  a daughter  of  Joshua 
and  Polly  (Bowers)  Chaffy.  The  Chaffy  family 
came  to  DeKalb  County  from  New  York  in  1838, 
then  moved  to  LaGrange  County.  Their  children 
were:  Eunice  L.  (Showers),  Nathaniel,  John  H., 

Matilda  (deceased),  Winfield  Scott,  Caroline  L. 
(Vian)  and  Charles  H.  Heman  Bangs  joined  the 
Methodist  Protestant  Church  in  1841,  and  later  both 
he  and  his  wife  united  with  the  United  Brethren. 
Politically  he  was  a whig  and  then  a republican.  In 
1840  he  helped  build  the  first  schoolhouse  in  the 
township,  made  the  first  coffin  for  the  first  death 
in  the  township,  and  made  the  first  loom  in  the 
county  in  1840. 

Charles  Henry  Bangs,  youngest  child  of  Heman 
and  Catherine  E.  Bangs,  was  born  May  26,  1857,  on 
the  Bangs  homestead  in  Richland  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana.  While  a young  man  he  became  dee'p- 
ly  interested  and  was  a leader  in  the  lyceums  of  that 
day  and  had  a reputation  as  a debater.  He  was  a 
musical  director,  also  a teacher  in  the  old  singing 
schools  of  the  tune-fork  days.  He  pursued  success- 
fully the  mercantile  business  for  a number  of  years, 
when,  due  to  the  advancing  age  of  his  parents,  and 
for  the  benefits  of  a rural  environment  for  the 
home  to  be  so  soon  established,  he  gave  up  the 
business  of  a merchant,  for  which  he  was  well 
fitted,  for  the  farm. 

Mr.  Bangs  was  married  June  25,  1885,  to  Virginia 
(Jennie)  H.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  October  8, 
1862,  at  Fairfield  Center,  a daughter  of  Jerome  and 
Barbara  (Eckert)  Reynolds,  who  died  eleven  weeks 
apart,  in  1884.  They  had  the  following  children: 
Eolian  M.,  Clarence  M.,  Melvin  F.,  Walter  T.,  and 
Virginia  H.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bangs  the  following 
children  were  born : Owen  Roscoe,  Guy  Reynolds, 

Clare  W.  H.,  Gladys  May  and  Faye  Edna.  Owen 
Roscoe  Bangs  was  born  June  14,  1886,  secured  the 
degrees  of  B.  S.  and  A.  B.  from  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege, has  taught  in  all  departments  of  the  public 
schools,  has  been  superintendent  of  schools  for  eight 
years  and  is  now  studying  in  the  department  of 
education,  Columbia  University.  He  was  married 
November  19,  1911,  to  Bessie  E.  Fried,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1886,  died  March  7,  1919.  Their  son, 
Rex  D.,  was  born  January  9,  1913. 

Guy  Reynolds  Bangs  was  born  December  9,  1887, 
received  degrees  from  Tri-State  College,  is  a grad- 
uate of  the  International  Business  College  in  Ac- 
countancy, was  for  five  years  superintendent  of 
schools,  two  years  as  accountant,  and  has  been  pro- 
fessor of  education  and  registrar  in  Huntington 
College.  He  was  married  August  21,  1912,  to  Mabel 
G.  Husselman,  who  was  born  January  22,  1893,  and 
they  have  two  children : Una  Joyce,  born  January 

24,  1914;  and  Kenneth  Leon,  born  March  19,  1916. 

Clare  W.  H.  Bangs  was  born  May  5,  1890,  re- 
ceived the  B.  Pd.  and  A.  B.  degrees  from  Tri- 
State  College ; A.  M.  from  Huntington  College ; 
student  in  King’s  School  of  Oratory,  Indiana  Uni- 
versity and  Chicago  University;  completed  course 
in  civil  engineering ; superintendent  of  schools  three 
years ; professor  of  sociology  and  philosophy  three 
years ; president  of  Huntington  College  four  years, 
resigning  to  enter  law,  member  of  general  board 
of  education  for  the  United  Brethren  Church ; gen- 
eral secretary  of  education  of  denomination ; mem- 
ber of  American  Academy  of  Political  and  Social 
Science;  Fellow  Royal  Society  of  Arts  of  London; 
member  of  Association  of  American  Colleges,  also 
of  the  Association  of  Indiana  Colleges;  charter 
member  Edward  Bangs  Descendants ; investigator 
of  social  problems,  Chicago  and  St.  Louis,  and  at 
various  times  a Chautauqua  and  commencement  lec- 
turer. He  was  admitted  to  the  bar  July  5,  1919.  He 


212 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


was  married  July  18,  1917,  to  Nellie  A.  Binning, 
born  November  7,  1881,  and  their  son,  Charles 
Edward  was  born  October  12,  1918. 

Gladys  May  Bangs  was  born  August  18,  1892, 
received  Bachelor  of  Music  degree  from  Tri-State 
College;  student  of  voice  and  piano,  Pittsburgh; 
student  in  King’s  School  of  Oratory.  Studied  piano 
under  Roy  David  Brown  of  Chicago;  is  a graduate 
of  Huntington  College  Academy  and  department 
of  Domestic  Science.  For  two  years  Miss  Bangs  has 
been  associate  teacher  of  piano  with  Professor  Roy 
David  Brown  in  the  Huntington  College  Conserva- 
tory of  Music.  Faye  Edna  Bangs,  the  youngest 
daughter,  was  born  September  13,  1897 ; is  a grad- 
uate of  the  Tri-State  College  Academy,  also  of 
King’s  School  of  Oratory;  student  in  Huntington 
College;  has  taught  in  all  departments  of  the  pub- 
lic schools;  was  supervisor  of  music  and  art  for 
four  years  in  high  schools ; and  has  done  commer- 
cial designing  and  platform  work. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bangs  have  interested  themselves 
largely  in  civic  betterment  and  movements  for  civic 
advancement.  Feeling  keenly  the  lack  of  educational 
facilities  in  their  youth,  they  haye  worked  for  a 
better  school  system  and  have  inspired  and  aided 
their  children  to  secure  the  best  education  possible. 
They  have  always  been  active  in  moral  reform 
and  religious  work.  Their  convictions  upon  the 
foundation  principles  underlying  character  have  been 
clear,  definite  and  fearlessly  followed.  Mr.  Bangs 
has  been  an  active  organizer  in  the  republican  party. 
For  fourteen  years  he  was  an  officer  in  the  DeKalb 
County  Farmers  Mutual  Insurance  Company,  dur- 
ing thirteen  years  of  which  he  was  actuary,  through 
which  capacity  he  has  formed  a wide  acquaintance 
through  the  county.  Early  he  became  interested  in 
the  study  of  soils  and  soil  fertility,  and  for  four- 
teen years  has  been  the  official  district  crop  reporter 
for  the  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture, 
making  surveys  that  include  farm  labor,  costs,  crop 
conditions,  varieties  of  wheat,  etc.  For  twelve  years 
he  has  been  a notary  public  of  Indiana. 

George  W.  Hoff,  county  treasurer  elect  of  La- 
Grange  County,  has  lived  here  seventy  years,  and 
long  before  he  entered  politics  and  became  a prom- 
inent figure  in  the  life  of  the  county  he  had  builded 
on  a firm  foundation  a solid  prosperity  as  a farmer 
and  land  owner  in  Clay  Township,  where  he  still 
resides. 

Mr.  Hoff  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  March 
3.  1849,  a son  of  Michael  and  Hannah  (Mowers) 
Hoff,  the  former  a native  of  Maryland  and  the  lat- 
ter born  in  Virginia,  a daughter  of  Isaac  Mowers. 
Grandfather  Michael  Hoff,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Ger- 
many, and  married  Mary  Bennett,  also  of  that  coun- 
try. Michael,  Sr.,  became  a distiller  in  Maryland 
and  reared  a family  of  ten  children.  Michael,  Jr., 
came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1848  from  Richland 
County,  Ohio.  He  established  a general  store  at 
what  is  now  called  Woodruff,  but  after  about  two 
years  moved  to  a farm  in  Johnson  Township  and 
in  1868  established  his  home  in  Newbury  Township 
where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1886.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1879.  Their  children  consisted  of 
Sarah,  Melancthon,  Mary,  Samuel,  George  W.,  Isaac, 
Catherine  and  Andrew. 

George  W.  Hoff  as  a boy  attended  one  of  the 
district  schools  in  Johnson  Township,  later  attended 
the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario,  Indiana,  and 
completed  a course  of  business  training  at  Hills- 
dale College  in  Michigan.  For  about  ten'  years  he 
taught  winter  terms  of  school  and  part  of  the  time 
farmed  during  the  summers.  He  bought  his  first 
land,  fifty-eight  acres,  in  1873.  That  acreage  is  still 
part  of  his  much  larger  and  more  valuable  holding, 


comprising  320  acres,  all  of  which  he  has  bought 
and  paid  for  out  of  his  individual  efforts.  He  has 
improved  it  with  splendid  buildings,  his  home  being 
in  section  6,  his  farm  being  the  east  half  of  that 
section. 

Mr.  Hoff  married  in  1876  Anna  Lampman, 
daughter  of  Arad  Lampman.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren: Nellie,  Festus,  Irma,  Alsa  and  Jasper.  The 

son  Jasper  was  one  of  the  LaGrange  County  boys 
to  see  active  service  in  the  great  war.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Seventh  Unit 
of  the  Medical  Reserve  Corps,  was  attached  to  the 
Seventy-seventh  Division,  went  to  France  in  Au- 
gust, 1918,  and  participated  in  the  battle  of  the 
Argonne  Forest. 

Mr.  Hoff  was  elected  county  treasurer  of  La- 
Grange County  in  November,  1918,  and  his  official 
term  begins  in  January,  1920.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Lodge  of  Maccabees,  and  he  and  his  wife  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  LaGrange. 

Nathaniel  B.  Griffin.  For  many  years  to  come 
as  a result  of  the  great  war  the  problem  of  feeding 
humanity  is  going  to  be  an  international  one,  and 
the  solving  of  it  is  going  to  devolve  principally  upon 
the  American  farmers.  For  this  and  other  cogent 
reasons  the  vocation  of  farming  has  gained  and  will 
retain  an  added  dignity  and  importance  which  will 
attract  to  it  still  more  of  the  representative  men 
of  the  country.  One  of  the  men  who  long  ago 
recognized  the  desirability  of  this  line  of  endeavor 
is  Nathaniel  B.  Griffin,  of  Otsego  Township,  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana.  He  was  born  in  Jackson 
Township.  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  July  15,  1852, 
a son  of  Eli  B.  Griffin. 

Eli  B.  Griffin  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  in  Febru- 
ary, 1802,  and  his  wife,  Eliza  (Bundy)  Griffin,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  April,  1812,  a daughter  of 
Nathaniel  Bundy.  In  1846  Eli  B.  Griffin  moved 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  becoming  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
that  section.  There  he  entered  eighty  acres  of  land 
and  lived  there  until  1865,  when  he  moved  to  Wil- 
mington Township  in  the  same  county,  on  a farm 
of  140  acres  which  he  had  purchased,  and  there  he 
continued  to  reside  until  his  death.  He  and  his  ex- 
cellent wife  had  the  following  children : Thomas, 

Susan,  Charles,  George,  Polley,  William,  Edward, 
Maria,  Nathaniel  B.  and  Nelson. 

Until  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  Nathaniel  B. 
Griffin  remained  with  his  father,  during  that  period 
learning  how  to  be  a farmer  and  attending  the  dis- 
trict schools.  For  the  subsequent  four  years  he 
worked  for  neighboring  farmers,  and  then  he  was 
married  and  started  for  himself  on  rented  land. 
Later  he  bought  a farm,  conducting  it  until  1901, 
when  he  traded  it  for  his  present  one  of  140  acres 
in  section  30,  Otsego  Township,  and  here  he  is 
profitably  engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  his  success  in  this  line  proving  his  good 
judgment  in  selecting  this  line  of  work. 

In  1876  Mr.  Griffin  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Viola  Cameron,  a daughter  of  William  and 
Sarah  (Carlin)  Cameron,  and  they  had  two  chil- 
dren : Luella,  who  died  at  the  age  of  fourteen 

years,  and  Etta,  who  married  Charles  Crowl  and 
has  three  children,  Viola,  Fred  and  Laurence.  Mrs. 
Griffin  died  in  1906,  and  in  1909  Mr.  Griffin  was 
married  to  Mrs.  Agnes  Cook. 

William  Cameron,  the  father  of  the  first  Mrs. 
Griffin,  was  one  of  the  prominent  men  of  Steuben 
County,  Indiana.  He  was  born  at  Abernethy,  Scot- 
land October  23,  1817,  he  being  the  second  of  the 
nine  children  born  to  George  and  Janet  Cameron, 
who  came  to  the  western  district  of  Canada  in  1834. 


GEORGE  W.  HOFF 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


213 


The  mother  survived  the  change  but  four  years,  dy- 
ing in  1838,  and  in  1848,  the  father  dying,  three  of 
the  children,  including  William,  came  to  Indiana,  he 
settling  in  Richland  Township,  on  160  acres  of  land 
in  section  8.  John  Cameron,  a brother,  also  set- 
tled in  Richland  Township,  Steuben  County,  but  he 
died  in  1878.  Donald,  the  other  brother,  settled  in 
Posey  County,  Indiana.  In  1864  William  Cameron 
sold  his  farm,  which  he  had  considerably  improved, 
and  bought  another  farm  in  section  29,  Otsego 
Township.  Although  a poor  man  upon  coming  to 
Steuben  County,  through  his  industry  and  thrift  he 
accumulated  property  and  died  a wealthy  man.  He 
was  married  in  March,  1843,  to  Sarah  Carlin,  a na- 
tive of  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where  she  was  born 
February  1,  1826,  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah 
Carlin,  who  settled  in  Richland  Township  in  1841. 
William  Cameron  and  his  wife  became  the  parents 
of  the  following  children:  Robert,  "Jane>  Juliet, 

Sarah,  John,  Maria,  Viola  and  one  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Nathaniel  B.  Griffin  is  a man  who  possesses  will 
and  resourcefulness  and  has  known  how  to  so  con- 
duct his  farm  as  to  gain  a good  return  on  his  in- 
vestment of  time  and  money.  He  has  recognized 
the  importance  of  operating  according  to  modern 
methods  in  order  to  produce  large  crops  and  market 
them  expeditiously  and  his  experiments  with  their 
attending  results  are  matters  of  considerable  inter- 
est to  those  of  his  neighbors  less  experienced  than 
he. 

James  A.  Shoup.  The  Shoup  family  was  estab- 
lished in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  over  sixty  years 
ago,  and  through  its  sturdy  qualities  has  grown  and 
prospered,  and  its  members  of  today  are  people  of 
worldly  substance  and  of  trustworthy  character.  A 
well  known  and  highly  respected  member  of  this 
family  is  James  A.  Shoup,  who  owns  one  of  the  fine 
farms  of  Clay  Township.  James  A.  Shoup  was  born 
in  Eden  Township,  LaGrange  County,  March  28, 
1857,  two  years  after  his  parents  came  to  this  sec- 
tion. 

They  were  David  and  Abigail  (Evans)  Shoup, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  who,  prior  to  1855, 
when  they  came  to  Indiana  with  their  eight  children, 
had  spent  their  lives  in  their  own  state.  Their  first 
pioneer  home  of  logs  was  on  a tract  of  eighty  acres 
situated  in  Eden  Township.  To  this  twenty  acres 
were  added,  and  on  this  homestead  of  100  acres 
both  parents  died.  Of  their  family  of  ten  children 
James  A.  was  the  youngest,  the  others  being  as  fol- 
lows : Simon,  Margaret,  William,  Urilla,  Abram, 

Charlotte,  John,  Dorsey  and  Thomas.  The  father 
united  with  the  republican  party  on  its  formation. 
Both  he  and  wife  were  faithful  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

James  A.  Shoup  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead 
and  remembers  many  interesting  events  of  early  days 
here.  One  in  which  he  was  annually  interested  in 
boyhood  was  the  sugar  maple  camp,  as  it  was  his 
business  to  attend  to  all  the  jobs  a boy  could  do 
during  the  boiling  of  the  sap  and  “sugaring  off.” 
He  attended  the  country  schools  and  in  the  course 
of  time  became  owner  of  a part  of  the  old  home 
farm.  That  land  he  traded  for  fifty  acres  situated 
in  Clay  Township,  which  tract  he  sold  in  1905  and 
bought  his  present  farm  of  101  acres  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, which  lies  about  2)4  miles  from  LaGrange. 
He  carries  on  general  farming  and  also  has  been 
a member  of  a threshing  outfit  for  many'  seasons. 
Few  farmers  in  this  section  are  better  posted  as  to 
agricultural  conditions  and  farm  values  in  the 
county.  He  has  a wide  acquaintance  and  many 
friends. 

In  1880  Mr.  S'  oup  was  married  to  Miss  Amelia 


Sigler,  who  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  and  is  a daughter  of  William  and 
Lydia  Sigler,  early  settlers  in  that  part  of  the 
county.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shoup  the  following  chil- 
dren were  born : Pearl,  who  married  Roy  Shrock, 

and  they  have  five  children,  Theron,  Calvin,  Paul, 
Allen  and  Wilmer;  Orley,  who  operates  the  farm 
for  his  father ; Lillie,  who  married  Mathias  Schem- 
erhorn,  and  they  have  had  six  children,  Leroy,  Clyde, 
Gladys,  Marlow,  Roscoe  and  Dale;  Otto,  who  is 
deceased ; and  Clair,  who  married  Ada  Charles,  and 
had  twin  sons,  Homer  and  Omer,  the  latter  of 
whom  is  deceased.  Mr.  Shoup  has  always  been 
identified  with  the  republican  party,  but  has  never 
concerned  himself  about  a political  office,  although 
undoubtedly  well  qualified  for  many.  He  has  been 
a liberal  supporter  of  schools  and  churches  and  has 
done  his  part  in  securing  the  county’s  fine  road 
system. 

William  M.  Ballentine.  For  a number  of  years 
William  M.  Ballentine  has  been  rated  as  one  of  the 
independent  and  successful  farmers  of  Butler  Town- 
ship in  DeKalb  County.  Some  of  his  good  neigh- 
bors and  friends  remember  a time  when  he  was 
.working  as  a farm  hand  or  as  a renter  and  know 
that  his  good  fortune  and  present  prosperity  have 
been  well  merited  and  earned  by  an  efficient  career 
of  hard  labor  and  good  management. 

Mr.  Ballentine,  whose  home  is  in  section  17  of 
Butler  Township,  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Sep- 
tember 27,  1866,  a son  of  James  and  Emeline  (Mon- 
roe) Ballentine,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  His  father, 
who  was  born  in  Richland  County,  married  after 
moving  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  settled 
down  on  land  east  of  Auburn,  where  he  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a Union  soldier  for  eight- 
een months  and  an  honored  member  of  the  Grand 
Army.  Politically  he  was  a republican.  There 
were  three  children:  William  M.,  Phoebe,  wife  of 

Jacob  Kemery,  of  DeKalb  County,  and  Samuel,  who 
is  emoloyed  in  the  elevator  at  St"  Johns,  Indiana. 

William  M.  Ballentine  grew  up  on  a farm  near  St. 
Joe,  attended  the  district  schools  and  was  fifteen 
years  old  when  his  father  died.  After  that  he,  being 
the  oldest  child,  had  to  assume  most  of  the  responsi- 
bilities of  working  the  fields  and  to  a large  degree 
he  filled  his  father’s  place.  His  mother  afterward 
married  again,  and  when  about  twenty-one  years  of 
age  he  moved  to  Butler  Township  and  worked  out 
as  a farm  hand. 

December  22,  1891,  he  married  Elnora  Smith.  She 
was  born  in  Butler  Township,  March  1,  1870.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  Ballentine  was  a ditch  contractor 
about  two  and  a half  years  and  for  three  years 
worked  on  the  section  of  the  New  York  Central 
lines.  He  began  his  independent  career  as  a farmer 
on  land  he  owns  today.  At  that  time  he  was  a 
renter,  but  he  has  since  bought  the  farm,  seventy- 
six  acres.  He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Garrett 
elevator.  A democrat  in  politics,  he  has  filled  the 
office  of  supervisor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ballentine  have  four  children.  Arlo 
E„  a graduate  of  the  Garrett  High  School,  attended 
North  Manchester  College,  and  is  a foreman  of  car 
repairing  at  Garrett.  Fred  is  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools,  lives  on  a farm  in  Keyser  Town- 
ship, and  married  Bernice  P.  Rugman."  Raymond, 
the  third  son,  is  a graduate  of  the  Garrett  High 
School,  also  attended  a business  college  at  Fort 
Wayne,  and  married  Velma  Grove.  Mabel  Lucile 
is  the  fourth  and  youngest  child.  Mr.  Ballentine  has 
four  grandchildren,  Josephine  L.  and  James  H„ 
children  of  his  son  Fred;  and  Omar  and  Virginia  M„ 
children  of  Arlo. 


214 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Samuel  A.  Anspaugh.  A resident  of  Steuben 
County  since  1870,  Samuel  A.  Anspaugh,  has  had  a 
lifetime  of  extreme  activity  and  usefulness,  for  ten 
years  was  superintendent  of  the  County  Farm,  and 
for  over  thirty  years  has  given  his  time  and  man- 
agement to  his  own  farm  in  Richland  Township. 
Mr.  Anspaugh  was  well  fitted  for  the  vigorous  life 
he  has  lived.  He  is  a splendid  specimen  of  physical 
makeup,  would  pass  for  being  ten  years  younger 
than  he  really  is,  and  has  the  muscular  development 
of  an  athlete. 

He  was  born  at  Florence  in  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  July  16,  1852.  His  father,  John  Anspaugh, 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  a son  of  Jacob  and 
Barbara  Anspaugh,  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
family  removed  from  Stark  to  Williams  County  in 
1844,  and  John  Anspaugh  was  married  there  April 
27,  1847,  to  Sarah  Ann  Cain.  She  was  born  in  Har- 
rison County,  Ohio,  October  11,  1830,  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Hester  Cain.  John  Anspaugh  and  wife 
lived  for  several  years  in  Williams  County,  and  on 
March  8,  1870,  settled  in  section  5 in  Richland 
Township,  Steuben  County,  where  he  acquired 
eighty  acres  of  land.  In  early  life  he  was  very 
fond  of  hunting.  He  was  a republican,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  John  Anspaugh  died  June  5,  1904.  He 
was  the  father  of  seven  children,  all  born  in  Wil- 
liams County,  Jacob,  Samuel,  Benjamin,  Hester, 
wife  of  Charles  D.  Bowles,  John  L.,  Mrs.  Amanda 
Flegal  and  Henry  G. 

Samuel  A.  Anspaugh  received  most  of  his  educa- 
tion in  Williams  County,  Ohio.  He  was  eighieen 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County  with 
his  father,  and  from  that  time  forward  was  able  to 
make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  In  1878  he  was 
appointed  to  the  responsible  and  exacting  duties 
of  superintendent  of  the  Steuben  County  Farm,  and 
he  gave  a careful  administration  of  that  institution 
for  ten  years.  In  March,  1888,  he  retired  and  lo- 
cated on  his  home  farm  in  section  5 of  Richland 
Township.  He  has  remodeled  the  house,  put  up 
other  buildings,  and  has  the  eighty  acres  in  a fine 
state  of  productiveness.  He  raises  a great  deal  of 
live  stock.  Mr.  Anspaugh  served  fourteen  years  as 
supervisor  of  the  Township  of  Richland.  He  is 
one  of  the  active  members  of  Lodge  No.  236  of  the 
Masonic  Order  at  Angola. 

January  1,  1876,  he  married  Margaret  Cameron, 
daughter"  of  John  and  Mary  (Carlin)  Cameron. 
The  Camerons  are  an  old  and  prominent  family  of 
Steuben  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anspaugh  have  one 
son,  George  E.  Anspaugh,  who  has  distinguished 
himself  in  the  field  of  scholarship  and  education. 
He  graduated  from  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola, 
entering  that  institution  at  the  age  of  thirteen  and 
graduating  at  sixteen.  Later  he  graduated  from 
the  Indiana  State  University  at  Bloomington  and  is 
also  a graduate  of  Columbia  University.  At  pres- 
ent he  is  principal  and  superintendent  of  the  City 
High  School  at  Farmer  City,  Illinois.  George  E. 
Anspaugh  married  Edith  V.  Mohler,  and  they  have 
three  children,  Edith  L.,  Robert  E.  and  Helen  May. 

Ralph  Waldo  Sheffer,  assistant  cashier  of  the 
First  National  Bank  of  Angola,  has  spent  all  his 
life  in  that  city  and  is  a son  of  the  veteran  editor 
and  newspaper  man  of  Steuben  County,  William  K. 
Sheffer. 

His  great-grandfather,  Moses  Sheffer,  was  a min- 
ister of  the  Baptist  Church  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
paternal  grandparents  were  Adam  and  Rachel 
(Starr)  Sheffer,  the  former  born  in  Maryland  in 
1826  and  the  latter  in  Pennsylvania  in  1825.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio,  and  for  many  years  lived  in 


Morrow  County,  that  state.  On  coming  to  Indiana 
they  settled  near  Mount  Pleasant  in  Noble  County, 
were  farmers  there  many  years,  and  subsequently 
moved  to  Kendallville,  where  Mrs.  Adam  Sheffer 
died.  Adam  Sheffer  died  at  Angola.  He  was  a 
democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the 
New  School  Baptist  Church.  Their  children  were: 
Dennis,  who  died  young;  Banner  R.,  William  K., 
Barton  S.,  Sylvester  S.,  and  Mary  Etta. 

William  K.  Sheffer  was  born  in  Morrow  County, 
Ohio,  July  6,  1845.  He  lived  there  to  the  age  of 
nineteen,  acquiring  a public  school  education.  Later 
he  taught  in  the  same  district  where  he  had  learned 
his  first  lessons.  In  1864  he  moved  to  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  was  a teacher  for  some  time,  and  first  en- 
gaged in  the  printing  business  at  Kendallville.  In 
1872  he  entered  the  office  of  the  Ligonier  Banner 
under  John  B.  Stoll,  later  a prominent  newspaper 
man  of  South  Bend.  He  was  with  the  Banner  until 
July,  1877,  when  he  came  to  Angola  and  bought  a 
half  interest  in  the  Herald  from  William  B.  Mc- 
Connell. The  Angola  Herald  was  established  in 
1876.  W.  Iv.  Sheffer  in  January,  1878,  became  sole 
owner  and  proprietor  and  editor,  and  in  subsequent 
years  steadily  promoted  its  influence  and  prosperity. 
He  was  with  the  Herald  continuously  for  twenty- 
nine  years  except  for  two  years  when  absent  from 
Angola.  He  sold  the  Herald  in  1889  to  John  F. 
Schuman  and  William  Blatner.  During  the  suc- 
ceeding two  years  he  was  associated  with  his  younger 
brother,  Sylvester  S.  Sheffer,  in  the  publication  of 
the  Kendallville  News.  He  then  returned  to  Angola 
and  repurchased  the  Herald.  In  1906  he  again  sold 
the  Herald  to  Ernest  C.  Klink,  who  later  sold  to 
Harvey  W.  Morley,  the  present  owner  and  publisher. 
Soon  afterward  he  took  up  the  real  estate,  insurance 
and  loan  business,  was  for  several  years  local  corre- 
spondent and  is  now  in  charge  of  the  circulation 
department  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Journal-Gazette  at 
Angola.  He  is  an  active  democrat  in  politics.  His 
wife  was  a member  of  the  Christian  Church,  where 
the  family  attend  worship. 

November  27,  1873,  at  Ligonier,  William  K. 

Sheffer  married  Miss  Eliza  A.  Pence,  who  was  born 
in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  August  16,  1851,  daughter 
of  Samuel  N.  and  Hannah  Pence.  A record  of  the 
Pence  family  is  published  on  other  pages  of  this 
publication.  William  K.  Sheffer  and  wife  had  the 
following  children : Lenora  Elma,  born  June  6, 

1876,  and  died  in  1904,  wife  of  John  R.  Pulver,  by 
whom  she  was  the  mother  of  four  children,  named 
Anna  M.,  Agnes,  William  F.  (who  died  in  infancy), 
and  Ruth  Elma.  The  second  child,  Samuel  E.,  born 
in  1880,  is  a printer  with  the  South  Bend  Tribune, 
having  learned  the  business  with  his  father.  Laura 
Bessie  died  in  infancy.  Ralph  Waldo  is  the  fourth 
in  age.  Mary  Ethel  is  the  youngest. 

Ralph  Waldo  Sheffer  was  "born  at  Angola  October 
18,  1885,  and  received  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  also  the  Angola  High  School,  from 
which  he  graduated  in  1904.  He  took  a commercial 
course  in  the  Tri-State  College  and  learned  business 
by  practical  experience  as  a clerk  in  the  grocery 
store  of  T.  L.  Gillis  for  two  years.  For  five  years 
he  was  chief  clerk  in  the  freight  office  of  the  Lake 
Shore  Railroad  at  Angola,  and  in  September,  1911, 
became  bookkeeper  of  the  First  National  Bank.  For 
the  past  four  years  he  has  held  the  office  of  assistant 
cashier. 

Mr.  Sheffer  is  a republican,  and  is  a Knight 
Templar  Mason,  being  affiliated  with  Angola  Com- 
mandery  No.  45.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  a member  of  the  Chris- 
tian Church.  In  1906  he  married  Miss  Maude 

Cowan.  She  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steu- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


215 


ben  County,  where  her  father,  the  late  Elmer  Cowan, 
was  a well  known  farmer.  They  have  one  son, 
Harold  Edward,  born  February  21,  1915. 

Elmer  F.  Seagly.  The  success  of  a business  man 
can  best  be  measured  by  the  variety  or  extent  and 
importance  of  the  interests  directed  by  or  partici- 
pated in  by  him.  One  of  the  business  men  of 
LaGrange  County  who  perform  a number  of  serv- 
ices to  their  communities  is  Elmer  F.  Seagly  of 
South  Milford,  who  is  a hardware  merchant,  a 
grain  dealer,  a farmer,  and  both  in  public  affairs 
and  business  has  been  prominent  for  a number  of 
years  in  that  section. 

Mr.  Seagly  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  July  16,  1870,  a son  of  John  and 
Julian  (Dannemiller)  Seagly.  His  mother  was  a 
native  of  Germany  and  came  to  the  United  States 
with  her  parents  in  1834.  The  family  located  near 
Canton  Ohio,  where  she  grew  up  and  married.  Her 
husband  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1853 
John  Seagly  and  wife  came  to  Indiana  and  lived  in 
Whitely  County  until  1865,  when  he  settled  in  John- 
son Township  of  LaGrange  County.  He  finally 
moved  to  Wolcottville,  where  he  died  in  1903  and  his 
wife  in  1904. 

Elmer  F.  Seagly  spent  his  boyhood  in  Johnson 
Township,  attended  the  district  schools  and  after- 
ward acquired  a liberal  education,  with  three  years 
in  the  Wolcottville  High  School  and  one  year  in  the 
State  Normal.  For  seven  years  Mr.  Seagly  was  a 
successful  teacher  in  the  country  districts  and  in  the 
intervals  of  teaching  also  followed  farming.  In  the 
fall  of  1897  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  at 
South  Milford,  and  beginning  with  a very  limited 
capital  he  has  built  up  a large  store  and  at  the  same 
time  has  made  his  personal  influence  and  capital 
count  with  a number  of  other  local  enterprises.  For 
several  years  he  also  conducted  a hardware  store 
at  Stroh  and  Helmer.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Home  Grain  Company,  operating  elevators  at  La- 
Grange and  South  Milford.  Mr.  Seagly  owns  280 
acres  of  land  in  Milford  Township  and  uses  it  as  a 
stock  feeding  ranch,  feeding  several  carloads  of 
stock  every  year.  He  gives  his  personal  supervision 
to  his  farm.  He  has  served  as  president  of  the 
Milford  Township  Farmers  Institute,  and  is  secre- 
tary and  treasurer  of  the  Farmers  Shipping  Asso- 
ciation at  South  Milford. 

Mr.  Seagly  married  Grace  Shallower,  of  Johnson 
Township,  on  December  23,  1894.  They  have  two 
sons,  Gerald  J.  and  Elmer  G.  Gerald  is  a graduate  of 
high  school  and  is  now  with  his  father  in  business. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  Mr.  Seagly  is  a trustee,  and  out  of  the 
twenty-two  years  he  has  lived  at  South  Milford  he 
has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School  for 
nineteen.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  the  local  lodge 
of  Odd  Fellows  for  eighteen  years,  is  a member  of 
the  Encampment  and  his  wife  is  a Rebekah.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Seagly  is  a republican. 

E.  J.  Hackett  is  an  old  resident  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, for  many  years  was  engaged  in  farming,  and 
latterly  has  become  affiliated  with  business  affairs 
at  Orland,  where  under  the  name  of  E.  J.  Hackett  & 
Son  he  conducts  an  automobile  and  implement  busi- 
ness. 

Mr.  Hackett  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Mich- 
igan, August  19,  1858,  a son  of  John  and  Caroline 
(Hoyt)  Hackett.  John  Hackett,  who  for  many 
years  was  identified  with  Steuben  County,  was  born 
in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  in  1821,  a son  of 
Miner  and  Electa  (Case)  Hackett,  natives  of  Ver- 
mont. John  Hackett  in  early  manhood  came  west 
to  Oakland,  Michigan,  and  eventually  settled  in  the 


wooded  country  south  of  Adrian.  From  there  he 
moved  to  Burr  Oak,  Michigan,  and  in  1844  went  to 
California,  making  the  journey  by  water  and  suf- 
fering many  hardships  and  exposure  to  disease. 
After  thirteen  months  in  the  West  he  returned  to 
Michigan,  and  at  that  time  had  a capital  of  $1,300. 
He  triumphed  over  many  obstacles,  and  though  he 
never  had  a chance  to  obtain  an  education  he  ac- 
quired much  knowledge  of  the  world  and  altogether 
was  a very  successful  man.  He  spent  several  years 
in  Kansas,  at  one  time  operated  a saw  mill  at  Burr 
Oak,  Michigan,  and  in  1875  acquired  200  acres  of 
land  in  Steuben  County  in  Millgrove  Township.  He 
used  his  resources  and  experience  to  develop  that 
into  a fine  estate,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in 
1897.  He  went  to  Kansas  in  1862  and  bought  a 
farm  four  miles  south  of  the  City  of  Lawrence. 
When  he  left  Kansas  he  sold  the  property  and 
profited  $3,000  by  the  transaction. 

His  first  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Ellen 
Richardson,  died  of  smallpox  while  they  were  liv- 
ing in  Michigan.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children : John,  of  Sand  Lake,  Michigan,  and 

Josephine,  deceased.  John  Hackett  married  for  his 
second  wife  Anna  Hause.  One  of  their  two  children 
died  in  infancy  and  their  son  Frank  now  lives  in 
Steuben  County.  In  1856  John  Hackett  married 
Caroline  Hoyt,  who  was  born  in  Canada,  February 
14,  1830.  She  is  still  living  at  the  venerable  age  of 
eighty-nine  years  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  She  was  the  mother  of  six  chil- 
dren : Edwin  J. ; Gertrude ; Maud ; Lillie,  de- 

ceased; Carrie,  deceased;  and  Fred,  who  is  in  the 
real  estate  business  in  Orland. 

Edwin  J.  Hackett  was  four  years  old  when  his 
parents  went  to  Kansas,  and  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion there  and  also  in  the  Scott  School  in  Steuben 
County.  After  reaching  manhood  he  acquired  a 
part  of  the  old  homestead,  and  was  steadily  engaged 
in  farming  there  until  April,  1915,  when  he  moved 
to  Orland  and  bought  an  automobile  and  implement 
business.  His  active  associate  has  been  his  son 
Lyle,  and  under  the  name  of  E.  J.  Hackett  & Son 
they  do  the  leading  business  in  their  line  in  Mill- 
grove  Township.  Mr.  Hackett  is  affiliated  with 
Star  Lodge  No.  225,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and 
he  and  his  family  for  twenty-five  years  have  been 
members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

In  1880  he  married  Miss  Nellie  Van  Benschoten, 
daughter  of  S.  and  Sarah  (Claflin)  Van  Benschoten. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hackett  have  six  children:  Florence 
is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Monroe,  of  Bronson,  Michigan, 
and  has  four  children,  named  Nellie,  Guy,  Ruth  and 
Millie.  Earl,  a farmer  in  Millgrove  Township,  mar- 
ried Blanche  Crow  and  has  three  children,  Julia, 
Morris  and  John.  Louel  is  the  wife  of  Elmer 
Snyder,  of  Cleveland,  and  was  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Thelma,  deceased,  and  Edna.  Marie  is 
the  wife  of  Weldon  Laurmer,  who  spent  six  months 
at  Camp  Shelby  in  Mississippi  during  the  war. 
Lyle,  his  father’s  business  associate,  married  Carroll 
Case,  daughter  of  William  Case,  of  Orland.  The 
youngest  of  the  family  is  Glen. 

Josiah  M.  Miller  is  a native  of  LaGrange  County 
and  has  spent  nearly  all  his  life  in  an  active  career 
as  a farmer,  divided  between  Clay  and  Newbury 
townships.  He  owns  one  of  the  good  farms  in 
Newbury  Township  and  is  widely  known  all  over 
the  county  as  a dealer  in  live  stock. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  Au- 
gust 31,  1866,  a son  of  Moses  P.  and  Eva  (Hostet- 
ler) Miller.  His  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1845,  and  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1857,  and 
is  still  living  in  Clay  Township.  His  personal  rec- 
ord appears  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 


216 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Josiah  M.  Miller  when  three  years  of  age  was 
taken  by  his  parents  to  Hickory  County,  Missouri, 
and  he  attended  his  first  school  in  that  section  of 
Missouri.  In  1872  the  family  returned  to  LaGrange 
County  and  settled  in  Eden  Township,  where  he 
was  a student  in  the  local  schools  for  three  years. 
He  finished  his  education  in  Clay  Township  and 
began  his  personal  career  as  a farmer  there.  He  re- 
mained in  Clay  Township  as  a farmer  for  eleven 
years  and  in  1900  bought  his  home  place  in  New- 
bury Township,  in  section  25,  where  he  has  eighty 
acres.  For  the  past  nine  years  in  connection  with 
farming  he  has  been  buying  and  shipping  live  stock. 
Mr.  Miller  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church. 

He  married  Fannie  Yoder,  a daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Barbara  (Miller)  Yoder,  on  September  1,  1889. 
To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five  children: 
Earl  J.v  a farmer  in  Clay  Township,  who  married 
Ruby  Stahl  and  has  two  children,  Ruth  and  Helen; 
Eldon,  who  died  in  childhood;  Orva,  who  farms 
with  his  father ; and  Clyde  and  Iva  Elizabeth. 

Fay  Ebbert.  It  is  a source  of  pride  to  anyone  to 
be  able  to  trace  back  through  honorable  ancestry 
those  who  bore  a part  in  developing  any  given  sec- 
tion of  a state  or  country,  and  those  men  of  Steuben 
County  who  are  descended  from  the  pioneers  of  this 
locality  take  an  added  interest  in  keeping  up  the 
good  work  by  forwarding  any  new  movements  for 
its  further  advancements.  Fay  Ebbert,  of  Pleasant 
Township,  belongs  to  a family  early  founded  in 
Steuben  County,  and  he  is  himself  a native  son  of 
Steuben,  as  he  was  born  in  Johnson  Township, 
August  19,  1872,  a son  of  James  and  Emma  J. 
(Dove)  Ebbert,  and  grandson  of  Hiram  Ebbert. 
Hiram  Ebbert  came  to  Indiana  in  1857,  and  after 
stopping  for  a while  in  LaGrange  County,  one  mile 
north  of  LaGrange,  he  came  to  Steuben  County, 
where  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  He  mar- 
ried Maria  Jackson,  and  they  had  the  following 
children  born  to  them : James,  Isaac,  Sarah,  Ma- 

tilda and  Eliza  Jane. 

James  Ebbert  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
September  5,  1842,  and  grew  up  in  that  and  Steuben 
County.  He  was  well  started  in  life  as  a farmer 
when  he  felt  that  his  country  needed  him  for  the 
army,  and  he  enlisted  in  Company  B,  One  Hundreth 
Indiana  Infantry,  for  service  during  the  Civil  war 
as  a volunteer.  After  a long  and  faithful  service  as 
a soldier  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned 
to  Jackson  Township,  where  he  continued  to  engage 
in  farming  up  to  1891,  in  that  year  moving  to  La- 
Grange County,  Indiana,  and  locating  on  a small 
farm  in  Lima  Township.  About  1913,  he  made 
another  change,  and  now  lives  at  Howe,  Indiana. 
James  Ebbert  was  married  to  Emma  J.  Dove,  born  in 
Jackson  Township,  and  their  children  are  as  fol- 
lows : Clark,  Lilly,  Etta  and  Fay.  He  is  one  of  the 
pillars  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Howe. 

Fay  Ebbert  attended  the  schools  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, and  at  the  same  time  gained  a practical  knowl- 
edge of  farming  uhder  his  father’s  instruction. 
Branching  out  for  himself,  he  began  farming  in 
Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana, 
but  in  1898  moved  to  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben 
County,  buying  his  present  farm  of  forty  acres,  and 
proceeded  to  rebuild  the  house  and  erect  a new  barn. 
He  has  made  other  improvements  which  add  very 
much  to  the  appearance  of  the  place  and  the  con- 
venience of  the  various  buildings,  and  has  a com- 
fortable home. 

On  March  18,  1895,  Mr.  Ebbert  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Florence  Walter,  a daughter  of  Calvin 
Walter,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  Wanda,  who  is  deceased;  Hazel,  who 


is  also  deceased;  and  Robert.  Calvin  Walter,  the 
father  of  Mrs.  Ebbert,  was  born  near  Wooster, 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  March  2,  1854,  a son  of  Daniel 
and  Jane  (Craimer)  Walter,  the  former  born  Oc- 
tober 1,  1828,  and  the  latter  born  January  19,  1835. 
Daniel  Walter  moved  from  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  when  Calvin  Walter 
was  three  years  old,  and  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  the  latter  county,  being  a farmer  of 
some  note.  In  1882,  however,  he  moved  to  Pleasant 
Township,  Steuben  County,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  in  1884.  He  was  married  to  Ellen  Brum- 
baugh, a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Leady) 
Brumbaugh,  the  former  born  December  28,  1824, 
and  the  latter  born  November  26,  1829.  The  chil- 
dren of  Calvin  and  Ellen  Walter  were  as  follows: 
Margaret  Jane,  Florence,  Squire  and  May,  of  whom 
Florence  became  the  wife  of  Fay  Ebbert. 

John  H.  Clark.  It  is  easy  to  identify  the  career 
of  John  H.  Clark  in  the  farming  industry  of  Steuben 
County,  since  he  has  been  a resident  for  over  thirty 
years,  and  his  work  has  contributed  to  the  improve- 
ment and  development  of  several  tracts  of  land. 
He  owns  one  of  the  fine  farms  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, has  won  a competency  through  his  integrity 
and  ability,  and  is  now  preparing  to  live  a retired 
life. 

Mr.  Clark  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
January  12,  1871,  son  of  Joseph  B.  and  Ellen 
(Favorite)  Clark.  His  father  was  a native  of  Wil- 
liams County,  while  his  mother  was  born  in  Eaton 
County,  Michigan,  a daughter  of  John  Favorite, 
a farmer  of  that  state.  Joseph  B.  Clark  was  a 
blacksmith  and  wagon  maker  who  lived  in  Williams 
Countv  until  about  1885,  when  he  moved  to  Clear 
Lake  Township  in  Steuben  County  and  located  on  a 
farm.  Late  in  life  he  moved  to  Jamestown  Town- 
ship, and  died  there  about  1912.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children  : George  W.,  John  H., 

Thomas  T.,  Charles  A.,  Cleveland  F.  and  Izole  May. 

John  H.  Clark  had  the  privilege  of  attending  the 
public  schools  of  Williams  County  only  a few  years. 
Practically  from  the  time  he  was  nine  and  a half 
years  old  he  has  made  his  own  way  in  the  world, 
has  overcome  many  obstacles  and  has  worked  his 
own  way  to  independence  and  influence.  On  Febru- 
ary 4,  1894,  he  married  Mary  Beigh,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Gooding)  Beigh. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clark  rented  a farm,  and 
about  1897  he  bought  forty  acres  in  Salem  Town- 
ship. This  land  had  no  buildings,  and  in  order  to 
operate  it  he  rented  a nearby  tract  of  land  with 
buildings.  The  Salem  Township  place  was  sold 
in  1902,  and  he  next  bought  seventy  ^cres  in  section 
11  of  Pleasant  Township.  He  has  increased  his 
farm  by  a subsequent  purchase  of  ten  acres,  and  all 
the  good  buildings  on  the  farm  represent  his  invest- 
ment and  construction.  He  has  used  the  land  for 
general  farming  and  stock  raising  purposes.  In 
1919  Mr.  Clark  was  engaged  in  building  a home  at 
Angola,  which  he  designed  for  the  comfort  of  his 
years  of  retirement. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  have  one  daughter,  Pauline 
B.,  born  August  13,  1904.  When  Frank  Little  was 
twelve  years  old  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clark  took  him  into 
their  home,  and  he  has  been  with  the  family  ever 
since  and  is  now  renting  the  Clark  homestead.  Mr. 
Clark  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows. 

Mrs.  Clark’s  father  was  born  in  Juniata  County, 
Pennsylvania,  while  her  mother  was  a native  of  the 
City  of  New  York.  They  were  among  the  pioneers 
of  Steuben  County,  arriving  in  May,  1854,  and  set- 
tling in  Jackson  Township.  John  Beigh  bought 
eighty  acres  at  $4-50  an  acre,  built  a log  house,  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


217 


cleared  the  land.  After  fourteen  years  he  sold  this 
farm  at  $44.00  an  acre,  and  then  bought  100  acres 
in  Salem  Township,  where  he  lived  honored  and  re- 
spected until  his  death  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  He  was  a republican  and  with  his  wife  was 
active  in  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The  children 
of  John  Beigh  were  Silas,  Julia,  Lucinda  (deceased), 
Edwin,  Willis,  Amelia,  Rosella  (deceased)  and 
Mary. 

William  Haller,  an  honored  veteran  and  pen- 
sioner of  the  Civil  war,  was  through  nearly  all  that 
struggle,  and  for  over  forty  years  has  been  a resi- 
dent and  farm  owner  in  LaGrange  County.  He  is 
still  active  and  gives  his  supervision  to  his  farm, 
located  four  miles  east  of  Topeka. 

Mr.  Haller  was  born  in  Henry  County,  Ohio, 
April  15,  1841,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Mary  (Mil- 
ler) Haller,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  the  lat- 
ter state,  and  then  settled  on  a tract  of  raw  land 
in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  where  they  were  among 
the  early  settlers.  After  the  Civil  war  Benjamin 
Haller  moved  to  Indiana  and  bought  eighty  acres 
in  Elkhart  County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
days.  He  was  a stanch  and  steadfast  republican  in 
politics.  There  were  six  children  in  the  family: 
Sybilla,  born  in  February,  1838,  widow  of  Jasper 
Spergeon;  William;  Louisa,  born  September  11, 
1844,  unmarried ; Lucinda,  born  in  1847,  widow  of 
David  Gehrett;  John  M.,  living  in  Ohio;  and  Re- 
becca J.,  wife  of  George  Held. 

William  Haller  grew  up  in  the  county  district  of 
Henry  County,  Ohio,  attended  the  common  schools 
there,  and  just  about  the  time  he  attained  his  ma- 
jority he  volunteered  for  the  war,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany F of  the  Fourteenth  Ohio  Infantry.  This  was 
a three  months’  regiment,  and  after  his  term  had 
expired  he  re-enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  Sixty- 
Eighth  Ohio  Infantry  for  a period  of  three  years. 
When  he  had  served  two  years  and  two  months  he 
accepted  the  opportunity  to  veteranize  at  Vicksburg, 
and  continued  on  until  the  Union  banners  were 
folded  in  victory.  He  was  a corporal  and  sergeant, 
and  in  one  engagement  was  wounded  in  the  left 
knee. 

After  the  war  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in 
LaGrange  County,  where  his  activities  have  ever 
since  been  concentrated.  Mr.  Haller  owns  a good 
farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  has  served  as  constable, 
township  supervisor  and  school  director,  and  is  a 
republican  in  his  political  allegiance. 

April  16,  1864,  while  on  furlough  from  the  army, 
Mr.  Haller  married  Martha  J.  Russell,  who  died  in 
February,  1913.  To  their  union  were  born  nine  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  are  still  living:  Harrison,  of 

Noble  County,  Indiana;  Almeda,  wife  of  Jacob  Hull; 
Will  H.,  who  married  Leona  Sanders ; and  Caroline, 
wife  of  Henry  Rochenbauch,  of  Elkhart  County. 
There  are  also  thirteen  grandchildren  living. 

Frank  Drenning.  In  order  to  make  a success  of 
farming  a man  must  have  a natural  inclination  for 
it,  and  understand  all  of  its  possibilities.  The  reason 
that  some  fail  in  this  line  is  because  they  only  en- 
gage in  it  as  a last  resort,  without  any  practical  ex- 
perience or  liking  for  the  soil.  Their  experiments 
are  costly  and  seldom  successful,  and  the  land  under 
their  ineffectual  management  loses  many  of  its  prop- 
erties and  becomes  unfertile  and  practically  worth- 
less. However,  when  a man  does  know  how  to  cul- 
tivate his  farm  and  likes  the  work  there  are  almost 
unlimited  opportunities  for  him.  Given  fair  treat- 
ment land  will  yield  more  generously  than  almost 
any  other  kind  of  investment.  The  out  of  door  life, 
good  food  and  dignity  which  comes  of  being  a pro- 


prietor instead  of  a hired  man,  all  are  aids  in  keep- 
ing the  farmer  on  his  job.  Within  the  past  couple  of 
years  a new  element  has  arisen  which  gives  added 
importance  to  the  work,  for  owing  to  the  pressure 
of  circumstances  arising  out  of  the  great  war  Amer- 
ican farmers  will  have  to  supply  a large  amount  of 
the  food  for  the  world  during  the  next  few  years. 
Ihey  can  and  will  do  it,  and  those  thus  fed  will  ac- 
cord praise  where  it  is  due.  Indiana  farmers  will 
rank  among  the  best  in  this  work  of  regenerating 
the  devastated  people,  and  one  who  is  now  and  has 
been  for  many  years  one  of  the  representative  farm- 
ers of  Steuben  County  is  Frank  Drenning  of  Steuben 
Township. 

Frank  Drenning  was  born  in  Bedford  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  31,  1850,  a son  of  John  Dren- 
ning and  grandson  of  Henry  Drenning,  the  latter 
having  been  a farmer  of  Bedford  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania. John  Drenning  was  married  to  Catherine 
Clark,  of  Greenberry,  Bedford  County,  PennsyL 
vania,  and  they  had  the  following  children:  James, 

Mary,  who  died  young;  John;  Maria,  who  married 
Sam  Laizer;  Martin;  Frank;  Elizabeth,  who  mar- 
ried Martin  Penner;  and  Susan,  Richard  and  Josiah, 
all  of  whom  died  young.  In  1872  John  Drenning 
came  to  Steuben  County,  where  he  passed  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  were  devout 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  faith. 

Frank  Drenning  attended  the  local  schools  of 
Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  taught 
farming  from  the  time  he  was  a small  boy,  assisting 
his  father  until  his  marriage  in  1873,  when  he  se- 
cured a farm  in  Steuben  Township  and  began  farm- 
ing for  himself.  With  the  exception  of  three  years 
which  he  spent  at  Angola,  Mr.  Drenning  has  lived 
on  this  farm  since  he  bought  it,  and  his  premises 
show  that  the  owner  is  on  hand  and  takes  a pride  in 
having  everything  in  order.  The  excellent  and  suit- 
able buildings  on  this  farm  have  either  been  erected 
or  completely  remodeled  by  him,  and  he  has  also 
put  in  many  other  improvements,  adding  very  ma- 
terially to  the  value  of  his  100  acres.  When  he 
bought  this  property  it  was  practically  in  the  timber, 
and  he  has  cleared  off  the  greater  portion  of  it. 

On  March  13,  1873,  Frank  Drenning  was  married 
to  Jane  Menges,  a daughter  of  Peter  Menges,  and 
they  had  the  following  children : Alice,  who  mar- 

ried George  Grubbs  and  lives  at  Indianapolis,  In- 
diana; William  H. ; Lovina ; and  Fannie,  who  mar- 
ried George  Crossland.  Mrs.  Drenning  died  January 
1,  1906. 

Jacob  Kepler.  The  Keplers  moved  into  Franklin 
Township  of  DeKalb  County  over  eighty  years  ago. 
As  a family  the  name  has  been  identified  with  some 
of  the  largest  land  holdings  in  DeKalb  and  Steuben 
County,  and  throughout  this  region  the  name  is 
synonymous  with  prosperity,  good  business  man- 
agement and  undoubted  thrift  and  hard  work. 

Jacob  Kepler,  a son  of  the  original  settler  in  De- 
Kalb County,  has  for  many  years  owned  and  worked 
a large  and  complete  farm  in  Otsego  Township,  part 
of  which  is  in  the  Village  of  Hamilton,  where  he 
resides. 

His  father,  Samuel  Kepler,  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  October  30,  1814,  a son  of  John 
Kepler.  Samuel  Kepler  in  the  fall  of  1837  settled 
, on  section  21  of  Franklin  Township  in  DeKalb 
County.  He  entered  land  in  that  section  and  in 
section  28.  He  went  there  with  practically  no 
capital,  but  was  young,  willing  to  work  hard  and  was 
ambitious,  and  succeeded  much  above  the  average. 
His  enterprise  took  several  different  directions. 
About  1853  he  built  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  town- 
ship, on  Fish  Creek,  and  that  mill  was  fulfilling  its 
functions  in  grinding  local  grain  for  over  thirty 


218 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


years.  Samuel  Kepler  was  one  of  the  largest  wheat 
growers  in  Northeast  Indiana.  He  had  a genius  for 
acquiring  extensive  tracts  of  land,  and  at  the  time 
of  his  death,  which  occurred  March  19,  1862,  at  the 
age  of  forty-seven,  he  owned  over  1,000  acres  in 
Steuben  and  DeKalb  counties,  and  1,100  acres  in 
Iowa.  He  was  not  content  to  hold  the  land  merely 
as  an  investment,  but  always  improved  it,  and  had  a 
fondness  for  good  buildings.  His  old  grist  mill  stood 
about  a mile  and  a half  east  of  Hamilton.  Along 
with  farming  he  sold  agricultural  implements,  and 
had  a store  at  Hamilton.  In  1834  he  married  Mary 
Noragon,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania.  She  died 
June  15,  1892,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  They 
had  a family  of  fourteen  children,  and  those  to 
reach  mature  years  were:  Andrew,  John,  Caroline, 
who  married  Samuel  Hussman,  Edwin,  Samuel, 
Sarah  Jane,  who  married  Lafayette  Perkey,  Solo- 
mon and  Jacob. 

Jacob  Kepler  was  born  September  14,  1851,  in 
Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  and  attended 
public  school  there.  Fie  early  learned  the  value  of 
honest  toil  as  a means  of  making  his  way  in  the 
world.  He  worked  his  mother’s  place  in  Franklin 
Township  for  several  years.  He  married  Rosanna 
Brown,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Brown. 
After  his  marriage  he  moved  into  Otsego  Town- 
ship of  Steuben  County,  and  has  since  occupied  his 
present  farm,  about  thirty  acres  of  which  are  within 
the  corporation  limits  of  Hamilton.  Altogether  he 
has  320  acres.  The  splendid  buildings  were  all 
erected  by  him  and  his  farm  is  devoted  to  general 
agriculture  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Kepler  is  a member  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.  He  has  three  children : Gertrude,  who 

married  Charles  Hoch  and  has  two  children,  Oline 
and  Gertrude;  Bertha,  wife  of  Charles  Swift,  has 
one  child  named  Marsell;  and  Wier. 

John  H.  Yeager  is  a business  man  as  well  as 
practical  farmer  of  Johnson  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  For  many  years  he  has  been  a dealer  in 
live  stock,  and  through  him  a large  part  of  the  stock 
raised  in  LaGrange  County  has  found  its  way  to 
market.  However,  he  lives  on  his  farm  a half-mile 
northeast  of  Wolcottville.  In  connection  with  his 
dealing  in  live  stock  he  owns  and  operates  a slaugh- 
ter house.  His  business  associate  is  Herbert  F. 
Newnam,  of  Wayne  Township,  Noble  County. 

Mr.  Yeager  was  born  on  a farm  near  Wolcott- 
ville, in  Noble  County,  December  21,  1865,  a son 
of.  Andrew  R.  and  Frances  E.  (Shanower)  Yeager. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Ohio  and  his  mother  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  their  respective  families  came  at 
an  early  day  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  where 
Andrew  and  Frances  were  married.  Andrew  Yeager 
was  in  the  saw  mill  business  for  some  time  and 
later  with  his  older  son  became  a contractor  and 
builder.  He  died  as  a result  of  injuries  received  in 
his  mill.  He  was  active  in  the  Masonic  order,  was 
a republican,  and  his  wife  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  They  had  four  children,  two 
of  whom  are  still  living,  Dora,  wife  of  George  W. ; 
Leonard,  of  Milford  Township,  LaGrange  County; 
and  John  H.  The  son,  Edmond  E.,  who  died  on 
the  operating  table  in  his  home,  was  master  of 
Masonic  Lodge  No.  380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  was  prominent  in  the  building  of  the  Masonic 
Temple  at  Wolcottville,  and  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. Rena,  the  deceased  daughter,  became  the  wife 
of  J.  W.  Reif Schneider,  and  her  death  was  a tragedy, 
she  being  burned  to  death. 

John  H.  Yeager  was  two  years  old  when  he 
came  to  LaGrange  County,  acquired  a good  common 
school  education  and  qualified  himself  "for  teaching, 


which  he  followed  three  years.  Since  then  he  has 
been  chiefly  engaged  in  the  buying  of  horses,  mules 
and  live  stock.  He  owns  a good  farm  of  sixty- 
one  acres,  and  is  also  president  of  Wolcottville 
Cement  Products  Company. 

September  30,  1890,  Mr.  Yeager  married  Cora 
Newhouse,  of  LaGrange  County,  where  she  was 
born  and  educated.  They  have  five  children,  four 
daughters  and  one  son : Beryl,  who  is  engaged  in 

business  with  his  father  and  also  operates  a profit- 
able side  line  in  the  raising  of  white  Leghorn 
chickens;  Hermona,  a high  school  graduate,  with 
Normal  training  received  at  Woodruff,  is  now  a 
teacher  ; Pauline  D.,  a student  nurse  in  the  Lutheran 
Hospital  at  Fort  Wayne;  Eloise,  a high  school  stu- 
dent; and  Dorothy  E.,  in  the  grammar  schools. 

Mrs.  Yeager  is  a member  of  the!  Methodist 
Church  and  her  daughters  are  of  the  same  faith. 
Mr.  Yeager  is  affiliated  with  Ionic  Lodge  No.  380, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  also  with  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter  and  Council  at  Kendallville.  Politic- 
ally he  is  a republican. 

George  W.  Grim.  The  distinguishing  feature  of 
Mr.  Grim’s  long  career  as  a Steuben  County  farmer 
has  been  the  breeding  and  growing  of  thorough- 
bred Hampshire  sheep.  His  sheep  have  made  his 
name  famous  among  sheep  raisers  throughout  the 
Middle  West,  and  from  his  farm  has  gone  some  of 
the  highest  class  breeding  stock  to  many  states  and 
distant  Western  ranges. 

For  twenty-three  years  Mr.  Grim  made  it  a cus- 
tom to  exhibit  his  sheep  at  stock  shows  and  fairs. 
His  rams  and  ewes  were  on  exhibition  at  the  State 
Fairs  at  Syracuse,  Columbus,  Indianapolis,  Grand 
Rapids  and  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  every  fair 
where  exhibited  prizes  were  awarded.  He  has  a 
beautiful  pair  of  large  silver  cups  as  trophies  award- 
ed his  stock  at  the  Michigan  State  Fair,  and  many 
medals  besides.  For  the  last  few  years  Mr.  Grim 
has  not  entered  his  sheep  at  state  fairs,  but  still 
continues  to  exhibit  at  all  nearby  county  fairs. 

A member  of  one  of  the  older  families  of  Steuben 
County,  Mr.  Grim  was  born  in  York  Township,. 
June  14,  1856,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  J.  (Keller) 
Grim.  His  mother  was  born  in  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Keller. 
William  Grim  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  a son  of  Andrew  and  Angeline  Grim.  An- 
drew Grim  was  a farmer  in  Eastern  Ohio.  William 
Grim  .came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  in  York 
Township  in  1853,  locating  on  a farm  where  he  lived 
until  1867,  and  then  went  to  Fremont  Township, 
owning  no  acres  there,  and  in  that  locality  he  lived 
until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children: 
Henry;  Libbie,  wife  of  Samuel  Waters,  Elwood 
and  George  W. 

George  W.  Grim  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  York  and  Fremont  Town- 
ship, attended  school  in  the  village  of  Fremont,  and 
his  first  independent  efforts  as  a farmer  were  made 
in  Fremont  Township.  He  lived  there  until  1900, 
and  in  the  month  of  March  of  that  year  moved  to 
his  present  place.  This  is  a farm  with  modern 
facilities  and  buildings,  all  put  up  in  his  time,  and 
his  arrangements  are  especially  suited  for  sheep 
husbandry.  Mr.  Grim  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  at  Fremont,  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Pythian  Sisters,  and  they  belong  to  the 
Methodist  Church  of  Fremont. 

April  20,  1882,  Mr.  Grim  married  Mary  J.  Michael, 
daughter  of  Enos  and  Barbara  Michael.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Grim  have  two  daughters  and  one  son,  the 
son  representing  the  family  in  the  World  war.  Lola 
B.,  the  older  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  Carl  Miller, 


MR.  AND  MRS.  DANIEL  P.  DONEY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


219 


living  in  Chicago,  and  has  two  daughters,  named 
Mary  and  Georgina.  Bessie  B.  is  the  wife  of 
Dwight  Eckler,  of  Montpelier,  Ohio,  and  has  one 
child,  named  Loraine.  Clifton  E.,  the  son,  married 
Lillian  Oberlander.  He  enlisted  in  May,  1916,  in 
the  Second  Cavalry,  was  stationed  during  his  train- 
ing period  at  Fort  Ethan  Allen  in  Vermont,  and  was 
sent  overseas  and  arrived  in  France  in  April,  1918. 
Since  then  he  has  been  with  the  Expeditionary 
Forces,  and  had  not  returned  home  in  the  early 
summer  of  1919. 

Daniel  P.  Doney.  Among  the  fine  farms  of  Clay 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  one  that  would  par- 
ticularly attract  attention  bears  the  name  of  Pleas- 
ant View,  which  indicates  its  location  and  suggests 
the  comfortable  and  substantial  surroundings  of  this 
well  improved  property  that  belongs  to  Daniel  P. 
Doney,  one  of  the  county’s  well  known  and  highly 
respected  citizens. 

Daniel  P.  Doney  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  May  24,  1857,  and  is  a son 
of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Perry)  Doney,  the  latter  be- 
ing the  father’s  third  wife.  She  was  born  in  Elk- 
hart County,  Indiana,  in  1834,  and  died  in  Oregon 
September  28,  1885.  She  was  the  mother  of  five 
children,  namely : Daniel  P.,  John  Edward,  Samuel, 
George  and  Joseph.  Samuel  Doney  was  born  in 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  July  4,  1816.  He  came  to 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  1840,  and  stopped 
for  a time  with  his  father-in-law,  Ralph  Herbert, 
on  Cedar  Lake,  then  settled  in  Clay  Township, 
where  he  cleared  a tract  of  160  acres  and  improved 
the  same.  In  1876  he  moved  to  Oregon,  but  after 
the  death  of  his  third  wife  he  returned  to  LaGrange 
County  and  died  in  1903,  at  the  home  of  a daughter, 
Mrs.  George  Libey.  He  rented  and  for  some  years 
operated  the  old  water-wheel  sawmill  first  known  as 
the  Doctor  Hobb’s  and  later  Fleck’s  mill.  He  was 
a leading  member  of  the  Dunkard  faith  in  this  neigh- 
borhood and  his  last  wife  was  also  a member  of 
this  church.  His  first  wife  was  Jane  Herbert,  who 
died  in  1853,  the  mother  of  four  children,  namely: 
Elizabeth,  Charles,  Alice  and  Sarah.  His  second 
wife  was  Huldah  Lawrence,  who  died  eighteen 
months  after  marriage,  leaving  one  child.  His  third 
marriage  was  to  Lydia  Perry. 

Daniel  P.  Doney  attended  school  in  Clay  Town- 
ship and  assisted  his  father,  whom  he  accompanied 
to  Oregon.  He  remained  there  five  years.  In  1895 
he  purchased  forty  acres  of  land  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  to  which  he  later  added 
forty  acres  and  still  later  seventeen  acres,  all  of 
which  he  has  practically  developed,  as  when  he  first 
came  here  the  only  evidence  of  civilization  was  a 
log  house.  The  clearing  and  improving  of  this  land 
has  demanded  Mr.  Doney’s  best  efforts  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  but  he  now  has  a beautiful  home  and 
a valuable  property.  He  carries  on  general  farm- 
ing with  the  method  and  care  that  insure  the  best 
results,  and  may  well  be  named  as  a representative 
agriculturist  of  this  section. 

In  1876  Mr.  Doney  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
Green,  who  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  March  11, 
1859.  Her  parents  were  James  and  Hannah  Ann 
(Brown)  Green,  who  settled  in  Clay  Township  in 
1842  and  became  people  of  prominence  there.  Her 
father  acquired  380  acres  of  land  and  operated  what 
was  known  as  Green’s  sawmill.  The  settlement  was 
named  Green  Corners  in  his  honor,  and  he  also  gave 
his  name  to  what  is  yet  called  the  Green  school- 
house.  His  death  occurred  in  October,  1904,  when 
aged  ninety-one  years.  The  mother  of  Mrs.  Doney 
died  March  12,  1893,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years. 
Their  children  bore  the  following  names:  Frances, 
Maggie,  Thomas,  Lucinda,  Willis,  Mary  Josephine, 


Sophronia,  Seymour  and  Icy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doney 
have  had  two  children,  namely : Leona  J.,  who  was 

born  in  Oregon  March  18,  1877,  died  September  28, 
1885,  and  George,  who  was  born  July  11,  1887.  The 
latter  is  a farmer  in  Clay  Township,  like  his  father, 
and  is  equally  prosperous.  He  married  Miss  Nettie 
Mann,  and  they  have  two  children : Mary  Ann  and 

Margaret  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Doney  is  a democrat  in 
his  political  views,  but  he  has  never  been  willing 
to  accept  any  township  office,  although  he  is  a man 
well  qualified  for  the  same. 

George  Earl  Crampton.  One  of  the  farms  in 
Van  Buren  Township  of  LaGrange  County  that  has 
been  longest  under  cultivation  is  that  owned  by 
George  Earl  Crampton  and  his  mother,  Emily  A. 
Crampton.  Mr.  Crampton  was  born$  on  the  farm, 
and  it  was  acquired  by  his  maternal  grandfather  in 
the  earliest  period  of  settlement. 

Mr.  Crampton  was  born  January  22,  1869,  son  of 
William  and  Emily  Adelia  (Cook)  Crampton.  His 
father  was  born  near  Boston,  Lincolnshire,  England, 
June  18,  1830,  and  when  a young  man  crossed  the 
ocean  to  New  York,  spending  forty  days  on  the 
water.  He  went  up  the  Hudson  River  to  Albany, 
thence  by  rail  to  Buffalo,  and  from  there  crossed 
Lake  Erie  to  Toledo,  traveling  from  there  down 
the  Erie  Canal  to  Fort  Wayne  and  by  stage  to  Lima, 
Indiana,  where  he  arrived  in  August,  1851.  One 
summer  he  spent  working  in  a distillery,  and  the 
following  winter  was  hostler  for  the  prosecuting 
attorney  of  Steuben  and  LaGrange  counties.  In  the 
spring  of  1852  he  went  to  Sturgis,  Michigan,  and 
worked  in  a distillery  and  also  on  the  newly  com- 
pleted railroad.  In  1853  he  began  seven  years  of 
employment  for  Orsen  Douglas,  a Michigan  farmer. 
In  1854  he  and  Mr.  Douglas  erected  the  first  pepper- 
mint still  in  Sturgis  Township.  In  the  spring  of  1859 
he  moved  to  Indiana,  and  in  December,  i860,  was 
married  and  then  bought  sixty  acres  of  what  is 
known  as  the  Marionas  Cowan  Farm.  He  lived 
there  one  year  and  then  bought  a part  of  the  Cook 
homestead  owned  by  George  Cook.  Including  his 
wife’s  inheritance,  he  acquired  about  160  acres  and 
lived  there  as  a farmer  until  his  death  on  May  16, 
1913.  He  was  a republican  and  was  well  known  in 
LaGrange  County  politics,  serving  two  terms  as 
county  commissioner  and  two  terms  on  the  Advisory 
Board  of  Van  Buren  Township. 

Emily  Adelia  Cook,  mother  of  George  Earl  Cramp- 
ton, was  born  on  the  land  where  she  is  living  today 
in  February,  1840.  Except  for  one  year  of  her 
life  she  has  made  her  home  in  that  locality  for  prac- 
tically eighty  years.  Her  father,  George  Cook,  was 
born  in  England  and  married  a Miss  Cowan,  a native 
of  New  York.  In  1831  the  Cook  family  moved  to 
White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  and  soon  afterward  settled 
in  Van  Buren  Township.  The  father  of  George 
Cook  was  John  Cook,  who  died  in  August,  1831. 
George  Cook  carried  the  mail  between  Constantine 
and  Cassopolis,  Michigan,  in  1832.  He  owned  about 
180  acres  in  Van  Buren  Township,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death  in  December,  1858,  his  wife  passing 
away  in  1853.  They  were  the  parents  of  four 
children : Emily  Adelia,  Mary,  George  Albert  and 

Jennie  L.  George  Cook  married  for  his  second  wife 
Harriet  (Fowler)  Bates.  After  his  death  she  be- 
came the  wife  of  Lewis  Nichols,  and  she  is  still 
living  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five. 

William  and  Emily  Crampton  were  the  parents  of 
three  children : Alta  lone,  widow  of  Edgar  Mc- 

Claskey;  George  Earl;  and  Edwin  Cook  Crampton. 
Edwin  C.  Crampton  is  a prominent  lawyer  at  Raton, 
New  Mexico,  and  was  a delegate  to  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  when  the  Constitution  of  the  new 


220 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


State  of  New  Mexico  was  framed.  He  also  served 
two  terms  in  the  first  State  Senate  and  had  much  to 
do  with  the  formulation  of  the  school  system  of 
New  Mexico.  He  is  a graduate  of  Indiana  State 
University,  and  has  been  an  extensive  traveler. 

George  Earl  Crampton  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  has  always  lived  there.  He  attended  the  public 
schools  and  spent  one  year  in  the  high  school  at 
Lima,  and  in  1895  took  the  agricultural  course  at 
Purdue  University.  He  has  found  pleasure  and 
profit  in  farming  and  is  one  of  the  well  known  and 
substantial  citizens  of  LaGrange  County.  He  is  a 
republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Shipshewana  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe. 

December  23,  1902,  he  married  Miss  Cora  May 
■ Keefus  of  Lima  Township.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children : Hilda  Margaret,  born  in  Novem- 

ber, 1903,  a student  in  the  Scott  High  School  Ray 
mond  Li  born  May  3L  D06;  and  Wallace  Edwin, 
born  May  7,  I911- 

Chauncey  M.  Kauffman.  While  Mr.  Kauffman 
was  born  in  LaGrange  County  and  has  spent  prac- 
tically all  his  life  there,  he  has  made  a number 
of  changes,  and  every  change  has  been  a step 
in  progress  in  his  material  circumstances.  He 
became  an  independent  farmer  over  thirty  years 
ago,  and  has  always  farmed  what  has  been  coin 
sidered  high  priced  land.  He  has  bought  several 
times  at  "the  top  of  the  market  and  later  has  sold 
at  a great  advance.  His  present  splendid  farm 
is  in  Greenfield  Township  and  is  regarded  as  one 
of  the  most  valuable  in  point  of  acre  value  in  the 

Mr.  Kauffman  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  No- 
vember  n,  1864,  son  of  Jonas  and  Mary  Jane 
(Schermerhorn)  Kauffman.  Jonas  Kauffman  was 
born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  August  io,  1826, 
son  of  Stephen  and  Martha  (Miller)  Kauffman. 
His  parents  moved  to  Indiana  in  1844  and  cleared 
up  and  improved  forty  acres  of  land  in  Elkhart 
County  where  Martha  Kauffman  died  in  1854  and 
her  husband  in  1858.  Jonas  Kauffman  was  one  ot 
four  sons  and  four  daughters.  He  was  a carpenter 
by  trade  and  followed  that  occupation  from  the 

time  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age  until  1850.  With 
three  other  men  he  also  built  and  operated  a saw 
mill  in  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 
In  1854  he  bought  200  acres  in  Clay  Township, 
and  for  ten  years  he  and  his  family  lived  in  a 
log  cabin.  In  1864,  having  sold  that  property, 
he  bought  140  acres  in  another  part  of  Clay  1 own- 
ship,  and  lived  there  until  1888,  when  he  sold  and 
bought  the  Isaac  Plank  farm  on  Pretty  Prairie 
in  Greenfield  Township.  This  farm  contained  185 
acres,  and  he  paid  $67  an  acre,  then  considered  an 
unusually  high  price.  He  sold  the  farm  in  1905. 
and  after  that  lived  with  his  children  until  his  death 
in  December,  1916.  He  married  Mary  J.  Schermer- 
horn on  March  28,  1852.  She  was  born  in  Stark 
Countv,  Ohio,  and  died  in  February,  19 «3-  J0"3® 

Kauffman  was  a member  of  the  German  Baptist 
Church.  His  wife's  father,  Michael  Shermerhorn 
was  a native  of  Germany  and  married  Elizabeth 
McKibbin,  a native  of  Ireland.  Jonas  Kauffman 
and  wife  had  eight  children:  Julia  A Mary  M., 

Laura  A.,  Sarah  A.,  Ada  I.,  Chauncey  M.,  Augusta 
J.  and  Luther  J.  , . , 

Chauncey  M.  Kauffman  spent  his  early  life  on 
his  father’s  farm  in  Clay  Township.  He  attended 
district  schools  and  spent  one  year  in  the  Lima 
Hi<rh  School.  In  1888  he  removed  to  Greenfield 
Township,  and  lived  on  his  father's  farm  there  for 
eleven  years  after  his  marriage.  He  then  bought 


fifty-two  acres  of  John  Smeltzly,  and  traded  that 
to  Jacob  Mast  for  eighty  acres  on  Pretty  Prairie. 
One  year  later  he  sold  this  for  $5,000.  He  next 
bought  the  George  Price  farm  east  of  Brighton, 
containing  100  acres,  paying  $7,000.  When  he  sold 
this  in  1913  the  price  was  $13,500.  The  highest  price 
paid  for  land  here  up  to  that  time.  Mr.  Kauffman 
then  bought  the  160  acres  known  as  the  old  Alex 
Keim  farm,  paying  $15,000.  He  remodeled  the 
buildings  and  with  improvements  and  with  the 
demonstrated  productiveness  of  the  farm  he  sold 
this  farm  September  1,  1919,  for  $150  an  acre. 
He  does  general  farming  and  for  years  has  been 
a sheep  feeder.  Mr.  Kauffman  is  a republican, 
but  has  no  aspirations  for  public  office. 

October  2,  1890,  he  married  Emma  Steirnagle, 
of  LaGrange  County.  She  was  born  in  Greenfield 
Township  November  12,  1869,  daughter  of  John 
and  Rebecca  (Long)  Steirnagle.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  June  3,  1837,  and  her  mother 
in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  May  20,  1848.  Rebecca 
Long  was  a daughter  of  Daniel  Long,  member  of 
the  prominent  Long  family  so  numerously  repre- 
sented in  the  citizenship  of  LaGrange  County. 
John  Steirnagle  came  to  LaGrange  County  when 
a young  man,  about  1865,  was  married  here,  and 
after  living  with  Daniel  Long  for  about  a year  and 
a half  bought  forty  acres  in  Springfield  Township 
and  later  added  forty  more.  He  made  many  im- 
provements on  his  land  and  specialized  in  fruit 
culture.  He  died  at  the  home  farm  in  May,  1901, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  January  17,  1899.  Mr. 
Steirnagle  was  a democrat,  and  he  and  bis  wife 
were  memhers  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  They  had 
a family  of  five  children : Mary  Etta,  wife  of  D.  M. 
Plank;  Emma,  Mrs.  Kauffman;  Daniel,  deceased; 
William;  and  Bertha,  wife  of  Elmer  Grady. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauffman  had  six  children,  Nellie, 
the  oldest,  dying  at  the  age  of  seventeen  and  a half 
months.  Florence  graduated  from  the  LaGrange 
High  School  in  1912,  attended  Tri-State  College 
at  Angola  and  is  a teacher  by  profession.  She  was. 
principal  of  a school  at  San  Benito  in  extreme 
Southern  Texas  for  two  years  and  on  December 
9,  1916,  became  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Thacker,  of  San 
Benito,  and  they  now  live  in  LaGrange.  She  is 
principal  of  the  Bloomfield  graded  school.  The 
third  and  fourth  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauff- 
man are  Ralph  and  Ruth,  twins.  Ralph  enlisted 
April  27,  1917,  in  the  Eighth  Aero  Squadron,  went 
overseas  November  21,  1917,  and  spent  five  months 
at  the  front  as  a truck  driver.  He  was  given 
his  honorable  discharge  May  22,  1919.  Ralph  is 
a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  Hieh  School,  while 
Ruth  graduated  from  the  Howe  High  School,  spent 
two  years  in  the  Tri-State  College  and  for  two 
tf-rms  was  a teacher.  The  youngest  of  the  chil- 
dren of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kauffman  are  Arthur  and 
Marshall,  the  former  a student  in  the  Brighton 
High  School  and  the  latter  in  the  grammar  school 
at  Brighton. 

William  Goudy  is  well  remembered  in  Steuben 
County,  where  he  spent  so  many  years  of  his  life. 
Mr.  Goudy  developed  and  owned  a large  farm  in 
Otsego  Township,  and  the  old  home  is  still  owned 
and  occupied  by  Mrs.  Goudy. 

The  late  Mr.  Goudy  was  born  in  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  July  18,  1846,  a son  of  Samuel  Goudy,  who 
was  a miller  by  trade,  and  operated  mills  in  different 
parts  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  men  to  follow  that  business  in  Angola.  Wil- 
liam Goudy  during  his  early  manhood,  attended 
school,  worked  out  for  neighboring  farmers,  and  at 
the  age  of  sixteen,  in  1862,  enlisted  in  Company 
C of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  Cavalry.  He  saw  much 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


221 


arduous  service  during  the  remaining  years  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  his  record  covers  about  three  years. 
In  1874  Mr.  Goudy  moved  out  to  the  western  frontier 
of  Nebraska  and  homesteaded  a quarter  section 
claim  which  he  occupied  for  several  years.  On  re- 
turning to  Indiana  from  Nebraska  he  farmed  as  a 
renter  in  DeKalb  and  Steuben  counties,  and  in  1880 
bought  the  farm  in  Otsego  Township  of  120  acres 
where  his  labors  were  effectively  directed  during  the 
rest  of  his  life.  He  improved  the  land  with  good 
buildings  and  other  facilities  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  on  February  24,  1904.  He  was  affiliated 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Goudy  married  Mary  E.  Dirrim.  Mrs.  Goudy 
was  born  February  8,  1848,  a daughter  of  William 
Dirrim  and  a sister  of  Timothy  H.  Dirrim,  whose 
family  history  has  been  recorded  on  other  pages 
of  this  publication.  Mrs.  Goudy  was  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  namely:  Fletcher;  Frank,  who  mar- 

ried Mary  Wells  and  has  three  children,  named 
Flora,  Lois  and  Marcus ; Charles ; Matie,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Harvey  Wilson  and  they  have  one  child, 
Raymond ; Robert,  who  married  Golda  Hall  and  has 
one  son,  R.  Edwin ; Fannie,  wife  of  Charles  Burrell 
and  the  mother  of  Marion,  Maynard  and  Charles ; 
Timothy  and.  Crissie.  Mrs.  Goudy  is  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Fletcher  Goudy,  oldest  son  of  the  late  Mr.  Goudy, 
grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  when  a young  man, 
on  June  22,  1898,  enlisted  in  the  Forty-Ninth  Iowa 
Infantry  as  a United  States  volunteer.  He  served 
with  that  regiment  in  the  Cuban  war  until  May  13, 
1899.  On  August  2,  1899,  he  again  enlisted,  this  time 
in  the  Thirty-Fourth  United  States  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  served  until  mustered  out,  April  17,  1901. 
His  second  period  of  enlistment  was  for  service  in 
the  war  in  the  Philippines.  Altogether  he  partici- 
pated in  one  battle  and  eleven  minor  engagements. 
At  the  close  of  his  service  he  was  quartermaster 
sergeant  in  Company  M.  In  1902  Fletcher  Goudy 
married  Lola  Sattison,  a daughter  of  Fred  and 
Martha  ( Haverstock)  Sattison.  They  have  two 
children,  Dorothy  and  Freddie. 

Joseph  M.  Bontrager.  One  of  the  important 
agricultural  industries  of  LaGrange  County  is  the 
growing  of  peppermint,  and  certain  portions  of  the 
county  are  admirably  adapted  for  this  profitable 
crop.  One  of  the  principal  men  engaged  in  the 
business  is  Joseph  M.  Bontrager  of  section  5,  Eden 
Township.  He  has  considerable  muck'  soil,  grows 
a large  acreage  of  peppermint  every  year,  and  dis- 
tills large  quantities  of  peppermint  oil.  He  is  also 
a general  farmer  and  stockraiser. 

He  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  May  9,  1873,  a son  of  Joseph  C.  and  Lydia 
(Mast)  Bontrager,  the  former  a native  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  also  a native  of  Ohio. 
Joseph  Bontrager  grew  up  in  Elkhart  County,  In- 
diana, and  his  wife  in  LaGrange  County.  After 
their  marriage  in  the  latter  county  they  settled  in 
Greenfield  Township  and  spent  the  rest  of  their 
lives  there.  They  were  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church.  Joseph  M.  Bontrager  is  the  only  one  liv- 
ing of  five  children.  His  mother  and  the  four 
other  children  all  died  of  diphtheria  within  a period 
of  two  weeks.  Joseph  Bontrager  was  six  years  old 
when  his  mother  died,  and  he  grew  up  in  the  home 
of  a stepmother,  attending  the  district  schools  of 
Greenfield  Township. 

He  remained  at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one 
and  in  November,  1895,  married  Amanda  J.  Yoder. 
She  was  born  in  Elkhart  County  August  28,  1870, 
and  was  educated  in  the  district  schools.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Bontrager  started  out  as  renters  in  Newbury 


Township,  where  they  remained  two  years,  and  then 
bought  160  acres  comprising  their  present  farm.  Mr. 
Bontrager  has  made  extensive  improvements,  in- 
cluding much  draining  and  tiling. 

He  and  his  wife  have  six  children:  Clara  Celesta, 

Oliver  J.,  Nina  D.,  Mary  Leona,  Melvin  J.,  and 
Willis,  all  of  whom  are  unmarried  and  at  home. 
They  were  educated  in  the  common  schools  and 
Willis  is  still  a student.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Mennonite  Church  and  Mr.  Bontrager  takes 
an  active  interest  in  democratic  politics.  He  served 
as  a member  of  the  County  Council  and  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Topeka.  He 
breeds  some  high  class  Hereford  cattle  and  has  good 
grades  of  other  live  stock. 

William  J.  Crampton.  Probably  the  efforts  of 
no  one  individual  have  contributed  more  to  making 
Steuben  County  a feeding  ground  for  large  flocks 
of  sheep  than  William  J.  Crampton,  who  uses  most 
of  his  land  in  Steuben  Township  for  that  purpose. 
However,  Mr.  Crampton  is  a general  farmer,  and 
has  much  of  the  ability  of  his  late  father  in  business 
affairs. 

Mr.  Crampton  was  born  in  England,  August  23, 
1848,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  (Oatfield)  Cramp- 
ton. His  father  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
in  1817,  and  in  1849  he  came  alone  to  America,  and 
the  following  fall  arrived  in  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana. In  1850  he  sent  for  his  family.  It  is  said  that 
he  was  so  poor  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County 
that  though  land  was  exceedingly  cheap  in  those 
days  he  was  unable  to  pay  for  forty  acres  of  virgin 
soil.  His  good  management  and  industry  enabled 
him  to  build  up  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Steuben 
Township,  and  he  reared  a family  of  children  who 
had  many  of  his  virtues,  most  of  the  sons  develop- 
ing good  farms  in  the  same  vicinity. 

William  J.  Crampton  has  no  memory  of  his  birth- 
place, and  practically  all  his  life  has  been  spent  in 
Steuben  County.  He  attended  the  California  district 
schools  in  Steuben  Township  and  he  remained  at 
home  with  his  parents  as  long  as  they  lived  and  not 
only  did  the  work  of  the  farm  but  looked  after  his 
aged  father  and  mother  for  a number  of  years. 
Later  he  acquired  the  interest  of  the  other  heirs  in 
the  original  homestead  of  160  acres,  and  has  gone 
steadily  ahead  increasing  his  property  until  he  has 
400  acres  of  good  land.  He  remodeled  the  old  barn 
on  the  place,  and  constructed  a handsome  new  barn 
fifty  by  one  hundred  feet,  with  facilities  unex- 
celled. He  also  has  a windmill  to  pump  his  water, 
and  has  the  farm  ideally  arranged  for  his  pur- 
poses. As  a sheep  raiser  Mr.  Crampton  has  fre- 
quently had  as  high  as  600  head  on  his  place  to  feed 
through  the  winter.  He  is  also  a buyer  and  feeder 
of  cattle,  and  has  shipped  many  carloads  of  live- 
stock out  of  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Crampton  is  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  married 
Miss  Martha  Haynes.  She  was  born  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  March  7,  1862,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Crawford)  Hayne's. 
Her  parents  were  natives  of  Carroll  County.  Ohio, 
and  were  early  settlers  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  and  later  lived  near  Auburn  in 
DeKalb  County,  where  both  died.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Haynes  had  eight  children,  named  Mitchell,  Oscar, 
Martha,  Libbie,  Lawrence,  Harvey,  Perry  and  Wil- 
liam. All  are  still  living  except  Harvey. 

Albert  L.  Shultz,  whose  energies  for  several 
years  past  have  been  devoted  to  the  management  of 
his  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  sections  21  and  28  in 
Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  is  a lifelong 
resident  of  that  community  and  for  many  years  was 


222 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


a teacher  in  the  township  schools.  He  farmed  in 
the  intervals  of  teaching  and  is  now  giving  all  his 
time  to  . agriculture  and  the  varied  interests  which 
affect  him  as  a home  owner  and  citizen. 

Mr.  Shultz  was  born  September  24,  1870,  at  the 
old  Shultz  place  a quarter  of  a mile  east  of  where 
he  now  lives.  He  is  a son  of  Curtis  S.  and  Chris- 
tina B.  (Libolt)  Shultz.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  January  4,  1845.  His  mother 
was  a native  of  Wuertenberg,  Germany,  and  was 
six  years  of  age  when  her  parents  came  to  America, 
and  she  grew  up  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  The 
Shultz  family  came  to  DeKalb  County  in  1854,  locat- 
ing in  Franklin  Township,  where  Curtis  S.  Shultz 
grew  up  from  the  age  of  nine.  On  December  23, 
1868,  he  married  and  brought  his  wife  to  Franklin 
Township.  For  a number  of  years  he  lived  retired 
at  Waterloo,  where  his  death  occurred  July  4,  1915. 
His  widow  is  still  living  at  Waterloo.  He  was 
reared  in  the  faith  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church, 
but  after  their  removal  to  Waterloo  she  and  her 
husband  became  affiliated  with  the  Methodist  Church. 
Curtis  Shultz  was  a democrat  in  politics,  a man  of 
fine  moral  character,  and  a useful  member  of  his 
community  in  Franklin  Township  for  many  years. 
Albert  L.  Shultz  is  the  only  one  now  living  of  three 
children,  one  of  whom  died  at  the  age  of  five  years. 
Alice,  who  died  in  1886,  was  the  wife  of  A.  D. 
Faucett. 

Albert  L.  Shultz  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  just 
east  of  his  present  place,  graduated  from  the  com- 
mon schools  in  1888,  and  had  normal  training  in  the 
Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  Altogether  he  taught 
school  twenty-three  years,  and  all  his  work  was 
done  in  his  home  Township  of  Franklin. 

June  24,  1903,  he  married  Effie  Lautzenheiser,  who 
was  born  and  reared  in  Franklin  Township  and 
finished  her  education  in  the  Hamilton  High  School. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Ruby  P.,  born  October  24, 
igt)4,  now  attending  high  school.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shultz  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and 
he  is  past  chancellor  of  Butler  Lodge  No.  154, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  a member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge.  He  and  Mrs.  Shultz  are  members  of  the 
Pythian  Sisters  and  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners. 
Politically  he  is  a democrat  and  is  a member  of  the 
Hamilton  Co-operative  Association. 

~T7 

Howard  B.  Perkins.  Though  a native  of  Steu- 
ben County  Mr.  Perkins  for  a number  of  years 
has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  wealthy  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  citizens  of  Springfield  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  his  home  being  on  rural  route 
No.  2. 

He  was  born  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County  October  18,  1867,  a son  of  Job  and  Sarah 
(Landers)  Perkins.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Milford  Township,  LaGrange  County,  son  of  Enoch 
Perkins,  one  of  the  early  settlers  there.  The  chil- 
dren of  Enoch  and  Adaline  Perkins  were  Stewart, 
Job,  Enoch,  Sarah  Mariah  and  Elizabeth. 

Sarah  Landers,  mother  of  Howard  B.  Perkins, 
was  born  in  Ohio  January  28,  1846.  Her  father 
Joseph  Landers  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  died 
in  Ohio.  In  1849,  when  she  was  three  years  of  age, 
Mrs.  Perkins  was  brought  by  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Catherine  Landers,  to  Steuben  County,  her  mother 
buying  eighty  acres  of  land.  They  had  traveled 
by  team  and  wagon  from  Ohio  to  Indiana.  Later 
Mrs.  Catherine  Landers  sold  her  first  farm,  and  she 
died  at  Applemanburg  in  1901,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
three.  Mrs.  Landers  was  born  in  Ohio.  In  the 
Landers  family  were  seven  children:  Joseph,  Wil- 

liam, Mary  Ann,  Betsey,  Rebecca,  Sophia  and  Sarah, 
only  the  last  two  now  living. 


Job  and  Sarah  Perkins  were  married  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  and  for  several  years 
he  operated  the  Landers  farm.  In  1870  he  bought 
a place  in  Jackson  Township,  moved  there,  but 
had  only  a few  years  in  which  to  improve  his 
farm,  since  he  was  overtaken  by  death  February 
1,  1878.  In  1861,  at  Kendallville,  he  had  enlisted 
in  Company  G of  the  Forty-fourth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, and  saw  much  of  the  hardest  service  of  the 
war,  being  in  all  the  battles  of  his  regiment,  in- 
cluding Shiloh,  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga.  Job 
and  Sarah  Perkins  had  two  children,  Howard  B. 
and  Catherine  Adaline.  Catherine  was  born  July 
7,  1869,  and  her  first  husband  was  Albert  Johnson, 
and  she  is  now  the  wife  of  Henry  Ford,  living  at 
Hammond,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Sarah  Perkins  lives  with 
her  daughter  at  Hammond. 

Howard  B.  Perkins  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Jackson  Township,  Steuben  County.  He  moved 
to  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County  with 
his  mother  and  sister  in  1884,  locating  at  Apple- 
manburg. He  worked  as  a farm  hand  for  William 
Dunbar  and  later  for  Mrs.  William  Laurent  Dryer, 
mother  of  his  wife.  He  also  followed  the  car- 
penter’s trade  for  some  time. 

May  25,  1898,  Mr.  Perkins  married  Mary  Aurelia 
Dryer,  who  was  born  in  Milford  Township  of  La- 
Grange County  October  25,  1870.  The  record  of 
her  parents  is  told  in  later  paragraphs.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Perkins  after  their  marriage  lived  in  the  Vil- 
lage of  South  Milford,  -and  he  bought  a house  and 
lot  in  Applemanburg  where  he  now  lives,  moving 
into  that  new  home  November  25,  1898.  He  also 
bought  hi  acres,  a part  of  the  old  Mallow  farm. 
He  subsequently  sold  two  acres  of  this  as  the  site 
of  a school  building.  In  1901  Mr.  Perkins  bought 
seventy  acres  from  G.  F.  Hall  and  in  1912  acquired 
forty  acres  more  from  Fred  Seaburn.  At  the 
present  time  he  has  altogether  220  acres,  constitut- 
ing a generous  capital  and  facilities  for  his  work 
as  a general  farmer  and  stock  raiser.  In  1903  he 
built  on  his  farm  a fine  barn  36  by  72  feet.  Mr. 
Perkins  is  a republican,  a member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows  Lodge  at  South  Milford,  and  has  been 

affiliated  with  that  order  since  he  was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Perkins  have  five 

children : Harold  B.  was  born  April  30,  1899,  is 

a graduate  of  the  Springfield  Township  High 
School,  finished  the  course  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School  in  1918,  and  from  October  10,  1918,  until 
December  19,  1918,  was  a member  of  the  Students 
Army  Training  Corps  at  Purdue  University.  He  is 
now  a government  employe  with  the  Bureau  of 
Forestry.  Gerald  D.  Perkins,  the  second  of  the 
family,  was  born  August  5,  1900,  and  was  a sopho- 
more in  the  Springfield  Township  High  School 

when  he  died  February  3,  1916.  The  third  is 

Laurent  Roger,  born  May  24,  1902,  a graduate  of 
the  township  high  school  and  of  the  LaGrange 
High  School  with  the  class  of  1919.  The  fourth 
of  the  family,  a son,  died  soon  after  his  birth 
in  1908.  The  youngest  is  Mary  Beth,  born  March  5, 
!9°9- 

Mrs.  Perkins  was  educated  in  the  schools  of  Mil- 
ford Township,  studied  music  at  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege at  Angola,  and  later  had  the  advantage  of 
foreign  instructors  in  the  College  of  Music  at  Fort 
W ayne. 

Her  parents  were  William  Laurent  and  Lodema 
(Taylor)  Dryer.  Her  father  was  born  in  Greene 
County,  New  York,  December  1,  1831.  and  died 
in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  1884.  Her  mother 
was  born  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County 
April  20,  1841,  and  died  at  South  Milford  in  1907. 
Mrs.  Dryer  in  1893  left  the  home  farm  and  lived 
in  South  Milford  until  her  death.  Her  second 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


223 


husband,  George  Gunn,  survives  her  and  lives 
in  the  old  home  at  South  Milford  at  the  age  of 
eighty  years.  William  Laurent  Dryer  was  a son 
of  Darius  and  Clarissa  (Rogers)  Dryer,  of  English 
descent,  the  former  a native  of  Massachusetts. 
Darius  Dryer  came  to  Milford  Township  with  his 
family  in  1837,  and  was  identified  with  the  pioneers 
of  that  locality.  He  died  in  February,  1861.  His 
wife  was  a native  of  the  State  of  New  York.  At 
the  age  of  nineteen  William  L.  Dryer  started  to 
learn  the  wagon  making  trade,  and  afterward  served 
an  apprenticeship  as  a carpenter,  an  occupation  he 
followed  for  some  years.  In  1857  he  bought  a 
farm  in  Milford  Township  of  120  acres,  and  so 
ordered  his  affairs  that  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  was  one  of  the  wealthy  farmers  of  the  town- 
ship. He  and  his  wife  were  married  December 
23,  1838.  Of  their  five  children  the  oldest  died  in 
infancy,  and  Laura,  Morton  W.  and  Lura  are  all 
deceased.  The  only  survivor  is  Mrs.  Mary  A. 
Perkins. 

Mrs.  Perkins’  maternal  grandparents  were  Thes- 
tor  and  Nancy  (Blair)  Taylor,  the  former  a native 
of  New  York  and  the  latter  of  Vermont.  Thestor 
Taylor  entered  land  in  Milford  Township  in  1836, 
and  two  years  later  brought  his  family  to  La- 
Grange  County.  William  L.  Dryer  was  a stanch 
republican  and  held  the  offices  of  path  master  and 
school  director  for  a number  of  terms.  His 
youngest  brother,  Zenas  B.  Dryer,  enlisted  in  1861 
in  the  Twenty-first  Indiana  Infantry  and  sleeps 
in  a soldier’s  grave  at  New  Orleans.  He  was  with 
Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 

John  W.  Butz  has  given  his  energies  chiefly  to 
the  lumber  business  as  a manufacturer  and  sawmill 
man,  an  occupation  which  his  father  followed  before 
him.  He  is  one  of  the  chief  manufacturers  of  lum- 
ber in  Northeast  Indiana,  and  has  a mill  in  constant 
operation  at  Angola,  working  up  a large  part  of  the 
hardwood  timber  in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Butz  was  born  in  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana, 
February  15,  1874,  son  of  Franklin  and  Catherine 
(Stiegamier)  Butz,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  married 
in  Ohio,  moved  to  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  and 
in  1884  came  to  Steuben  County,  settling  in  Scott 
Township.  Franklin  Butz  combined  saw  milling 
with  farming,  owning  a place  of  sixty  acres  in 
Scott  Township,  where  he  died  in  1915.  His  wife 
died  in  1902.  He  was  a republican  and  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  The  children  of 
these  parents  were:  Harrison,  deceased;  Albert; 

John  W. ; Susie,  wife  of  Frank  Reikser;  Arvilla, 
wife  of  Frank  Jackson;  Cassie,  wife  of  Fred  Rice; 
Ella,  wife  of  Andy  Ramsey;  and  Pearl,  wife  of 
Leon  Gray. 

John  W.  Butz  was  ten  years  old  when  brought  to 
Steuben  County,  and  he  finished  his  education  here 
in  the  district  schools  of  Scott  and  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, and  also  attended  the  high  school  at  Angola. 
Since  he  was  nineteen  years  old  he  has  been  busy 
in  the  lumber  business,  and  for  ten  years  was  asso- 
ciated with  W.  G.  Croxton  at  Angola.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Croxton  he  took  over  the  business,  and 
now  operates  an  extensive  sawmill  plant  that  is 
running  the  year  around,  and  employs  from  ten 
to  thirty  men.  Mr.  Butz  also  owns  a fine  farm  of 
170  acres  in  Scott  Township,  and  is  therefore  one 
of  the  busiest  men  of  Steuben  County,  having  inter- 
ests which  absorb  all  his  time  and  energies  every 
month  of  the  year. 

In  politics  he  is  a republican  and  is  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias.  December  13,  1900,  Mr. 
Butz  married  Miss  Ada  Kuhn,  of  Kosciusko  County. 
They  have  one  son,  Paul,  born  September  21,  1901, 


a graduate  of  the  Angola  High  School  and  now  a 
student  in  the  Tri-State  College  of  Engineering. 

The  Kneipp  Sanitarium,  on  the  banks  of  Sylvan 
Lake,  near  Rome  City,  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable 
institutions  of  its  kind  in  the  United  States,  and  has 
the  distinction  of  being  the  only  Kneipp  Sanitarium 
in  the  United  States  established  and  conducted  by 
a physician  who  studied  the  original  Kneipp  treat- 
ment as  instituted  by  Monsignor  Kneipp  at  his 
famous  institution  at  Woerishofen,  Bavaria. 

The  Sanitarium,  which  was  established  in  1895, 
has  probably  done  more  to  make  the  locality  of 
Orange  Township  in  Noble  County  well  known 
throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of  this  country 
than  any  other  one  circumstance  or  combination  of 
circumstances.  Sylvan  Lake  is  an  artificial  lake, 
made  by  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railroad  Com- 
pany, and  is  four  miles  long  and  three-quarters  of 
a mile  wide.  It  is  a beautiful  body  of  water  in 
itself,  and  has  attracted  thousands  of  visitors  every 
year,  and  is  the  scene  of  the  annual  gathering  of 
the  Western  Chautauqua  Assembly,  and  is  sur- 
rounded by  a number  of  hotels  and  resorts.  Some 
years  ago  the  Government  stocked  the  lake  with 
fish,  and  it  furnishes  some  of  the  best  fishing  grounds 
in  Northern  Indiana. 

But  it  is  the  Kneipp  Sanitarium  that  has  made 
Rome  City  and  Sylvan  Lake  most  famous.  All  in- 
telligent people  know  something  of  the  “Kneipp 
Cure,”  a method  that  originated  in  Central  Europe, 
but,  as  already  noted,  has  received  its  finest  ex- 
emplification in  the  United  States  at  Rome  City. 
The  physician  in  charge  of  the  sanitarium,  Dr.  6. 
Pulskamp,  was  long  a student  at  the  original  insti- 
tution in  Bavaria  and  has  a diploma  from  the  school 
there. 

When  the  sanitarium  was  opened  at  Sylvan  Lake 
in  1895  it  had  accommodations  for  but  ten  guests. 
Every  year  has  witnessed  an  increase  in  these  accom- 
modations and  today  the  magnificent  grounds  are 
dotted  with  buildings  of  elaborate  architecture,  and 
with  individual  accommodations  for  250  guests.  The 
sanitarium  grounds  proper  comprise  eighty  acres  of 
land,  containing  extensive  lawns  and  walks,  special 
grounds  for  sports  and  games,  and  there  is  also  a 
large  amount  of  land  besides  used  for  farming 
purposes.  Besides  the  lake  and  grounds  contain 
numerous  mineral  springs,  and  all  of  these  have 
been  adapted  to  the  special  feature  of  the  Kneipp 
method  of  cure.  Probably  the  best  known  feature 
of  the  Kneipp  cure  is  diet,  which  has  been  developed 
to  a highly  scientific  system,  and  yet  does  not  run 
extreme  practices  as  in  some  sanitariums.  The 
diet  is  largely  a generous  variety  of  nature’s  best 
foods,  with  an  absence  of  all  stimulating  and  nar- 
cotic foods  and  drinks.  The  system  of  the  Kneipp 
treatment  is  largely  that  of  allowing  nature  to  work 
its  cure  with  the  intelligent  supervision  of  an  ex- 
pert and  scientific  staff  of  physicians  and  surgeons 
and  their  assistants. 

The  sanitarium  is  owned  and  operated  by  the 
Sisters  of  the  Most  Precious  Blood,  who  took  charge 
in  1901.  While  the  property  and  management  are 
therefore  invested  in  a Catholic  authority,  the  re- 
ligious feature  is  not  obtrusive,  as  the  thousands 
of  guests  who  have  been  in  the  sanitarium  during 
the  last  twenty  years  have  comprised  every  variety 
of  religious  creed.  The  chief  reminder  of  the  own- 
ership is  the  beautiful  chapel  where,  according  to  the 
custom  of  the  Order  of  the  Most  Precious  Blood, 
perpetual  adoration  is  maintained  day  and  night. 

The  Sister  Superior  in  charge  of  the  sanitarium 
is  Sister  Mary  Agreda.  She  was  born  at  St.  Louis, 
Missouri,  in  1868,  and  was  educated  in  the  paro- 
chial schools  of  Cincinnati  and  afterward  in  the 


224 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Normal  School  of  the  Sisters  of  the  Most  Precious 
Blood  at  Maria  Stein,  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio.  She 
taught  at  Lawrenceburg,  Tennessee,  for  ten  years, 
and  in  1902  came  to  Rome  City  as  assistant  to  the 
Sister  Superior,  and  has  held  the  office  of  Sister 
Superior  since  1911. 

\ 

David  W.  Riser,  who  spent  a large  part  of  his 
earlier  career  over  the  state  line  in  Ohio,  in  Wil- 
liams County,  has  established  a firm  hold  in  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  as  a farmer,  business  man  and 
citizen  and  owns  one  of  the  attractive  country 
places  in  Troy  Township.  His  farm  is  in  sections 
31  and  32,  and  lies  three  and  a half  miles  northeast 
of  Butler. 

• Mr.  Riser  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 8,  1854,  a son  of  Martin  and  Catherine  (Ott) 
Riser.  The  parents  were  both  born  in  Germany,  his 
father  September  28,  1810,  and  his  mother  in  March, 

1828.  They  were  married  in  the  old  country  and  on 

coming  to  the  United  States  settled  near  Alliance, 
Ohio,  where  the  father  worked  at  common  labor  for 
several  years.  In  1861  he  moved  to  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  settling  near  Edon,  and  afterward  came  to 
Stafford  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  where  he  and 
his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  years.  They  were 
members  of  the  German  Lutheran  Church,  and  the 
father  was  a democrat  in  politics.  In  their  family 
were  the  following  children : John,  a farmer  in 

Williams  County,  Ohio;  Margaret,  who  died  in  1862; 
George,  a farmer  in  Stafford  Township;  David  W., 
also  a farmer;  Christ,  of  Butler,  Indiana;  Mary, 
wife  of  Isaac  Hose,  of  Butler;  Catherine,  wife  of 
Frederick  Blaker,  of  Troy  Township;  and  William, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

David  W.  Riser  was  reared  in  Stafford  Township, 
attended  the  district  schools  and  was  at  home  with 
his  parents  to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  After  that 
he  supported  himself  and  managed  to  get  some  ex- 
perience and  a very  modest  equipment  of  capital 
by  working  out  for  others.  May  17,  1888,  he  mar- 
ried Mary  I.  Jennings,  member  of  an  old  and  promi- 
nent family  of  DeKalb  County.  She  was  born  in 
Troy  Township,  May  5,  1870,  a daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Susan  (Higby)  Jennings.  Her  mother  was 
born  in  Cuyahoga  County,  Ohio,  October  10,  1840, 
and  was  reared  in  Stafford  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  from  August,  1851.  Jacob  Jennings  was 
born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  December  12, 

1829,  and  moved  to  Wilmington  Township  of  De- 
Kalb County,  September  23,  1848.  He  and  his  wife 
were  married  September  23,  i860,  and  moved  to 
his  farm  in  Troy  Township  in  March,  1864.  He 
died  September  27,  1894,  and  his  wife  October  4, 
1916.  Mrs.  Riser  was  the  younger  of  two  children, 
her  brother,  Eli  L.,  born  April  10,  1864,  now  lives  at 
Elkhart,  Indiana.  Eli  was  a soldier  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war.  Mrs.  Riser  grew  up  on  a farm  in 
Troy  Township  and  had  a good  education  in  the 
local  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Riser  lived 
in  Williams  County  until  1898,  when  they  located 
on  their  present  farm.  The  home  place  has  no 
acres,  and  altogether  they  own  158  acres.  Mr.  Riser 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church  at 
Butler.  They  are  also  members  of  the  Grange  at 
Butler.  In  politics  he  is  a democrat,  and  he  was 
trustee  of  Troy  Township  for  two  years.  He  is  a 
stockholder  in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Butler 
and  a stockholder  in  the  Arctic  Co-operative  Asso- 
ciation. Mr.  Riser  enjoys  fishing  as  his  recreation, 
and  he  and  his  wife  have  spent  a winter  or  two  in 
Florida. 

Andrew  J.  Carpenter.  A long  life  and  a busy  one 
has  been  the  record  in  brief  of  Andrew  J.  Carpenter, 


one  of  the  highly  esteemed  residents  of  Franklin 
Township,  DeKalb  County.  He  has  lived  nearly 
three-quarters  of  a century  and  is  now  enjoying  a 
comfortable  retirement.  For  about  half  a century 
he  followed  the  trade  and  business  of  flour  milling, 
and  he  also  has  owned  and  operated  farms.  He  is 
living  today  on  his  farm  in  Franklin  Township,  near 
Hamilton. 

Mr.  Carpenter  was  born  at  Pontiac,  Michigan, 
June  28,  1845,  a son  of  Joshua  and  Mary  (Church) 
Carpenter.  Both  the  Church  and  Carpenter  families 
were  early  settlers  around  Pontiac,  Michigan,  and 
acquired  large  tracts  of  land.  Joshua  Carpenter 
was  born  in  New  York  State  and  his  wife  in  Ver- 
mont. He  was  a Stock  man  and  also  conducted  a 
meat  market  at  Pontiac.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
forty.  He  was  a stanch  republican  in  politics  and 
he  and  his  wife  were  active  in  church.  Of  their 
five  children  Andrew  J.  is  the  only  one  living. 

He  spent  his  boyhood  days  on  his  father’s  farm 
near  Pontiac  and  was  very  much  of  a youth  when  he 
volunteered  and  joined  the  Union  army.  After  the 
war  he  returned  to  Pontiac  and  learned  the  miller’s 
trade.  He  followed  that  occupation  with  some  inter- 
vals until  a comparatively  recent  date.  Mr.  Carpen- 
ter has  owned  and  operated  several  grist  mills,  own- 
ing the  one  at  Hamilton,  Indiana.  He  was  head 
miller  in  several  large  mills  at  Topeka  and  also 
owned  a mill  at  Edon,  Ohio. 

June  1,  1874,  Mr.  Carpenter  married  Mrs.  Margaret 
R.  (Fee)  Taylor,  widow  of  Jasper  S.  Taylor.  Her 
first  husband  died  February  19,  1869,  leaving  two 
children  : Belle,  wife  of  Theodore  Hunt,  of  Frank- 
lin Township;  and  John  S.  Taylor,  who  lives  on 
his  farm  four  miles  south  of  Egerton,  Indiana.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have  two  sons:  Frank  W.,  who 
was  born  September  25,  1876,  and  Riley  R.,  born 
December  3,  1878.  Both  sons  are  now  married  and 
are  well  known  residents  of  Franklin  Township. 
The  family  are  active  members  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  Frank  W.  is  superintendent  of  the 
Sunday  school  of  his  home  church.  The  sons  are 
also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Mr. 
Carpenter  is  a republican  in  politics.  He  is  one  of 
the  directors  of  the  Arctic  Livestock  Association. 

Seth  Wallace.  While  Seth  Wallace  and  all  his 
children  have  long  since  passed  away,  there  are 
memorials  of  their  presence  and  beneficent  activity 
in  T aGrange  Countv,  particularly  a fine  farm  in 
Springfield  Township,  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  a granddaughter  of  Seth  Wallace,  Mrs.  Ellen 
Cowan. 

Seth  Wallace  was  born  near  the  City  of  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  November  21,  1701,  about  two  years 
after  the  Government  of  the  United  States  was 
instituted.  His  parents  were  Seth  and  Ann  (Hul- 
hert)  Wallace,  the  former  born  December  t,  1761. 
and  the  latter  Tune  2,  1765.  It  was  a New  England 
family,  but  originally  Scotch-Irish.  Seth  Wallace 
grew  up  in  his  home  community,  was  educated  ac- 
cording to  the  standards  of  the  time,  and  married 
Desire  Belding  (whose  family  name  has  in  later 
generations  been  spelled  Belden).  They  were  mar- 
ried on  November  3,  1813.  and  their  children,  born 
in  the  East,  were  as  follows:  Toseph  W.,  born 

December  12,  1816,  and  died  March  2i,  1843 ; Deni- 
son Belden,  born  September  13.  1818,  started  for 
California  at  the  time  of  the  original  discovery  of 
gold,  and  was  never  heard  from ; Zabina  H..  born 
Tanuary  14.  1821.  and  died  April  11.  189?;  George 
W.,  born  November  23,  1824,  and  died  August  16, 
1877;  Tohn  Quincy  Adams,  born  December  0,  1826, 
•and  died  April  17,  1843;  Charles  C.,  born  Tune  14, 
1830,  and  died  December  11,  1850;  and  Benjamin 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


225 


F.,  born  November  4,  1834,  and  died  January  21, 

1853- 

Seth  Wallace  was  a sturdy  New  England  farmer 
and  he  came  west  for  the  purpose  of  acquiring 
land  in  more  generous  measure  and  on  cheaper 
terms  than  could  be  obtained  in  the  well  settled 
districts  around  Boston.  Before  breaking  up  his 
home  in  the  East  he  came  west  in  1841,  prospecting- 
over  much  of  the  country  in  Northern  Indiana, 
and  as  a result  of  his  examination  bought  the 
land  where  his  descendant,  Mrs.  Cowan,  now  lives. 
This  land  he  obtained  from  a Mr.  Michael,  who 
was  the  original  entrant  from  the  Government. 

After  making  some  improvements  he  went  back 
east  and  arranged  to  transport  his  family  west. 

After  some  weeks  of  travel  they  arrived  in  the 
clearing  in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  and  from  that 
time  the  Wallaces  were  fixtures  in  LaGrange 
County.  Seth  Wallace  acquired  400  acres  of  land 
in  his  home  farm  and  later  bought  other  tracts 
in  the  same  vicinity.  His  first  buildings  were  of 
logs  and  stood  directly  behind  the  site  of  the 

present  home,  occupying  ground  in  the  center  of 
the  farm  and  half  way  between  the  North  and 

South  roads.  It  is  said  that  he  hauled  logs  and 
wheat  to  Fort  Wayne,  and  brought  back  lumber 
with  which  to  build  the  house  now  standing.  This 
old  resident  landmark  was  erected  about  18^1.  He 
also  put  up  the  substantial  barns  which  still  stand 
along  the  road  on  the  west  side  of  the  farm.  He 
hired  as  the  carpenter  to  boss  the  job  of  construc- 
tion his  brother  Thompson  Wallace.  The  timber 
was  cut  on  the  land,  and  all  the  interior  finish  of 
this  residence  is  of  walnut,  now  almost  priceless, 
the  work  having  been  done  entirely  by  hand  labor. 
Seth  Wallace  and  his  sons  cleared  up  much  of 
the  land  and  he  also  set  out  an  orchard.  Some 
of  his  younger  children  attended  school  at  the  Asso- 
ciation Farm. 

His  son  Zabina  H.,  mentioned  above,  had  come 
with  his  father  to  Springfield  Township  and  re- 
mained on  the  homestead  when  Seth  Wallace  went 
back  to  bring  his  family.  Zabina  is  well  remem- 
bered as  a school  teacher  in  the  old  community 
and  later  was  a merchant  at  Sturgis,  Michigan, 
where  he  died.  During  the  Civil  war  Zabina  served 
as  a recruiting  officer  and  sent  many  companies 
to  the  front. 

George  W.  Wallace,  son  of  Seth,  received  a good 
education  in  the  East  and  after  coming  to  LaGrange 
County  spent  his  time  and  labors  on  the  home 
farm,  and  after  living  there  for  over  thirty-five 
years  passed  away  August  16,  1877.  Both  he  and 
his  father  were  stanch  republicans  in  politics,  but 
neither  of  them  ever  sought  public  office. 

On  October  26,  1862,  George  W.  Wallace  mar- 
ried Catherine  Griffith,  who  was  born  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Henry  Griffith.  With 
her  mother  and  stepfather  she  came  to  Indiana 
by  way  .of  canal  and  wagon  to  the  site  of  the 
present  Town  of  Waterloo,  then  covered  with  a 
dense  forest.  Her  step-father  made  a shack  of 
slabs  and  started  there  among  pioneer  circumstances. 
Mrs.  Wallace’s  mother  soon  died,  and  Catherine 
went  to  live  at  the  Wallace  home  and  subsequently 
became  the  wife  of  George  W.  Wallace.  She  died 
August  8,  1913,  leaving  one  child,  Ellen  May. 

Ellen  May  Wallace,  who  lives  in  the  dignified 
associations  of  the  old  Wallace  homestead  in- 
Soringfield  Township,  was  married  February  19, 
1887.  to  Sheridan  E.  Hughes,  of  LaGrange.  Mr. 
Hughes  died  in  1891,  the  father  of  one  child,  Hilda 
Wallace  Hughes.  In  1903  Mrs.  Hughes  became  the 
wife  of  Charles  C.  Cowan,  whose  death  occurred 
April  7,  1918.  Mrs.  Cowan  has  been  a generous 
supporter  of  church  and  other  community  activi- 

Vol.  11—15 


ties,  and  about  1890  she  deeded  the  lot  on  which 
the  Brushy  Chapel  stands. 

Hilda  Wallace  Hughes,  daughter  of  Mrs.  Cowan, 
is  a graduate  of  Northwestern  University.  She 
made  a fine  record  as  a teacher,  and  was  super- 
intendent of  schools  at  Stroh  and  South  Milford 
in  LaGrange  County,  but  declined  to  continue  in 
that  profession  in  order  to  give  her  time  to  the 
management  of  the  farm  which  has  been  handed 
down  from  her  great-grandfather. 


L.  D.  Hughes  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
on  Independence  Day,  1839,  one  of  the  twelve  chil- 
dren of  Esrom  and  Rosanna  (Shreve)  Hughes, 
the  former  a settler  in  Holmes  County  as  early  as 
1845.  L.  D.  Hughes  had  a good  practical  educa- 
tion and  on  April  17,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  H 
of  the  Twenty-Third  Indiana  Infantry.  He  served 
until  discharged  in  June,  1864,  and  except  for  six 
days  was  ready  for  duty  at  every  roll  call  and 
participated  in  all  the  engagements  of  his  regiment. 
He  was  slightly  wounded  at  Giles  Court  House  in 
West  Virginia.  On  leaving  the  army  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  on  April  19,  1866,  married  Ellen 
Drake,  a daughter  of  his  former  captain  in  the 
army,  later  Maj.  J.  L.  Drake.  L.  D.  Hughes  on 
account  of  impaired  health  gave  up  farming  and 
in  1867  located  at  LaGrange,  where  for  two  years 
he  clerked,  and  in  1869  engaged  in  the  hardware 
business,  an  enterprise  which  he  successfully  prose- 
cuted for  manj-  years.  His  first  Vote  was  given 
to  Abraham  Lincoln.  He  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Church.  He  died  in  1916 
and  his  widow  is  still  living.  Their  five  children 
were  Sheridan,  James,  Carl,  Susie  and  Lulu.. 

Sheridan  Hughes  was  born  in  LaGrange  in  1867. 
He  grew  up  in  LaGrange,  had  a high  school  educa- 
tion, and  after  his  marriage  he  became  a farmer 
on  the  old  Wallace  homestead. 

Shirley  R.  Teegardin-.  In  Indiana,  Ohio,  and  in 
the  colonial  records  of  Pennsylvania  the  name  Tee- 
gardin frequently  appears.  They  are  a sturdy,  long- 
lived  and  vigorous  stock.  Many  of  them  were 
pioneers  as  the  western  wilderness  was  shorn  away 
and  gave  place  to  homes  and  feats  of  civilization. 
They  have  been  especially  prominent  in  Steuben 
County,  where  several  of  its  representatives  still 
live. 

Early  in  the  last  century  William  Teegardin  lived 
in  Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was 
a prosperous  farmer  there  but  saw  that  he  could 
not  provide  sufficiently  for  the  wants  of  his  numer- 
ous family  among  the  hills  and  restricted  valleys  of 
Western  Pennsylvania.  He  accordingly  went  to 
Western  Ohio,  and  in  Allen  County,  bought  land 
when  it  was  cheap,  sufficient  to  give  each  of  his 
children  160  acres.  All  of  these  quarter  sections 
constituted  one  body  of  land.  The  thirteen  children 
of  William  Teegardin  and  wife  were  named  Mar- 
garet, John,  Joseph,  Katie,  Henry,  Susan,  Daniel, 
Aaron,  Huda,  Abraham,  Peter,  Elizabeth  and  Susan. 
Of  these  Joseph  Teegardin  a native  of  Westmore- 
land County,  Pennsylvania,  married  Hannah  Kraus. 
He  was  married  and  reared  his  family  in  Allen 
County,  Ohio.  His  children  were : Abraham,  Wil- 
liam, josiah,  Anna,  Elisha,  Michael  and  David  and 
Laura,  twins,  both  of  whom  died  when  about  fifteen 
years  old.  Of  the  children  of  William  Teegardin, 
Aaron  and  Daniel  and  the  children  of  Joseph,  came 
to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  during  the  latter  ’60s. 
The  children  of  Toseph  that  came  to  this  county 
were  Josiah,  Abraham  and  Elisha. 

Josiah  Teegardin  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Ohio, 
January  3,  1839.  In  1869,  with  other  members  of 


226 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


the  family,  he  settled  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County  and  bought  land  of  an  owner  who  had 
acquired  it  direct  from  the  Government.  While 
prospecting  for  this  land  he  made  two  trips  to 
Steuben  County  on  horseback  before  permanently 
settling.  The  land  was  covered  with  timber  and 
consisted  of  160  acres  in  section  24.  Before  the 
energies  of  his  life  were  spent  he  had  cleared  up 
and  put  under  cultivation  most  of  this  tract,  and 
gave  it  the  buildings  which  are  still  standing. 
Josiah  Teegardin  was  a cabinet  maker  by  trade, 
and  he  did  work  at  his  trade.  He  was  very  pros- 
perous and  thrifty  and  in  the  course  of  time  had 
400  acres.  He  died  December  26,  1912.  On  Oc- 
tober 17,  1861,  Josiah  Teegardin  married  Nancy  E. 
Harmon,  who  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio, 
July  7,  1844,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth 
(Vandamarch)  Harmon.  Josiah  Teegardin  and 
wife  had  six  children : Dorilas  L.,  who  married 

Sarah  A.  Baker ; Melinda  R.,  who  became  the  wife 
of  William  Imhoof ; Lovila  A.,  wife  of  Calvin 
Beard;  Lerotus  V.,  who  married  Katie  Wright; 
Shirley  R.,  and  Ethel  B.,  wife  of  Clarence  Barber. 

Shirley  R.  Teegardin,  who  represents  the  fourth 
generation  of  the  family  as  recorded  above,  was 
born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  section 
24  of  Otsego  Township,  November  18,  1883.  He 
acquired  a public  school  education  and  has  always 
lived  on  the  home  place  and  farmed.  He  now  owns 
200  acres,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  crop  and  live- 
stock raisers  in  Steuben  Township.  He  and  family 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

September  5,  1906,  he  married  Nellie  C.  Morley, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Eugenia  Morley.  They 
are  the  parents  of  six  children : Preston  M.,  Aubrey 
G.,  Carroll  F.,  Ruth  I.,  Orville  D.  and  Helen  L. 
Aubrey  and  Carroll  are  both  deceased. 

Monroe  Reed  has  lived  in  Noble  County  nearly 
all  his  life,  having  been  brought  here  as  a child  by 
his  parents.  He  grew  up  in  Sparta  Township,  and 
in  the  locality  known  as  Indian  Village  his  father 
at  one  time  conducted  an  important  local  industry 
as  a tanner.  Monroe  Reed  has  given  the  mature 
years  of  his  life  to  farming.  He  started  with  little 
or  no  capital,  and  with  the  unselfish  co-operation  of 
his  wife  has  planned  and  toiled  and  contrived  to 
win  a comfortable  prosperity,  now  represented  by 
their  good  farm  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  section 
17  of  Washington  Township. 

Mr.  Reed  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio, 
February  21,  i860,  a son  of  Martin  and  Margaret 
(Duley)  Reed.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of 
Ohio,  and  on  coming  to  Indiana  settled  in  Noble 
County,  in  Sparta  Township,  near  Indian  Village. 
His  father,  in  addition  to  operating  a tanyard  also 
owned  a small  farm.  He  continued  the  business  of 
tanner  until  he  retired,  and  finally  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  North  Webster,  where  he  died.  He  was 
an  active  member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
and  a republican  in  politics.  The  children  still  living 
are:  George;  Letitia,  wife  of  John  Hahn;  Eliza, 

wife  of  Dan  Garber;  Monroe,  Jonathan,  Grant  and 
Norman. 

Monroe  Reed  grew  up  in  Noble  County  and  at- 
tended the  common  schools  until  he  was  about  six- 
teen years  old,  when  he  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world,  and  his  chief  employment  since 
that  time  has  been  farming. 

He  married  Miss  Sarah  Griesinger,  who  was  born 
in  Noble  County.  She  was  one  of  four  children: 
Christian,  who  married  Susie  Stump ; Sarah  C. ; 
Fannie,  wife  of  Jacob  Strieker;  and  Susie  M.,  wife 
of  D.  C.  Brown. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  rented 
land,  and  as  renters  they  gradually  acquired  the 


experience  and  the  capital  which  brought  them  the 
ownership  of  their  present  home  in  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  17,  known  as  the  old  Griesinger 
farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reed  have  two  children : Elsie  M 
™Jfe,  0f,,V^cent  Prescott,  and  their  one  child! 
Charles  M.  Prescott,  was  born  June  27,  1914.  Cora 
F.,  the  second  daughter,  is  the  wife  of  James  Kile 
and  their  one  child  is  Elsie  M.  Kile.  Mr  Reed  is 
a republican  in  politics. 

Adam  Tritch  is  a man  of  interesting  experiences 
and  achievements,  owner  of  a fine  farm  in  Salem 
1 ownship,  and  has  made  his  prosperity  and  ren- 
dered a valuable  service  to  the  country  by  buying 
up,  improving  and  selling  many  different  parcels 
of  real  estate  in  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

Mr.  1 ntch  was  born  in  Ohio  April  7,  1857,  a son 
of  Frederick  and  Margaret  (Troutman)  Tritch.  His 
parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  where  they 
were  married.  Frederick  Tritch  came  to  the  United 
States  about  1853,  and  after  two  years  of  employ- 
ment in  New  York  he  saved  money  with  which  he 
sent  for  his  family.  Later  they  settled  in  Ohio,  in 
Wayne  County,  lived  in  Medina  County  and  in  1861 
moved  to  Allen  County,  Indiana.  In  August,  1864, 
they  established  their  home  in  Steuben  County,  lo- 
cating south  of  Lime  Kiln  Lake,  on  a tract  of  forty 
acres.  This  land  was  cleared  up  by  Frederick  Tritch, 
who  afterward  acquired  another  place  of  eighty 
acres.  His  first  home  in  Steuben  County  was  a log 
house  and  he  built  a log  barn,  and  prosperity  came 
to  him  over  the  route  of  hard  labor  and  much  self 
denial.  He  died  in  1881,  when  about  fifty-six  years 
of  age.  His  widow  died  in  1888,  aged  sixty-two. 
He  was  a democratic  voter  and  a member  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Frederick  Tritch  and 
wife  had  the  following  children : Margaret,  born 

December  31,  1849,  in  Germany;  George,  born  Jan- 
uary 14,  1852,  also  in  Germany;  Adam,  born  April 
7.  1857;  John,  born  Otcober  17,  1858;  Frederick, 
born  June  4*  1862;  William,  born  November  27, 
1863;  besides  Jacob,  Mary  and  Lydia,  who  died  "in’ 
infancy. 

Adam  Tritch  was  seven  years  old  when  brought 
to  Steuben  County.  He  acquired  his  education  here 
in  the  public  schools,  and  largely  from  experience 
trained  and  qualified  himself  for  his  career  as  a 
farmer  and  business  man.  The  first  land  he  bought, 
after  renting  for  some  time,  was  twenty  acres  in 
section  28  of  Salem  Township.  Then  followed  a 
number  of  transactions,  selling  one  place  and  buy- 
ing another.  His  second  deal  was  the  purchase  of 
sixty  acres  of  the  old  farm.  Then  he  rented  for 
some  years,  bought  forty  acres,  then  sold  and  bought 
a place  of  eighty  acres  west  of  Helmer  known  as 
the  Chris  Shade  farm,  where  he  lived  five  years, 
next  bought  120  acres  north  of  his  present  home, 
and  on  selling  this  in  1917  bought  the  thirty  acres 
where  he  now  resides.  He  gives  his  time  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising  and  is  an  extensive 
buyer  of  poultry.  He  sells  farm  fertilizers  and  is 
now  to  a large  extent  retired  from  the  strenuous 
duties  of  the  fields.  He  is  a large  stockholder  in 
the  State  Bank  of  Hudson,  Indiana.  In  politics  he 
is  a democrat. 

October  30,  1880,  Mr.  Tritch  married  Mary  Shade. 
She  was  born  in  Salem  Township  January  20,  1861, 
a daughter  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Chasey)  Shade, 
who  were  Steuben  County  settlers  of  about  the  year 
1857.  They  lived  in  Salem  Township,  where  her 
father  died  February,  1879,  at  the  age  of  forty-six. 
Her  mother  passed  away  in  1904,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-one.  The  children  in  the  Shade  family  were : 
Marion,  Emma,  Berlin,  Mary,  Clara,  Adaline,  Rich- 
ard, Alice,  Jennie  and  Monroe. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


227 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tritch  besides  their  material  pos- 
sessions have  seen  their  labors  rewarded  by  a large 
family  of  children  growing  up  around  them  and 
later  by  the  presence  of  a number  of  grandchildren. 
Maude,  their  oldest  child,  is  the  wife  of  George 
Erwin  and  has  two  children,  Clair  and  Ruth.  Hat- 
tie is  the  wife  of  Arthur  Hoyer,  and  their  family 
consists  of  Glyda,  Paul  and  Merrie  Anne.  The 
third  child,  Jessie,  died  in  infancy.  Edna  died  when 
eighteen  years  old.  Orville  Ray  married  Viola 
Weber  and  has  three  children,  Iylene,  Dorothy  and 
Helen.  Daisy  is  the  wife  of  Marlton  D.  Shumaker 
and  has  three  children,  Velma,  Robert  and  John 
Burdette.  Carl  married  Blanche  Wood  and  has  one 
child,  Orlo.  The  youngest  of  the  family  is  Eshu, 
who  married  Ethel  Mane  and  has  a daughter,  Vir- 
ginia. 

_y 

Emery  E.  Spade  is  a native  of  Steuben  County, 
has  spent  most  of  his  life  here  as  a successful  ag- 
riculturist, and  his  work  as  a business  man,  his 
relations  as  a citizen  and  in  all  other  respects  have 
brought  him  a wealth  of  community  esteem,  which 
he  enjoys  as  a resident  of  Jamestown  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Millgrove  Township,  March  2g, 
1884,  son  of  Cyrus  W.  and  Sarah  E.  (Henry)  Spade. 
His  father  was  born  at  Springfield,  Ohio,  January 
22,  1842,  and  his  wife  in  Pennsylvania  in  1857, 
and  died  in  1889,  in  Sunbury,  Pennsylvania.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio  and  in  1877  came  to  Steuben 
County,  settling  on  a farm  of  133  acres  in  Millgrove 
Township.  Cyrus  W.  Spade  died  on  that  farm 
June  5,  1917.  In  1862  Cyrus  enlisted  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio,  in  an  independent  company  of  picked  men 
known  as  Barber’s  Sharpshooters,  chosen  as  expert 
marksmen.  They  were  a part  of  the  Army  of  the 
Cumberland  and  marched  with  Sherman  to  the  sea. 
His  wife  died  while  visiting  in  Pennsylvania  Nov- 
ember 8,  1899.  She  was  a daughter  of  John  Mason 
and  Mary  Henry,  the  former  born  in  1800  and  died 
in  1855,  and  the  latter  born  in  Sunbury,  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  10,  1824,  and  died  February  12,  1853. 

Cyrus  W.  Spade  is  remembered  as  one  of  the 
capable  farm  improvers  of  Steuben  County,  and  in 
every  way  a citizen  of  good  judgment  and  thorough 
integrity.  He  was  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church.  Their 
children  were  Oscar  E.,  Neenan,  Cora,  Lottie,  Fred 
A.,  Homer,  Emery  E.  and  Emma  J.,  twins,  and 
Eddie  and  Chippie,  both  deceased. 

Emery  E.  Spade  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead, 
attended  school  in  district  No.  2 of  Millgrove  Town- 
ship, and  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  married 
Gertrude  Ella  Rice.  After  their  marriage  they 
rented  a farm  for  two  years  in  Ovid  Township  of 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  then  lived  on  a farm  in 
Steuben  County,  in  Millgrove  Township,  for  one 
year,  had  a farm  near  Coldwater,  Michigan,  for 
three  years,  and  on  returning  to  Steuben  County 
rented  Mr.  Spade’s  father’s  farm  for  eight  years. 
In  March,  1918,  Mr.  Spade  bought  his  present  place 
in  Jamestown  Township.  It  comprises  120  acres 
of  well  improved  land,  known  as  the  old  Oscar  Mal- 
lory farm.  Mr.  Spade  is  young,  enthusiastic,  and 
has  the  experience  and  ability  to  make  him  success- 
ful in  his  chosen  vocation. 

He  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife 
attend  the  Evangelical  Church  at  East  Gilead,  Michi- 
gan. They  became  the  parents  of  five  children, 
Fabian,  Clyde,  Irene  and  two  that  died  in  infancy. 
Clyde  is  also  deceased.  Fabian  is  now  a sophomore 
in  the  Fremont  High  School  and  Irene  is  in  the 
seventh  grade  of  the  public  school. 

Jacob  B.  Myers  is  an  active  farmer  in  Steuben 
Township  near  Pleasant  Lake,  who  was  recruited  to 


Northeast  Indiana  from  Western  Ohio,  where  the 
Myers  family  has  lived  since  pioneer  times. 

Mr.  Myers  was  born  near  Napoleon,  the  county 
seat  of  Henry  County,  Ohio,  August  14,  1868,  a son 
of  John  W.  and  Martha  (Jennings)  Myers.  His 
parents  were  both  born  in  Seneca  County,  his  father 
July  15,  1833,  and  his  mother  February  15,  1833. 
The  parental  grandparents  were  Jacob  and  Rachel 
(Scott)  Myers,  who  went  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  from 
Pennsylvania,  and  were  among  the  earliest  settlers 
in  that  now  thriving  little  city.  Jacob  Myers  spent 
many  years  on  his  farm  in  Seneca  County,  and  died 
when  about  sixty- three  years  of  age.  His  widow 
afterward  lived  with  her  son  John  W.  in  Henry 
County.  John  W.  Myers  when  twenty-six  years  of 
age  bought  a farm  in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  and 
spent  his  active  life  there  until  after  the  death  of 
his  wife  in  1905,  and  since  then  he  has  lived  among 
his  children.  He  is  now  in  his  eighty-seventh  year, 
and  makes  his  home  with  his  son  Jacob  in  Steuben 
County.  He  is  a republican,  is  an  active  member 
and  for  many  years  a minister  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church,  and  in  his  time  has  preached  hundreds 
of  funerals  and  married  scores  of  couples.  John 
W.  Myers  and  wife  had  a family  of  nine  children: 
Henry,  Jacob  B.,  Albert,  deceased,  Irvin  E.,  Myrta, 
Cora,  Sherman,  Della  and  Franklin,  deceased. 

Jacob  B.  Myers  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead  of 
his  father,  attended  public  schools,  and  there  being 
a number  of  children  younger  than  he  and  demand- 
ing all  that  his  parents  by  hard  work  could  give 
them,  he  went  to  work  when  little  more  than  a boy 
and  has  been  self-supporting  and  independent  of 
any  aid  outside  of  his  own  resources  and  character 
and  industry.  While  a young  man  in  Ohio  he  bought 
a small  twenty-acre  farm  in  Henry  County,  but  later 
sold  that  and  moved  to  Indiana,  and  in  1892  came 
to  Steuben  County.  He  rented  a farm  for  seven 
years,  and  then  bought  his  present  place  of  eighty 
acres  in  Steuben  Township,  a mile  and  a half  from 
Pleasant  Lake  and  six  miles  from  Angola.  He  has 
experienced  many  ups  and  downs  as  a farmer,  but 
by  hard  work  has  acquired  a good  home,  has  effected 
many  improvements  and  is  enjoying  the  prosperity 
of  these  modern  times  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Myers 
is  a republican,  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Gleaners,  and  is  active  in  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

He  married  Miss  Phoebe  Warner.  She  was  born 
in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  January  15,  1864,  a daughter 
of  George  W.  and  Armina  (Hollepeter)  Warner. 
Her  parents  moved  from  Seneca  to  Henry  County, 
Ohio,  where  Mrs.  Myers’  mother  died  July  13,  1915. 
She  was  born  near  Fostoria,  Ohio,  November  6, 
1846.  Mrs.  Myers’  father  was  born  December  12, 
1838,  in  Seneca  County,  and  is  still  living. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Myers  have  four  children:  Coy 

Ray,  who  married  Isabel  Clossen,  daughter  of  Car- 
men and  Jennie  Clossen,  of  Steuben  Township,  and 
has  two  children,  Ellen  and  Ned ; Clyde,  who  mar- 
ried Jessie  Delong,  and  has  two  children,  Wanda 
and  Wilma;  Clifford,  who  married  Jessie  Deetz; 
and  Violet,  who  married  Paul  Swift,  of  Angola,  and 
has  a son,  Kermit. 

The  son  Clifford  Myers  served  four  years  in  the 
State  militia,  spent  one  year  on  the  Mexican  border, 
and  early  in  the  war  with  Germany  went  to  Camp 
Shelby  and  was  sent  overseas  to  France,  spending 
about  three  months  abroad.  He  served  as  a private 
and  was  given  his  honorable  discharge  in  January, 
1919.  He  is  an  example  of  the  young  soldier  who 
has  made  good  after  resuming  his  status  as  a civilian. 
He  is  employed  in  the  automobile  factory  at  Auburn, 
Indiana,  and  has  twice  been  promoted  since  going  to 


228 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


work  there.  All  of  the  sons  of  Jacob  B.  Myers 
served  four-year  terms  in  the  militia. 

Albert  Case,  whose  farm  home  is  in  Springfield 
Township,  is  a son  of  one  of  the  very  early  set- 
tlers of  LaGrange  County,  and  the  family  name 
has  been  honored  and  respected  here  for  about 
eighty  years. 

Albert  Case  was  born  in  Milford  Township  June 
io,  1852,  and  it  was  in  that  locality  that  his  father, 
Andrew  Perry  Case,  made  his  early  settlement. 
The  father  was  born  in  New  York  state  in  1813 
and  came  to  Milford  Township  when  a young  man. 
He  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  township,  and 
a part  of  that  old  building  is  still  standing.  He 
also  entered  180  acres  of  land,  120  acres  in  Mil- 
ford and  60  acres  in  Johnson  Township.  He  lived 
on  the  land  in  Milford  Township.  In  the  early 
days  he  hauled  in  his  wheat  to  Fort  Wayne,  and 
went  through  all  the  difficulties  and  hardships  of 
pioneering.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics.  He 
lived  on  his  homestead  until  his  death  in  1893.  He 
had  married  in  Milford  Township  Elsie  Hill,  who 
was  born  in  1823  and  died  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  Their  nine  children  were:  Philemon,  Ran- 

dall Perry,  Celia,  Albert,  Billings  B.,  Alice,  Ella, 
Artensis  and  Isadore. 

Albert  Case  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a public  school  education.  He  started  out  with 
little  capital  but  considerable  experience,  and  for 
several  years  rented  land  in  Milford  Township. 
Except  for  one  year  in  Noble  County  he  has'  spent 
all  his  life  in  LaGrange  County.  In  1906  he  moved 
to  Springfield  Township,  and  was  a renter  there 
until  1917,  when  he  bought  forty  acres  of  the  old 
McKinsey  farm.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

Mr.  Case  married  Mary  Adaline  Bolley  in  1876. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Dorrer)  Bolley.  Her  mother  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Case  have  eight  children : Myrtle,  the  oldest,  is 

the  wife  of  Henry  Misner,  and  their  children  are 
Eva,  wife  of  Thomas  Arthur,  Maynard,  Bernice, 
wife  of  Henry  Anderson,  and  Helen.  Florence, 
the  second  child,  became  the  wife  of  Rollo  Spear- 
man, a son  of  Solomon  Spearman.  Dana  Perry 
married  Gertrude  Huber  and  has  a daughter,  Elsie 
Mary.  Dora  is  the  wife  of  Guy  Vandrew.  Gladys 
was  married  to  Clyde  High,  and  her  two  children 
are  Gwendolin  and  Albert.  The  three  youngest 
children  are  Charles  at  home,  Clela  Bell,  wife  of 
Clyde  Garlets,  and  Lan,  at  home. 

Daniel  Hanna,  who  gave  four  years  of  his  youth 
to  the  service  of  his  country  as  a member  of  the 
gallant  Forty-Eighth  Ohio  Infantry,  has  for  many 
years  been  a leading  farmer  in  Salem  Township  of 
Steuben  County,  and  though  his  name  has  never 
appeared  in  connection  with  political  office  or  affairs 
his  life  has  been  one  long  round  of  duty  well  per- 
formed, and  is  deserving  of  all  the  credit  that  be- 
longs to  a career  now  more  than  three-quarters  of 
a century  in  length.- 

Mr.  Hanna  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
October  4,  1842,  a son  of  Hezekiah  and  Mary  (Bour- 
man)  Planna,  Hezekiah  Hanna,  son  of  James  and 
Sophia  Hanna,  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio, 
February  26,  1817.  He  died  in  Defiance  County, 
Ohio,  December  13,  1874.  He  was  one  of  a family 
of  twelve  children.  Mary  Hanna,  daughter  of 
Henry  and  Susanna  Borman,  was  born  in  Columbus, 
Ohio,  July  14,  1816,  and  died  in  Wood  County, 
Ohio,  April  11,  1892.  She  was  one  of  a family  of 
five  children.  The  Hanna  family  had  established 
its  home  in  Williams  County  in  1841,  moving  from 
Fairfield  County.  At  that  time  there  was  only  one 


track  or  road  across  the  black  swamp  of  North- 
western Ohio,  and  the  Hanna  family  could  make 
only  five  miles  in  one  day.  They  crossed  the  river 
at  Tuttle’s  store  in  Defiance  County.  At  that  time 
Defiance  included  Williams  County.  Hezekiah 
Hanna  secured  forty  acres,  later  traded  for  forty 
acres  in  Defiance  County,  three  miles  northeast  of 
Ney,  and  built  a log  house  and  underwent  all  the 
privations  of  pioneer  times.  It  happened  that  sev- 
eral times  the  family  were  without  bread  for  six 
weeks.  Hezekiah  Hanna  died  in  Defiance  County 
and  his  wife  in  Wood  County.  Their  children  were: 
Mary;  Daniel;  Caroline,  wife  of  Orrin  Foster; 
Orlando,  who  lives  near  Angola;  and  John,  de- 
ceased. The  mother  of  these  children  by  a previous 
marriage  had  a daughter,  Rhoda  Jane  Rose,  now 
deceased,  who  was  the  wife  of  George  Strawser. 

Daniel  Hanna  grew  up  in  Prairie  Creek  Town- 
ship of  Defiance  County,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
removed  to  Napoleon  in  Henry  County.  He  lived 
there  with  his  half  sister,  Mrs.  Higbee,  but  in  the 
following  year,  on  October  22,  1861,  enlisted  in 
Company  F of  the  Forty-Eighth  Ohio  Infantry.  He 
was  not  mustered  out  until  May  10,  1866,  and  was 
with  his  company  and  regiment  every  day  and  never 
absent  from  the  line  of  duty.  The  arduous  service 
of  the  Forty-Eighth  Ohio  has  been  frequently  re- 
counted in  history,  and  Mr.  Hanna’s  individual  rec- 
ord is  that  of  the  regiment.  He  was  in  the  follow- 
ing great  battles  of  the  war : Shiloh,  in  1862 ; 

Siege  of  Corinth,  May.  18,  1862;  Holly  Springs,  July 
1,  1862;  Chickasaw  Bluff,  December  31,  1862;  Ar- 
kansas Post,  January  11,  1863 ; Port  Gibson,  May  1, 
1863;  Champion  Hill,  one  of  the  early  engagements 
in  the  Vicksburg  campaign,  May  16,  1863 1 Black 
River  Bridge,  May  17,  1863;  siege  and  capture  of 
Vicksburg,  May  19  to  July  4,  1863;  siege  and  cap- 
ture of  Jackson,  July  10  to  July  16,  1863,  following 
which  the  regiment  participated  in  the  Banks  ex- 
pedition at  Red  River  and  participated  in  the  battle 
of  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  April  8,  1864;  was  at  the 
siege  and  capture  of  Fort  Blakeley,  Alabama,  April 
2 to  April  9,  1865. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Hanna  returned  to  Defiance 
County  and  bought  thirty  acres  of  land.  In  1876  he 
moved  to.  Paulding  County,  Ohio,  and  owned  and 
operated  ninety-two  acres  for  seven  years.  He  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1884,  thirty-five  years  ago,  and 
at  that  time  acquired  eighty  acres  in  Salem  Town- 
ship. In  that  locality  he  has  been  greatly  prospered, 
and  today  owns  175  acres  of  good  land,  with  all  the 
improvements  of  a modern  farm.  His  place  is 
known  as  the  Rolling  Valley  Farm  and  is  the  home 
of  some  fine  Jersey  cattle. 

While  a loyal  republican,  Mr.  Hanna  has  never 
sought  public  office.  He  is  a thorough  American 
patriot,  and  with  vivid  memories  of  his  own  service 
in  the  Civil  war  he  has  never  lost  an  opportunity 
to  impress  upon  the  youth  of  modern  times  the 
obligations  of  loyalty,  and  his  lessons  were  not  for- 
gotten by  his  own  children  when  America  was  called 
into  the  list  to  fight  the  tyranny  of  German  im- 
perialism. Mr.  Hanna  for  a number  of  years  was 
a member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

May  28,  1866,  he  married  Vesta  Gorrell.  She 
was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  November  18, 
1844,  a daughter  of  William  and  Martha  Gorrell, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  Holmes  County  and 
about  1853  moved  to  Defiance  County,  where  her 
father  died,  February  14,  1899,  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
five,  and  her  mother  passed  away  in  Bryan,  Ohio, 
September  21,  1913,  aged  ninety  years,  three  months 
and  ten  days.  Mrs.  Hanna’s  parents  were  married 
in  Holmes  County,  March  4,  1841. 

Alvah,  the  oldest  of  Mr.  Hanna’s  children,  died 
April  4,  1912,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight.  He  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


229 


ried  Sarah  Morrison,  and  the  grandchildren  by  this 
son  were  Vesta  T.,  Royal  Gale,  Venus,  Dewey, 
Worth  and  Edna.  Two  of  these  grandsons  were 
still  with  the  Expeditionary  Forces  in  Germany  in 
the  early  summer  of  1919.  Royal  Gale  was  a mem- 
ber of  Company  B of  the  Twelfth  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion of  the  Fourth  Division,  while  Dewey  is  a 
corporal  in  the  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-Sixth  In- 
fantry in  Company  A. 

Curtis  Hanna,  the  second  son,  married  Mary  Mor- 
rison and  had  seven  children : Orville,  Orpha, 

Luella,  Alta,  Harrison,  Harmon  and  Amy.  Martin, 
the  third  child,  married  Elma  Smith,  of  Toledo, 
and  has  a son,  Walter.  The  fourth  of  the  family 
is  Martha,  still  at  home.  Jesse  Ray  was  born  March 
15,  1885,  and  died  December  13,  1886,  aged  one  year 
and  nine  months. 

Vesta,  a daughter  of  Alvah  Hanna  and  grand- 
daughter of  Daniel  Hanna,  married  Everett  Allen 
and  has  three  children,  named  Marjorie,  Jessie  and 
Lloyd  Maxwell. 

John  Walter  Griffith.  For  nearly  seventy  years 
there  has  been  frequent  occasion  to  refer  to  the 
name  Griffith  as  that  representing  one  of  the  most 
prominent  families  of  Otsego  Township  in  Steuben 
County.  Many  of  the  enviable  qualities  of  the 
family  are  exemplified  by  John  Walter  Griffith,  a 
son  of  the  pioneer  who  came  here  and  made  settle- 
ment in  the  woods. 

John  Walter  Griffith  was  born  in  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio,  July  24,  1849,  and  was  about  eight 
weeks  old  when  his  parents  moved  to  Indiana,  first 
locating  in  DeKalb  County.  He  is  a son  of  John 
and  Jemima  (Gossage)  Griffith.  His  father  was 
born  in  November,  1813,  and  his  mother  on  April  21, 
1813,  both  natives  of  Tuscarawas  County.  They 
were  married  in  1839. 

On  coming  to  Indiana  John  Griffith,  Sr.,  entered 
160  acres  in  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County. 
In  1857  he  became  associated  with  his  brother 
Lewis  in  business  at  Hamilton,  and  three  years 
later  he  moved  to  a farm  of  227  acres  in  Otsego 
Township.  However,  death  came  to  him  in  Sep- 
tember, i860,  and  interfered  with  his  ambitious  plans 
he  had  for  developing  his  farm.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  and  died  on  the  old  homestead  December 
22,  1884.  They  were  the  parents  of  nine  children : 
Susan,  who  became  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Kepler; 
Lewis,  who  entered  the  Union  army  in  1861  with 
the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry  and  served  over 
four  years,  receiving  a captain’s  commission  at  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga ; Nancy,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Hiram  Oberlin ; Leman,  who  was  wounded 
at  Chickamauga,  went  home  on  a furlough,  having 
lain  on  the  battlefield  without  his  wound  being 
dressed  for  eleven  days,  rejoined  Sherman  in  time 
to  march  to  the  sea,  and  died  immediately  after  the 
war,  in  1865 ; Lydia,  who  married  George  Carpen- 
ter ; Frank,  who  also  served  as  a soldier  and  after- 
ward lived  on  the  home  farm  in  Otsego  Township; 
Cathrine,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  John 
W. ; and  Sarah,  who  died  in  infancy. 

John  Walter  Griffith  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Otsego  Township  and  also 
of  DeKalb  County,  and  in  early  life  learned  the 
trade  of  cooper  in  connection  with  farming.  He 
moved  to  Hamilton  in  1897,  and  has  been  a resident 
of  that  village  for  over  twenty  years.  He  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  township  supervisor  twelve 
years,  and  has  been  quite  active  in  the  republican 
party.  He  is  a member  of  Hamilton  Lodge  No.  701, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1870  Mr.  Griffith  married  Mary  Crandall.  She 


was  born  in  Summit  County,  Ohio,  October  28, 
1850,  daughter  of  W.  A.  and  Harriet  Eliza  Cran- 
dall. Her  parents  were  married  in  1844  and  came 
to  Steuben  County  in  1853,  settling  on  a farm  in 
Otsego  Township.  This  farm,  much  of  which  was 
cleared  by  Mr.  Crandall,  is  now  owned  by  William 
Kugler.  Mrs.  Griffith’s  father  died  there  May  8, 
1871,  at  the  age  of  fifty.  His  widow  continued  to 
live  on  the  farm  for  some  years,  then  moved  to 
Pleasant  Lake,  and  in  1906  came  to  live  with  her 
daughter,  Mrs.  Griffith,  in  whose  home  she  died  in 
1913,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Griffith  became  the  parents  of  four 
children.  Charles,  a resident  of  Pleasant  Lake,  mar- 
ried Ella  King,  and  their  children  are  Weir,  Ford, 
Edith  and  Gertrude ; Lillian  Jemimah  married  Syl- 
vester Hoover  and.  lives  at  Detroit,  Michigan ; 
Lauren,  who  is  chief  clerk  in  the  postoffice  at  Fort 
Wayne,  married  Tessie  O’Neal  at  Chicago,  and 
their  children  are  John,  Virginia,  Mary  Catherine 
and  Lawrence.  Hattie,  the  youngest  child,  is  the 
wife  of  Glenn  Sweet,  of  Hamilton. 

Samuel  E.  Dickinson  is  superintendent  of  the 
water  and  light  department  of  the  City  of  Kendall- 
ville.  He  has  been  connected  with  this  important 
public  utility  for  over  twenty  years. 

Mr.  Dickinson  was  born  at  Wolcottville,  Indiana, 
September  15,  1870,  son  of  Newell  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Stroman)  Dickinson.  His  father  was  born  in 
New  York  State  and  his  mother  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  they  were  brought  to  Indiana  by  their  respective 
parents  when  the  father  was  eleven  and  the  mother 
seven  years  of  age.  Both  families  settled  near  W ol- 
cottville  on  farms,  where  Newell  Dickinson  and 
Elizabeth  Stroman  grew  up  and  married.  After 
their  marriage  they  lived  on  a farm  a time.  Newell 
Dickinson  was  a mechanic  and  engineer,  and  was 
employed  in  that  capacity  in  different  factories  at 
Kendallville  for  some  years.  In  1890  he  became 
engineer  of  the  water  and  light  plant,  and  on  April 
17,  1895,  his  son  Samuel  became  his  assistant. 

Samuel  Dickinson  was  well  educated  and  after 
following  various  lines  of  employment  became  a lo- 
comotive fireman  with  the  New  York  Central  lines 
in  1891.  In  1895  he  entered  the  waterworks  and 
light  plant  at  Kendallville,  and  has  shown  such 
capacity  in  that  work  that  his  services  have  been 
retained  by  the  authorities  ever  since.  He  was  made 
chief  engineer  and  filled  that  post  two  and  a half 
years,  and  since  1915  has  been  in  charge  of  the 
entire  business  as  superintendent. 

In  February,  1894,  Mr.  Dickinson  married  Miss 
Maggie  A.  Roche.  She  died  in  December,  1894. 
Mr.  Dickinson  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Elmer  E.  Clark  since  early  youth  has  been  a hard 
working  business  man,  has  been  identified  with  sev- 
eral different  lines  of  vocations,  and  until  recently 
was  manager  of  the  Co-operative  Store  at  Ashley. 

He  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  August 
21,  1874,  a son'  °f  Daniel  and  Lavina  Clark.  His 
father  was  born  at  Fairfield  Center,  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  in  1854.  His  mother  was  born  at  Plymouth, 
Ohio,  in  November,  1834,  and  came  to  Indiana  with 
her  first  husband,  Josiah  Bevier,  settling  in  Steuben 
County,  two  miles  north  of  Hudson,  where  they 
cleared  a farm  and  lived  until  the  death  of  Mr. 
Bevier.  By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two  children, 
Samuel  and  Mrs.  George  W.  Fisher.  Elmer  E. 
Clark  is  the  only  child  of  his  mother’s  second  mar- 
riage. His  father  was  a minister  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  for  thirty-three  years  fol- 
lowed that  calling  in  Ohio,  Indiana  and  Michigan. 


230 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Elmer  E.  Clark  grew  up  in  the  various  communi- 
ties where  his  father  was  engaged  as  a minister,  and 
received  a common  school  education,  also  attended 
high  school  and  the  United  Brethren  College  at 
Hartsville.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  .married 
Mertie  G.  Frederick,  who  was  born  at  Hudson  in 
Steuben  County,  Indiana. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Clark  was  in  the  restau- 
rant business  about  four  years,  spent  four  seasons 
on  a farm,  was  a rural  mail  carrier  five  and  a half 
years  out  of  Hudson,  and  for  a year  and  a half  was 
a blacksmith,  a trade  he  had  learned  as  a boy.  Until 
1916  he  was  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise 
business  at  Hudson,  selling  out  his  store  November 
20,  1916.  The  following  few  months  he  spent  with 
the  B.  F.  Goodrich  Company  of  Akron,  Ohio,  and 
in  April,  1917,  began  selling  stock  for  the  Co-opera- 
tive Association  at  Ashley,  and  on  July  3 became 
manager  of  the  store  and  so  continued  until  August 
25,  1019.  Mr.  Clark  owns  a farm  of  120  acres  seven 
miles  north  of  Coldwater,  Michigan.  He  is  a re* 
publican  in  politics  and  is  active  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  being  a trustee  and  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  school  at  Hudson.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Clark  have  two  children,  Gail  F.,  born  December 
30,  1898,  a graduate  of  the  Hudson  High  School  and 
died  October  30,  1918,  when  nearly  twenty  years  of 
age;  and  Barbara  Catherine,  born  December  4,  1911. 

William  Sherman  Barber.  If  true  success  con- 
sists in  a steady  betterment  of  one’s  material  cir- 
cumstances, a growing  enlargement  of  views  and 
increasing  influence  as  a member  of  the  community, 
the  life  of  William  Sherman  Barber  has  been  ex- 
ceptionally successful  by  all  the  standards  that 
might  be  applied  to  it. 

Mr.  Barber,  proprietor  of  a fine  farm  in  Mill- 
grove  Township  of  Steuben  County,  was  born  in 
Jackson  Township  of  the  same  county  September 
12,  1865,  a son  of  William  and  Sidney  (Slaybaugh) 
Barber.  His  father  was  born  in  England  and  came 
to  Steuben  County  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  two  years 
after  his  father  had  settled  here  in  1840.  The 
grandfather  Barber  first  located  in  Angola  when 
it  was  a town  of  a few  log  houses,  later  acquired 
land  in  the  county,  and  lived  here  until  his  death. 
He  had  two  sons,  William  and  John.  William  Bar- 
ber acquired  his  early  education  in  England,  and 
during  his  life  in  Steuben  County  was  chiefly  a 
farmer.  He  lived  in  several  localities,  was  a renter 
as  well  as  a farm  owner,  owned  one  place  in 
Pleasant  Township,  later  had  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township,  and  for  a time  owned  and  operated  a 
grist  mill  at  Millersburg  in  Elkhart  County.  He 
finally  bought  160  acres  in  Millgrove  Township 
now  occupied  by  his  son  William  S.  He  died  there 
in  1915,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  His  wife,  who 
was  a native  of  Ohio,  died  in  1905.  Their  family 
of  children  consisted  of  the  following:  Cynthia 

C.,  Benjamin  F.,  Minerva,  William  S.,  Leonard 
Curtis,  Emma,  Bertha  and  John. 

William  Sherman  Barber  attended  the  public 
schools  of  Steuben  County,  including  the  Fremont 
High  School.  Since  leaving  school  he  has  fol- 
lowed farming  as  his  chief  occupation.  For  a time 
he  owned  some  property  in  Millersburg.  He  for- 
merly rented  the  old  homestead  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship, but  since  1911  has  been  its  owner  and  pro- 
prietor. Besides  the  160  acres  there  he  has  an- 
other eighty  acres.  Most  of  the  improvements  on 
the  home  farm  were  placed  there  by  his  father. 

Mr.  Barber  is  a republican.  His  wife  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church.  January  24, 
1905,  he  married  Bertha  Dudley,  member  of  the 
old  and  prominent  Dudley  family  in  Steuben  Coun- 


ty. Her  father  is  Grove  H.  Dudley  elsewhere  men- 
tioned. 

Oliver  Schaeffer,  who  died  October  18,  1918, 
was  a man  of  interesting  personality  and  experience 
and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Steuben  County.  Farm- 
ing was  his  main  business,  and  it  is  an  essential  part 
of  his  record  that  he  made  a success  of  his  under- 
takings, and  withal  reared  a large  family  of  sons 
and  daughters,  most  of  whom  are  married  and  in 
homes  of  their  own.  His  two  youngest  sons  started 
overseas  with  the  American  army  for  France  just 
a month  before  the  death  of  the  father. 

Oliver  . Schaeffer  was  born  in  Dauphin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  May  6,  1844,  a son  of  William  and 
Margaret  (Beck)  Schaeffer.  When  he  was  about 
a year  old  he  was  brought  to  Steuben  County  and 
he  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Fremont  Township,  ac- 
quiring his  education  in  the  public  schools.  Oliver 
Schaeffer  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  enlisting 
September  28,  1864,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  in  Com- 
pany F of  the  First  Regiment,  Michigan  Cavalry. 
He  remained  in  the  service  until  honorably  dis- 
charged June  7,  1865.  From  what  he  was  able  to 
save  from  his  meager  wages  as  a soldier  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land  in  the  south- 
eastern part  of  Fremont  Township.  He  sold  that 
and  bought  the  120  acres  where  his  widow  now  lives. 
Later  he  increased  this  to  120  acres,  improved  and 
added  to  the  buildings  and  made  a fine  property. 
He  was  always  industrious,  used  intelligence  with 
his  labors,  and  was  able  to  make  ample  provision 
for  the  sons  and  daughters  who  grew  up  in  his 
home.  In  politics  he  was  a republican. 

November  23,  1873,  he  married  Mary  Ellen  Miller. 
She  was  born  in  Fremont  Township,  December  17, 
1854,  a daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Schaeffer) 
Miller.  Her  parents  came  to  Steuben  County  in 
1852,  settling  on  eighty  acres  of  timbered  land  in 
Fremont  Township.  Daniel  Miller  was  a cooper 
by  trade,  and  followed  that  occupation  to  some  ex- 
tent while  clearing  and  making  a farm.  His  first 
house  was  built  of  logs.  Daniel  Miller  died  Novem- 
ber 7,  1890,  aged  sixty-five,  and  his  wife,  November 
7,  1905,  aged  seventy-seven. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaeffer  had  twelve  children: 
Lucinda,  the  first  born,  died  in  infancy.  Susanna 
is  the  wife  of  Clarence  G.  Pennell.  Andrew  is  un- 
married and  lives  at  home  with  his  mother.  Aaron 
married  Lucy  Morgan  and  had  three  children,  Polly, 
Isadora,  deceased,  and  Arthur.  Fred  married  Katie 
Friday  and  has  two  sons,  Ralph  and  Harry.  Lizzie 
May  is  the  wife  of  Harry  Pennell,  and  her  two 
children  are  Oliver  and  Albert.  Charles  is  also  an 
unmarried  son  and  at  home.  Margaret  Anna  was 
married  to  Jerome  Morris.  Clara  B.  is  at  home. 
Lydia  E.  died  in  1911,  wife  of  Lyle  Fisher,  who 
died  October  31,  1918,  and  their  one  daughter;  Vesta 
Marie,  now  lives  with  her  grandmother,  Mrs. 
Schaeffer.  The  two  younger  children  are  Mearl  E. 
and  Earl  M.,  twins.  Both  were  in  service  with  the 
One  Hundred  and  Ninth  Engineers,  and  went  over- 
seas on  September  18,  1918. 

Levin  Millis  Antonides.  For  more  than  sixty 
years  the  family  name  of  Antonides  has  been  known 
favorably  in  LaGrange  County.  The  family  was 
founded  here  by  the  parents  of  Levin  Millis  An- 
tonides, who  is  a representative  citizen  and  sub- 
stantial farmer  of  the  county.  He  was  born  at  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana,  August  26,  1854,  and  is  a son  of 
John  and  Sarah  (Millis)  Antonides. 

John  Antonides  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  in 
1826.  He  was  thirteen  years  of  age  when  he  came 
to  Fort  Wayne  and  joined  his  uncle,  John  Lillie, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


231 


who  at  that  time  was  operating  a hotel  and  run- 
ning a stage  line.  In  '1840  the  youth  was  entrusted 
with  the  responsibility  of  carrying  the  mails,  mak- 
ing the  trips  on  horseback  over  an  Indian  trail, 
starting  from  Fort  Wayne  and  stopping  at  Ken- 
dallville,  Howe,  and  other  points.  In  1853  he  was 
married  to  a young  lady  who  had  come  to  LaGrange 
County  from  Eastern  Maryland,  where  her  birth 
had  taken  place  in  1825,  the  marriage  ceremony 
being  performed  in  Springfield  Township  by  Rev- 
erend Connelly.  Her  name  was  Sarah  Millis,  and 
she  belonged  to  an  old  English  family  that  can  be 
traced  back  200  years.  After  marriage  John  An- 
tonides  and  wife  lived  for  a time  in  Springfield 
Township,  then  spent  one  year  in  Kendallville.  In 
1857  Mr.  Antonides  bought  120  acres  of  land  in 
Clay  Township,  which  he  cleared,  doing  the  work 
with  an  ox-team  and  subsequently  made  many  im- 
provements. In  1883  the  family  moved  into  La- 
Grange,  where  Mr.  Antonides  conducted  a feed  barn 
for  some  years.  In  his  early  years  he  was  a demo- 
crat, but  the  issues  of  the  Civil  war  brought  about 
a change  in  his  political  opinion  and  caused  him 
to  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln  and  afterward  until 
the  close  of  his  life  to  support  the  republican  party. 
His  wife  died  at  LaGrange,  June  2,  1900,  when  he 
retired  to  the  home  of  a daughter  in  Iowa,  and 
died  there  in  1905.  They  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  had  three  chil- 
dren, namely:  F.  C.,  who  is  a resident  of  LaGrange; 
Lillie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Calvin  Harrington,  of 
Clinton,  Iowa;  and  Levin  Millis,  who  has  passed 
his  life  in  his  native  state. 

Levin  Millis  Antonides  attended  the  country 
schools  in  Clay  Township  in  boyhood  and  later  had 
further  advantages  at  Ontario  Academy.  He  as- 
sisted his  father  on  the  farm  as  long  as  his  help 
was  deemed  necessary,  then  invested  in  farm  land 
for  himself,  and  has  spent  his  time  since  then  in 
carrying  on  the  quiet  pursuits  of  agriculture,  than 
which  no  more  important  can  be  found  in  any 
direction.  Mr.  Antonides  has  117  acres  in  one  tract 
and  he  also  owns  forty  acres  of  the  old  homestead. 
He  raises  grain  and  general  produce  and  also  gives 
attention  to  stock  of  all  kinds.  He  is  a careful, 
prudent  farmer  and  his  undertakings  usually  prove 
successful  and  profitable. 

On  February  27,  1878,  Mr.  Antonides  was  united 
In  marriage  to  Miss  Eunice  Emma  Woodward,  who 
was  born  near  the  old  Green  saw  mill  in  Clay 
Township,  June  30,  1858.  Her  parents  were  Wil- 
liam and  Sophronia  (Parish)  Woodward,  the  former 
of  whom  came  from  Ohio  to  LaGrange  County 
with  his  parents  in  1837,  they  being  among  the  early 
settlers  in  Clay  Township.  Mrs.  Antonides  owns 
a very  interesting  utensil  brought  from  Ohio  by  her 
grandparents.  It  is  a fire  shovel  moulded  of  solid 
iron,  all  in  one  piece  and  unbreakable.  In  what 
kind  of  early  forge  or  furnace  it  was  so  fashioned 
is  unknown.  The  father  of  Mrs.  Antonides  died 
in  1905,  her  mother  having  passed  away  in  1895. 
Seven  children  have  been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Antonides,  namely:  Maud,  Claud,  Arthur  Levin, 

Florence  Jerusha,  Sarah  Hattie,  Eunice  Bess,  and 
John.  The  last  named,  born  January  2,  1894,  died 
at  the  age  of  eight  months.  The  eldest  daughter, 
Maud,  was  born  February  9,  1879,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Adrian  Thomas,  of  LaGrange,  Indiana.  Claud,  who 
was  born  April  21,  1880,  was  married  August  3, 
1904,  to  Opal  Gage,  a daughter  of  Owen  Gage,  and 
they  have  five  children:  Gerald,  Donald,  John  Paid, 
Margaret  and  Dale.  Arthur  Levin,  who  was  born 
June  27,  1881,  married  Nina  Beal,  and  they  have 
four  children : Lloyd,  Ruth,  Dorothy  and  Lee  Millis. 
Florence  Jerusha,  who  was  born  October  10,  1886, 


resides  at  home.  Sarah  Hattie,  who  was  born  Sep- 
tember 10,  1888,  is  the  wife  of  Albert  Lytle,  and 
they  have  three  children:  Vada,  Eunice  and  Wava. 

Eunice  Bess,  who  was  born  June  10,  1891,  resides 
at  home.  The  family  attends  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  at  Shipshewana,  and  Mr.  Antonides 
belongs  to  the  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  there.  He 
has  always  supported  the  principles  of  the  republican 
party  because  he  believes  in  their  soundness,  but 
at  no  time  has  he  ever  desired  a public  office,  al- 
though undoubtedly  well  fitted  by  sterling  char- 
acter and  natural  good  judgment  to  serve  acceptably 
in  many.  Mr.  Antonides  has  some  interesting  fam- 
ily heirlooms  which  he  prizes  highly.  One  of  these 
is  an  English  watch  that  has  been  handed  down  in 
the  Millis  family  from  generation  to  generation 
for  200  years,  its  engraved  face  reading  “From 
Levin  to  Levin.”  It  is  a priceless  treasure  in  this 
family  and  will  continue  to  descend  to  the  future 
generations. 

Henry  Sheets.  After  years  of  productive  labor 
along  agriculaural  lines  Henry  Sheets,  of  Pleasant 
Township,  is  enjoying  a well  earned  rest  in  the 
midst  of  his  family  circle.  During  the  time  he  con- 
ducted his  farm  he  was  well  known  for  his  skill 
in  raising  good  crops,  and  at  the  same  time  he  com- 
manded respect  for  his  solid  and  reliable  charac- 
teristics. He  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  De- 
cember 25,  1834,  a son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Stovell) 
Sheets,  both  natives  of  Bavaria,  Germany. 

The  elder  Henry  Sheets  learned  the  blacksmithing 
trade  in  his  native  land,  but  after  he  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1835  he  became  a tool  maker  and 
dresser  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
rounded  out  his  useful  life.  He  and  his  excellent 
wife  had  three  children,  as  follows : Michael, 

Jacob  and  Henry.  Henry  Sheets,  whose  name 
heads  this  biographical  mention,  was  reared  at 
Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  and  attended  its  public 
schools.  In  1854  he  was  married  to  Magdeline 
Peters,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Peters, 
and  for  six  years  thereafter  lived  at  Pittsburgh,  but 
in  i860  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  first  lo- 
cating in  Steuben  Township,  but  five  years  later 
moved  to  his  present  farm  in  Pleasant  Township. 
Here  he  was  actively  engaged  in  farming  until  1893, 
when  he  retired  and  moved  to  Angola.  On  July  3, 
1916,  he  lost  his  wife  by  death,  and  his  home  at 
Angola  then  became  too  lonely,  so  he  closed  it  and 
returned  to  the  farm,  where  he  is  now  ministered 
to  by  his  children. 

Henry  Sheets  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children : William,  who  is  a farmer  of  the  old 

homestead ; Charles  H.,  who  married  Emma  Longa- 
baugh,  and  has  one  son,  Harcourt;  Tillie,  who  keeps 
house  for  her  father  and  brothers ; Elmer,  who  is 
also  farming  the  homestead ; Herman,  who  married 
Elsie  Wood,  of  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  has  two 
children,  Elsie  and  Magdaline ; Fred,  who  conducts 
a store  and  hotel  at  Crooked  Lake,  Indiana ; Eugene, 
who  owns  ten  cottages  and  as  many  boats  on 
Crooked  Lake,  conducts  the  Long  Beach  resort,  but 
lives  at  home  with  his  father  and  the  rest  of  the 
family.  The  Sheets  family  have  been  very  success- 
ful as  farmers,  the  homestead  now  comprising  598 
acres  of  very  valuable  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Crooked  Lake.  While  Mrs.  Sheets  lived  Miss  Tillie 
kept  house  for  her  brothers  on  the  farm.  The  death 
of  this  estimable  lady  was  felt  all  the  more  deeply 
because  hers  was  the  first  this  family  has  suffered, 
and  the  loss  has  bound  the  survivors  still  more 
closely  together.  They  are  regarded  as  being  among 
the  most  desirable  people  in  this  section,  and  are 
progressive  in  their  methods  and  upright  in  their 
dealings. 


232 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Isaac  N.  Cox.  For  nearly  forty  years  Isaac  N. 
Cox  gave  his  best  energies  to  farming  and  is  now 
enjoying  a well  earned  retirement.  His  home  has 
been  at  Ashley  since  1907.  While  accumulating  a 
landed  estate  he  has  been  active  in  many  local  af- 
fairs, including  church,  fraternity  and  civic  respon- 
sibilities. 

He  was  born  in  Smithfield  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  October  16,  1851,  a son  of  William  and 
Nancy  (Van  Aken)  Cox.  This  branch  of  the  Cox 
family  is  descended  from  an  Englishman  who  came 
to  America  in  colonial  times.  William  Cox  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1811,  was  married  in 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1850  settled  on  the 
farm  in  Smithfield  Township  where  his  son  Isaac 
was  born.  He  acquired  120  acres  of  land.  He  was 
keenly  interested  in  politics,  was  originally  a whig 
and  later  a radical  republican,  and  for  nine  years 
he  held  the  office  of  trustee  of  Smithfield  Township. 
He  was  also  prominent  in  the  Cedar  Lake  congrega- 
tion of  the  Christian  Church  and  served  as  an  elder 
many  years.  Of  his  ten  children  four  are  still 
living:  B.  O.  Cox,  a retired  farmer  at  Coldwater, 

Michigan;  Sarah,  widow  of  Levi  Freed  and  living 
at  Ashley;  Harriet,  widow  of  John  Wilsey,  of 
Traverse  City,  Michigan;  and  Isaac  N. 

Isaac  N.  Cox  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  attended 
district  schools  and  also  the  Angola  High  School 
and  the  Waterloo  High  School.  For  two  terms  he 
was  a teacher  in  his  native  township,  but  since  then 
has  followed  farming. 

June  8,  1871,  he  married  Anna  Stamets,  who  was 
born  in  Ohio  December  2,  1851.  She  finished  her 
education  in  the  district  schools  of  Indiana.  After 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  rented  his  father’s 
place  for  two  years,  and  from  1874  to  1879  lived  in 
LaGrange  County.  He  then  bought  forty  acres  of 
his  father’s  homestead  and  subsequently  acquired 
another  forty  acres,  giving  him  a good  sized  farm, 
from  which  he  earned  the  greater  part  of  his  pros- 
perity. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cox  had  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Emmett,  who  is  married  and  lives 

at  Waterloo;  Anna  Rosezettie,  a high  school  gradu- 
ate, wife  of  John  May;  Arthur,  who  is  married  and 
lives  on  the  old  farm;  and  Harry  H.,  who  spent 
three  years  in  high  school  and  is  married  and  a 
farfner.  The  family  are  leading  members  of  the 
Cedar  Lake  Christian  Church  and  Mr.  Cox  has 
served  it  as  deacon,  elder  and  trustee,  and  for  twelve 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school.  He 
is  a past  chancellor  of  Hudson  Lodge  No.  25,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  and  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
while  his  wife  is  a past  chief  of  the  Pythian  Sisters. 
Mr.  Cox  has  always  been  identified  with  the  republi- 
can party,  and  has  served  as  township  supervisor. 

Fred  E.  Hall,  who  for  the  past  ten  years  has 
concentrated  his  energies  upon  the  management  of 
the  Hall  farm  in  Springfield  Township  of  La- 
Grange  County,  is  a member  of  a family  whose 
activities  have  been  influential  in  shaping  the  de- 
velopment of  several  communities  in  Northeast  In- 
diana, beginning  in  pioneer  times,  more  than  eighty 
years  ago. 

Fred  E.  Hall  was  born  in  Wayne  Township  of 
Noble  County  June  3,  1879,  and  is  a son  of  Ben- 
jamin Franklin  and  Catherine  A.  (Longyear)  Hall. 
The  paternal  grandparents  were  William  and  Lu- 
cinda (Hall)  Hall,  who  came  to  Springfield  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  in  1835,  and  located  at 
Brushy  Prairie.  William  Hall  entered  land  in  sec- 
tion 16  of  that  township,  but  later  acquired  a tract 
of  Government  land  in  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana. 
His  Kosciusko  land  he  traded  for  130 -acres  near 


Lexington,  now  Brighton,  in.  Greenfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County.  William  Hall  was  one  of  the 
pioneers  thoroughly  equipped  for  meeting  the  hard 
conditions  of  the  early  days,  and  his  affairs  were 
prospered  so  that  at  one  time  he  owned  616  acres. 
Later  he  sold  this  property  for  $27,000,  then  con- 
sidered a large  fortune.  In  1867  he  bought  land 
near  Kendallville  and  lived  there  until  his  death. 
He  was  born  September  22,  1809,  and  died  April 
29,  1900.  His  wife  was  born  in  Clark  County, 
Ohio,  August  6,  1811,  and  died  March  27,  1869. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Hall  was  born  in  Greenfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  June  11,  1847,  and 
was  well  educated,  attending  Notre  Dame  Univer- 
sity at  South  Bend  and  Kendallville  High  School. 
He  spent  a period  working  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  in  1882  went  out  to  Kansas  and  bought  a 160- 
acre  farm.  After  a year  he  returned  east,  spent 
one  winter  in  Chicago  and  two  years  at  Charlotte, 
Michigan,  and  then  returned  to  Kendallville,  In- 
diana. In  1909  he  bought  115  acres  in  Springfield 
Township,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  on  May 
31,  1916. 

He  married  Catherine  Longyear  on  January  17, 
1869.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  Township,  Noble 
County,  June  ir,  1847,  daughter  of  John  and  Ann 
E.  (Green)  Longyear,  both  natives  of  New  York. 
Her  father  was  born  February  7,  1815,  in  Ulster 
County,  and  her  mother  in  Cayuga  County,  May 
15,  1817.  The  longyear  family  settled  in  Wayne 
Township  of  Noble  County  in  1844,  where  John 
Longyear  acquired  a heavily  timbered  tract  of 
eighty  acres.  He  put  a road  between  his  home 
and  Kendallville.  Soon  afterward  he  moved  to 
the  old  Plank  Road  north  of  Kendallville,  to  a 
farm  of  160  acres.  John  Longyear  was  one  of  the 
notable  men  in  the  early  day  citizenship  of  Noble 
County.  He  was  a man  of  great  enterprise  and 
had  the  keeping  of  six  mile's  of  the  old  Plank 
Road.  He  was  also  the  first  postmaster  on  that 
road,  and  the  postoffice  was  called  Marseilles.  For 
a number  of  years  he  served  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  assessor  of  Wayne  Township.  He  was  much 
interested  in  educational  matters,  and  the  school- 
house  established  on  his  farm  was  known  as  the 
Longyear  School.  He  was  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Order,  in  politics  was  a whig  and  later  a 
republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  Presbyterians 
and  original  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Kendallville.  John  Longyear  died  at  his  home 
farm  north  of  Kendallville  June  8,  1890,  while  his 
wife  passed  away  December  1,  1893.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Melissa  and  Bradford,  deceased;  Cath- 

erine; Charles,  deceased;  Emma;  John  and  Calista, 
both  deceased.  John  Longyear  married  for  his 
first  wife  Angeline  Winfield  and  had  a son,  Wil- 
liam Winfield  Longyear,  who  is  now  eighty-four 
years  of  age  and  lives  with  his  daughter,  Mrs. 
Orange  Hill,  in  Wayne  Township,  Noble  County. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Hall  and  wife  had  three  chil- 
dren : The  oldest,  Lucinda,  died  in  infancy,  while 

the  second  is  Fred.  Olive,  the  youngest,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  schools  of  Kendallville  and  Wayne 
Township,  and  is  the  wife  of  John  C.  Prillaman 
and  lives  at  Mason  City,  Iowa. 

Fred  E.  Hall  acquired  his  early  education  in  Ken- 
dallville, attending  high  school  there.  For  sev- 
eral years  he  worked  in  railroad  shops  in  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan,  but  in  1909  came  with  his  father 
to  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  and 
since  that  date  has  rented  and  managed  the  home 
farm.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

June  21,  1900,  Mr.  Hall  married  Miss  Maude 
Lucile  Lyon.  She  was  born  in  Noble  County  April 
4,  1879,  a daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  (Fuller) 
Lyon.  Her  parents  in  1881  removed  to  Stryker,. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Ohio,  where  her  father  died  in  1895,  aged  sixty- 
two,  and  her  mother  in  1894,  aged  fifty-three.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Hall  have  three  children : Gordon,  born 

April  10,  1901,  a graduate  of  the  township  high 
school ; Mildred  Catharine,  born  May  10,  1912,  and 
Bruce  Eugene,  born  August  19,  1913. 

Ernest  Maxwell  is  a native  of  Steuben  County, 
started  his  career  as  a farmer  with  some  experience 
and  little  capital,  rented  a farm,  and  finally  got  a 
place  of  his  own,  which  he  has  done  much  to  im- 
prove and  render  productive.  He  is  considered  one 
of  the  best  farmers  in  Otsego  Township. 

Mr.  Maxwell  was  born  in  Richland  Township, 
May  3,  1870.  His  father,  Samuel  Maxwell,  who  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  December  12,  1839, 
came  to  Richland  Township  before  the  Civil  war. 
He  was  a blacksmith  at  Alvarado.  On  account  of 
failing  eyesight  he  sold  his  shop  in  1881  and  bought 
a farm  in  Pleasant  Township,  near  Crooked  Lake. 
After  three  years  he  sold  that  place  and  on  March 
6,  1884,  moved  to  a farm  four  miles  southeast  of 
Fremont,  was  there  four  years  and  then  located  on 
a farm  one  mile  south  of  Alvarado  in  Richland 
Township,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  days.  He 
died  November  2,  1895.  In  1865  Samuel  Maxwell 
married  Elizabeth  Parrott.  He  was  born  in  Spring- 
field,  Ohio,  December  28,  1847,  and  died  August  23, 
1909.  Their  children  were:  Ernest;  Loren,  born 

October  7,  1872;  Emmet,  born  June  2,  1876;  Clifford, 
born  November  15,  1879;  and  Glenn,  born  November 
25,  1881,  and  died  October  9,  1900. 

Ernest  Maxwell  lived  on  the  several  places  of  his 
father  as  above  noted,  and  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Alvarado  and  the  district 
schools  of  Pleasant  and  Fremont  townships.  He 
began  his  independent  career  as  a farmer  on  August 
21,  1895.  At  that  time  he  rented  land  adjoining  the 
place  he  now  owns.  Then  followed  ten  years  of 
hard  work,  thrifty  management  and  saving,  and  on 
August  5,  1905,  he  secured  the  farm  of  his  choice 
when  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  36  of  Otsego 
Township.  Mr.  Maxwell  is  thoroughly  modern  in 
his  farm  practices,  has  put  up  a good  silo  and  has 
remodeled  many  of  the  buildings  and  increased  the 
facilities  of  the  place  by  thorough  and  productive 
management. 

Mr.  Maxwell  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Masons 
and  Grange,  and  with  his  wife  is  a member  of  the 
Pythian  Sisters  and  the  Eastern  Star.  Mr.  Maxwell 
is  a man  of  unusual  intelligence  and  has  an  excep- 
tional memory  which  enables  him  to  recall  dates  and 
facts  readily  without  any  reference  to  memoranda. 

February  23,  1895,  he  married  Martha  Gilbert. 
They  have  no  children.  Mrs.  Maxwell  was  born 
May  27,  1873,  in  Otsego  Township,  is  a daughter  of 
Hiram  A.  and  Jane  (Herriman)  Gilbert.  Hiram 
Gilbert  was  born  in  Otsego  Township,  July  24,  1852, 
son  of  Joseph  and  Martha  Ann  (Forder)  Gilbert, 
the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  grandson  of  John  and 
Mary  Gilbert.  Joseph  Gilbert  came  to  Otsego  Town- 
ship in  Steuben  County  about  1852  and  located  on  a 
tract  of  wild  land  which  he  cleared  up  and  made 
into  a good  farm.  Hiram  Gilbert  frequently  drove 
the  oxen  while  his  father  handled  the  plow.  Hiram 
Gilbert  lived  in  Steuben  County  the  rest  of  his  life. 
By  his  first  marriage  he  had  three  children,  Hiram 
A.,  Setta  and  Flora.  He  married  Emily  Case  for 
his  second  wife,  and  their  children  were  Alton  J., 
Victor  and  Verna. 

Hiram  A.  Gilbert  attended  public  school  in  Steu- 
ben County  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  began 
farming  on  the  place  he  now  owns.  He  has  156 
acres  and  devotes  it  to  general  farming.  Mr.  Gil- 


233 

bert  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  He  and 
his  wife,  Jennie  Herriman,  have  two  children, 
Martha,  wife  of  Ernest  Maxwell,  and  J.  C.  Gilbert. 

Joseph  H.  Lehman.  The  Lehman  family  is  an 
old  and  honored  one  in  LaGrange  County,  where 
the  greater  number  of  its  representatives  have  de- 
voted their  time,  money  and  energies  to  tilling  the 
soil,  and  as  a consequence  have  not  only  brought 
about  a desirable  improvement  in  their  neighborhood 
but  have  gained  for  themselves  a prosperity  that 
is  gratifying.  One  of  these  substantial  farmers 
bearing  the  name  above  - referred  to  is  Joseph  H. 
Lehman  of  Newbury  Township,  who  is  a native 
son  of  the  township,  having  been  born  here  October 
21,  1869.  His  parents  are  Harmon  and  Christina 
(Hershbarger)  Lehman. 

Joseph  H.  Lehman  was  reared  on  his  father’s 
homestead,  where  he  learned  the  fundamentals  of 
farming,  and  at  the  same  time  he  enjoyed  the  ad- 
vantages of  the  country  schools.  After  assisting  his 
father  for  some  time  he  went  into  partnership  with 
his  father-in-law,  Daniel  Mast,  and  another  son- 
in-law  of  Mr.  Mast,  Jonathan  Eash,  which  asso- 
ciation continued  for  fourteen  years,  when  it  was 
dissolved,  and  Mr.  Lehman  began  farming  for  him- 
self on  a farm  of  160  acres  he  bought  in  Newbury 
Township,  which  he  is  still  conducting.  Ever  since 
taking  possession  of  it  he  had  been  engaged  in 
effecting  improvements,  and  now  has  one  of  the 
best  rural  properties  in  this  part  of  the  county. 
Here  he  is  carrying  on  general  farming  and  stock- 
raising.  Assisted  by  his  excellent  wife,  Mr.  Leh- 
man has  earned  all  he  now  possesses,  and  they  have 
reason  to  be  proud  of  the  result  of  their  hard  work 
and  thrift. 

On  December  10,  1891,  Joseph  H.  Lehman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Mast,  born 
in  Newbury  Township,  May  1,  1875,  a daughter  of 
Daniel  H.  and  Leah  Mast,  farming  people  of  this 
township,  both  of  whom  are  now  deceased,  he  pass- 
ing away  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  and  his 
widow,  June  1,  1918.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lehman  became 
the  parents  of  the  following  children : Lizzie,  Al- 

bert, Ada,  Perry,  Emma  and  Erwin.  Lizzie  mar- 
ried Reuben  Bontreger,  and  their  children  are : 
Erwin,  Samuel,  Joseph,  and  Mary.  Albert  mar- 
ried Anna  Hostetler,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Katie  Ann.  Ada  is  now  Mrs.  John  Lambright,  and 
has  two  children,  Emma  and  Erwin.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lehman  are  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church.  They  are  very  well  known  in  their  neigh- 
borhood, where  they  have  made  numerous  friends. 
Sincere  and  upright  in  character,  their  word  is  ac- 
cepted at  its  face  value,  and  if  they  give  their  sup- 
port to  any  measures  their  associates  know  that  they 
have  not  done  so  without  studying  the  matter  over 
and  then  acting  as  their  consciences  dictate. 

Carl  A.  Hardy,  one  of  the  comparatively  new 
comers  to  Steuben  County,  has  earned  and  well  jus- 
tified a special  distinction  among  the  agriculturists 
of  that  section.  Mr.  Hardy  is  known  far  and  wide 
as  the  chief  onion  grower  in  Steuben  County.  His 
own  example  has  greatly  stimulated  that  industry, 
and  he  has  been  the  means  of  marketing  much  of 
the  crops  raised  by  other  growers. 

Mr.  Hardy  was  born  at  North  Madison,  Lake 
County,  Ohio,  April  15,  1882,  a son  of  Albert  G. 
and  Ellen  (Buck)  Hardy  and  a grandson  of  Parker 
F.  Hardy.  Albert  Hardy  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
and  his  wife  in  McCain  County  of  that  state.  Al- 
bert Hardy  was  for  many  years  one  of  the  leading 
onion  growers  of  Kendallville  in  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, and  since  1900  has  made  his  home  in  Ken- 
dallville. He  keeps  up  his  interest  in  onion  culture, 


234 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  every  year  raises  a small  crop,  though  he  is 
now  no  longer  in  the  business  on  a commercial  scale. 
He  and  his  wife  have  three  children,  Carl  A.,  Ethel 
and  Wilbur. 

Carl  A.  Hardy  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Lake  County,  Ohio,  also  attended 
school  in  Pennsylvania,  and  as  a boy  learned  the 
interesting  details  of  onion  culture  by  work  in  his 
father’s  field.  He  had  the  normal  ambition  for  ex- 
citement and  experience,  and  from  1901  to  1903  he 
served  in  the  United  States  navy.  That  was  a serv- 
ice of  great  educational  value  to  him.  He  spent 
much  of  the  time  in  foreign  countries,  in  South 
America,  West  Indies  islands  and  Europe.  Ever 
since  leaving  the  navy  Mr.  Hardy  has  been  actively 
identified  with  onion  growing. 

He  moved  to  Steuben  County  and  located  in  Hud- 
son Township  in  1905.  Practically  all  his  time  has 
been  taken  up  with  the  onion  industry.  Several  years 
he  had  as  high  as  sixty  acres  of  that  crop,  and  from 
his  fields  has  shipped  fifty  carloads  in  a single  year. 
This  is  a big  business  in  itself,  as  all  who  are  in 
any  degree  familiar  with  onion  culture  realize.  Be- 
sides looking  after  his  own  crops,  from  the  plant- 
ing of  the  seed  to  the  harvest,  Mr.  Hardy  has  bought 
from  other  local  growers  and  has  sent  hundreds  of 
carloads  to  the  markets. 

On  October  24,  1907,  Mr.  Hardy  married  Gayle 
M.  Pike,  a daughter  of  Morgan  B.  and  Della  (Charl- 
ton) Pike.  They  have  three  children,  Robert  B., 
Ardelle  Lee  and  Gordon  A.  Mr.  Hardy  is  promi- 
nent in  the  Masonic  Order,  being  affiliated  with  the 
Lodge  and  Chapter  at  Hudson,  the  Commandery  at 
Angola,  and  the  Scottish  Rite  and  Consistory  at  Fort 
Wayne. 

Charles  E.  Hall  is  one  of  the  oldest  business 
men  in  point  of  service  at  Fremont,  and  combining 
his  own  business  with  that  of  his  father  and  other 
members  of  the  family  the  Halls  have  been  con- 
tinuously identified  with  the  .commercial  enterprise 
of  Fremont  for  over  sixty-five  years. 

He  was  born  at  Fremont,  March  25,  1861,  a son 
of  Joseph  H.  and  Delia  (Beach)  Hall.  Joseph  H. 
Hall  was  born  at  Argyle  in  Washington  County, 
New  York,  August  24,  1824,  a son  of  John  and 
Jane  (Allen)  Hall.  John  Hall  served  as  a soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in  1862.  Joseph  H. 
Hall  in  1844,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  went  West  to 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  and  began  work  at  the 
harness  maker’s  trade,  serving  an  apprenticeship  of 
four  years.  The  first  year  his  wages  were  $25.00 
and  the  last  $100.00  and  board.  In  1853  he  came  to 
Fremont,  Indiana,  and  opened  a harness  shop,  a 
business  he  continued  until  1864.  He  then  enlisted 
in  Company  A of  the  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, and  served  in  the  quartermaster’s  depart- 
ment until  mustered  out.  In  1873  he  left  his  busi- 
ness at  Fremont  and  moved  to  a farm,  but  finally 
resumed  his  trade  and  worked  at  it  steadily  until 
two  years  before  his  death,  which  occurred  April 
23,  1904.  He  was  a republican,  later  a prohibition- 
ist, and  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  eighteen 
years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge 
and  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  In  1848,  in 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  he  married  Mary  Beach, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State  November  13, 
1839.  They  had  four  children,  Ida,  Effie,  and  two 
deceased.  Mrs.  Hall  died  in  1859,  and  in  i860  Mr. 
Hall  married  Adelia  Beach.  She  is  still  living,  and 
though  eighty-seven  years  of  age  has  never  worn 
glasses.  She  became  the  mother  of  four  children : 
Charles  E. ; Earl  L.,  of  Fremont;  Irene,  unmarried; 
and  Joel,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  E.  Hall  lived  in  the  Village  of  Fremont 
until  he  was  twelve  years  of  age,  when  he  went  on 


his  father’s  farm  in  Michigan.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  he  returned  to  Fremont,  and  for  a time  worked 
for  his  uncle,  C.  J.  Merwin,  in  a harness  shop.  In 
1884  he  engaged  in  the  harness  business  for  himself, 
and  has  continued  it  steadily  for  thirty-five  years  and 
has  had  the  record  of  being  the  oldest  merchant  in 
Fremont.  Mr.  Hall  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Bank  of  Fremont,  which  later  was  consoli- 
dated with  the  First  State  Bank,  and  he  has  long 
served  as  a director  and  is  now  president  of  this 
bank.  He  began  voting  as  a republican  but  later 
changed  to  the  democratic  party.  He  has  been  a 
member  of  the  City  Council  and  city  treasurer,  and 
is  affiliated  with  Northeast  Lodge  No.  210,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Fremont  Chapter,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  and  has  always  been  active  in  every  com- 
munity movement  and  especially  in  the  interests  of 
patriotism. 

He  has  taken  much  satisfaction  in  the  service  of 
two  of  his  sons  in  the  war.  In  1884  Mr.  Hall  mar- 
ried Miss  Minnie  Bovee,  of  Branch  County,  Michi- 
gan. Their  four  children  are  named  Lillie,  Frank, 
Burl  and  Clark.  Frank  was  the  first  young  man 
to  join  the  National  Army  from  Fremont.  He  en- 
listed May  24,  1917,  joining  the  artillery,  and  is  now 
stationed  at  Fort  Bliss,  Texas.  The  son  Burl  enlisted 
from  Havre,  Montana,  in  the  navy  in  November, 
1917.  He  went  to  San  Francisco,  thence  around  by 
sea  through  the  Panama  Canal  to  New  York,  and 
having  been  assigned  to  the  transport  service  it  has 
been  his  distinction  to  cross  the  ocean  in  the  great 
Leviathan  thirty-two  times.  The  Leviathan  is  the 
greatest  ship  afloat,  and  was  the  old  German  steam- 
ship Vaterland. 

Daniel  J.  Sxahly  has  played  a useful  part  in  the 
farming  community  of  Newbury  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  and  his  activities  and  example  have 
done  much  to  exalt  the  business  of  breeding  and 
raising  high  grade  livestock  in  the  county.  Mr. 
Stahly  is  a man  of  personal  worth  and  esteem  in 
his  locality,  and  is  a member  of  a family  of  numer- 
ous influential  connections  with  Northeast  Indiana. 

His  people  were  early  settlers  in  Pennsylvania  as 
well  as  in  Northern  Indiana.  His  great-grandfather, 
Henry  Stahly,  was  born  in  Germany  in  1750  and  died 
in  the  old  country  in  1825.  His  first  wife  was  a 
Miss  Hahn,  by  whom  he  had  one  child,  Magdalena. 
He  married  for  his  second  wife  Barbara  Summer, 
who  several  years  after  the  death  of  her  husband 
came  to  America  with  her  children  in  1832.  Her 
children  were  John,  Catherine,  Jacob,  Christian, 
Magdalena  and  Henry. 

Christian  Stahly,  who  was  born  in  Germany  July 
27,  1820,  was  twelve  years  old  when  brought  to 
America  by  his  mother,  and  as  a young  man  he  came 
to  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  and  was  a pioneer  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  that  county,  occupying  land 
that  is  not  included  in  the  City  of  Nappanee.  He 
lived  and  reared  his  family  there,  having  made  the 
journey  to  Elkhart  County  by  wagon  from  Wayne 
County,  Ohio.  Christian  Stahly  married  Fannie 
Housour,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in 
August,  1822.  Their  children  were  Peter,  Barbara, 
John,  Mary  Ann,  Moses,  Magdalena,  Catherine,  Levi 
and  Samuel. 

John  C.  Stahly,  father  of  Daniel  J.,  was  born  in 
Elkhart  County  September  23,  1846.  He  grew  up 
in  his  native  county,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one 
moved  to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a very 
successful  and  energetic  man,  accumulating  about 
500  acres  of  land.  His  death  occurred  February  16, 
1912.  John  C.  Stahly  married  Elizabeth  Johns.  She 
was  born  in  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania.  Her 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


235 


father,  Daniel  Johns,  was  born  in  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  August  20,  1819,  and  married  Polly 
Yoder,  who  was  born  in  the  same  County  November 
9,  1818.  Daniel  Johns  was  a son  of  Joseph  Johns, 
and  his  grandfather  was  also  named  Joseph.  Joseph, 
Sr.,  was  born  in  Switzerland  November  8,  1749. 
came  to  America  in  1768  and  married  Franey  Holly, 
of  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania.  This  Pennsylvania 
pioneer  from  Switzerland  is  distinguished  as  the  man 
who  laid  out  the  ill-fated  City  of  Johnstown,  Penn- 
sylvania in  1800.  Joseph  Johns,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Somerset  County  in  1792.  He  married  Anna  Blough, 
who  was  born  in  the  same  county  in  1799.  They 
were  farming  people  in  Somerset  county.  The  fam- 
ily of  Joseph  Johns,  Sr.,  consisted  of  the  following 
children : David,  born  July  30,  1779,  and  died  at 

the  age  of  seventeen;  Barbara,  born  January  22, 
1782,  and  married  John  Borntrager;  Franie,  born 
January  22,  1786,  married  John  Holly;  Joseph.  Jr., 
who  was  born  January  19,  1792;  and  Sarah,  born 
January  27,  1794,  married  Christian  Eash. 

Daniel  Johns  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Newbury 
Township  in  1853,  and  reared  his  family  on  a farm, 
but  later  moved  to  Elkhart  County,  where  he  died 
January  24,  1904.  His  wife  passed  away  March  21, 
1887.  Their  children  were  named  Maria,  Elizabeth 
and  Catherine,  the  last  becoming  the  wife  of  Joseph 
D.  Miller. 

The  children  of  John  C.  Stahly  and  wife  were : 
Daniel  J. ; Christian  J.,  who  married  Anna  Hostet- 
ler; John,  who  married  Maude  Harper;  Pauline, 
who  became  the  wife  of  William  Messner;  Fannie, 
deceased  wife  of  S.  E.  Weaver;  and  Katie,  wife 
of  Samuel  D.  Miller.  The  parents  of  these  children 
were  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church. 

Daniel  J.  Stahly  was  born  in  Newbury  Township 
October  14,  1869,  acquired  his  education  in  the  same 
locality,  and  from  early  manhood  has  farmed  the 
place  where  he  lives  today  in  section  30.  He  built 
the  house  here,  also  improved  the  barn  and  has 
added  many  other  facilities  for  comfort  and  con- 
venience. As  a breeder  of  pure  bred  livestock  he 
handles  Hampshire  and  Shropshire  sheep,  the  big 
type  Poland  China  hogs,  Jersey  cattle,  and  has  a 
number  of  blooded  Percheron  horses.  Mr.  Stahly 
is  a director  of  the  First  State  Bank  of  Middlebury, 
Indiana,  owns  240  acres  in  his  home  farm  and  fifty- 
five  acres  in  Springfield  Township. 

October  9,  1892,  he  married  Libbie  Sunthimer,  a 
daughter  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Schroch)  Sunthimer. 
Mrs.  Stahly,  who  died  March  15,  1915,  was  the 
mother  of  ten  children : Ernest,  who  is  a member 

of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  and  now  en- 
gaged in  reconstruction  work  in  France ; Mabel, 
who  married  Noble  Showalter,  and  at  her  death 
left  one  child,  Stahly;  Charles,  Elizabeth,  Beulah, 
Albert,  Ruth,  Franklin,  Paul  and  Daniel  J.,  Jr.,  who 
comprise  the  younger  members  of  the  family.  Mr. 
Stahly  since  the  death  of  his  first  wife  married 
Minerva  Thompson,  daughter  of  Ervin  H.  Thomp- 
son, of  Ionia  County,  Michigan.  Mr.  Stahly  and 
family  are  all  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

Solomon  Spearow.  1 More  than  three  score  and 
ten  years  have  passed  since  the  Spearow  family 
came  to  LaGrange  County.  At  that  time  Solomon 
Spearow,  who  is  one  of  the  leading  farm  owners 
of  Springfield  Township,  was  about  three  years 
old,  and  was  one  of  the  youngest  in  a large  family, 
many  of  whom  have  spent  their  lives  in  LaGrange 
County,  to  the  benefit  and  enlightenment  of  their 
respective  communities. 

Solomon  Spearow  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  August  15,  1843.  His  parents  were  James 


and  Susanna  (Stauver)  Spearow,  while  his  grand- 
parents were  William  and  Rosanna  (Ruth) 
Spearow.  James  Spearow  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  September  18,  1808,  and  his 
wife  was  born  in  the  same  state  in  1801.  They 
were  married  October  14,  1828,  and  about  1832 
settled  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  where  most  of  their 
children  were  born,  and  in  the  spring  of  1846  they 
came  west  to  LaGrange  County.  Here  Susanna 
Spearow  died  in  1849.  She  was  the  mother  of 
ten  children.  A brief  individual  record  of  these 
children  is  as  follows : Mrs.  Rosanna  Helper,  who 

was  born  July  25,  1829,  was  married  August  5, 
1857,  and  died  January  6,  1913;  John,  born  Jan- 
uary 12,  1831,  was  married  October  24,  1863,  and 
again  in  June,  1880,  and  died  April  5,  1901;  Sam- 
uel, born  October  14,  1832,  married  December  25, 
1857,  and  died  March  3,  1905 ; Mrs.  Susanna  Neifer, 
born  July  4,  1834,  was  married  in  1857,  and  died 
August  30,  1872;  William,  born  January  24,  1836, 
married  June  24,  1858,  and  again  on  September  16, 
1905,  and  is  deceased;  James,  born  November  1, 
1837,  married  October  15,  1863,  and  died  Septem- 
ber 26,  1899;  Daniel,  born  November  13,  1839,  was 
married  September  17,  1863,  and  died  September  5, 
1907;  Jacob,  born  October  15,  1841,  married  August 
25,  1857,  and  is  deceased ; Solomon,  who  was  the 
ninth  and  next  to  the  youngest  of  the  children; 
and  Mrs.  Mary  Hunt,  who  was  born  December  25, 
1845,  and  was  married  November  28,  1869. 

On  September  13,  1849,  James  Spearow,  father 
of  these  children,  married  Mrs.  Martha  Millis, 
widow  of  John  W.  Millis  and  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Mary  (Connel)  Burk,  the  former  a native  of 
Kentucky  and  the  latter  of  Virginia  and  of  Irish 
descent.  Mrs.  Spearow  was  born  in  Madison 
County,  Kentucky,  in  1811.  By  her  first  husband 
she  had  four  children,  named  Elnora  E.,  Helen  S., 
Estella  and  Sarah  C.  James  Spearow  by  his  second 
marriage  had  three  children : Sarah  A.  born  May 
15,  1851,  and  died  March  17,  1853;  Amelia,  born 
April  9,  1853,  was  married  March  18,  1874;  Gibson, 
born  September  17,  1855,  and  died  July  5,  1856. 
James  Spearow  was  a very  active  member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  and  for  many  years  stead- 
ily affiliated  with  the  republican  party.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  regularly  carried  the  mail  from 
Brushy  Prairie  to  Kendallville,  making  trips  in  all 
kinds  of  weather  and  over  all  sorts  of  roads  on 
horseback.  He  owned  a fine  farm  of  240  acres 
in  Springfield  Township.  The  death  of  this  hon- 
ored old  time  citizen  occurred  May  1,  1893,  while 
his  second  wife  passed  away  July  3,  1888. 

Solomon  Spearow  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his 
parents  in  LaGrange  County,  and  lived  with  his 
father  until  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age.  On 
October  25,  1868,  he  married  Mrs.  Lydia  A.  Gage, 
widow  of  Samuel  Gage  and  daughter  of  Elias  and 
Roxia  Gilbert.  To  their  marriage  were  born  four 
children,  Addie,  Hattie  H.,  Flora  and  Rollin.  Mrs. 
Spearow  by  her  first  marriage  had  a daughter,  Ella 
R.,  now  wife  of  Louis  E.  Deal. 

The  affairs  of  Solomon  Spearow  have  prospered 
as  a farmer  and  as  a good  citizen.  He  has  been 
a sterling  republican  in  politics,  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

Mrs.  Spearow’s  father,  Elias  G.  Gilbert,  was 
born  in  New  York  state  August  2,  1808,  and  wrhen 
a boy  went  to  Clark  County,  Ohio.  In  1833  he 
married  Mrs.  Roxia  (Hammond)  Nickelson,  of 
New  York  state.  Two  years  later,  in  1835,  he 
came  to  LaGrange  County,  first  settling  on  a farm 
belonging  to  Judge  Seeley.  Two  years  afterw-ard 
he  bought  eighty  acres  on  Brushy  Prairie  in  Spring- 
field  Township,  and  from  that  time  forward  dili- 


236 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


gently  improved  his  circumstances  until  at  his  death 
he  owned  500  acres,  well  improved  with  good  build- 
ings and  other  equipment.  He  died  September  22, 

1865. 

Rollin  E.  Spearow,  only  son  of  Solomon,  was 
born  July  27,  1875.  As  a boy  on  the  old  farm  he 
attended  public  schools,  also  the  LaGrange  High 
School,  and  has  for  twenty  years  been  a practical 
farmer.  He  now  owns  a two-thirds  interest  in  the 
farm  of  160  acres  in  Springfield  Township,  and 
is  giving  a good  account  of  himself  as  an  agri- 
culturist and  stock  man.  He  is  a republican  and 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1896  he  married  Miss  Florence  Case,  a native 
of  Milford  Township  and  daughter  of  Albert  and 
Mary  (Boley)  Case,  formerly  of  Milford  but  now 
of  Springfield  Township.  Five  children  were  born 
to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rollin  Spearow : Retha  and 

Stewart  E.,  both  graduates  of  the  eighth  grade, 
Wendall  A.,  Harry  S.  and  Luther  A. 

David  J.  Schaeffer.  Forty  years  is  a long  time, 
more  than  half  a normal  man’s  lifetime,  to  live  and 
work  in  one  locality.  David  J.  Schaeffer,  one  of  the 
well-known  farmer  citizens  of  Steuben  County,  has 
lived  on  his  place  in  Fremont  Township  more  than 
forty  years,  and  his  material  success  and  his  esteem 
among  his  neighbors  and  friends  have  grown  cor- 
responding to  the  length  of  his  residence.  Mr. 
Schaeffer  was  born  in  the  same  township  and  lo- 
cality July  25,  1848,  and  is  a son  of  John  and  Eve 
(Walmer)  Schaeffer.  Some  of  the  interesting  facts 
concerning  his  father,  who  settled  in  Steuben  County 
in  1845,  are  told  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

David  J.  Schaeffer  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead 
and  at  home  learned  a foreign  tongue  and  was  un- 
able to  speak  English  when  he  first  entered  the  dis- 
trict schools.  After  getting  his  education  he  began 
farming,  also  did  ditching  and  carpenter  work,  and 
in  1875  established  a home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage to  Mary  Easterday,  daughter  of  Dr.  Lewis  and 
Elizabeth  (Dauber)  Easterday.  Her  father  came  to 
Steuben  County  from  Williams  County,  Ohio,  in 
April,  1866,  and  was  a widely  known  physician  with 
a busy  country  practice.  Doctor  Easterday  and  wife 
had  the  following  children:  Lewis,  Mary,  Henry, 

Elizabeth,  Caroline,  Catherine,  Johnie,  Jacob  and 
William. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schaeffer  moved  to  their  present 
farm  the  year  following  their  marriage.  They  have 
about  seventy-five  well  cultivated  acres  and  a good 
home,  and  are  enjoying  the  rewards  of  long  years  of 
industry.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  Fremont.  Their  two  children  are  Henry 
F.  and  Margaret  M.  Henry  F.  Schaeffer  married 
Florence  Friday. 

Jacob  Mishler.  It  is  a generally  admitted  fact 
that  whatever  is  worth  having  is  worth  working 
for,  and  also  that  what  is  earned  is  doubly  prized. 
Judged  by  these  two  statements  Jacob  Mishler  must 
appreciate  his  prosperity,  for  he  has  worked  hard 
for  it,  and  has  at  the  same  time  earned  a reputation 
in  his  neighborhood  for  sincere  uprightness  of 
character  that  is  unquestioned.  Ever  since  he  came 
to  LaGrange  County  in  1858  he  has  sought  to  make 
himself  a part  of  the  constructive  element,  and  his 
work  in  his  county  has  been  worth  while,  and  at 
the  same  time  his  efforts  of  a personal  nature  have 
brought  him  excellent  returns,  as  they  should,  for 
they  were  directed  by  a desire  to  make  himself  use- 
ful and  provide  for  those  dependent  upon  him. 
Jacob  Mishler  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  August 
18,  1840,  a son  of  Christian  and  Barbara  (Eash) 
Mishler,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  January,  1857, 


aged  sixty-one  years.  In  1858  the  widowed  mother 
came  with  Jacob  Mishler  to  LaGrange  County,  In- 
diana. The  children  born  to  Christian  Mishler  and 
his  wife  were  as  follows:  Susie,  William,  Joseph, 

Polly,  Henry,  Katie,  Jacob,  John,  Barbara  and 
Isaac.  The  good  mother  died  at  the  home  of  her 
son  Jacob  when  she  was  eighty-three  years  old. 

When  the  war  between  sections  was  in  progress 
Jacob  Mishler  did  his  duty  as  a patriot,  enlisting  in 
Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Eighth  Penn- 
sylvania Volunteer  Infantry,  in  September,  1863,  and 
he  received  his  honorable  discharge  July  8,  1865. 
For  a short  time  following  the  close  of  the  war,  he 
was  in  Pennsylvania,  and  then  he  returned  to 
LaGrange  County,  and  worked  as  a carpenter  until 
he  embarked  in  an  ice  business,  conducting  it  for 
a time. 

In  1867  Mr.  Mishler  was  married  in  Newbury 
Township  to  Sarah  Miller,  and  they  had  six  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Elias,  Daniel,  Barbara,  Susie, 

Polly  and  Moses.  Mrs.  Mishler  died  in  January, 
1914,  aged  fifty-nine  years.  In  April,  1915,  Mr. 
Mishler  was  married  to  Mrs.  Susan  (Hershbarger) 
Miller,  widow  of  Abraham  D.  Miller.  She  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  December  18,  1841.  She  and  Mr. 
Miller  had  no  children.  He  died  February  12,  1911, 
aged  seventy-two  years.  Mrs.  Mishler  is  a daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Lehman)  Hershbarger, 
natives  of  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
was  born  in  1810  and  she  in  1808.  They  came  to 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  June,  1842,  settling  on 
160  acres  of  land  in  Newbury  Township,  which  they 
bought  for  $10  an  acre.  On  it  they  erected  a log 
cabin,  and  cleared  off  the  land.  Within  six  years’ 
time  the  cabin  was  replaced  with  a comfortable 
frame  residence,  in  which  he  died  in  1881  and  she 
in  1885.  They  were  of  the  old  order  of  Mennonites, 
and  the  very  best  of  good  people.  They  had  the 
following  children : Fannie,  Barbara,  Lydia,  Noah, 

Joseph  and  Susan. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Mishler, 
Abraham  Hershbarger,  was  married  to  Magdalena 
Yoder,  and  they  came  to  LaGrange  County  from 
Pennsylvania  by  wagon  in  1842,  bringing  with  them 
their  two  sons  and  three  daughters.  The  grand- 
mother died  in  1846,  the  grandfather  surviving  her 
until  1850.  The  children  of  the  grandparents  were 
as  follows:  John,  Joseph,  Rachel,  Leah  and  Fannie. 
The  maternal  grandparents  of  Mrs.  Mishler  were 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Bontreger)  Lehman,  both  of 
whom  died  in  Pennsylvania.  Their  children  were  as 
follows : Mary,  Anne,  Elizabeth,  Gehmide,  Mar- 

garet, Barbara,  David  and  John.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mishler  are  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church. 

S.  T.  Leek  has  been  connected  with  the  Baltimore 
& Ohio  Railway,  with  headquarters  at  Garrett,  for 
over  thirty  years.  The  greater  part  of  that  time  he 
has  been  a locomotive  engineer  and  is  one  of  the 
oldest  engineers  in  the  service  of  the  road  and  has 
one  of  the  best  records. 

Mr.  Leek  was  born  in  Bryan,  Ohio,  June  26,  1865, 
a son  of  Isaac  and  Ellen  (Lindesmith)  Leek.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
his  father  born  in  1832  and  his  mother  in  .1840. 
They  were  married  at  Bryan,  Ohio,  and  the  father 
followed  different  occupations,  being  a skilled  me- 
chanic, a millwright,  thresherman,  sawmill  operator 
and  contractor.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  promi- 
nent members  of  the  Christian  Church  at  Bryan  and 
in  politics  he  was  a republican.  The  two  living 
children  are  Rose  and  S.  T.  The  former  is  the  wife 
of  Sherman  Kelley,  and  they  live  at  Bryan,  Ohio. 

S.  T.  Leek  grew  up  in  Bryan,  attended  the  public 
schools  and  learned  the  machinist  trade.  He  also 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


237 


became  a sign  writer  and  interior  decorator.  He 
had  a real  fondness,  however,  for  railroading,  and 
on  October  i,  1887,  came  to  Garrett  and  went  to 
work  for  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  road  as  a fireman. 
January  10,  1896,  came  his  promotion  to  the  respon- 
sibilities of  locomotive  engineer,  and  now  for  a 
number  of  years  he  has  had  a good  passenger  run 
between  Garrett  and  Willard,  Ohio.  Mr.  Leek  has 
held  various  chairs  in  the  Order  of  Brotherhood  of 
Locomotive  Engineers,  while  Mrs.  Leek  is  a charter 
member  of  the  Ladies’  Auxiliary  of  the  Brotherhood 
of  Locomotive  Engineers  and  Firemen,  and  has 
served  as  representative  of  the  order  in  convention 
at  Denver.  Mr.  Leek  is  a republican  in  politics  and 
owns  a good  home  at  406  Randolph  Street. 

May  7,  1887,  he  married  Mary  Turner,  who  was 
born  at  Montpelier,  Ohio,  and  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools.  She  was  the  widow  of  Harry 
Turner  and  has  a son,  John  L.  Turner,  who  lives 
with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Leek. 

Melvin  A.  Yoder.  Among  the  men  whose  careers 
and  characters  entitle  them  to  the  respect  and  esteem 
of  their  community  around  Topeka  is  Melvin  A. 
Yoder,  who  is  still  giving  diligent  attention  to  his 
farm  a mile  'west  and  a half  mile  south  of  the 
village. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township 
of  LaGrange  County  September  4,  1865,  a son  of 
John  S.  and  Catherine  (Stahly)  Yoder.  His  father 
was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1829, 
and  his  mother  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1834.  The 
former  died  in  1907  and  the  latter  in  1911.  They 
were  married  in  LaGrange  County  and  began  house- 
keeping in  Eden  Township  in  1853,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days  in  LaGrange  County.  They  were 
active  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church  at  Maple 
Grove  and  John  Yoder  was  a republican  in  political 
affiliations.  They  had  a family  of  five  sons  : Samuel 
W.,  a farmer  in  Eden  Township ; Daniel  J.,  a farmer 
in  the  same  township ; Emanuel  C.,  whose  home  is  in 
Goshen,  Indiana;  Melvin  A.;  and  Alvin  E.,  of 
Goshen. 

Melvin  A.  Yoder  grew  up  on  a farm  and  had  a 
district  school  education.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one 
he  began  farming  in  association  with  his  father  and 
on  December  10,  1891,  he  married  Maggie  Reese. 
After  his  marriage  he  started  farming  with  fifty 
or  sixty  acres,  and  gradually  enlarged  the  scope 
of  his  operations  until  he  is  one  of  the  leading  agri- 
culturists of  this  section.  He  is  one  of  the  direc- 
tors of  the  State  Bank  of  Topeka.  He  is  a man  of 
good  business  ability,  and  his  integrity  has  caused 
him  to  be  selected  as  administrator  of  several  estates. 
He  also  served  one  term  as  trustee  of  Eden  Town- 
ship and  is  a republican  in  politics.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Maple  Grove  Mennonite 
Church. 

His  first  wife  died  in  1909,  the  mother  of  four 
children.  Erman  B.,  a graduate  of  the  high  school,  is 
married  and  has  one  daughter ; Clara,  a high  school 
graduate  and  unmarried ; Floyd  C.,  a graduate  of 
high  school,  married  and  living  in  Eden  Township ; 
and  Virgil,  who  completed  his  high  school  work  in 
1919.  In  1911  Mr.  Yoder  married  Amanda  Mullet. 

Edward  H.  Curtis  is  one  of  the  prominent  stock 
feeders  of  LaGrange  County,  and  owns  a large  farm 
adjoining  Howe  as  the  basis  of  his  operations  in 
this  industry. 

Mr.  Curtis  was  born  at  Howe  December  1,  1876. 
About  five  years  before  his  birth  his  parents,  Henry 
and  Elizabeth  Curtis,  had  come  from  England  and 
settled  in  LaGrange  County.  Henry  Curtis  was 
a flower  gardener  by  trade,  but  after  coming  to 


LaGrange  County  engaged  in  farming  near  Howe 
and  still  owns  a farm  there.  Edward  H.  was  one 
of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  still  living. 

Edward  H.  Curtis  attended  public  schools  at 
Howe  and  early  took  much  interest  in  livestock.  He 
was  a buyer  and  shipper  of  stock  for  eight  years 
in  connection  with  farming.  He  began  farming  for 
himself  in  1904  at  his  present  location,  just  east  of 
Howe.  He  now  has  280  acres,  in  three  different 
places,  much  of  which  constitutes  a feeding  lot  for 
his  livestock,  and  he  buys  much  feeding  stock 
every  year  and  prepares  it  for  market.  He  was 
also  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Lima  Elevator 
Company  and  is  a director. 

Mr.  Curtis  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  He  married  Miss  Ida  A.  Darner 
July  3,  1902.  She  is  a daughter  of  William  Darner 
and  Caroline  (Mohler)  of  Brighton.  The  family 
of  six  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curtis  are  named 
Mary  K.,  Ralph  E.,  Ruth  C.,  William  D„  Isabel 
and  Dorothy  May. 

Clyde  J.  Letts  is  one  of  the  younger  farmers  of 
Steuben  County,  has  an  immense  fund  of  energy, 
enthusiasm  and  enterprise  and  is  already  well 
launched  as  an  argriculturist  and  stockman. 

Mr.  Letts,  whose  home  is  in  Fremont  Township, 
was  born  in  Jamestown  Township  of  the  same 
county,  February  3,  1890.  His  paternal  grandparents 
were  Edward  and  Mary  (Van  Nattan)  Letts,  the 
former  a native  of  New  Jersey  and  the  latter  of 
New  York  State.  Edward  Letts  was  an  early 
settler  in  Steuben  County  arriving  in  York  Town- 
ship in  1855.  He  located  on  forty  acres,  afterward 
moved  to  Scott  Township,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death.  His  children  were  : Daniel,  who  died  in 

young  manhood;  Nelson;  Diana  and  Edward,  both 
deceased,  and  Millard. 

Millard  C.  Letts  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ohio, 
August  8,  1849,  but  grew  up  in  Steuben  County.  He 
began  as  a farmer  in  Scott  Township,  afterward 
lived  on  a place  of  54^  acres  in  Jamestown  Town- 
ship, subsequently  returned  to  Scott  Township, 
where  he  had  an  eighty-acre  farm,  and  in  1915 
moved  to  Fremont  Township,  where  he  is  now  living 
with  his  son  Clyde.  His  wife,  who  died  in  1916, 
was  Matilda  C.  Schritchfield.  She  was  born  in  Fre- 
mont Township  of  Steuben  County,  April  13,  1858, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Bowers)  Schritch- 
field. James  Schritchfield  and  wife  had  eleven  chil- 
dren, four  of  whom  came  to  maturity,  George,  Ellen, 
Linnie  and  Matilda,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 
Millard  Letts  and  wife  had  four  children:  Jesse, 

who  married  Allie  Loose;  Bessie,  wife  of  Ernest 
Parrish ; Clark  M.,  who  married  Ethel  Brockway 
and  died  in  1902;  and  Clyde. 

Clyde  J.  Letts  acquired  a good  education,  beginning 
in  the  district  schools  of  Jamestown  Township  and 
after  graduating  from  the  high  school  in  the  Village 
of  Jamestown  took  up  work  at  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College  in  Angola.  During  his  fourth  term  he  was 
taken  ill  and  was  obliged  to  discontinue  his  further 
education.  Since  then  he  has  given  his  time  and 
energies  to  farming,  and  in  1915  bought  160  acres  in 
section  17  of  Fremont  Township.  He  does  general 
farming  and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Letts  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Fre- 
mont. March  9,  1910,  he  married  Maud  N.  Waller, 
a daughter  of  Andrew  and  Erabelle  (Nichols)  Wal- 
ler. They  have  two  children:  Lewis  L.  and  Rus- 

sell W. 

Levi  J.  Bontrager  gathered  crops  for  nearly  forty 
consecutive  years  from  his  home  place  in  Newbury 
Township,  but  in  the  past  four  or  five  years  has 


238 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


largely  surrendered  his  heavy  burdens  as  an  agri- 
culturist and  is  now  enjoying  well  earned  leisure 
but  still  occupies  his  farm,  which  is  endeared  to  him 
by  many  associations,  his  children  having  grown  up 
there  and  most  of  them  are  now  married  and  well 
established  in  homes  of  their  own. 

Mr.  Bontrager  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  March  8,  1856.  His  grandparents 
were  John  and  Anna  (Yoder)  Bontrager,  natives  of 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  who  settled  in 
Eden  Township  in  1843,  and  were  factors  in  the 
early  development  of  that  region.  John  Bontrager 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  Eden  Township.  He 
and  his  wife,  Anna,  had  eight  children,  Christian, 
Joseph,  Magdalena,  John,  Daniel,  Barbara,  Anna 
and  Manassas.  John  Bontrager  married  for  his 
second  wife  Magdalena  Miller,  and  by  that  union 
had  two  children,  Susan  and  Isaac. 

John  J.  Bontrager,  father  of  Levi  J.,  was  born 
in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  27,  1834, 
and  was  about  nine  years  old  when  his  father  settled 
in  LaGrange  County.  He  began  farming  in  Eden 
Township,  and  about  1864  moved  to  Van  Buren 
Township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1910. 
He  married  Fannie  Kauffman,  who  survived  him 
until  1918.  She  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
February  5,  1834,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth 
(Miller)  Kauffman.  Her  father  was  reared  in 
Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  settled  in  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  in  1841.  He  was  a resident  of 
Elkhart  County  the  rest  of  his  life.  John  J.  Bon- 
trager and  wife  had  seven  children : Elizabeth, 
Levi  J.,  Simon,  who  died  soon  after  his  marriage, 
Daniel,  Mattie,  deceased,  Manassas  and  Fannie. 

Levi  J.  Bontrager  acquired  his  early  education 
chiefly  in  the  schools  of  Van  Buren  Township.  On 
November  12,  1877,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
married  Sarah  Yoder,  daughter  of  John  and  Cath- 
erine (Schrock)  Yoder.  The  spring  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Bontrager  began  farming  in  section 
34  of  Newbury  Township,  and  has  lived  there  ever 
since.  He  owns  160  acres  in  that  section,  and 
altogether  has  627H  acres.  He  has  been  retired 
from  active  farming  since  1914.  Mr.  Bontrager 
and  family  have  for  many  years  given  their  sturdy 
allegiance  to  the  old  order  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church. 

John,  his  oldest  son,  who  died  in  1911,  married 
Kittie  Yoder,  and  their  children  were  Edna,  Levi, 
Amelia,  Obediah,  Lena  and  Sarah.  Enos,  the  second 
son,  married  Katie  Miller,  who  died  February  15, 
1919,  leaving  four  children,  Ammon,  Irvin,  Amelia 
and  Jerry.  Amelia  Bontrager,  the  third  child,  was 
the  wife  of  Manassas  J.  Yoder  and  has  a family  of 
Sarah,  Lena,  Mary,  Andrew,  Monroe  and  Ezra. 
Andrew  Bontrager  married  Polly  Miller  and  has 
two  sons,  Levi  and  Perry.  William,  who  married 
Mattie  Yoder,  is  the  father  of  Sarah,  Milo  and 
Lydia.  Levi  Bontrager  married  Rebecca  Schrock, 
while  Ezra,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  married 
Susan  Lehman. 

Edward  Kelham  is  a prominent  farmer  and  land 
owner  of  Keyser  Township,  DeKalb  County,  having 
300  acres  in  his  ownership.  He  is  practically  retired 
from  the  responsibilities  of  farming  and  lives  at 
Altona.  His  name  is  well  known  in  connection  with 
several  important  offices  which  he  has  filled  with 
signal  credit  and  efficiency. 

Mr.  Kelham  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
September  30,  1854,  a son  of  Edward  and  Sarah 
Downend  (Huston)  Kelham.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  England.  His  father  was  born  in 
Lincolnshire,  November  3,  1826,  and  his  mother  in 
Yorkshire,  March  5,  1826.  He  came  to  the  United 


States  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  while  his  wife  came 
to  this  country  when  only  eight  years  old.  They 
were  married  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  Ed- 
ward Kelham,  Sr.,  was  a farmer.  In  1858  he  came 
to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  bought  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  Keyser  Township.  Eventually  he  accu- 
mulated much  valuable  farming  land  in  the  county, 
and  on  account  of  his  business  ability  and  probity 
of  character  he  was  widely  known  and  honored 
and  was  entrusted  with  the  administrative  settle- 
ment of  some  of  the  largest  estates  in  the  county. 
He  also  served  as  county  commissioner  one  term 
and  was  an  active  democrat.  He  and  his  wife  had 
ten  children,  seven  of  whom  reached  mature  years, 
and  the  six  now  living  are:  Thomas,  of  Avilla,  In- 

diana; Edward;  Mary,  of  Garrett;  Joseph  and 
George,  of  Laotto,  Indiana;  and  Charles,  of  Troy, 
Idaho. 

Edward  Kelham  was  four  years  old  when  brought 
to  Indiana,  and  he  received  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  DeKalb  County.  At  the  age 
of  twenty-one  he  left  home  and  began  earning  his 
living  in  a brick  yard.  On  February  1,  1880,  he 
married  Viola  Whetsel,  who  was  born  in  Keyser 
Township  June  8,  1859,  a daughter  of  Michael  and 
Caroline  (Simons)  Whetsel. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelham  took 
up  farming,  and  that  has  been  his  steady  vocation 
until  he  accumulated  the  competency  which  enabled 
him  to  retire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kelham  have  four 
children.  Chloe  G.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools,  and  is  the  wife  of  W.  A.  Helme,  of 
Angola ; Claude  K.,  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools,  is  a machinist  by  trade  but  in  practice  a 
farmer,  married  Frennie  Crowe ; Mary  M.  is  the 
widow  of  Arthur  Gump ; Caroline  is  the  wife  of 
Newton  DePew. 

Mrs.  Kelham  is  an  active  member  of  the  Method- 
ist Protestant  Church  at  Altona.  He  is  affiliated 
with  Garrett  City  Lodge  No.  537,  Accepted  Free 
and  Ancient  Masons,  and  is  a democrat  in  politics. 
Mr.  Kelham  filled  the  office  of  trustee  of  Keyser 
Township  for  five  years  and  three  months,  also 
served  two  terms  as  county  commissioner,  and  is 
at  present  a member  of  the  County  Council. 

Homer  G.  Waterhouse.  Some  of  the  best  land 
in  the  vicinity  of  Kendallville  has  been  under  the 
ownership  of  the  Waterhouse  family  for  many 
years.  A splendid  farm  at  the  north  edge  of  Ken- 
dallville is  the  home  of  Homer  G.  Waterhouse,  a 
progressive  young  farmer  who  has  given  an  excellent 
account  of  his  business  ability  and  all  around  good 
citizenship. 

Mr.  Waterhouse  was  born  January  14,  1880,  in 
Wayne  Township,  and  has  lived  on  his  present  farm 
since  he  was  a year  and  a half  old.  His  parents 
were  Chauncey  G.  R.  and  Harriet  (Vine)  Water- 
house.  His  father  was  a native  of  New  York  and  his 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Chauncey  Waterhouse  was 
nine  years  of  age  when  his  parents  in  1836  pioneered 
to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  settling  in  Milford 
Township.  He  lived  there  until  he  moved  to  Ken- 
dallville about  1880.  He  was  a highly  successful 
farmer  and  accumulated  about  2,000  acres  in  this 
part  of  Indiana.  He  died  June  29,  1917.  He  was  a 
member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
Church  at  Kendallville,  and  was  one  of  the  leading 
republicans  of  Wayne  Township.  In  the  family 
were  three  sons,  Albert  B.,  of  Kendallville;  Frank 
R.,  of  Kendallville,  and  Homer  G. 

Homer  G.  Waterhouse  grew  up  near  Kendallville, 
attended  the  public  schools,  and  for  the  past  fifteen 
years  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  general  farm- 
ing. On  his  land  he  raises  and  feeds  many  cattle 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


239 


and  hogs,  and  sends  three  or  four  carloads  to  market 
every  year. 

He  married  Miss  Irene  Brainard.  She  was  born 
in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  1880  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  of  that  county.  They 
have  one  son,  Dale,  born  September  13,  1903,  a grad- 
uate of  the  common  schools  and  now  a student  in 
the  Culver  Military  Academy.  Mr.  Waterhouse 
owns  600  acres,  all  of  it  in  Wayne  Township.  He  is 
a republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks. 

George  William  Doll  gave  thirty  years  of  his 
active  life  to  the  business  of  farming  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  was  always  accounted  a man  of  splen- 
did industry  and  of  fine  influence  in  the  community 
where  he  lived  from  childhood  until  death. 

He  was  born  at  Fredonia,  Michigan,  April  20, 
1863,  a son  of  George  and  Angeline  (Fiesler)  Doll. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany,  his 
father  being  born  September  22,  1823,  and  his 
mother  March  20,  1825.  Both  came  to  America 
when  children,  the  father  at  twelve  and  the  mother 
at  nine,  with  their  respective  parents.  George  Doll 
joined  two  of  his  brothers  at  Erie,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1837,  and  there  learned  the  trade  of  cobbler. 
When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  presented  him- 
self to  the  Conference  at  Fairfield,  Ohio,  and  was 
ordained  a minister  of  the  Evangelical  Church,  a 
profession  he  followed  the  rest  of  his  life.  He 
was  one  of  the  early  itinerant  ministers  of  his 
denomination  in  Ohio  and  Michigan.  He  married 
Angeline  Fiesler  at  Erie  January  16,  1851,  and  in 
1853  he  went  back  to  Erie  for  a time.  He  was  in  ’ 
pastoral  work  in  Michigan  in  the  sixties,  and  in 
1869  became  pastor  of  the  Evangelical  Church  west 
of  Lima  or  Howe.  That  was  his  last  regular 
charge,  though  he  preached  many  sermons  and 
otherwise  officiated  as  a minister.  In  1870  he 
bought  a farm  about  a mile  west  of  Howe,  and 
in  1872  he  moved  to  the  farm  as  a permanent  home. 
In  1897  he  turned  over  the  responsibilities  of  this 
place  to  younger  members  of  the  family  and  moved 
a little  further  west  to  a small  farm  and  in  1904 
retired  to  the  village  of  Howe,  where  his  wife 
died  in  September,  1911.  He  spent  his  remaining 
months  with  his  son,  George  William,  and  died 
June  15,  1912,  aged  eighty-eight  years.  He  and 
his^  wife  had  six  children,  John  Abner,  Joseph, 
Jacob,  Samuel,  Sarah  Margaret  and  George  Wil- 
liam. Only  two  are  now  living,  Joseph,  of  Howe, 
and  Samuel,  of  Alma,  Illinois.  Sarah  Margaret 
died  when  seventeen  years  of  age. 

George  William  Doll  received  his  early  education 
at  Howe  and  in  1886  attended  the  Valparaiso  Busi- 
ness College.  He  then  went  to  farming  on  the  old 
homestead,  where  he  lived  from  the  age  of  six 
years  until  his  death  on  August  20,  1913.  Mr.  Doll 
had  133  acres  in  his  home  place  and  also  owned 
160  acres  in  Clay  Township.  The  spring  following 
his  death  Mrs.  Doll  moved  to  Howe,  and  from 
that  point  has  managed  and  supervised  the  farms. 

Mr.  Doll  was  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  Mrs.  Doll  is  also  a member.  At 
one  time  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

April  14,  1897,  Mr.  Doll  married  Miss  Elsie  Kline. 
She  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Township  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School.  Her  par- 
ents were  James  and  Calista  (Shoup)  Kline.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Marion,  Ohio,  March  15,  1830, 
and  her  mother  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  August  26, 
1834.  Both  of  them  spent  their  last  years  in  their 


home  in  Van  Buren  Township,  where  her  father 
died  November  13,  1879,  and  her  mother  September 
9,  1873.  Mrs.  Doll’s  maternal  grandparents  were 
Sebastian  and  Eliza  Shoup.  Sebastian  Shoup,  son 
of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Shoup,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1797  and  died  at  Howe  in  1856,  being 
an  early  settler  in  Greenfield  Township.  His  wife 
was  born  at  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  January  17, 
1797.  The  children  of  James  Kline  and  wife  were: 
George  H.,  of  Newton,  Kansas;  Lucinda,  wife  of 
Abner  Berger,  of  Van  Buren  Township ; Alice,  de- 
ceased wife  of  Charles  Seybert,  the  village  of  Sey- 
bert  being  on  his  farm  in  LaGrange  County:  Wil- 
lard, deceased;  two  that  died  in  infancy;  James, 
of  Bedford,  Indiana;  Celia,  wife  of  Sidney  Glime, 
of  Howe;  Mrs.  Doll;  and  Elva,  wife  of  Norman 
Jacobs,  living  in  Kansas.  Mrs.  Doll  is  the  mother 
of  one  daughter,  Sarah  Marguerite. 

John  W.  Schaeffer  is  a member  of  a family  of 
long  standing  and  much  prominence  in  Fremont 
Township,  is  a native  of  that  township,  was  in 
business  for  many  years  and  is  now  devoting  his 
energies  to  a good  farm  in  that  locality. 

He  was  born  July  11,  1852,  son  of  John  and  Eva 
(Walmer)  Schaeffer.  His  father  was  born  in 
Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  April  10,  1820,  son 
of  William  and  Margaret  (Beck)  Schaeffer.  John 
Schaeffer  came  to  Steuben  County  in  the  spring  of 
1845,  entered  a tract  of  land  and  afterward  walked 
back  to  Pennsylvania  to  get  his  bride,  and  in  1848 
brought  his  family  and  settled  permanently  on  a 
farm  in  Fremont  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had 
seven  children,  five  of  whom  reached  mature  years, 
David,  John  W.,  Eleanore,  Daniel  A.  and  Mar- 
garet M. 

John  W.  Schaeffer  grew  up  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead and  acquired  a public  school  education.  In 
early  manhood  he  engaged  in  the  retail  meat  business 
at  Fremont,  and  sold  meat  to  his  customers  in  and 
around  that  village  for  eleven  years  and  two  months. 
He  was  in  a similar  line  of  business  at  Reading, 
Michigan,  for  about  twelve  years.  He  owns  the 
building  in  which  he  did  business  at  Fremont.  His 
farm  comprises  seventy  acres  of  land,  and  has  up-to- 
date  improvements  and  is  well  fitted  for  general 
agriculture  and  stock  raising.  An  important  spe- 
cialty on  his  farm  is  handling  a flock  of  White 
Leghorn  chickens,  about  225  in  number. 

Mr.  Schaeffer  is  a prohibitionist  in  politics,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Fremont.  January  1,  1879,  he  married  Frances 
McNickle,  of  California,  Michigan.  Their  one  son 
is  Lewis,  a graduate  of  the  Fremont  High  School, 
and  now  a distributer  at  Tiffin,  Ohio,  for  the  Delco 
Lighting  System.  He  is  head  of  the  office  with  four 
men  under  him.  Lewis  married  Mazie  Montz,  and 
their  children  are  Pauline,  Neddie  and  Helen. 

Mrs.  Julia  A.  Hontz,  who  lives  on  the  Hontz 
farm  a half  a mile  north  of  Cromwell,  known  as 
the  Upson  Farm,  has  spent  over  seventy  years  in 
Noble  County,  belongs  to  one  of  the  early  families, 
and  is  the  widow  of  the  late  John  Hontz,  one  of  the 
most  capable  farmers  of  Sparta  Township. 

She  was  born  in  the  immediate  locality  of  her 
present  home  October  16,  1846,  a daughter  of  Hiram 
H.  and  Priscilla  M.  (Vail)  Upson.  Her  father  was 
born  in  the  State  of  New  York,  May  2,  1820,  and 
her  mother  in  Pennsylvania  January  20,  1827.  The 
Upson  family  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  in 
pioneer  times,  settling  here  in  1837,  while  the  Vails 
settled  in  Elkhart  County  in  1836.  Hiram  and  Pris- 
cilla were  married  in  Benton  County,  and  then 
settled  on  a farm  a half  mile  north  of  Cromwell  on 


240 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


July  1 7,  1844.  They  lived  there  until  1869,  when 
they  removed  to  Ligonier,  where  Hiram  Upson  died 
October  13,  1878.  His  widow  then  returned  to 
Sparta  Township,  and  spent  the  rest  of  her  days  in 
that  locality  with  her  daughter,  dying  January  25, 
1902.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  Hiram  was  a Republican  in  politics. 

Julia  A.  Upson  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  such  advantages  as  were  supplied  by  the  schools 
of  that  day,  including  a very  meager  curriculum,  and 
on  November  2,  1864,  she  became  the  wife  of  John 
Hontz.  Mr.  Hontz  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  May  17,  1838,  and  came  to  Noble  County  when 
a boy.  He  was  always  a republican  in  politics.  His 
death  occurred  on  the  2d  of  June,  1880.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hontz  had  three  children : Harry  T.,  born 

July  23,  1866,  now  a resident  of  South  Bend,  In- 
diana; Bertha  F.,  born  May  26,  1869,  and  died 
August  8,  1870;  and  Harvey  H.,  born  October  5, 
1874,  is  married  and  lives  at  Cromwell  and  is  a 
traveling  salesman.  Mrs.  Hontz  owns  140  acres  of 
land,  and  rents  this  farm,  and  has  proved  herself  a 
very  capable  manager.  Eighty  acres  of  this  estate 
was  included  in  her  grandfather  Upson’s  old  home 
place. 

Joseph  Butler.  The  activities  of  the  Butler  fam- 
ily have  been  a distinct  contribution  to  the  life  and 
affairs  of  Steuben  County  for  over  eighty  years. 
Joseph  Butler  is  a lawyer  of  long  and  prominent 
record,  but  in  the  main  has  been  devoted  to  his  ex- 
tensive agricultural  interests  in  Jackson  Township, 
where  he  owns  a large  farm  now  under  the  man- 
agement of  his  son.  His  father  was  Justus  Bugler, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State  July  2,  1802,  at 
Canandaigua,  Ontario  County.  When  a young  man 
he  removed  to  Lorain  County,  Ohio.  November  23, 
1829,  he  married  Anna  Clark.  She  was  born  in  Ver- 
mont August  6,  1812,  and  was  two  years  old  when 
her  parents  removed  to  Lorain  County.  Justus 
Butler  in  1836  came  to  Steuben  County,  accompanied 
by  his  wife’s  father,  Samuel  Clark.  At  that  time 
he  entered  315  acres  in  section  2 of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, and  fifty-four  acres  in  section  35  of  Millgrove 
Township.  Having  entered  the  land  and  made  some 
other  preparations  he  moved  his  family  to  the  new 
home  in  the  spring  of  1837.  His  first  log  house 
stood  on  the  south  side  of  Lake  Gage,  in  the  same 
locality  where  the  enterprise  of  Joseph  Butler  has 
since  developed  an  important  summer  resort.  For 
fifteen  years  the  labors  of  Justus  Butler  contributed 
to  the  improvement  of  his  own  land  and  the  com- 
munity. He  died  March  1,  1853,  and  his  widow  sur- 
vived him  until  February  10,  1885.  They  were  the 
parents  of  eleven  children.  Three  were  born  in 
Ohio,  Jackson  W.,  Sarah  Ann  and  Samuel  E.  Jack- 
son  died  at  the  age  of  eight  years,  Sarah  Ann,  on 
September  20,  1846,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  Samuel 
was  killed  by  lightning  and  burned  in  a barn  in 
1854,  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  Of  the  children  born  in 
Steuben  County  only  two  reached  mature  years, 
Joseph  and  Mark  Justus. 

Mark  Justus  Butler,  who  was  born  in  1850,  spent 
his  active  life  in  Nebraska.  He  died  at  Lincoln  in 
that  state  February  28,  1914.  He  was  a thirty-second 
degree  Mason.  He  married  Harriet  N.  Smith,  who 
survived  him  and  died  at  Boise,  Idaho,  May  6,  1919. 
Their  children  were  Bessie  Josephine,  Maud  Ann, 
Newell  and  Dorothy  G. 

On  the  old  homestead  farm  in  Jackson  Township 
Joseph  Butler  was  born  July  24,  1846.  He  spent  his 
early  life  on  the  farm  and  early  became  interested 
in  politics.  He  was  elected  to  the  office  of  clerk  of 
courts  of  Steuben  County  in  1874,  and  served  in 
that  capacity  four  years.  This  official  experience 
kindled  in  him  an  ambition  to  become  a lawyer,  and 


on  leaving  public  office  he  entered  the  law  offices  of 
YVoodhull  & Croxton  at  Angola,  and  also  took  a 
course  in  the  law  department  of  the  Illinois  Wes- 
leyan University  at  Bloomington.  In  November, 
1881,  he  formed  a partnership  for  practice  at  Angola, 
being  head  of  the  firm  Butler,  Walls  & Cline.  After 
the  spring  of  1882  the  firm  continued  as  Butler  & 
Cline  until  July,  1884.  From  1891  to  1895  Mr.  Butler 
was  prosecuting  attorney  for  Steuben  and  DeKalb 
counties. 

Through  all  these  years  Mr.  Butler  has  been  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  in  Jackson  Township,  has 
been  the  real  head  of  the  business  for  fifty-four 
years,  but  has  gradually  turned  over  the  heavier 
responsibilities  to  his  son.  He  also  served  a term 
as  trustee  of  Pleasant  Township. 

In  1881  Mr.  Butler  married  Salena  Weicht,  daugh- 
ter of  Doctor  Weicht  of  Angola.  Two  children  were 
born  to  their  marriage:  Bessie  Nola  and  Joseph 

William  Justus  Butler.  Bessie  Nola,  born  March 
28,  1882,  is  the  wife  of  Clarence  Green  and  has  three 
children,  named  Laura  Mary,  Josephine  and  Clara 
Elizabeth.  Joseph  W.  J.  Butler  was  born  August 
13,  1885,  and  married  Maggie  White.  Their  two 
sons  were  Joseph  William  and  John  White,  the  for- 
mer of  whom  died  on  October  4,  1917.  The  latter 
was  born  July  4,  1917. 

It  is  expressing  only  a tribute  which  has  been 
expressed  a thousand  times  when  some  special  ref- 
erence is  made  to  Mrs.  Joseph  Butler,  who  died 
September  1,  1910.  The  influence  of  her  personality 
radiated  among  hundreds  of  friends  and  neighbors. 
She  was  everyone’s  friend  and  through  her  life  she 
expressed  the  highest  nobility  of  womanhood. 

Mr.  Butler  and  his  son  are  the  owners  of  360 
acres  of  land  in  Jackson  Township.  For  the  last 
fifteen  years  part  of  this  land  has  been  used  for  a 
summer  resort.  There  are  five  cottages  on  Lake 
Gage  near  the  old  farmstead,  and  during  the  sum- 
mer season  these  cottages  are  in  great  demand  by 
city  families.  Mr.  Butler  and  his  son  are  members 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge. 

George  Watson  is  proprietor  of  Fairview  Farm 
in  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County.  He  is  a na- 
tive of  DeKalb  County,  was  left  an  orphan  in  early 
childhood,  and  for  many  years  had  to  struggle 
against  obstacles  to  win  his  place  in  life. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township,  September  13, 
1869,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Sarah  (Zimmerman) 
Watson,  the  former  a native  of  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana. 
His  parents  were  married  in  DeKalb  County,  and 
then  settled  on  a farm  in  section  25  of  Jackson 
Township.  The  father  died  there  in  1875  and  the 
mother  in  1873.  Both  were  members  of  the  Method- 
ist Prptestant  Church. 

George  Watson  was  only  six  years  old  when  his 
father  died,  and  as  an  orphan  child  he  was  taken 
into  the  home  of  the  W.  H.  Hollepeter  family,  with 
whom  he  remained  seven  years,  and  acquired  his 
education  in  the  local  schools.  On  leaving  the 
Hollepeters  he  started  out  for  himself  and  ever 
since  has  been  diligently  working  as  a farmer,  part 
of  the  time  independently  and  part  of  the  time  for 
others. 

In  1898  he  married  Alice  C.  Bailey  of  Allen 
County,  Indiana.  For  twenty  years  Mr.  Watson 
has  owned  his  present  farm  of  100  acres.  He  does 
general  farming,  keeps  good  grades  of  livestock, 
and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants 
Bank  at  Spencerville. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  have  one  daughter,  Gladys, 
who  is  now  the  wife  of  Ray  Wasson,  a railway  man 
living  at  Spencerville.  The  family  attend  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Spencerville  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


241 


Mr.  Watson  is  one  of  the  trustees  and  is  very  active 
in  the  Sunday  School. 

Leroy  W.  Meroney.  This  is  one  of  the  best 
known  names  in  LaGrange  County,  and  particularly 
in  Eden  Township  Leroy  W.  Meroney  is  known 
and  esteemed  as  a man  of  many  varied  interests. 
He  is  at  present  township  trustee,  is  a banker  and 
also  an  extensive  farmer. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  September  9, 
1877,  a son  of  John  R.  and  Isabelle  (Latta)  Meroney. 
His  father  was  born  near  Benton,  Indiana.  His 
mother  is  a native  of  Eden  Township  and  a daughter 
of  Dr.  Johnson  Latta,  for  many  years  a prominent 
physician  at  Topeka.  Dr.  Latta’s  father  was  one  of 
the  earliest  pioneers  of  Eden  Township,  and  ac- 
quired and  developed  a large  tract  of  land.  John  R. 
Meroney  after  his  marriage  located  on  a farm  and 
was  also  quite  prominent  in  politics  and  served 
several  years  as  county  ditch  commissioner.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
Of  four  children  one  died  at  the  early  age  of  ten 
years.  The  other  three  are : Reader  J.,  a farmer 

in  Eden  Township;  Leroy  W. ; and  Ruth,  wife  of 
Ralph  Kerr. 

Leroy  W.  Meroney  grew  up  on  a farm  and  ac- 
quired his  education  in  the  common  and  high  schools. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  farming  for  him- 
self, and  on  December  25,  1902,  married  Miss  Minnie 
B.  Harrington,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools. 
They  have  two  living  children,  Mildred  in  the  high 
school,  and  Carlylite,  who  is  seven  years  old.  Mrs. 
Meroney  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

He  is  affiliated  with  Topeka  Lodge  No.  760,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a past  noble 
grand  and  a member  of  the  Encampment.  He  also 
belongs  to  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  Mr.  Me- 
roney has  been  identified  with  the  republican  party 
since  early  manhood.  He  served  six  years  as  town- 
ship trustee,  and  in  that  office  he  is  making  a record 
that  is  giving  Eden  Township  an  enviable  reputa- 
tion for  its  schools  and  general  management.  Mr. 
Meroney  as  a banker  is  serving  as  cashier  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Topeka,  and  as  a farmer  he  controls 
the  operation  of  200  acres  a mile  west  and  a half- 
mile  north  of  Topeka. 

Elmer  O.  Grady  is  one  of  the  younger  business 
men  of  LaGrange,  an  auctioneer  by  profession, 
connected  with  several  of  the  substantial  concerns 
at  LaGrange,  and  is  also  a practical  farmer  and 
farm  owner. 

Mr.  Grady  was  born  at  Milford  in  Kosciusko 
County,  Indiana,  April  7,  1881,  a son  of  Amos  and 
Nancy  (Kenaga)  Grady,  the  former  a native  of 
Holmes  County  and  the  latter  of  Tuscarawas 
County,  Ohio.  They  were  married  after  they  came 
to  Indiana,  and  lived  for  a time  on  Pretty  Prairie, 
then  moved  to  Milford,  and  finally'  located  in  La- 
Grange County.  The  mother  died  in  1912  and  the 
father  is  now  a resident  of  Angola.  Elmer  O. 
Grady  is  one  of  the  two  children  of  his  mother. 
His  brother,  Clair  Lloyd,  was  educated  in  the  high 
school  and  is  a farmer  in  Clay  Township. 

Elmer  O.  Grady  grew  up  in  LaGrange  County, 
attended  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  worked 
on  the  farm  until  he  reached  his  majority. 

February  18,  1904,  he  married  Bertha  Steuer- 
nagel,  daughter  of  John  and  Rebecca  (Long) 
Steuernagel,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Steuernagel  had  five  children,  three  of  whom  are 
still  living.  Emma  is  the  wife  of  Chauncey  Kauff- 
man. William  is  a graduate  of  the  State  Univer- 
sity' and  for  several  years  was  in  the  government 
voi.  n— is 


service  on  the  Geodetic  Survey  and  is  now  a con- 
tractor. Bertha,  born  November  18,  1881,  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  of  LaGrange  County 
and  has  a keen  and  intelligent  interest  in  the  mak- 
ing of  a home  and  in  her  husband’s  business  af- 
fairs. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grady'  lived 
on  a farm  in  Greenfield  Township,  and  they  now 
own  two  good  farms,  one  in  Springfield  and  the 
other  in  Clear  Spring  Township. 

Elmer  O.  Grady’s  father  was  an  auctioneer  for 
thirty-five  y'ears,  and  the  son  learned  the  business 
from  him  and  has  been  crying  sales  on  his  own 
account  now  for  eleven  years.  He  is  secretary 
and  a stockholder  in  the  LaGrange  Combination 
Sales  Company'  and  is  auctioneer  for  the  firm.  He 
is  one  of  the  directors  of  the  LaGrange  County 
Trust  Company.  In  politics  he  votes  as  a demo- 
crat, and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grady  have  a 
modern  home  at  LaGrange,  which  he  built  in  1913. 

George  O.  Wisel,  son  of  the  late  George  K.  Wisel, 
and  member  of  the  Wisel  family  which  has  figured 
so  conspicuously  in  the  affairs  of  Salem  Township 
from  earliest  pioneer  times,  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  now  lives,  November  5,  1883. 

He  acquired  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola  for  two  terms,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1903  began  farming  the  home 
place.  He  farms  eighty  acres  of  the  old  homestead 
and  owns  forty'  acres  in  section  22.  Mr.  Wisel  is 
a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Hudson  and  his 
wife  is  a Methodist. 

March  30,  1914,  he  married  Agnes  McClish, 
daughter  of  Artemus  and  Catherine  (Kimble)  Mc- 
Clish. At  the  time  of  her  marriage  she  was  the 
widow  of  Ross  Watkins  and  has  a daughter  by  that 
marriage,  Virginia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wisel  have  three 
children:  Catherine,  born  August  19,  1915;  Loraine 
Elizabeth,  born  April  28,  1917;  and  George  Artemus, 
born  May  20,  1919. 

Jacob  Hoyer,  now  in  his  eightieth  year,  is  one  of 
the  interesting  citizens  of  Steuben  County,  a man 
whose  faculties  are  all  preserved,  who  has  lived  a 
life  of  great  energy'  and  purpose,  and  in  old  age 
finds  himself  surrounded  with  children  and  grand- 
children and  with  the  esteem  of  a large  community' 
in  which  he  has  resided  for  over  thirty  years. 

Mr.  Hoyer  was  born  in  Wyandot  County',  Ohio, 
November  13,  1839,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Stahl)  Hoyrer.  His  father,  a native  of  Lancaster 
County',  Pennsydvania,  moved  to  Wyandot  County, 
Ohio,  in  1836,  was  a pioneer  there,  and  in  1878,  late 
in  life,  moved  to  a farm  in  section  17  of  Steuben 
Township,  Steuben  County',  Indiana.  That  was  his 
home  until  his  death  in  1898,  and  his  widow  passed 
away  in  1902.  They  had  eight  children,  William, 
Jacob,  Mary,  John,  Catherine,  Samuel,  William  and 
Jane.  It  will  be  noted  there  were  two  Williams,  the 
first  dy'ing  in  early'  childhood.  All  of  the  children 
are  now  deceased  with  the  exception  of  Jacob,  Cath- 
erine and  Jane. 

Jacob  Hoyer  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  also  at- 
tended school  in  Williams  County',  Ohio,  and  first 
came  to  Northeast  Indiana  in  1876,  locating  in 
Steuben  Township.  In  1878  he  returned  to  Wil- 
liams County',  but  in  1888  joined  his  father  on  the 
farm.  His  father  was  then  getting  old,  and  told  his 
son  that  if  he  would  come  and  occupy  the  place  and 
pay  off  the  mortgage  he  might  have  full  title.  Jacob 
Hoy'er  fulfiled  those  conditions  and  has  lived  there 
and  prospered  for  over  thirty  years.  He  formerly 
owned  100  acres,  constituting  a well  improved 


242 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


farm,  but  has  sold  forty  acres  to  his  son  Arthur, 
who  now  manages  the  whole  place.  Mr.  Hoyer 
though  fourscore  years  of  age  reads  well  without 
glasses  and  writes  a steady  hand. 

He  married  Sarah  A.  Saul,  a daughter  of  George 
and  Hester  (Fetters)  Saul.  Mrs.  Hoyer  died  in 
1916.  A brief  record  of  their  children  and  grand- 
children follows.  Their  children  are  Ida,  Charley 
(deceased),  Dora,  Hayes,  Pearl  and  Arthur. 

Ida,  the  first  born,  married  Willard  Chapman, 
and  their  children  are  J.  O.,  L.  I.,  Roy,  Wilbur 
and  Villa.  J.  O.  married  Helen  Sanders,  and  has 
one  son,  Fred  Wilbur,  and  L.  I.  married  Wilma 
Shore.  Dora,  the  third  child,  married  Henry  Sun- 
day, and  they  have  two  daughters,  Vera  and  Dessie. 
Vera  married  Bert  Snager,  and  has  one  son,  Robert 
Ned.  Hayes,  the  fourth  child,  married  Emma  Day- 
hoff  and  they  have  the  following  children:  Wayne, 

Wyman,  Bassil  and  Bernise  (twins),  Doris,  Fay 
and  Ray  (twins),  and  Zema.  Pearl,  the  fifth  child, 
married  Clark  Wheaton,  and  has  one  son,  Law- 
rence. Arthur,  the  sixth  child,  married  Hattie 
Trich,  and  they  have  three  children,  Glyda,  Paul 
and  Merrie  Anne. 

George  Saul,  father  of  Mrs.  Jacob  Hoyer,  was  a 
pioneer  of  Williams  County,  Ohio,  entering  120 
acres  of  the  wilderness  land  from  the  Government 
and  eventually  clearing  it  all  and  improving  it  with 
good  buildings.  He  and  his  wife  had  a large  family 
of  children,  named  Sarah,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Hoyer;  James;  Mary,  deceased;  Jacob,  de- 
ceased ; Edward ; Leander  and  Alexander,  twins , 
the  latter  deceased ; Lydia,  wife  of  Henry  Ritten- 
house;  Martha,  who  died  in  childhood;  Emma,  wife 
of  Harmon  Pasch ; John;  and  Richard,  deceased. 

David  Gump.  A resident  of  DeKalb  County  over 
forty  years,  identified  with  the  practical  agriculture 
of  that  section  and  a man  widely  known  for  his 
good  influence  in  the  community,  David  Gump  has 
a well  improved  farm  of  120  acres  in  section  17 
of  Butler  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Miami  County,  Ohio,  March  18, 
1847,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Detrick)  Gump, 
the  former  a native  of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of 
Virginia.  His  parents  were  married  in  Ohio  and 
from  that  state  moved  to  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
and  finally  came  to  DeKalb  County,  where  they 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  They  were  active 
members  and  the  father  was  for  forty-five  years  a 
minister  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren.  In  politics 
he  was  a republican.  Jacob  Gump  and  wife  had 
eight  children,  and  four  of  them  are  still  living: 
Louisa,  wife  of  Henry  Kuhns,  of  Keyser  Township ; 
David;  Emma,  widow  of  Carl  Fair;  and  Perry,  who 
lives  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania. 

David  Gump  was  eighteen  months  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Allen  County,  Indiana,  and  he 
grew  up  there,  acquiring  a common  school  educa- 
tion. At  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  came  to  DeKalb 
County,  and  since  that  date  has  been  identified  with 
the  farming  interests  of  Butler  Township.  In  Jan- 
uary, 1879,  he  married  Amanda  Rinehold.  She  was 
born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  in  1853,  and  when  she 
was  three  months  old  her  parents  moved  to  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gump  have  four 
living  children : Gary,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 

common  schools  and  is  farming  on  his  father’s 
place ; Perry,  who  married  Bertha  Downend ; Lena, 
who  is  unmarried  and  at  home ; and  Effie,  a graduate 
of  the  Garrett  High  School  and  formerly  a teacher. 
There  were  two  children  who  died  young,  Jeremiah, 
who  died  aged  eight  years,  and  Arthur,  who  died 
aged  thirty  years.  He  married  Mary  Kelham.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren 
and  Mr.  Gump  is  a deacon.  Politically  he  is  a 


democrat.  Besides  his  farm  he  is  a stockholder  in 
the  Garrett  Elevator. 

Rudy  F.  Miller  is  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
Butter  and  Creamery  Company  at  Topeka,  and  has 
been  a factor  in  varied  business  affairs  in  LaGrange 
County  for  many  years. 

He  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  July  27,  1862, 
grew  up  in  LaGrange  County  and  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  is  a graduate  in  the  commercial 
and  scientific  courses  from  Valparaiso  University 
with  the  class  of  1900.  He  had  a successful  experi- 
ence as  a teacher  and  was  formerly  superintendent 
of  the  Topeka  schools. 

In  1898  he  married  Miss  Alma  Babcock,  a native 
of  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  the  late 
J.  N.  Babcock,  whose  career  is  a part  of  the  history 
of  LaGrange  County  and  is  described  in  a following 
paragraph.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  one  son,  John 
Harold.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Some  years  ago  Mr.  Miller  bought  the  creamery 
at  Topeka  and  by  his  energy  developed  it  into  a 
paying  institution.  He  conducted  it  alone  until  six 
years  ago,  when  he  took  in  his  brother-in-law,  Lyman 
Babcock,  as  partner.  The  business  now  employs 
about  twenty  persons,  and  is  one  of  the  important 
institutions  in  the  farming  and  dairying  community 
around  Topeka.  Mr.  Miller  also  has  a farm  of 
sixty  acres  in  Clear  Spring  Township. 

Jaynes  N.  Babcock,  father  of  Mrs.  Miller,  was 
born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  February  11,  1846. 
He  attended  the  common  schools  and  took  a com- 
mercial course  in  Hiram  College.  During  a visit 
to  a brother  in  Michigan  he  first  became  acquainted 
with  LaGrange  County,  and  while  here  took  the 
examination  for  a teacher’s  license  and  taught  a term 
of  school  in  Clear  Spring  Township.  He  taught  near 
Topeka  for  a number  of  years,  and  while  in  this 
country  met  and  married  his  wife.  For  a time  they 
lived  on  his  father’s  farm  in  Ohio  and  then  re- 
turned to  Topeka  and  bought  a place  north  of  that 
village.  Mr.  Babcock  farmed,  taught  school,  and 
also  did  some  work  as  a cobbler  for  a number  of 
years.  In  1916  he  moved  to  the  Village  of  Topeka 
and  helped  organize  the  State  Bank.  He  was  presi- 
dent of  this  institution  until  his  death.  He  was  also 
instrumental  in  establishing  the  Sycamore  Literary 
Society,  and  a personal  interview  with  Andrew  Car- 
negie brought  a contribution  from  that  philanthro- 
pist to  the  cause  of  this  institution.  He  was  a liberal 
supporter  of  all  good  things  for  the  benefit  of  his 
community,  was  an  ardent  republican  and  one  time 
represented  LaGrange  County  in  the  State  Legis- 
lature. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Babcock  had  five  children,  four  of 
whom  are  still  living : Alma,  Mrs.  Miller ; L.  K. 

Babcock,  who  is  a graduate  from  the  law  school 
of  the  State  University,  is  an  attorney  by  profession, 
and  is  adjustor  for  the  Aetna  Insurance  Company, 
with  headquarters  at  Indianapolis ; Lyman,  business 
associated  in  the  creamery  with  Mr.  R.  F.  Miller; 
and  Dena,  a graduate  of  Hillsdale  College  in  Michi- 
gan, and  now  a stenographer  in  the  office  of  her 
brother  at  Indianapolis.  Mrs.  Miller  took  the  scien- 
tific course  in  Valpariso  University  and  was  a suc- 
cessful teacher  both  before  and  after  she  graduated. 
At  one  time  she  was  principal  of  the  Topeka  public 
schools  and  also  taught  in  the  grades. 

Cyrus  B.  Dirrim,  who  has  long  played  an  im- 
portant part  in,  the  business  affairs  of  Hamilton, 
represents  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  widely  known 
families  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  June  11,  1873,  a son  of  Peter  R.  and  Han- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


243 


nah  (Myers)  Dirrim  and  a grandson  of  Isaac  and 
Helen  (Wycoff)  Dirrim.  Isaac  Dirrim  was  born 
April  ii,  1812,  and  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in 
1844.  He  died  in  August,  1891,  at  Hamilton.  He 
had  moved  to  Steuben  County  in  1858.  His  wife 
survived  him  until  1901. 

Peter  R.  Dirrim  was  born  in  DeKalb  County 
October  12,  1851,  and  his  wife  on  April  20,  1852. 
He  has  spent  his  active  career  as  a farmer  am) 
is  owner  of  a place  of  132  acres  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship. He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  Their  three  sons  are  Cyrus  B., 
Frank  E.  and  . Bert. 

Cyrus  B.  Dirrim  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  for  twenty-one  years  has  been  a suc- 
cessful jeweler  at  Hamilton.  He  also  filled  the 

office  of  postmaster  thirteen  years  and  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Town  Board  when  it  was  first  organ- 
ized and  was  the  first  president  of  the  Village  of 
Hamilton.  He  is  connected  with  the  Steuben  Oil 
Company,  is  a republican,  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Order,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Christian 
Church. 

In  1895  he  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Nichols,  of 
DeKalb  County,  daughter  of  Norman  and  Sarah 
(Holton)  Nichols.  They  have  one  daughter,  Vella 
May,  born  August  19,  1901,  a student  in  the  Ham- 
ilton High  School. 

Gustav  Wolff,  who  died  at  Hamilton,  August  29, 
1918,  was  for  many  years  a business  man  of  en- 
viable reputation  in  Northeast  Indiana.  He  exempli- 
fied the  principles  that  business  success  is  only  a 
return  for  an  adequate  service  rendered,  and  the 
business  he  founded  and  which  is  still  conducted  as 
G.  Wolff  & Sons,  grain  merchants  and  elevator  own- 
ers, has  prospered  because  of  the  personality  of  the 
men  behind  it, 

Gustav  Wolff  was  born  in  Germany,  June  12,  1849, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years,  two  months 
and  seventeen  days.  He  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man,  and  to  an  unusual  degree  realized  the 
opportunities  and  benefits  of  this  land  of  liberty.  In 
1877  he  moved  to  Butler,  Indiana,  where  he  was  in 
the  mercantile  business  for  a number  of  years.  He 
moved  to  Hamilton  in  1903  and  1913  established  the 
firm  of  G.  Wolff  & Sons  at  Hamilton,  being  asso- 
ciated with  his  three  sons  in  the  business.  The  firm 
conducted  the  elevator,  at  Hamilton  and  also  eleva- 
tors at  Edon,  Ohio,  and  Lakeville,  Indiana.  It  was 
Mr.  Wolff’s  policies  to  do  business  on  a narrow 
margin  consistent  with  good  service  and  he  had  the 
confidence  of  all  the  farmers  and  grain  growers  in 
his  vicinity  because  of  his  liberal  and  fair  treat- 
ment. He  was  equally  public-spirited,  kind  and 
sympathetic  and  helpful  to  the  man  who  needed  his 
help.  He  was  active  in  the  republican  party  and 
became  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  West 
Unity,  Ohio,  in  1873,  having  his  membership  later 
transferred  to  Butler  and  still  later  to  Hamilton. 
He  was  also  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Knights  of  the 
Maccabees,  Eastern  Star,  Rebekahs,  Pythian  Sisters 
and  the  Jewish  Order  of  B’Nai  B’Rith,  of  Fort 
Wayne. 

The  Steuben  Republican  of  Angola  commenting 
upon  his  death,  said : “In  the  fifteen  years  of  his 

residence  in  Hamilton,  Mr.  Wolff  was  a supporter 
of  every  movement  for  the  good  of  the  community. 
He  was  a kind  and  sympathetic  friend  to  all  applying 
to  him  for  help  or  comfort.  He  was  an  upright 
business  man  and  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  a large 
clientage.” 

In  1877,  the  year  he  located  at  Butler,  Mr.  Wolff 
married  Jennie  Hirsch  at  Waterloo,  Indiana.  They 


had  four  children:  Nettie,  who  died  in  infancy; 

Lee,  Moses  and  Harry.  The  active  manager  of  the 
business  at  Hamilton  today  is  Moses  Wolff. 

James  A.  Lecount,  a native  of  Noble  County,  has 
spent  nearly  all  his  life  here,  has  been  a busy  farmer 
and  livestock  buyer,  and  is  identified  with  a number 
of  the  growing  concerns  and  business  interests  of 
his  locality.  His  home  is  on  a farm  at  Indian  Vil- 
lage, but  he  has  now  given  up  the  active  responsibili- 
ties of  farming. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  January  26, 
1852,  son  of  William  and  Hilinda  J.  (Terry)  Le- 
count, the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of 
New  York  State.  His  grandfather,  James  Lecount, 
was  a Frenchman  by  birth  and  ancestry,  and  on  com- 
ing to  the  United  States  lived  for  some  years  in  Ohio, 
and  finally  came  to  Indiana,  and  spent  his  last  days 
in  Elkhart  County.  William  Lecount  grew  up  on 
the  farm  and  had  a district  school  education.  He 
lived  in  Kosciusko  County  for  some  time,  and  finally 
moved  to  Sparta  Township,  west  of  Cromwell, 
where  he  died.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 
He  was  the  father  of  thirteen  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  still  living : Zachary,  of  Kosciusko 

County;  James  A.;  Amanda,  widow  of  Ansel  E. 
Smith;  Warren,  of  Sparta  Township;  Naomi,  widow 
of  Jehu  Davault;  William,  a farmer  in  Sparta 
Township,  as  is  also  Grant;  Ma'rgaret,  wife  of 
James  Holabaugh;  and  Angie,  wife  of  Gross 
Galloway. 

James  A.  Lecount  remained  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Sparta  Township  until  he  was  twenty-one  years 
of  age.  In  the  meantime  he  took  advantage  of  the 
district  schools.  On  leaving  home  he  had  some 
arduous  experience  as  a worker  in  the  pine  woods  of 
Michigan.  Afterward  he  worked  out  by  the  month 
in  Noble  County,  and  thus  continued  until  he  was 
past  twenty-three  years  of  age.  * 

January  13,  1875,  he  married  Mary  Stumbaugh, 
who  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  July  15,  1857, 
a daughter  of  John  and  Susanna  (William)  Stum- 
baugh. Her  father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  her  mother  of  Ohio,  in  which  state  they  were 
married,  and  two  years  later,  in  the  spring  of  1858, 
settled  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble  County.  John 
Stumbaugh,  who  died  in  May,  1911,  saw  eighteen 
months  of  service  as  a Union  soldier.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Armjr  of  the  Republic,  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
very  active  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lecount  after  their  marriage  had 
no  capital  and  from  that  humble  start  they  have 
acquired  a substantial  competence,  represented  by 
108  acres  in  their  home  farm  and  also  eighty-five 
acres  which  they  own  in  Turkey  Creek  Township 
of  Kosciusko  County.  Mr.  Lecount  is  also  a stock- 
holder in  the  Cromwell  State  Bank  and  the  Kim- 
mell  State  Bank,  in  the  Farmers  National  Insurance 
Company,  and  has  interests  in  other  business  con- 
cerns. At  the  present  time  he  buys  and  ships  live- 
stock and  puts  in  most  of  his  time  at  that  occu- 
pation. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lecount  have  two  daughters : Lillie 
A.  is  the  wife  of  Samuel  Reed,  of  Sparta  Town- 
ship, and  Blanche  is  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools,  of  the  Fort  Wayne  Business  College,  and  is 
.the  wife  of  Ben  Miller  of  Columbia  City,  Indiana. 
Mr.  Lecount  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  408  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Cromwell. 

Perry  T.  Ober,  whose  active  career  has  been  an 
interesting  round  of  duties  as  a practical  farmer 
and  stock  man  in  Butler  Township  of  DeKalb 
County,  represents  one  of  the  old  and  sturdy  names 
in  that  locality. 


244 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mr.  Ober,  whose  home  and  farm  are  in  section 
19  of  Butler  Township,  was  born  in  section  17  of 
the  same  township,  October  29,  1871,  a son  of  Levi 
S.  and  Elizabeth  (Teeter)  Ober.  The  parents  are 
both  natives  of  Bedford  County,  Pennylvania,  where 
his  father  was  born  June  20,  1836,  and  his  mother 
January  10,  1839.  Levi  Ober  died  December  5,  1913. 
and  his  wife  May  5,  1904.  On  coming  to  Indiana 
they  located  in  Butler  Township  and  bought  land  in 
section  17,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Brethren 
Church.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 

The  record  of  the  children  of  this  worthy  old 
couple  is  as  follows : Sabina,  who  like  all  the  other 

children  bore  the  middle  initial  T,  representing  her 
mother’s  name,  was  born  October  29,  i860,  and  is 
the  wife  of  Joseph  Heitz.  Anna,  born  August  28, 
1862,  is  the  deceased  wife  of  M.  A.  Hanson.  She 
died  August  9,  1907.  David,  born  June  10,  1864, 
is  a resident  of  Butler  Township.  Amanda  born 
October  17,  1865,  is  the  wife  of  Franklin  Teeter,  of 
Keyser  Township.  Ida,  born  September  11,  1870, 
is  the  wife  of  Henry  Yarde,  of  Keyser  Township. 
The  next  in  age  is  Perry,  who  was  born  October 
29,  1871.  Ettie,  born  October  30,  1873,  is  the  wife 
of , William  Gump,  of  Keyser  Township.  Arthur 
born  November  3,  1877,  lives  in  Butler  Township. 

Perry  T.  Ober  was  reared  on  the  old  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools,  working  in  the  fields 
during  the  summer  and  also  acquiring  an  expert 
acquaintance  with  the  carpenter’s  trade,  which  he 
followed  as  a means  of  livelihood  for  about  six 
years.  On  April  27,  1907,  he  married  Clara  V. 
Rhodes.  She  was  born  in  Swan  Township  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  in  1875.  She  acquired  a good 
education  and  before  her  marriage  was  a teacher 
in  Noble  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ober  had  three 
children,  Ralph  T.,  Goldie  and  one  that  died  in  in- 
fancy. Mr.  Ober  owns  eighty  acres,  keeps  good 
grades  of  livestock,  and  is  one  of  the  stockholders 
in  the  Laotto  Bank.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Samuel  W.  Yoder.  Hardly  any  family  has  con- 
tributed more  prosperous,  hard  working  and  intelli- 
gent citizens  to  the  community  of  Eden  Township 
in  LaGrange  County  than  that  of  Yoder,  which  has 
been  connected  with  the  history  of  LaGrange  County 
for  nearly  seventy  years.  One  of  the  representatives 
of  the  family  is  Samuel  W.  Yoder,  a prosperous 
farmer  living  a mile  west  of  Topeka,  in  section  36. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  March  6,  1854, 
a son  of  John  S.  and  Catherine  (Stahly)  Yoder. 
His  father  was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  his  mother  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  they 
grew  up  in  Indiana  and  after  their  marriage  lived 
in  Noble  and  LaGrange  counties.  The  father  bought 
his  first  farm  in  Perry  Township  of  Noble  County, 
but  a few  3'ears  later  sold  and  bought  another  place 
in  Clear  Spring  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1879  moved  to  Eden  Township,  where 
he  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of  their  days,  the 
father  dying  in  1907  and  the  mother  in  1911.  He  was 
one  of  the  founders  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church 
at  Maple  Grove,  and  for  many  years  was  an  active 
member  therein.  In  politics  he  was  a republican. 
Their  five  sons  were  Samuel  W.,  Daniel  J.,  Emanuel 
C.,  Melvin  A.  and  Alvin  E. 

Samuel  W.  Yoder  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  attended  winter  terms  of  the  district  schools  to 
the  age  of  nineteen.  After  that  until  his  marriage 
he  remained  at  home  working  for  his  father,  and 
had  accumulated  a very  little  capital  and  equipment 
when  he  established  a home  of  his  own.  Since  then 
his  labors  have  enabled  him  to  acquire  and  develop 
a good  farm  of  160  acres,  and  he  is  also  one  of  the 


stockholders  of  the  State  Bank  of  Topeka.  He  is 
a republican  voter,  and  with  his  family  worships  in 
the  Maple  Grove  Mennonite  Church. 

September  7,  1879,  he  married  Amanda  Dugan, 
who  was  born  in  LaGrange  County.  She  died  June 
2,  1888,  the  mother  of  one  son,  Ernest.  This  sor^ 
was  born  March  3,  1881,  is  a graduate  of  the  Topeka 
High  School,  married  Edith  Lantz,  and  now  lives  on 

а.  farm  a mile  and  a half  west  of  Topeka.  On  De- 
cember 5,  1889,  Mr.  Yoder  married  Lizzie  Kroft. 
She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  June  26, 
i860.  They  have  one  daughter  Leetta,  born  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1897,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and 
still  at  home. 

Frank  J.  Beil,  of  Angola,  is  a member  of  a 
family  of  well  deserved  prominence  in  Steuben 
County.  He  was  born  at  Angola  May  3,  1871,  a 
son  of  Joseph  T.  and  Lucy  (Morrow)  Beil. 

William  Beil,  father  of  Joseph  T.  Beil,  married 
Prudence  Sowle,  and  they  came  to  Steuben  County 
in  1854.  William  Beil  was  a blacksmith  by  trade 
and  had  a shop  at  Angola.  He  died  in  1898  and 
his  wife  in  1886.  Their  children  were  Isaac,  Joseph, 
Mary  Jane,  Artlisa,  Janette,  Charlotte  and  Belle. 

Joseph  T.  Beil  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  May  2, 
1849,  was  educated  in  Steuben  County,  was  a 
farmer,  later  a brick  and  tile  manufacturer  at  An- 
gola, and  at  one  time  manager  of  the  Bachelor 
Brick  and  Tile  Company  of  that  city.  He  died 
at  Angola  March  4,  1915.  He  was  a democrat  and 
Odd  Fellow,  and  his  wife  was  a member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  In  1870  he  married  Lucy  Mor- 
row. She  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  New  York, 
September  8,  1850,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Har- 
riet A.  (Towles)  Morrow.  Henry  Morrow  was 
born  in  Sligo,  Ireland,  August  15,  1818,  and  came 
to  this  country  when  twelve  years  old.  His  wife 
was  born  in  Steuben  County,  New  York,  October 
30,  1828.  In  1855  the  Morrow  family  came  to  In- 
diana and  located  at  Orland,  where  Henry  Morrow 
conducted  a shoe  shop.  In  1864  he  moved  to  An- 
gola, later  lived  for  about  fourteen  years  at  Ap- 
plemanburg,  and  then  returned  to  Angola,  where 
he  died  July  22,  1898.  His  widow  passed  away 
November  23,  1918.  Henry  Morrow  and  wife  had 
the  following  children : Elizabeth,  who  is  the 

widow  of  John  Richardson  and  has  three  children, 
Alta,  Fred  and  Rosetta;  Lucy;  and  Hattie,  wife 
of  Charles  Wells. 

The  children  of  Joseph  T.  Beil  and  wife  were: 
Frank  J.,  Eugene,  who  died  April  2,  1914,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-seven,  and  Ana,  who  was  born  June 

б,  1889,  taught  for  eight  years  after  finishing  his 
course  in  the  Tri-State  College,  and  is  now  em- 
ployed by  the  Lampman  Tool  Company. 

Frank  J.  Beil  was  educated  in  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege, and  for  twenty  years  was  a traveling  salesman. 
Since  April,  1918,  he  has  been  connected  with  the 
Angola  Bank  and  Trust  Company.  In  1897  he 
married  Miss  Ada  Hendry,  daughter  of  Lewis  A. 
Hendry. 

William  S.  Lincoln  for  many  years  has  had  the 
active  superintendence  and  responsibility  of  one  of 
the  large  and  fine  farms  of  Jackson  Township  in 
Steuben  County,  where  he  is  successfully  engaged  in 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Lincoln  is  a 
machinist  by  trade,  and  has  used  his  trade  skill  and 
experience  to  much  profit  since  he  became  a farmer. 

He  was  born  in  Dennysville,  Maine,  September  12, 
i860,  a son  of  Benjamin  and  Deborah  (Gardner) 
Lincoln,  and  member  of  an  old  and  prominent  fam- 
ily of  that  state.  His  parents  spent  all  their  lives 
there.  Mr.  Lincoln  has  in  his  possession  a sword, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


245 


one  of  the  rare  relics  of  the  kind  found  in  Steuben 
County.  This  sword  was  presented  by  General 
Washington  to  Mr.  Lincoln’s  great-great-grand- 
father, Benjamin  Lincoln,  during  the  Revolutionary 
war.  The  handle  of  the  sword  is  silver  and  the 
names  of  giver  and  receiver  are  on  the  handle.  Mr. 
Lincoln  has  another  interesting  relic  in  the  form  of 
a peach  sprout  cane  cut  by  his  father  on  the  battle- 
field of  Gettysburg. 

Mr.  Lincoln  grew  up  in  his  native  state  until  he 
was  eighteen  years  of  age,  and  finished  his  educa- 
tion in  the  high  school  at  Dennysville.  Coming 
West,  he  located  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  and  put 
in  four  years’  apprenticeship  at  the  machinist’s  trade. 
He  worked  at  that  trade  for  a number  of  years  and 
in  different  places.  He  took  up  farming  a quarter 
of  a century  ago,  in  1894,  locating  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, on  the  farm  of  his  wife’s  father,  Hibbard  Rob- 
erts. He  has  320  acres,  and  for  many  years  has  been 
an  extensive  cattle  and  hog  feeder.  He  put  up  the 
fine  residence  where  his  family  reside,  and  has  also 
done  much  to  improve  the  other  buildings  and 
facilities.  Mr.  Lincoln  is  a republican  and  is  affi- 
liated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows 
at  Orland  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Angola. 

At  Orland  in  1887  he  married  Miss  Marian  Rob- 
erts. She  was  born  on  her  father’s  farm  north  of 
Orland,  August  31,  1861,  a daughter  of  Hibbard  and 
Clarissa  (Twitchel)  Roberts.  Her  father  was  born 
in  New  York  State,  November  16,  1819,  and  her 
mother  in  the  same  state  in  1827.  Hibbard  Roberts 
came  to  Indiana  with  his  parents,  Daniel  and  Mary 
(Hibbard)  Roberts,  in  1836.  They  were  pioneers  of 
Jackson  Township,  where  the  family  acquired  a 
large  amount  of  land.  Daniel  Roberts  died  March 
13,  1841,  and  his  wife  October  18,  1857.  Their  ten 
children  were  named  Daniel  Hibbard,  Mary,  Nathan, 
Merinda,  Emily,  Erastus,  John,  LYania,  Ziba  and 
Sarah.  Mrs.  Lincoln’s  maternal  grandparents  were 
Jonas  and  Melinda  Twitchel,  who  were  likewise 
identified  with  the  early  settlement  of  Jackson 
Township.  Mrs.  Lincoln’s  father  grew  up  in  this 
county  and  acquired  most  of  his  education  through 
his  own  efforts.  He  was  seventeen  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Steuben  County,  and  was  a man  of  great 
enterprise,  owning  the  Orland  grist  mill,  was  a mer- 
chant at  that  village,  and  owned  a farm  north  of 
town,  where  he  and  his  wife  started  housekeeping, 
and  eventually  owned  several  places.  As  above 
noted,  he  was  owner  of  the  farm  where  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Lincoln  now  live,  and  in  this  locality  he  died 
January  10,  1906.  Mrs.  Lincoln’s  mother  died  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1891.  Mr.  Roberts  was  a republican  and 
was  an  active  churchman.  He  and  his  wife  had  five 
children,  named  Augustus,  Helen,  Homer,  Mary  and 
Marian. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  have  four  daughters.  Ruth 
was  born  October  17,  1888,  was  educated  in  the  Or- 
land High  School  and  in  business  colleges  at  Fort 
Wayne  and  Milwaukee,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Henry  K.  Cowen,  of  Milwaukee.  Helen,  who  was 
born  March  23,  1895,  is  a graduate  of  the  Orland 
High  School,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Frederick 
Booth  has  one  son,  William  Lincoln.  Hannah  was 
born  May  18,  1897,  graduated  from  the  Orland  High 
School  and  was  a student  in  Hillsdale  College  in 
Michigan.  Alice,  the  youngest,  was  born  May  14, 
1899,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Leslie  Whipple. 

Fred  N.  Hunt,  one  of  the  most  widely  traveled, 
experienced  and  capable  men  of  affairs  in  Noble 
County,  is  president  of  the  Sparta  State  Bank  at 
Cromwell,  and  also  head  of  the  finest  stock  farms  in 
this  section  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Hunt  was  born  in  Etna  Township  of  Whitley 


County,  Indiana,  August  6,  1878,  a son  of  Franklin 
and  Martha  J.  (Long)  Hunt.  His  father,  who  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  February  22,  1828, 
had  the  great  adventure  of  a trip  to  California  in 
1850,  and  was  a gold  seeker  in  the  West  for  a year 
and  a half.  For  many  years  he  lived  in  Etna  Town- 
ship of  Whitley  County,  became  prominent  there  as  a 
farmer  and  citizen,  serving  as  trustee,  and  died  in 
September,  1910.  His  wife  was  born  July  10,  1834. 
They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  in  politics  he  was  a Republican.  There  were 
twelve  children  in  the  Hunt  family,  named  Lee, 
Thomas,  James,  Haskell,  Frank,  Fred,  Ellen,  Eliza- 
beth, Catherine,  Frances,  Martha  and  Minnie. 

Fred  N.  Hunt  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  and  at- 
tended district  schools  to  the  age  of  fourteen.  He 
then  entered  the  Methodist  College  at  Fort  Wayne 
and  also  spent  two  years  in  the  Michigan  Military 
Academy  at  Orchard  Lake.  After  that  he  satis- 
fied himself  with  the  quiet  routine  of  the  farm  until 
1901,  when  he  took  a trip  to  the  Orient,  spending 
most  of  his  time  in  Corea,  where  for  a year  he  was 
connected  with  the  Oriental  Consolidated  Mining 
Company.  On  returning  to  America  he  followed 
different  activities  in  North  Carolina  for  a year  and 
a half  and  then  returned  to  Indiana. 

Besides  heading  the  Sparta  State  Bank  at  Crom- 
well Mr.  Hunt  is  president  and  general  manager  of 
the  Gray  Dawn  Stock  Farm  Company.  This  farm 
is  the  home  of  some  splendid  specimens  of  Short- 
horn cattle. 

On  January  21,  1903,  Mr.  Hunt  married  Nelle  F. 
Beezley,  who  was  born  in  Washington  Township  of 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  January  18,  1877.  She  is  a 
graduate  in  music  from  Hillsdale  College  in  Michi- 
gan, and  is  a woman  of  real  culture  and  refinement. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Martha  A.,  born  October 
6,  1905,  now  attending  high  school.  Mrs.  Hunt  is 
a member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masons,  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  is 
a republican. 

Shermey  J.  German  represents  the  third  genera- 
tion of  the  German  family  in  Northeast  Indiana.  He 
has  some  of  the  land  which  was  cleared  of  the  forest 
by  his  grandfather.  It  is  now  a fine  stock  farm, 
and  his  enterprise  has  done  much  to  stimulate  high 
class  livestock  husbandry  in  the  county. 

The  old  home  of  the  Germans  is  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship, and  Shermey  J.  was  born  near  where  he  lives 
today  October  4,  1884,  a son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Hilton)  German.  His  paternal  grandparents  were 
Edward  and  Rebecca  German,  pioneer  settlers  in 
Jackson  Township  who  located  187  acres  of  land  and 
built  their  log  house  and  cleared  up  much  of  the 
land  during  their  lifetime.  They  had  the  following 
children:  George,  Samuel,  Cassie,  John,  Edward, 

William,  Milo,  Romie,  May  and  Frank.  The  mater- 
nal grandparents  of  Shermey  J.  German  were  James 
and  Lydia  Jane  (Smith)  Hilton,  likewise  identified 
with  the  early  settlement  of  Steuben  County.  Their 
children  were:  Ulrich  Jack,  Dora,  Charles,  Maty, 

Jarvis  D.,  Edith  May,  Angela  and  Myrtie. 

William  German  was  born  on  the  farm  now  owned 
by  his  son  Shermey  August  30,  1863.  He  was  reared 
there,  had  a public  school  education,  and  has  spent 
his  active  career  as  a farmer.  He  still  owns  forty 
-acres  of  the  old  homestead  but  is  living  retired  in 
the  village  of  Flint.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 
His  wife  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  July 
28,  1866.  They  have  two  children : Shermey  J.  and 
Letha,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Ralph  DeLancey,  a son 
of  Charles  DeLancey  of  Angola. 

Shermey  J.  German  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
and  since  leaving  school  has  busied  himself  with 


246 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing threshermen  in  this  section  of  Northeast  In- 
diana, operating  two  threshing  outfits.  His  farm 
is  well  improved  and  he  has  specialized  in  thorough- 
bred stock,  including  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  Belgian 
horses  and  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  owns  a fine  stal- 
lion weighing  2,200  pounds.  His  farm  comprises 
eighty  acres. 

Mr.  German  is  a republican  but  has  been  too  busy 
to  identify  himself  with  partisan  politics.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Order  of  Moose  at  Angola.  In 
1907  he  married  Miss  Nellie  Slick,  daughter  of 
George  and  Emma  (Green)  Slick,  of  an  old  and 
prominent  family.  They  have  four  children : Violet, 
born  May  25,  1911;  Ray,  born  July  25,  1913;  Gladys, 
born  April  22,  1916;  and  Evelyn,  born  June  10,  1918. 

t 

Harry  S.  Carroll  is  a veteran  railroad  teleg- 
rapher and  dispatcher  and  for  over  a quarter  of  a 
century  has  been  on  duty  with  the  Baltimore  & 
Ohio  Railroad  as  dispatcher  at  Garrett  for  the 
Chicago  Division.  For  a number  of  years  he  has 
been  chief  train  dispatcher  at  that  point. 

Mr.  Carroll,  whose  only  son  won  fame  by  his  ex- 
traordinary heroism  while  in  the  air  service  in 
France,  comes  of  a long  line  of  patriotic  American 
ancestors.  He  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  July  1,  1871,  a son  of  George  T.  and 
Lucy  (Cummins)  Carroll.  His  parents  were  also 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  his  mother  of  Green  and 
his  father  of  Washington  County.  George  T.  Car- 
roll  was  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war  and 
had  a brother,  Thomas  M.  Carroll,  who  was  a cap- 
tain in  that  struggle  and  at  the  close  of  the  war 
went  west  and  became  prominent  as  a banker  and 
attorney.  Harry  S.  Carroll’s  maternal  grand- 
mother was  Elizabeth  McCaslean.  She  was  a native 
of  Scotland  and  had  a brother  who  served  as  a 
colonel  in  the  Civil  war.  George  T.  Carroll  after 
the  war  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  married,  settled 
down  in  business  for  a time  and  later  was  a travel- 
ing salesman.  He  lived  in  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 
for  a number  of  years.  He  was  a republican,  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  was  active 
in  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a district  deputy  grand  of 
the  former  order.  In  the  family  were  six  children, 
only  two  of  whom  are  now  living:  Elizabeth,  who 

is  married  and  lives  at  Washington,  Pennsylvania, 
and  Harry  S. 

Harry  S.  Carroll  grew  up  in  Pennsylvania  and 
West  Virginia,  attended  common  schools  in  the 
former  state,  and  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school 
at  Quaker  City,  Ohio.  While  there  he  also  learned 
telegraphy  and  has  been  continuously  in  the  service 
of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad  since  early  youth. 
In  1890  he  was  moved  to  Garrett  as  a telegraph 
operator  and  from  1893  for  three  years  was  sta- 
tioned in  Chicago. 

July  7,  1896,  he  returned  to  Garrett  and  was  as- 
signed the  important  role  of  train  dispatcher,  and 
has  been  at  his  post  with  a splendid  record  of  fidel- 
ity and  efficiency  ever  since.  A number  of  years 
ago  he  was  made  chief  train  dispatcher.  Mr.  Car- 
roll  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Order. 

In  1890  he  married  Anna  A.  Johnson,  of  Guernsey 
County,  Ohio.  She  is  also  a graduate  of  the 
Quaker  City  High  School.  Their  son,  George  C. 
Carroll,  born  August  22,  1892,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Garrett  High  School,  attended  Northwestern  Uni- 
versity at  Chicago  two  years,  and  subsequently 
graduated  from  the  University  of  Virginia  with 
the  A.  B.  degree.  Before  his  army  service  he  had  a 
successful  record  as  an  educator,  being  principal 
of  the  Garrett  High  School  two  years  and  in  1917 


was  elected  superintendent  of  the  city  schools  of 
Garrett.  He  soon  afterward  resigned  to  enter  the 
second  officers  training  camp  at  Fort  Benjamin 
Harrison  and  ten  weeks  later  was  commissioned  a 
first  lieutenant  in  the  air  service.  He  went  over- 
seas and  was  in  France  fifteen  months  and  received 
the  distinguished  service  cross  and  also  honors  from 
the  French  army.  He  returned  to  the  United 
States  February  21,  1919.  The  school  board  had 
granted  him  a leave  of  absence  and  immediately 
upon  his  return  he  was  again  elected  superintendent 
of  the  graded  schools. 

The  following  citation  by  the  commander  in  chief 
of  the  American  armies  is  an  appropriate  matter  of 
record  and  speaks  for  itself : “First  Lieutenant 

George  C.  Carroll.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in 
action  near  Fort  Dumarr,  France,  September  26, 
1918.  Lieutenant  Carroll  had  ascended  in  a balloon 
to  a height  of  one  kilometer  on  a reglage  mission, 
when  he  was  attacked  by  enemy  planes ; but  he  re- 
fused to  leave  his  post  and  fired  on  the  planes  with 
his  pistol  while  incendiary  bullets  were  striking  his 
basket  and  balloon.  He  was  finally  forced  to  jump 
when  his  balloon  burst  into  flames,  but  he  reas- 
cended as  soon  as  a new  balloon  could  be  inflated. 
Carroll  also  gave  proof  of  exceptional  courage  by 
remaining  in  his  balloon  in  the  face  of  airplane  at- 
tacks, jumping  only  when  his  balloon  caught  fire, 
and  immediately  reascending  when  a new  balloon 
could  be  inflated.  Home  address,  Harry  S.  Carroll, 
father,  Garrett,  Indiana.” 

Louis  G.  Whitten  is  president  and  treasurer  of 
the  Auburn  Post  Card  Manufacturing  Company  at 
Auburn.  This  is  an  industry  which  serves  to  make 
this  Indiana  city  widely  known  over  the  country, 
since  the  thousand  of  post  cards  manufactured  at  the 
plant  has  a national  if  not  in  international  distribu- 
tion and  sale.  Mr.  Whitten  is  founder  and  chief 
owner  of  the  business,  though  the  company  is  in- 
corporated, the  other  officers  being  W.  H.  Schaab, 
vice  president,  and  C.  P.  Dennison,  secretary. 

Mr.  Whitten  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maine 
March  10,  1873,  a son  of  Charles  W.  and  Rachel 
(Pottle)  Whitten.  His  father  was  a highly  educated 
man  and  spent  much  of  his  life  as  a teacher  and 
school  principal.  Louis  G.  Whitten,  one  of  a fam- 
ily of  five  children,  attended  the  public  schools  in  his 
native  state,  graduating  in  1896  from  the  Maine 
Central  Institute  at  Pittsfield  and  took  the  regular 
collegiate  course  in  Bates  College  of  Lewistown, 
where  he  graduated  with  the  Bachelor  of  Arts  de- 
gree in  1900.  The  following  year  he  pursued  a 
post-graduate  course  at  Harvard,  and  before  en- 
gaging in  the  printing  business  was  a well  known 
educator  in  New  England.  For  two  years  he  was 
principal  of  the  Marshfield  High  School  in  Massa- 
chusetts, was  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Stough- 
ton, Massachusetts,  four  years,  and  left  school  work 
to  begin  the  manufacture  of  post  cards  and  general 
printing.  For  three  years  he  had  his  business  at 
West  Bethel,  Maine,  and  in  the  fall  of  1910  moved 
to  Auburn.  Much  of  the  business  of  the  company 
is  a mail  order  business. 

Mr.  Whitten  married  Martha  Dennison,  who  is 
also -a  graduate  of  Bates  College,  taking  the  Bachelor 
of  Arts  degree  in  1901.  They  have  five  daughters, 
Esther,  Ruth,  Barbara,  Elizabeth  and  Alice.  Esther 
finished  the  work  of  the  common  schools  of  Auburn 
in  1919.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church,  Mr.  Whitten  being  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trustees.  He  is  president  of  the  local 
Young  Men’s  Christian  Association,  has  served  as 
president  of  the  Auburn  Commercial  Club,  is  a li- 
brary trustee,  and  one  of  the  men  of  influence  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


247 


civic  and  business  affairs  of  the  county  seat.  Fra- 
ternally he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

Gates  Beard,  a well  known  farmer  and  public 
official  of  Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Canada 
August  12,  i860,  a son  of  Horace  and  Amanda 
(Randall)  Beard.  The  year  following  his  birth 
his  parents  settled  in  Branch  County,  Michigan. 
Horace  Beard  was  a saw  mill  operator,  being  head 
sawyer  for  a number  of  years.  He  died  in  1873. 
He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children : Wallace, 

Alice,  Alma,  Gates,  Dora,  Melvin,  Carrie  and 
Esther. 

Gates  Beard  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Branch  County  to  the  age  of  thirteen  and  then 
came  to  Steuben  County  and  has  since  been  de- 
pendent entirely  upon  his  own  exertions.  He 

worked  as  a farm  hand  in  Scott  Township,  and 
about  1893  was  able  to  buy  the  farm  of  eighty  acres 
where  he  still  lives.  He  has  since  increased  his 
farm  to  118  acres,  and  has  made  it  profitable  and 
a valuable  property. 

Mr.  Beard  is  a republican,  served  on  the  Town- 
ship Advisory  Board  and  is  now  in  his  second  term 
of  four  years  as  township  assessor.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1882  he  married  Louisa  Rummell,  of  Steuben 
County.  She  died  September  9,  1909,  the  mother 
of  four  children:  Shirley,  Pearl,  who  is  the  wife 

of  Ernest  B.  Chard,  Earl,  deceased,  and  Alma,  wife 
of  Frank  L.  Davis. 

Fred  Komp  was  born  on  a farm  in  Milford  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  August  3 1871  a 
son  of  Frederick  and  Elizabeth  (Parker)  Komp  and 
a grandson  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (Deetz)  Komp. 
His  grandparents,  as  also  his  father,  were  natives 
of  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany,  his  father  born  in 
1829.  In  1832  the  family  came  to  America.  They 
were  on  shipboard  three  months,  and  during  the  last 
week  had  a fare  limited  to  sauerkraut  and  water. 
Their  first  location  was  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  and 
later  they  moved  to  Whitley  County,  Indiana.  ’ The 
children  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Komp  were : 
Frederick,  Catherine,  Daniel,  John,  Caroline  and 
Sarah. 

Frederick  Komp  was  three  years  old  when 
brought  to  America.  He  grew  up  on  a farm  in  the 
Middle  West,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  his  powers 
and  talents  as  a worker  in  the  Church  of  God  were 
recognized  and  he  then  started  on  his  career  as  a 
preacher,  which  he  continued  practically  all  the  rest 
of  his  life.  He  carried  on  his  work  in  six  counties 
m Northern  Indiana  and  three  or  four  counties  in 
Ohio,  and  in  early  days  rode  horseback  from  one 
congregation  to  another.  As  a means  of  paying 
expenses  he  also  sold  patent  medicine  and  books. 
Frederick  Komp  also  owned  a good  farm  in  Milford 
Township  of  LaGrange  County  and  another  in 
Noble  Count}7-,  and  with  the  aid  of  his  children  car- 
ried  on  these  farms.  He  died  January  21,  1917.  His 
wife,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June  22,  1832, 
a daughter  of  Isaac  Parker,  died  June  8,  1891.  ’ They 
had  a family  of  six  children : George  E. ; Margaret, 
who  was  married  to  George  Pratt ; Lodema,  wife  of 
Van  Rasler;_Eva,  who  married  John  Rasler;  Dessie, 
who  died  in  infancy;  and  Fred,  who  is  the  youngest 
of  the  family. 

Fred  Komp  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Milford  Township,  attended  for 
one  year  the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola, 
and  then  took  up  the  role  of  teacher.  For  ten  years 
he.  was  connected  with  the  schools  of  Salem  Town- 
ship and  four  years  were  given  to  educational  work 


in  DeKalb  County.  During  vacation  seasons  he  did 
some  work  as  a carpenter.  On  May  10,  1903,  Mr. 
Komp  married  Pearl  Bodley,  daughter  of  Jesse  and 
Nellie  (Wolf)  Bodley.  After  their  marriage  they 
lived  for  four  years  at  Helmer  and  in  1907  Mr. 
Komp  bought  his  present  farm  of  eighty-eight  acres 
in  section  4 of  Salem  Township.  Along  with  general 
farming  and  stock  raising  he  has  reconstructed  prac- 
tically all  the  buildings  and  added  other  facilities. 
Besides  farming  Mr.  Komp  writes  fire  insurance, 
representing  one  of  the  prominent  companies  of 
New  York.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church. 

They  have  three  children : Kenneth  B.,  born 

June  29,  1906;  Alfred  Robert,  born  August  25,  1909; 
and  Harold  E.,  born  November  9,  1912. 

Miles  Curtis  McCurdy  has  spent  all  his  life  in 
Northeast  Indiana,  has  had  a wide  range  of  ex- 
perience both  as  a business  man  and  agriculturist 
and  is  now  living  in  prosperity  on  a good  farm  in 
Swan  Township  of  Noble  County. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  April  1, 
1862,  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  (Freeman) 
McCurdy.  His  father  was  a native  of  Allen  County, 
Indiana,  and  his  mother  of  Miami  County,  Ohio,  he 
having  come  to  Allen  County  when  young  and 
married  there.  Miles  Curtis  McCurdy  was  the  only 
child  of  his  parents.  He  was  only  three  weeks  old 
when  his  mother  died,  and  he  grew  up  in  the  home 
of  his  grandmother#  McCurdy,  who  sent  him  to  a 
country  school.  He  remained  with  his  grandparents 
until  he  was  twenty-one. 

August  13,  1888,  Mr.  McCurdy  married  Miss  Nora 
Gump.  She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
April  9,  1865,  daughter  of  Jerry  and  Sarah  (Shultz) 
Gump.  Her  father  was  born  in  Miami  County, 
Ohio,  May  7,  1830,  and  her  mother  in  Pennsylvania 
March  22,  1833.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  in 
1854,  established  a home  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
and  Mrs.  McCurdy’s  mother  has  lived  there  con- 
tinuously for  over  sixty  years.  Of  the  ten  children 
in  the  Gump  family  two  died  in  infancy  and  the  six 
still  living  are:  Mina,  widow  of  William  Finney; 

Anna  E.,  widow  of  Albert  Pepple ; Albert,  who 
lives  in  Allen  County  and  married  Jennie  Brown; 
Villa,  wife  of  Alva  Disler;  Nora  C. ; and  Jesse,  who 
married  Mary  Shively.  Mrs.  McCurdy  was  reared 
on  the  old  home  farm  and  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCurdy 
moved  to  Fort  Wayne  and  lived  there  three  years, 
during  which  time  he  was  an  employe  of  the  Nickel 
Plate  Railway.  He  then  moved  to  Laotto,  where 
for  eighteen  years  he  conducted  a successful  livery 
and  hotel  business,  and  he  still  owns  property  in 
that  village.  They  have  lived  on  their  good  farm  in 
Swan  Township  and  own  eighty-nine  well  culti- 
vated and  improved  acres. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCurdy  have  five  children : Vada 
is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  the  wife 
of  John  Knisley.  Floyd  lives  at  Garrett,  Indiana, 
and  married  Hazel  Stoner.  Jesse  is  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools  and  married  Edith  Bilger. 
Troas  is  a high  school  graduate  and  wife  of  Law- 
rence Slaughter.  Thelma  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon and  high  schools  and  married  Kenneth  Erick- 
son, and  they  live  on  the  home  farm.  Mrs.  McCurdy 
is  a member  of  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  one 
of  her  brothers  is  a minister  of  that  faith.  Mr. 
McCurdy  is  a republican  in  politics. 

. Percy  B.  Cornell  is  one  of  the  highly  thought  of 
citizens  of  Butler  Township,  DeKalb  County,  has 
lived  there  all  his  life  and  has  achieved  prosperity  as 
a farmer,  and  is  still  active  in  the  cultivation  and 


248 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


management  of  his  place  five  and  a half  miles  south 
of  Auburn. 

He  represents  an  old  and  honored  family  of 
DeKalb  County.  His  grandfather,  William  Cornell, 
was  born  in  Carroll  County,  Maryland,  January  14, 
1813,  a son  of  Smith  and  Mary  Cornell.  He  grew 
up  and  married  in  his  native  state,  and  in  1850 
brought  his  wife  and  five  children  to  Indiana,  mak- 
ing the  journey  overland  with  wagons.  He  bought 
eighty  acres  in  Butler  Township,  and  afterward 
acquired  more  land  and  developed  a good  farm,  on 
which  he  lived  until  his  death,  February  16,  1882. 
It  is  said  that  he  brought  with  him  to  Indiana  only 
$300.00  in  money  besides  his  team,  wagon  and  house- 
hold goods.  He  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Two  of  his  sons  served  as  Union  soldiers. 

William  H.  H.  Cornell,  father  of  Percy  B.,  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  1840  and  grew  up  from  the 
age  of  ten  years  on  his  father’s  place  in  Butler 
Township.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  Company  K of 
the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  participated 
in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Perryville,  Stone 
River  and  other  campaigns.  He  was  out  three  years 
and  received  an  honorable  discharge.  After  the 
war  he  began  farming  and  in  1870  married  Eliza 
Timberlain,  a daughter  of  Isaac  Timberlain  of  But- 
ler Township.  He  was  a republican  and  served  as 
assessor  of  Butler  Township  six  years.  He  was 
also  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
and  the  Methodist  Church.  There  were  four  chil- 
dren in  the  family:  Percy  B.  g Jesse  O.,  who  is  a 

farmer  four  miles  west  of  Garrett;  Charles,  a farmer 
in  Michigan;  and  Pearl  I.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen. 

Percy  B.  Carroll  was  born  in  Butler  Township, 
May  12,-  1871,  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
had  a common  school  education.  At  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  left  home  and  went  to  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  where  he  worked  in  a basket  factory  seven 
months  and  on  a farm  six  months.  After  returning 
to  DeKalb  County  he  married,  March  xo,  1894, 
Sarah  C.  Schopf.  She  was  reared  in  Keyser  Town- 
ship of  DeKalb  County.  After  their  marriage  they 
took  up  their  residence  at  their  present  location,  be- 
ginning with  fifty  acres  and  since  then  Mr.  Cornell 
has  added  eighty  acres.  He  devotes  his  time  to 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  a member 
and  chief  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners,  has 
been  active  in  the  Grange  and  is  a republican  in 
politics.  He  has  served  as  a trustee  of  the  Method- 
ist Episcopal  Church.  He  and  his  wife  have  four 
children:  Ethel  M.,  born  June  9,  1895;  Esther, 

born  October  1,  1896;  Ernest,  born  April  18,  1898, 
and  Myrtle,  born  July  7,  1905.  All  the  children 
were  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  are  still 
at  home. 

Forest  E.  Field,  a lawyer  by  profession  and  for- 
merly a teacher  in  Noble  County,  has  been  prominent 
in  affairs  at  Kendallville  for  a number  of  years.  He 
is  a former  mayor  of  the  city,  an  ex-representative 
in  the  Legislature,  and  is  now  recorder  of  Noble 
County. 

His  birth  occurred  on  a farm  south  of  Kendall- 
ville December  11,  i860.  His  parents  were  Aaron 
and  Nancy  Field,  the  former  a native  of  New  York 
and  the  latter  of  New  York  State.  They  married  in 
Ohio  and  were  early  settlers  of  Noble  County.  Of 
their  eight  children  four  are  still  living:  Frank, 

of  Kendallville;  Alice,  who  is  also  married;  Maude, 
wife  of  Harry  Throckmorton ; and  Forest  E. 

Forest  E.  Field  spent  his  early  life  on  a farm. 
While  there  he  attended  common  schools  and  later 
had  normal  training  and  also  work  in  the  Indiana 
University.  He  began  teaching  in  the  district  schools, 
for  a time  was  connected  with  the  public  schools  of 


Kendallville,  and  for  twelve  years  was  principal  of 
a school  at  Racine,  Wisconsin.  Mr.  Field  studied 
law  in  the  Chicago  Law  School,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  bar  in  October,  1900.  After  two  years  of 
steady  practice  he  lost  his  health,  and  was  in  the 
West  some  time  recuperating.  After  returning  to 
Kendallville  he  resumed  practice,  served  a time  as 
mayor,  and  in  1913  was  a member  of  the  State  Leg- 
islature. He  took  his  present  office  as  county  re- 
corder in  January,  1918. 

Mr.  Field  married  Miss  Ginevra  Johnston,  who 
was  born  at  Decatur,  Indiana,  April  8,  1861,  and  was 
educated  in  the  public  schools.  They  have  one  child, 
Ralph  E.  Field,  who  graduated  from  the  Univer- 
sity of  _ Cincinnati  and  spent  three  years  in  the 
University  of  Chicago.  He  served  as  second  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Engineer  Corps  with  the  armies  in 
France.  Lieutenant  Field  married  Dorothy  Llew- 
ellyn, a graduate  of  the  University  of  Chicago,  and 
during  the  absence  of  her  husband  served  as  private 
secretary  to  the  American  Sheet  and  Tin  Plate 
Company  in  Chicago.  Mr.  Field  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  he  is 
affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge  of  Elks. 

Wallace  A.  Belden.  A life  of  successful  effort 
and  broad  influence  came  to  a close  with  the  death 
of  Wallace  A.  Belden  on  May  23,  1917,  Mr.  Belden 
had  lived  more  than  half  a century  in  Springfield 
Township,  and  his  life  was  significant  not  only 
through  his  farming  and  stock  raising  activities 
but  as  a broad  minded  and  public  spirited  citizen. 

He  was  born  in  Syracuse,  New  York,  Novem- 
ber 10,  1840,  a son  of  Merritt  and  Mary  A.  (Schuy- 
ler) Belden,  both  natives  of  New  York.  Mary  A. 
Schuyler  was  born  April  14,  1811,  and  died  on  the 
Belden  homestead  in  1895,  at  the  advanced  age  of 
eighty-four.  Merritt  Belden  died  March  16,  1871. 
The  family  had  come  to  Springfield  Township  in 
i860,  and  the  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  days 
there.  Wallace  Belden  was  the  youngest  of  their 
seven  children.  After  reaching  mature  years  he 
bought  eighty  acres  from  Seth  Wallace  and  con- 
tinued to  acquire  land  until  he  owned  440  acres, 
and  for  fully  half  a century  gave  his  time  and 
labors  to  farming.  He  sold  120  acres  from  his 
first  purchase,  so  that  he  owned  320  acres  at  the 
time  of  his  death.  He  made  his  farm  the  scene 
of  extensive  sheep  feeding  and  sheep  raising  activ- 
ities, and  was  one  of  the  leading  men  in  the  sheep 
industry  of  LaGrange  County.  He  put  up  many 
buildings  and  improvements  that  still  stand  as  a 
monument  to  his  enterprise.  The  home  is  lighted 
by  acetylene  lights  and  has  every  modern  conveni- 
ence. 

From  1911  to  1914  Mr.  Belden  served  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners,  and 
was  affiliated  with  LaGrange  Lodge  of  Masons 
and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at 
South  Milford.  He  was  a director  in  the  La- 
Grange State  Bank  and  the  Mongo  State  Bank, 
and  for  a number  of  years  was  a director  of  the 
Farmers  Rescue  Insurance  Company  of  LaGrange 
County. 

May  26,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Jerome, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1845  and  died 
in  June,  1919.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belden  had  no  chil- 
dren of  their  own,  but  they  reared  in  their  home 
Miss  Clara  Roy,  and  she  was  a faithful  daughter 
to  them  for  twenty-eight  years.  Miss  Roy  inher- 
ited from  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Belden  the  homestead  of 
eighty  acres,  which  she  still  occupies. 

Austin  M.  Parsell.  The  scope  of  Mr.  Parsell’s 
influence  has  not  been  confined  to  the  farm  where 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


249 


he  resides  and  which  he  capably  manages  in  Jackson 
Township  of  Steuben  County.  He  is  one  of  the 
best  known  citizens  of  the  county,  especially  through 
his  service  a few  years  ago  as  sheriff.  He  has  been 
active  in  public  affairs  and  politics,  and  is  a worthy 
representative  of  a family  that  has  been  represented 
in  Steuben  County  for  over  eighty  years. 

His  father  was  the  late  Abijah  D.  Parsell,  who 
was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1827,  a son  of  Moses 
Parsed,  born  in  1797.  The  Parsed  family  have  a 
number  of  representatives  in  Steuben  County,  ac- 
counting for  the  frequent  references  made  to  the 
name  at  different  points  in  these  pages.  Moses 
Parsed  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County  in 
1838,  settling  in  Jackson  Township.  Abijah  D.  Par- 
sed grew  up  there,  and  in  1851  bought  a farm  in 
section  35.  He  was  also  in  business  at  Angola  for 
sfeveral  years,  and  died  at  the  county  seat  in  1882. 
He  married  in  1851,  Jane  T.  Alcott,  who  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1829.  Abijah  D.  Parsed  and  wife  had 
seven  children,  arid  the  three  to  reach  mature  years 
were  Austin  M.,  Ichabod  S.  and  Michael  A. 

Austin  M.  Parsed  was  born  on  the  old  homestead 
in  Jackson  Township  where  he  is  still  living  No- 
vember 1,  1855.  As  a boy  he  attended  school  in 
Salem  and  Jackson  Township,  graduated  from  the 
Angola  High  School,  and  has  made  farming  his 
principal  vocation,  and  chiefly  on  the  old  home  place, 
which  he  has  owned  a number  of  years.  His  farm  is 
eighty  acres  in  extent  and  is  situated  in  section  35. 

Tanuary  30,  1878,  Mr.  Parsed  married  Adaline  M. 
Weicht,  a daughter  of  Frederick  and  Susan  Weicht, 
of  a wed  known  family  in  Salem  Township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parsed  had  five  children  : Leona  E.,  wife 

of  Frank  D.  Hughes;  Archie,  who  died  when  three 
months  old;  Abijah  D.,  who  married  Eula  Golden; 
Louis  F.,  who  married  Audra  Doudt  and  has  two 
daughters,  Dorothea  and  Lois ; and  Inez  T.,  who 
died  in  young  womanhood. 

Mr.  Parsed  is  affiliated  with  Salem  Lodge  No. 
639  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  His 
record  of  public  service  covers  more  than  twenty 
years.  From  1895  to  1900  he  was  assessor  of  Jack- 
son  Township  and  from  1900  to  1905  was  township 
trustee.  His  service  as  sheriff  was  rendered  to  the 
county  from  January  1,  1909,  to  1913. 

Samuel  B.  Neff  came  to  LaGrange  County  when 
a youth,  dependent  upon  his  labor  as  a farm  hand 
for  a time,  and  gradually  has  worked  himself  into 
the  possession  of  a good  farm  a mile  north  and  a 
half  mile  east  of  Topeka,  in  section  30  of  Clear 
Spring  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Franklin  County,  near  Chambers- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  June  5,  1869,  a son  of  Samuel  I. 
and  Lottie  (Rinehart)  Neff.  His  parents  were  born 
and  reared  in  the  same  locality,  and  they  came  to 
Indiana  in  1889,  locating  in  LaGrange  County  and 
later  moved  near  Kendallville,  in  Noble  County, 
where  Samuel  Neff  is  still  engaged  in  farming  at 
the  age  of  seventy-five.  He  is  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church  and  a republican.  There 
were  five  children  in  the  family : Samuel  B. ; Anna, 
wife  of  Archie  Crofoot;  Minnie,  wife  of  John  Pifer, 
of  Kendallville;  Roberta,  wife  of  Warren  W.  Man- 
chester, of  Detroit;  and  Zora,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Fletcher  Sackett,  of  Noble  County. 

Samuel  B.  Neff  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Pennsylvania  to  the  age  of  seventeen.  He  had  a 
common  school  education  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen 
came  to  Indiana  and  worked  as  a farm  hand  by  the 
month  for  one  year  in  LaGrange  County.  He  then 
went  to  farming  with  his  father  and  left  home  when 
he  married  Lettie  Schermerhorn,  daughter  of  James 
Schermerhorn.  Mrs.  Neff  died  in  1896.  the  mother 


of  one  daughter,  Lettie  E.  The  latter  is  a gradute 
of  the  Topeka  High  School  and  is  the  wife  of  Irwin 
Thompson,  a son  of  Robert  L.  Thompson.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Neff  married  Lucy 
Schermerhorn,  her  sister.  Mr.  Neff’s  son-in-law  and 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  and  he  is  a liberal  supporter  of  that  de- 
nomination. He  is  a past  noble  grand  of  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  while  politically  he  is 
a republican.  Besides  his  farm  he  is  interested  in 
the  State  Bank  of  Topeka  as  a stockholder. 

Joseph  W.  Heitz  when  a boy  was  thrown  largely  ' 
on  his  own  responsibilities  and  went  through  the 
various  stages  of  farm  hand,  renter,  tenant,  and 
gradually  became  an  independent  farm  owner.  To- 
day he  owns  a fine  farm  in  Butler  Township  of 
DeKalb  County,  situated  four  miles  south  of  Gar- 
rett. 

On  that  farm  he  was  born  September  26,  1856,  a 
son  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  (Prince)  Heitz.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Germany  and  as  a boy  came 
to  the  United  States  with  a brother  who  died  in 
Virginia.  He  established  a home  in  Champaign 
County,  Ohio,  in  1830,  settling  near  Millerstown, 
where  he  married.  On  moving  to  Indiana  he  bought 
160  acres  in  sections  22  and  28  of  Butler  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  and  remained  an  agriculturist 
and  respected  citizen  of  that  locality  until  his  death. 
He  and  his  wife  were  active  members  in  the  Luth- 
eran Church  and  in  politics  he  was  a democrat.  In 
Germany  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  jeweler.  There 
were  eleven  children  in  the  family,  and  those  to 
reach  mature  years  were : Elizabeth,  wife  of  George 
Reber,  of  Butler  Township;  John,  deceased;  Lavina, 
widow  of  John  Wiant;  Ada,  who  lives  at  Auburn; 
Joseph;  David  and  Ambrose,  both  of  Butler  Town- 
ship. 

Joseph  Heitz  had  only  the  advantages  of  the  dis- 
trict schools.  He  was  fourteen  when  his  father 
died,  and  after  that  he  assumed  increasing  respon- 
sibilities on  the  home  farm  and  also  worked  out 
for  others. 

Mr.  Heitz  married  Sabina  Ober.  She  was  born  in 
Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  29,  i860,  and 
her  father  and  mother  were  natives  of  the  same  lo- 
cality. In  1866  the  Ober  family  moved,  to  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heitz  were 
married  March  18,  1886. 

After  their  marriage  they  moved  to  Butler  Cen- 
ter, rented  several  farms,  and  later  bought  their 
present  property,  which  comprises  270  acres.  Mr. 
Heitz  for  a number  of  years  has  been  a breeder  of 
Poland  China  hogs  and  Durham  cattle.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics. 

To  his  marriage  were  born  four  children : Audrey, 
who  finished  her  education  in  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege; Arthur,  unmarried  and  at  home;  Walter,  a 
resident  of  Butler  Township,  married  Bernice  Ray, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Margaret  J. ; and  Gladys, 
who  finished  her  education  in  high  school,  is  the 
wife  of  Francis  Parker  and  resides  in  Fort  Wayne. 
They  have  one  child,  Eleanora  Mary. 

Alexander  Provines,  a member  of  a family  that 
has  been  in  DeKalb  County  for  over  sixty-five  years, 
has  for  half  a century  been  a farmer  in  Jackson 
Township,  and  along  with  the  duties  imposed  by  a 
large  and  growing  family  has  played  a worthy  and 
public  spirited  part  in  the  upbuilding  and  progress 
of  the  community. 

Mr.  Provines  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
July  18,  1845,  a son  of  Alexander  and  Dorcas 
(Adams)  Provines.  His  father  was  a native  of 


250 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother 
of  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio,  lived  on  a farm  in  Ashland  County  for  sev- 
eral years,  and  Alexander,  Sr.,  in  addition  to  culti- 
vating the  soil  also  followed  the  trade  of  carpenter 
and  contractor.  In  April,  1853,  he  located  in  section 
9 of  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County,  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  at  a good  old  age,  in  August, 
1898.  The  mother  passed  away  in  March,  1897.  She 
was  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics 
he  was  a republican.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  John  A.,  deceased;  James,  of  Jack- 
son  Township;  Alexander;  Lucian,  who  died  in 
1897;  Robert,  of  Oklahoma;  Jane,  wife  of  James 
H.  Farber,  of  Jackson  Township;  Mary,  who  is  un- 
married and  lives  at  Auburn. 

Mr.  Alexander  Provines  has  lived  in  Jackson 
Township  since  he  was  four  years  old.  He  made 
good  use  of  his  advantages  in  the  local  schools  and 
for  ten  winters  was  a teacher.  He  married  Saman- 
tha Knight,  of  Concord  Township.  She  died  Octo- 
ber 3,  19x1,  the  mother  of  eight  children,  named 
as  follows : Harris  G.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 

common  schools  and  of  the  University  of  Chicago 
and  has  a teacher’s  license  in  Chicago  and  Okla- 
homa; Effie,  wife  of  Samuel  Morr,  of  Fairfield 
Township;  Lola,  wife  of  B.  W.  Carper,  of  Jackson 
Township;  Mary,  wife  of  Claude  Moore  and  a grad- 
uate of  the  Auburn  High  School;  Roy,  of  Jackson 
Township;  Dorcas,  who  is  a high  school  graduate 
and  the  wife  of  O.  D.  Sherer ; Emma,  who  is  de- 
ceased; and  Edna,  wife  of  E.  M.  Gifford  and  a 
graduate  of  the  Auburn  High  School,  the  State 
Normal,  was  superintendent  of  schools  at  Warren, 
Indiana,  three  years  and  now  lives  in  Indiana  Harbor. 

As  a farmer  Mr.  Provines  is  owner  and  still  man- 
ages the  cultivation  of  173.7  acres  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship. He  has  filled  several  local  offices,  is  a re- 
publican in  politics,  and  is  one  of  the  trustees  of 
Auburn  Lodge  No.  191  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Clyde  Hugh  Smith.  Into  a life  of  barely  fifty 
years  Clyde  Hugh  Smith  compressed  a great  amount 
of  business  activity,  and  one  that  radiated  many 
influences  of  usefulness  and  benefit  to  his  com- 
munity in  Lima  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

He  was  a son  of  James  Smith,  and  of  a family 
referred  to  in  several  places  in  this  publication. 
The  farm  where  he  was  born  in  Lima  Township 
February  11,  1862,  he  owned  at  the  time  of  his 
death  on  January  16,  1912.  But  he  was  living 
in  Howe.  He  had  an  education  in  the  township 
schools,  the  LaGrange  County  Normal  and  the  In- 
diana State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute,  but  left  that 
institution  before  graduating-  on  account  of  his 
father’s  impaired  health.  He  then  lived  on  the 
farm,  giving  supervision  to  the  farm  management 
and  also  taught  school  for  nine  or  ten  winters. 
After  his  marriage  he  took  charge  or  rented  what 
was  known  as  the  Gunther  Farm  in  Greenfield 
township.  His  father  had  before  this  lived  there 
and  rented  the  same  farm  for  several  years.  He 
later  returned  to  his  farm  in  Lima  Township,  and 
for  one  year  was  in  the  grain  business  at  Leonidas, 
Michigan.  He  then  resumed  his  home  on  the  farm 
in  Greenfield  Township,  and  for  two  years  before 
his  death  lived  retired  at  Howe.  At  his  death  he 
owned  400  acres  of  land.  He  was  thoroughly  pro- 
gressive, and  was  one  of  the  first  that  introduced 
Jersey  cattle  into  his  neighborhood  on  English 
Prairie,  and  was  also  an  extensive  sheep  feeder. 
Politically  he  was  a stanch  republican,  active  in 
public  affairs,  and  a member  of  the  Brethren 
Church. 

August  27,  1891,  he  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Darner. 


She  was  born  in  Michigan  in  1868,  a daughter  of 
William  Darner,  whose  career  is  described  below. 
Mrs.  Smith  became  the  mother  of  two  children,  the 
first,  a son,  dying  in  infancy.  The  daughter  lives 
at  home  and  is  a student  in  the  Western  College 
for  Women  at  Oxford,  Ohio. 

William  Darner,  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  born 
in  Ohio  February  23,  1847,  son  of  John  Y.  and 
Mary  Catherine  (Stillenbaer)  Darner,  both  natives 
of  Germany.  The  latter  was  born  in  1803.  John 
Y.  Darner  had  six  years  of  enforced  military 
service  in  Germany,  and  in  order  to  escape  further 
duty  as  a soldier  he  ran  away  from  the  Father- 
land  when  about  twenty-six  years  of  age,  became 
a stoway  on  an  ocean  vessel,  was  discovered  and 
had  to  work  his  passage  across.  He  had  on  a 
sailor’s  uniform  when  he  landed  in  America,  and 
soon  afterward  he  found  his  way  to  Myersdale, 
Pennsylvania.  Probably  while  in  Pennsylvania  he 
married  his  first  wife,  Elizabeth  Baker,  and  when 
he  went  to  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  he  had  a 
daughter,  Elizabeth.  In  Tuscarawas  County  he 
married  Mary  Catherine  Stillenbaer,  and  in  1849 
they  moved  to  Owen  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
bought  school  land.  The  first  winter  he  and  his 
family  lived  in  an  old  log  house  without  windows, 
and  in  the  following  spring  he  built  a house  on  his 
own  land,  and  was  diligently  engaged  in  its  cultiva- 
tion and  made  it  his  home  until  his  death  in  1871. 
His  widow  remained  in  that  community  until  her 
death  in  1901.  They  had  nine  children:  Levi, 

Mary,  Jacob,  John,  Daniel,  William,  Noah,  Samuel 
and  Catherine.  Those  still  living  are  Daniel,  Wil- 
liam and  Samuel. 

William  Darner  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  grew  up  in  Owen  County,  Indiana,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  started  out  to  make  his  own  way 
in  the  world.  He  came  to  the  vicinity  of  Brighton 
in  1866,  and  worked  on  farms  in  that  community 
for  several  years.  In  1871  he  bought  twenty  acres 
in  Greenfield  Township,  made  his  home  there  for 
a time,  and  later  owned  different  farms,  all  in  La- 
Grange County  except  one  which  he  owned  near 
Hastings,  Michigan,  but  which  he  never  occupied 
as  a home.  Mr.  Darner  continued  fanning  until 
he  retired  to  Howe  in  1910,  and  is  still  living  there. 
Politically  his  support  has  always  been  given  to 
the  prohibition  party  and  he  was  once  a candidate 
for  county  treasurer  on  that  ticket.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Dunkard  Church.  In  1868  Mr.  Darner 
married  Miss  Caroline  Mohler,  who  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  William  Mohler.  They 
had  four  children:  Mary  Catherine;  Samuel  Elza, 

born  in  1871  and  died  in  1897;  Clarence  Allen;  and 
Ida  Adella. 

Lewis  M.  Mundy  is  proprietor  of  a large  farm  in 
Jackson  Township,  part  of  which  was  formerly 
owned  by  his  father,  Lewis  Mundy,  one  of  the  early 
settlers  in  Steuben  County.  The  Mundy  family  has 
always  maintained  the  traditions  of  good  American 
citizenship,  honest  industry  and  integrity  in  all  of 
their  relations,  and  those  characteristics  have  been 
emphasized  in  the  personal  record  of  Lewis  M. 
Mundy  and  his  children. 

Mr.  Mundy  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides  in  section  28  of  Jackson  Township,  Novem- 
ber 25,  1864.  He  was  the  child  of  his  father’s  third 
marriage.  Lewis  Mundy,  Sr.,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  1813,  a son  of  David  and  Sarah  Mundy. 
He  came  to  Steuben  county  in  1852,  settling  in  sec- 
tion 28,  on  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  in  course  of 
time  had  a fine  farm  with  a commodious  residence 
built  in  1877  and  still  in  use.  He  was  an  abolition- 
ist and  a republican  in  politics.  Lewis  Mundy  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


251 


ried  in  1839  Sallie  Stevenson,  who  died  in  1849. 
Both  their  sons,  Jasper  and  Alanson,  were  soldiers 
in  the  Union  army.  In  1850  Lewis  Mundy  married 
Mrs.  Mercy  B.  (King)  Puree.  She  died  in  1863, 
the  mother  of  two  children,  Otis  and  Julia.  For  his 
third  wife  he  married  Mrs.  Mary  (Doudt)  Bolin, 
who  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  in  December, 
1834.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  sons  by  her  first 
marriage  to  Levi  Bolin,  who  died  in  Steuben  County. 
Lewis  Mundy  and  his  third  wife  had  three  children, 
Lewis  M.,  Hattie  and  Nellie. 

Lewis  M.  Mundy  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  district  schools  of  Jackson  Township,  attending 
the  Morgan  schoolhouse,  and  all  his  life  has  been 
spent  on  the  farm  where  he  was  born  and  where 
he  worked  in  the  fields  for  his  father  when  a boy. 
About  1885  he  began  renting  the  place  and  farmed 
on  his  own  account,  and  a few  years  later  bought 
eighty  acres  of  the  homestead.  Eventually  he  ac- 
quired the  entire  property,  120  acres,  _ and  as  his 
means  increased  he  has_since  extended  his  ownership 
to  220  acres,  devoted  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  For  thirty  years  Mr.  Mundy  has  been  a 
successful  breeder  of  blooded  Percheron  horses.  At 
the  present  time  his  farm  enterprise  is  tending  to- 
ward the  development  of  a dairy  herd.  He  still  has 
the  old  home,  but  the  other  buildings  have  been 
added  chiefly  by  him. 

In  1888  he  married  Amanda  J.  Harpster,  daughter 
of  John  and  Amanda  Harpster.  They  have  three 
children.  Vera  G.  is  a graduate  of  the  college  of 
Huntington,  Indiana,  and  is  a teacher  in  Iowa.  Wil- 
bur E.  studied  at  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola, 
also  at  Huntington  College,  and  is  now  renting  his 
father’s  farm.  Wava  L.  is  a graduate  of  Hunting- 
ton  College  and  is  now  a student  in  the  Tri-State 
College  at  Angola.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mundy  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Hopewell  Church  of  the  United  Brethren. 

Walter  Atwater.  A hard  working  and  successful 
young  farmer,  Walter  Atwater  was  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  of  Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
in  November,  1918,  with  the  important  responsibili- 
ties of  township  trustee.  He  has  been  handling  the 
duties  of  that  office  since  January,  1919. 

Mr.  Atwater  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  April 
18,  1877,  and  is  a son  of  Myron  and  Ann  (Brinley) 
Atwater.  The  history  of  the  Atwater  family  in  the 
older  generations  is  described  on  other  pages.  Wal- 
ter Atwater  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  attended 
the  district  schools,  and  worked  on  the  home  farm 
and  lived  with  his  father  to  the  age  of  twenty-four. 
In  1900  he  married  Miss  Clara  Latta,  daughter  of 
William  and  Laura  Latta. 

The  spring  following  his  marriage  he  rented  a 
farm  in  Clay  Township,  and  during  the  next  year 
showed  he  had  the  real  stuff  in  him  as  a farmer. 
He  then  bought  forty  acres  of  the  place  where  he 
now  lives,  and  as  his  means  justified  ha£  increased 
his  holdings  until  he  now  has  a farm  of  116  acres. 
He  also  improved  it  with  a good  house  and  barn, 
and  as  a man  of  constructive  ability  has  proved  a 
useful  factor  in  the  community.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Atwater  have  two  children,  Maynard  and  Marion. 

William  S.  Latta,  father  of  Mrs.  Walter  Atwater, 
was  born  in  Clay  Township,  January  4,  1855,  a son 
of  Silas  and  Sarah  (Franks)  Latta.  Silas  was  born 
in  Ohio  in  1821  and  his  wife  in  Hardy  County,  Vir- 
ginia, in  the  same  year.  They  came  to  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  in  1844,  and  were  early  settlers  in 
Clay  Township.  They  rented  for  six  years  and  in 
1847  bought  the  forty  acres  where  David  M.  Latta 
now  lives.  Later  Silas  bought  forty  acres  in  another 
place,  also  an  eighty-acre  tract,  all  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  eventually  had  a good  farm  of  106  acres. 
He  died  in  i860  while  his  widow  survived  until  May 


12,  1906.  He  was  a Republican  and  Methodist,  and 
he  and  his  wife  had  children  named  Ephraim,  Isaac, 
Mary  Ann,  Hannah  U.,  John  Franklin,  William  S., 
David  M.  and  Sarah  Jane,  who  died  in  April,  1919. 

William  S.  Latta  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
had  a public  school  education  and  has  owned  several 
different  farms.  In  1909  he  bought  the  ninety-six 
acres  where  he  has  lived  since  1910.  He  is  a re- 
publican. July  2,  1879,  he  married  Miss  Laura  Hoff- 
man. She  was  born  in  Ohio,  August  17,  1854,  a 
daughter  of  Israel  and  Catherine  Hoffman,  who 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  from  there  to 
Ohio  and  spent  their  last  days  in  Michigan.  Wil- 
liam S.  Latta  and  wife  had  five  children : Cora  C., 
who  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School, 
attended  the  State  University,  was  a teacher  seven 
years  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Harvey  Myers,  being 
the  mother  of  Sylvia,  Elsie  and  Birdena.  Clara 
Latta,  also  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School, 
is  the  wife  of  Walter  Atwater.  Harry  finished  the 
eighth  grade  in  school  and  married  Izora  Gooch. 
Grace  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School, 
was  a teacher  one  term,  and  is  the  wife  of  Earl 
Bullock  and  has  a son,  Dean.  The  third  child  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Latta  was  George  W.,  who  died  when 
eleven  months  old. 

Jonas  Twichell  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  Steuben  County.  He  was  born  a few  weeks  be- 
fore his  parents  came  here  and  has  lived  in  Jack- 
son  Township  for  eighty-three  years.  The  Twich- 
ells  were  in  fact  among  the  very  first  families  to 
settle  anywhere  in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Twichell,  who  has  grown  old  and  gray  in 
the  useful  routine  of  duties  as  a farmer,  home 
builder  and  generous  provider  for  his  family,  was 
born  in  Chenango  County,  New  York,  January  18, 
1836.  His  parents  were  Jonas  and  Malinda  (Scott) 
Twichell.  His  father  was  born  at  Oxford  in  Salem 
County,  Connecticut,  in  1800,  and  his  mother  in 
Simsbury  of  the  same  state  March  12,  1802.  When 
children  they  went  with  their  respective  parents  to 
Chenango  County,  New  York,  where  they  grew  up 
and  married.  Jonas  Twichell,  Sr.,  was  reared  on  a 
farm  but  learned  the  stone  engraver’s  trade,  which 
he  followed  for  a number  of  years.  Many  of  the  cor- 
ner stones  in  Steuben  County  were  cut  by  him.  In 
1833  he  moved  to  Catskill,  New  York,  and  in  1835 
came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  which  was  then 
largely  a wilderness.  He  bought  a tract  of  land  in 
Jackson  Township  and  the  following  year  brought 
his  family  west  He  had  prepared  for  their  recep- 
tion a log  cabin.  This  old  home  was  in  section  9 
of  Jackson  Township.  The  eighty  acres  first  ac- 
quired was  increased  by  the  proprietor  to  200  acres. 
He  lived  there  until  1856,  and  then  moved  to  Or- 
land  and  died  in  that  village  in  February,  1887,  his 
wife  passing  away  in  December,  1886.  They  had 
a family  of  nine  children,  Harriet,  Clarissa,  Charles, 
Jonas,  Benjamin,  Marcus,  Sterling,  Bliss  and  Ma- 
linda. Those  still  living  are  Jonas,  Marcus,  of  Cali- 
fornia, and  Bliss,  of  Orland. 

It  will  be  noted  that  Jonas  Twichell,  Jr.,  was 
only  a few  weeks  old  when  brought  to  Steuben 
County.  He  » grew  up  on  the  farm  and  attended 
some  of  the  pioneer  schools.  In  1858,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  he  bought  100  acres  of  the  old  home- 
stead, and  later  he  bought  his  brother  Marcus’  in- 
terest in  the  remainder.  He  has  since  increased 
his  property  to  240  acres,  and  during  an  ownership 
of  sixty  years  has  introduced  many  modern  improve- 
ments. His  comfortable  home  is  one  of  the  oldest 
in  the  township,  having  been  erected  forty-six  years 
ago.  His  father  also  entered  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  LaGrange  County,  but  sold  it  after  about  two 
years. 


252 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mr.  Twichell  is  a republican  in  politics.  His 
father  was  a member  of  the  first  Board  of  County 
Commissioners  of  Steuben  County,  and  the  son  like- 
wise held  that  office  for  one  term,  refusing  a re- 
election. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Catherine  Johnson, 
who  died  May  5,  1866.  She  was  the  mother  of  three 
children : Augusta,  William  and  Eugene,  the  last 

two  still  living.  In  October,  1867,  Mr.  Twichell 
married  Miss  Anna  Milner,  who  was  born  in  Scot- 
land in  1844,  daughter  of  Ebenezer  and  Jane  Milner. 
Her  parents  came  to  this  country  and  settled  in  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana,  in  1850,  and  spent  their 
last  years  at  Kinderhook,  Michigan.  Mrs.  Twichell 
died  January  1,  1917,  the  mother  of  five  children: 
Victor  Scott,  who  died  at  Kendallville  in  1916;  Ber- 
tice  Anna,  at  home  with  her  father;  Benjamin 
Homer,  of  Jackson  Township;  Charles  Elfred;  and 
Robert  Ebenezer,  who  is  now  the  active  manager 
of  the  home  farm. 

Fayette  R.  Woodworth.  There  is  much  besides 
his  success  in  business  and  farming  to  distinguish 
Fayette  R.  Woodworth  among  the  citizenship  of 
Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County.  He  is  a man  of 
sound  intelligence  and  progressive  ideas,  whether 
applied  to  his  private  affairs  or  any  community  un- 
dertaking. He  is  a persistent  advocate  of  progress, 
and  in  the  community  where  he  was  born  and 
reared  has  found  all  the  rewards  and  durable  satis- 
factions of  a busy  life. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  February  11,  i860,  a son  of  Ira  M.  and 
Melissa  (Robbins)  Woodworth.  His  father,  a na- 
tive of  New  York  State,  came  to  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  with  his  parents  when  he  was  a child.  He 
grew  up  there  and  in  young  manhood  became  a 
farmer  in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  In 
1861  he  enlisted  in  the  Eightieth  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  was  a Union  soldier  from  that  time 
until  the  close  of  the  .war.  He  was  in  most  the 
battles  in  which  his  regiment  engaged,  but  for  a 
time  endured  confinement  in  the  notorious  Libby 
prison.  After  the  war  he  resumed  his  place  as  a 
Clay  Township  farmer,  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  on  June  1,  1887.  His  wife,  who  was  born  in 
LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of  John  and  Sarah 
Robbins,  became  the  mother  of  four  children,  named 
Sarah  C.,  Fayette  R.,  Mary  E.  and  Ira  Bela. 

Fayette  R.  Woodworth  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Clay  Township,  also  attended  LaGrange  schools, 
and  for  over  thirty-five  years  has  given  the  best 
that  was  in  him  to  the  task  of  agriculture  in  Clay 
Township.  He  and  his  wife  together  owned  200 
acres  of  land  there,  and  their  good  home  is  in  sec- 
tion 21.  Mr.  Woodworth  has  served  one  term  as 
assessor  of  Clay  Township. 

He  married  Icey  V.  Greene,  a daughter  of  James 
and  Ann  (Brown)  Greene.  Her  parents  were  mar- 
ried May  28,  1842,  and  about  1848  they  came  from 
Ohio  to  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  James 
Greene  acquired  120  acres  of  timbered  land,  and 
was  noted  as  one  of  the  well-to-do  and  substantial 
farmers  of  Clay  Township  the  rest  of  his  life.  In 
1851  he  built  the  first  steam  saw  mill  in  that  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Woodworth  have  a family  of  seven 
children : Ira  Cecil,  who  married  Sylvia  Todd ; 

James  D.,  who  married  Lettie  Warner;  Beulah  Ann, 
wife  of  Frank  V.  Carney;  Mary  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
G.  Miller;  Fayette  McKinley,  John  O.  and  Bela  R. 

Frank  W.  Silberg,  who  has  practiced  his  pro- 
fession as  a veterinary  surgeon  at  Spencerville  for 
the  past  ten  years,  is  one  of  the  best  qualified  men 
in  this  profession  in  Northeast  Indiana. 


Doctor  Silberg  was  born  in  Spencer  Township, 
formerly  Concord  Township,  of  De  Kalb  County, 
April  12,  1886.  He  represents  one  of  the  first  fam- 
ilies to  settle  at  the  old  town  of  Spencerville.  He  is  a 
son  of  Warren  W.  and  Mary  J.  (White)  Silberg. 
His  grandfather,  Michael  M.  Silberg,  came  from  Ger- 
many to  the  United  States,  lived  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  for  a time,  and  later  moved  to  Spencerville, 
where  he  put  up  the  first  frame  house  in  the  vil- 
lage. He  was  a blacksmith  and  worked  at  his  trade 
until  his  death,  performing  a useful  service  to  his 
community.  His  children  were  Warren  W.,  William, 
Stephen,  Cash,  Mary  and  Lillie.  The  only  one  now 
living  is  Cash.  Warren  Silberg  grew  up  in  Spencer- 
ville and  attended  the  common  schools  and  spent 
his  active  career  as  a farmer.  He  and  his  wife  had 
nine  children. 

Dr.  Frank  W.  Silberg  grew  up  at  Spencerville, 
graduated  from  the  high  school,  and  is  a graduate  of 
the  Chicago  Veterinary  College.  He  took  post-grad- 
uate work  at  Cornell  University  in  New  York,  and 
received  the  degrees  of  M.  D.  C.  and  D.  V.  M.  He 
has  been  in  active  practice  at  Spencerville  since  1909 
and  has  well  equipped  facilities,  including  stables 
and  operating  room  both  at  Spencerville  and  the 
Village  of  St.  Joe.  He  has  prospered  in  his  business 
affairs  and  owns  property  in  Spencerville  and  St. 
Joe  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  local  bank  and  one 
of  its  directors. 

Doctor  Silberg  married  Florence  Miller,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools.  They  have  one 
daughter,  Orpha  M.,  born  in  1918.  Doctor  Silberg 
is  a Scottish  Rite  Mason,  being  a member  of  the 
Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is 
a member  of  the  North  American  and  Indiana  and 
Illinois  associations  of  veterinary  surgeons  and  has 
won  a deservedly  high  reputation  in  his  profession. 
He  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

John  H.  Sisson,  who  for  many  years  has  worked 
industriously  at  clearing  and  improving  and  cul- 
tivating a farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  La- 
Grange County,  is  related  to  several  well  known 
families  in  this  county  and  in  other  portions  of 
Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  Montpelier,  Ohio,  March  28, 
1853,  a son  of  Orman  and  Ann  (Brooks)  Sisson. 
His  father  was  a native  of  New  York  state,  where 
the  paternal  grandparents  both  died.  Orman  Sis- 
son moved  from  Ohio  to  LaGrange  County  in  1856. 
He  located  at  McCoy’s  Crossing  in  Bloomfield 
Township,  and  in  that  locality  he  cleared  up  and 
improved  120  acres  and  was  a highly  respected 
citizen  for  many  years.  His  wife  was  born  in 
England,  a daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth 
Brooks,  who  in  1827,  when  she  was  ten  years  old, 
came  to  this  country  and  from  the  state  of  New 
York  they  later  moved  to  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana. George  Brooks  was  a farmer  and  also  did 
a great  deal  of  ditching  and  clearing  of  land  in 
Steuben  County.  He  died  in  that  county  and  his 
wife  passed  away  at  Coldwater,  Michigan.  Orman 
Sisson  and  wife  had  the  following  children  : Eliza- 
beth, wife  of  William  Metzger;  William;  Lora, 
who  married  William  Spears;  Amie,  who  became 
Mrs.  Henry  Munger ; Oran;  Albert;  George,  who 
was  a Union  soldier  and  died  in  Libby  prison ; 
John  H. ; Edgar;  Alma,  deceased;  Sinda,  who  died 
in  infancy. 

John  H.  Sisson  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County 
since  early  boyhood,  and  attended  the  country 
schools  and  also  the  Seminary  at  Ontario  for  his 
education.  For  many  years  he  has  occupied  his 
present  farm,  obtaining  the  land  when  it  was  a 
wilderness  of  brush  and  unproductiveness.  He  put 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


253 


up  the  first  shanty  there,  has  broadened  the  area 
of  cultivation,  and  now  has  good  improvements 
and  an  all  around  valuable  farm  of  ioo  acres. 

Mr.  Sisson  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Brethren  Church.  He  married  Martha  Rose,  a 
daughter  of  John  Rose.  She  was  born  in  Ohio. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.'  Sisson  had  the  following  children : 
Hattie,  Laura,  Lulu,  William,  Bessie,  J.  Merle, 
Verne,  Marjorie  and  Lillian,  all  living  except  the 
last  named,  Lillian. 

Oakley  Amerman  represents  the  third  generation 
of  a family  that  has  lived  in  Steuben  County  for 
over  sixty  years.  His  own  enterprise  as  a farmer 
and  stock  man  in  Salem  Township  has  been  greatly 
prospered,  and  his  individual  career  reflects  credit 
upon  the  record  of  his  ancestors. 

He  was  born  in  Salem  Township,  July  23,  1879,  a 
son  of  William  and  Frances  (Silvey)  Amerman,  the 
former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Salem 
Township,  Steuben  County.  His  grandparents, 
Peter  and  Margaret  (Hall)  Amerman,  came  to 
Salem  Township  about  1857,  and  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days  on  a farm  there.  Their  children  were 
named  Garrett,  William,  Henry,  Sophia,  Ida  and 
Addie. 

William  Amerman  when  a young  man  took  up 
the  serious  vocation  of  agriculture  in  Salem  Town- 
ship, his  first  home  being  a half  mile  south  and 
quarter  of  a mile  west  of  Salem  Village.  He  lived 
there  and  farmed  for  fourteen  years.  For  two  years 
he  conducted  a store  in  Salem,  and  then  had  a farm 
at  Bronson,  Michigan,  for  seven  years.  Returning 
to  the  old  home  place,  he  remained  about  five  years 
and  then  bought  a farm  a mile  south  of  Orland, 
which  was  his  home  locality  until  the  spring  of  1918. 
His  present  home  farm  is  a half  mile  north  of  Kin- 
derhook,  Michigan.  He  and  his  wife  have  four 
children,  Mabel,  Oakley,  Benjamin  and  James. 

As  a boy  Oakley  Amerman  attended  country 
schools  in  Salem  Township,  spent  three  terms  in  a 
district  school  in  Michigan,  and  on  reaching  the  age 
of  twenty-one  began  working  out  at  monthly  wages. 
He  pursued  that  course  about  three  years  and  in 
1004  took  up  farming  as  an  independent  vocation. 
He  bought  eighty  acres  in  Jackson  Township  in 
1907,  and  lived  there  for  ten  years.  In  the  fall  of 
1917,  having  sold  his  first  place,  he  moved  to  his 
present  farm,  which  he  had  bought  the  spring  be- 
fore. This  containes  160  acres,  constituting  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  4.  He  is  a successful 
general  farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

Mr.  Amerman  married  Blanch  Ewing,  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Florence  Ewing.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Florence  and  Geneva.  Mr.  Amerman  is  affili- 
ated with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  he  and  his  wife  are  Presbyterians. 

Abraham  L.  Hostetler,  a native  of  LaGrange 
County,  spent  some  years  of  his  early  life  as  a suc- 
cessful teacher,  but  for  the  past  fifteen  years  has 
applied  his  time  and  energies  profitably  and  effi- 
ciently to  the  management  of  a farm  in  Clay  Town- 
ship. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township,  September  8, 
1876.  The  Hostetlers  are  one  of  the  widely  known 
families  of  Northeast  Indiana.  His  parents  were 
John  M.  and  Susan  (Hostetler)  Hostetler,  the 
former  a native  of  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania, 
and  the  latter  a daughter  of  Noah  and  Elizabeth 
Hostetler.  John  M.  Hostetler  was  a son  of  Moses 
J.  and  Elizabeth  (Mast)  Hostetler,  both  natives  of 
Somerset  County,  the  former  born  in  1812  and  the 
latter  in  1822.  Moses  J.  Hostetler  came  to  LaGrange 
County,  and  a year  after  his  arrival  his  son,  John  M. 


Hostetler  came.  He  had  been  married  in  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  and  settled  in  Newbury  Township, 
but  a year  later  went  to  Eden  Township,  where  he 
lived  until  his  death  in  July,  1914.  He  and  his  first 
wife,  who  died  in  January,  1879,  were  the  parents 
of  five  children,  named  Lucy,  wife  of  Joseph  Hersh- 
berger; Carrie,  wife  of  M.  S.  Yoder;  Ira  J. ; Noah 
J. ; and  Abraham  L.  John  M.  Hostetler  for  his 
second  wife  married  Barbara  Suntheimer,  and  their 
children  were : Lizzie,  who  was  the  wife  of  George 
Y.  Miller  and  died  in  July,  1916;  Ida,  wife  of 
Phineas  Weaver;  Allen;  Fred;  Katie,  who  married 
Todd  Bontrager ; and  Mima,  wife  of  Ezra  J.  Schla- 
bach. 

Abraham  L.  Hostetler  attended  the  district  schools 
of  Edeon  Township,  the  Topeka  High  School,  and 
took  a normal  course  at  Bushnell,  Illinois.  For  two 
years  he  taught  in  Illinois  and  for  five  years  one  of 
the  leading  young  educators  of  LaGrange  County. 
In  1904  he  moved  to  his  farm  in  Clay  Township,  and 
has  carried  on  a general  farming  and  stock  raising 
business. 

So  far  as  possible  he  has  also  given  his  time  to 
local  affairs,  is  a member  of  the  Clay  County  Ad- 
visory Board,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge  of 
Masons  at  Topeka  and  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  at 
Ligonier.  December  24,  1902,  he  married  Winnie  B. 
Beatty,  daughter  of  Lewis  C.  and  Mary  Elizabeth 
(Kline)  Beatty.  They  have  two  children,  Lolita 
and  John  Beatty. 

Eldon  M.  Hostetler.  The  Hostetlers  are  a very 
numerous  and  prominent  family  in  Northeast  In- 
diana, and  many  of  its  representatives  are  found  in 
the  different  counties  comprised  in  this  publication. 
Eldon  M.  Hostetler,  whose  position  is  that  of  a 
successful  farmer  in  Newbury  Township  of  La- 
Grange County,  is  a member  of  the  branch  of  the 
family  comprising  a brother,  Dr.  A.  J.  Hostetler, 
at  LaGrange  and  is  a son  of  Moses  M.  and  Mary 
Ann  (Mehl)  Hostetler. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives 
in  Newbury  Township,  June  15,  1885,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  On  January  26,  1905, 
he  married  Opal  Davis,  member  of  another  well 
known  family  of  LaGrange  County,  her  father 
being  Eugene  Davis. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hostetler  farmed  in  Van 
Buren  Township  four  years  and  in  1909  moved  to 
Elkhart  County  and  was  employed  as  a carpenter 
about  two  years.  Since  then  he  has  been  farming 
in  Newbury  Township  and  since  1913  has  operated 
the  old  homestead  in  section  36.  In  the  spring  of 
19x9  he  also  bought  a farm  of  forty-four  acres  in 
Clay  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hostetler  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren : Alice  Marie,  Ruth  Marguerite,  Paul  Davis 

and  Elizabeth  Mae.  Paul  and  Elizabeth  are  both 
deceased. 

Joseph  R.  Wiley,  a former  trustee  of  Troy  Town- 
ship, DeKalb  County,  has  been  a successful  farmer  in 
that  locality  for  many  years,  and  both  he  and  his 
wife  are  people  of  culture  and  influence  and  leaders 
in  community  affairs. 

Mr.  Wiley  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
December  25,  1865,  a son  of  James  and  Harriet 
(White)  Wiley,  the  former  a native  of  Harrison 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Bangor,  Maine. 
The  mother  was  a well  educated  woman  and  on  com- 
ing west  to  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  was  a teacher 
until  her  marriage.  She  and  her  husband  then  settled 
in  Harrison  County,  Ohio,  where  James  Wiley  and 
brother  owned  and  operated  a foundry.  During  the 


254 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Civil  war  this  foundry’s  chief  output  was  cannon 
balls  for  the  Government.  After  selling  out  his 
interest  in  that  business  he  moved  to  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  locating  on  a farm  near  Leesville,  sub- 
sequently bought  another  place  near  Gabon,  Ohio, 
and  in  1869  left  the  Buckeye  state  and  came  to 
DeKalb  County,  settling  on  a farm  in  Troy  Town- 
ship, where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a 
Presbyterian  and  his  wife  a Lutheran,  and  politically 
he  was  a republican  and  served  as  a township  trustee 
in  Ohio.  Of  their  nine  children  six  are  still  living: 
William,  of  Los  Angeles,  Calfornia;  Charles,  of 
Fort  Benton,  Montana;  James  C.,  a farmer  in  Troy 
Township;  Joseph  R. ; Stella,  wife  of  Ambrose  Mc- 
Glaughlin ; and  Harriet,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 
Woman’s  Medical  College  of  Chicago  and  a prac- 
ticing physician  at  Portland,  Indiana. 

Joseph  R.  Wiley  was  past  four  years  old  when 
brought  to  DeKalb  County  and  he  grew  up  here, 
attending  the  common  schools  and  taking  a special 
course  in  Valparaiso  College  for  one  year.  He 
married  Nellie  Wertz,  a daughter  of  D.  W.  Wertz, 
of  Troy  Township.  They  have  one  daughter,  Har- 
riet M.,  who  was  born  June  13,  1900,  is  a graduate 
of  the  Butler  High  School,  taught  a term  or  two 
and  is  now  attending  the  James  Milliken  University 
at  Decatur,  Illinois. 

Mrs.  Wiley  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school  at 
Edgerton,  Ohio,  and  received  the  Bachelor  of  Sci- 
ence degree  from  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola. 
Before  her  marriage  she  taught  school  for  eight 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wiley  are  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  he  is  one  of  the  trustees  and  is  superin- 
tendent of  its  Sunday  school.  He  is  a republican 
and  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America.  He  served  four  years  as  trustee  of  Troy 
Township.  His  farm  in  that  locality  comprises  196 
acres. 

Weldon  Haskins.  While  his  early  education  and 
training  was  directed  so  as  to  fit  him  for  technical 
responsibilities  in  industrial  affairs,  Weldon  Has- 
kins since  coming  out  of  the  army,  in  which  he 
served  with  the  Chemical  Warfare  Division,  has 
taken  up  farming  as  the  serious  business  of  his 
life,  and  is  now  operating  the  old  farm  on  which 
he  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange 
County. 

His  family  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
LaGrange  County,  and  he  represents  the  fourth 
generation  here.  His  grandfather,  Willis  Haskins, 
was  born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  August 
21,  1797,  and  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in 
Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  com- 
ing with  his  parents,  Erastus  and  Mary  (Moore) 
Haskins,  in  August,  1836.  Willis  spent  practically 
all  the  rest  of  his  life  on  the  farm  where  his  parents 
located  and  where  his  father  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-two  and  his  mother  at  seventy.  Willis 
Haskins  improved  208  acres,  became  prominent  in 
agricultural  affairs,  and  lived  to  very  advanced 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  early  trustees  of  the 
township.  On  November  21,  1830,  he  married  Miss 
Jane  Jackson,  who  died  April  3,  1856.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eight  children,  named  Elizabeth, 
Franklin,  Charles,  George,  Albert,  Mary  J.,  Edith 
and  Willis.  For  his  second  wife  Willis  Haskins 
married  Mrs.  Clarissa  L.  Murray,  a daughter  of 
John  Kemp.  They  were  married  October  25,  1858, 
and  two  children  were  born  to  that  union,  Eugene 
and  Ella.  Three  of  the  sons  of  Willis  Haskins 
were  Union  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  Franklin, 
Charles  and  Albert.  Franklin  died  in  service  and 
was  buried  at  Nashville,  Tennessee. 


The  third  generation  of  the  family  in  LaGrange 
County  was  represented  by  George  Haskins,  who 
was  born  on  the  old  Haskins  place  in  Springfield 
Township.  He  married  Emma  Hoard,  who  was 
born  near  Ontario  in  LaGrange  County.  George 
Haskins  had  his  education  in  the  home  schools 
and  began  farming  in  early  manhood.  About  1880 
he  located  on  the  farm  where  his  son  Weldon  lives. 
He  has  300  acres,  and  had  much  of  it  cleared  up 
and  was.  a breeder  of  Shorthorn  cattle.  He  was 
still  in  his  prime  when  he  died  in  1898.  The  splen- 
did building  improvements  on  the  farm  were  placed 
there  during  the  ownership  and  management  of  his 
widow,  who  died  in  1912.  George  Haskins  was 
affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge  in  Orland.  He 
and  his  wife  had  four  children : Pearl,  Mrs.  Peter 

L.  Stauffer,  of  Howe ; Lulu,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  three  years ; Weldon ; and  Elwood,  who  died 
when  twenty-one. 

Weldon  Haskins  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
lives  today  in  Greenfield  Township  May  11,  1894. 
He  received  good  advantages  in  the  public  schools 
of  his  home  district,  graduated  in  1911  from  the 
Orland  High  School,  and  later  entered  Kalamazoo 
College  in  Michigan,  where  he  finished  his  work  in 
1917,  receiving  the  Bachelor  of  Science  degree.  He 
made  chemistry  his  major  study.  He  then  entered 
Yale  University,  but  soon  enlisted  in  the  army,  and 
was  in  the  Chemical  Warfare  Service  for  one  year. 
January  1,  1919,  he  returned  home,  and  is  now 
busily  engaged  with  farming.  Mr.  Haskins  is  af- 
filiated with  the  Masonic  Order  and  the  Eastern 
Star.  June  25,  1919,  he  married  Miss  Pearl  Scud- 
der,  daughter  of  Charles  Scudder,  of  Clinton  Coun- 
ty, Michigan. 

William  E.  Blackman,  who  recently  retired 
from  the  office  of  township  trustee  of  Fremont 
Township,  has  spent  all  his  life  on  one  farm  in  that 
locality.  His  people  were  early  settlers,  and  the 
work  which  his  father  did  as  a pioneer  has  been 
carried  on  by  the  son  and  has  made  one  of  the  best 
farms  in  Steuben  County. 

William  E.  Blackman  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  lives  today,  July  23,  i860,  a son  of  Allen  P.  and 
Margaret  (Corbett)  Blackman,  and  a grandson  of 
Eleazer  Blackman  and  William  H.  Corbett.  His 
father  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  March  3,  1812, 
and  his  mother  in  New  York  State.  Allen  P.  Black- 
man moved  from  Genesee  County,  New  York,  to 
Branch  County,  Michigan,  in  1855,  and  the  following 
year  came  to  Steuben  County,  locating  in  Fremont 
Township.  He  acquired  land  in  section  17,  most  of 
it  unimproved  and  uncleared,  and  in  course  of  time 
had  a well-developed  farm  of  102  acres.  He  died 
at  the  old  home  in  1899  and  his  wife  in  1885.  Wil- 
liam E.  Blackman  is  the  youngest  in  a family  of  five 
children  and  the  only  son.  His  sisters  were : Anna, 
deceased  wife  of  James  Turley;  Elizabeth,  also  de- 
ceased, who  married  Solomon  Alis ; Martha,  wife  of 
F.  R.  Drury;  and  Amie,  wife  of  Isaac  Foss. 

William  E.  Blackman  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Fremont  Township,  also  the  village 
schools  of  Fremont,  and  as  a boy  helped  his  father 
with  the  farm  and  in  young  manhood  took  over  its 
management  independently.  He  has  owned  the 
home  place  since  1900,  and  since  it  has  been  in  his 
possession  the  house  has  been  remodeled  and  given 
added  comfort.  He  has  also  built  two  barns  and  a 
silo.  He  has  his  farm  well  equipped  for  stock 
raising. 

In  1887  Mr.  Blackman  married  Miss  Jeanette 
Sowle,  a daughter  of  Francis  and  Elizabeth  Sowle. 
They  have  a family  of  seven  children,  named  Vere 
C.,  Eleazer,  Frank,  Kenneth,  Margaret,  Malvern  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


255 


Luana.  Mrs.  Blackman  died  in  1904.  Mr.  Blackman 
is  affiliated  with  the  Moose  at  Angola  and  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Fremont.  He  has  always  enjoyed 
the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens,  and 
he  justified  that  trust  during  his  term  as  trustee  of 
the  township  from  January,  1915,  to  January,  1919. 

J.  Edward  Eaton.  Though  Mr.  Eaton  is  living 
today  practically  amid  the  scenes  where  he  was  born 
and  reared,  he  has  made  his  successful  progress  not 
by  changing  his  location,  but  by  diligently  working 
to  prosper  and  alter  his  material  circumstances.  He 
is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Clay  Township  in 
LaGrange  County,  and  with  the  exception  of  a year 
and  a half  spent  at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  and  eleven 
months  in  California  has  been  in  that  township  all 
his  life. 

He  was  born  August  14,  1862,  a son  of  Josiah 
and  Rachel  (Preston)  Eaton.  His  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Sandusky  County,  Ohio.  Josiah 
Eaton  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1845,  and  grew 
to  manhood  in  Lima  Township,  but  about  1856 
moved  to  Clay  Township,  and  for  many  years  was 
one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  that  locality.  He  and 
his  wife  had  five  children : Sarah  E.,  J.  Edward, 

Charles  C.,  William  and  Alton  H. 

J.  Edward  Eaton  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
had  a district  school  education,  and  for  many  years 
has  lived  in  section  15  of  Clay  Township,  where  he 
owns  141  6-10  acres  of  good  farming  land.  In  1891 
he  married  Lottie  White,  daughter  of  Washington 
White.  They  have  six  children ; Lelah  who  died  in 
1917,  the  wife  of  James  Fuller,  leaving  one  child, 
Edna;  Marie;  Bertha,  wife  of  John  Howard  and 
the  mother  of  a son,  John  Calvin;  Wava;  Kenneth 
and  Gilbert. 

Eugene  Davis  is  on£  of  the  largest  land  owners 
in  LaGrange  County.  For  a quarter  of  a century  he 
has  planted  crops  and  looked  after  his  extensive 
interests  as  a farmer  and  stock  raiser  at  his  present 
home  in  Newbury  Township. 

Mr.  Davis,  who  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
a half  mile  north  of  Shipshewana,  January  22,  1857, 
is  a member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  of  the 
county,  a more  complete  account  of  whom  is  given 
on  other  pages.  His  father  was  Hezekiah  Davis, 
who  was  born  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  October 
9,  1825. 

Eugene  Davis  as  a boy  attended  district  school  in 
Newbury,  also  was  a student  in  the  Ontario  Col- 
legiate Institute,  and. since  early  manhood  has  been 
a practical  farmer.  He  did  his  first  independent 
work  as  a farmer  in  Van  Buren  Township,  but  in 
the  fall  of  1893  came  to  his  present  home  in  section 
12  of  Newbury  Township.  Mr.  Davis  is  the  owner 
of  about  1,230  acres  in  Newbury  and  Van  Buren 
townships. 

He  is  the  head  of  a large  family,  he  and  his  wife 
having  had  ten  children,  and  there  are  a number  of 
grandchildren  which  gather  at  the  old  home  place 
in  Newbury.  On  April  19,  1877,  Mr.  Davis  married 
Alice  Summey,  daughter  of  Abraham  and  Rachel 
(Chambers)  Summey.  Abraham  Summey,  a son 
of  John  and  Susanna  Summey,  was  born  in  York 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1827,  and  in  1837  accom- 
panied his  parents  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  Later 
he  lived  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1850 
married  Rachel  Chambers,  who  was  born  near 
Columbus,  Ohio.  In  1851  Abraham  Summey  moved 
to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  and  he 
became  the  owner  of  572  acres  of  land  in  that  local- 
ity. He  died  in  June,  1900,  and  his  wife  January  14, 
1914.  In  the  Summey  family  were  six  children, 
Susan,  Eliza,  John  E.,  Ellis,  Alice  and  Oliver.  The 


oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  was  Stewart, 
who  married  Retha  Newell  and  died  February  27, 
1904.  The  second,  Beulah,  is  the  wife  of  Edson 
Oxender  and  has  four  children,  Ethel  D.,  Ralph  O., 
Helen  Mae  and  Mildred  O.  Niles  H.,  who  is  at  pres- 
ent superintendent  of  schools  in  North  Dakota,  but 
expects  to  return  and  make  LaGrange  County  his 
home,  married  Ida  Foss,  and  their  family  consists 
of  Esther  Alethea,  Doris  Vivian,  Keith  Foss  and 
Alice  E.,  but  the  last  named  died  when  three  months 
old.  Opal,  the  fourth  in  the  family,  is  the  wife  of 
Eldon  M.  Hostetler.  Their  children  are  Alice,  Ruth, 
Paul,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Elizabeth  Mae,  who 
was  burned  to  death  when  three  years  old.  Pearl 
Davis  is  the  wife  of  Jay  Conrad  and  has  one  child, 
Marion  J.  Eugene  H.  is  still  at  home.  Ocie  married 
Willard  E.  Murray,  and  their  children  are  Vera 
Beulah,  Roscoe  D.  and  Rachel  Dorothy.  Josie  is 
the  wife  of  Glenn  E.  Norris  and'  the  mother  of 
Davis  J.  and  Dorothy  Melissa.  Retha,  the  ninth  in 
the  family,  died  April  14,  1911,  while  Hewlitt  M., 
the  youngest,  died  March  21,  1900. 

Michael  F.  Long.  The  life  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  has  been  such  as  to  elicit  just  praise  from 
those  who  know  him  best,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he 
has  always  been  true  to  the  trusts  reposed  in  him 
and  has  been  upright  in  his  dealings  with  his  fellow 
men,  at  the  same  time  lending  his  support  to  the 
advancement  of  any  cause  looking  to  the  welfare  of 
the  community  at  large. 

Michael  F.  Long  is  a native  of  DeKalb  County, 
having  been  born  near  Auburn  on  June  4,  1849.  His 
parents,  Michael  and  Caroline  (Baird)  Long,  were 
natives  of  Georgetown,  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  they  were  reared  and  married.  Sub- 
sequently they  moved  to  Ohio,  locating  near  Orville, 
Wayne  County,  but  in  1845  moved  to  Auburn,  Indi- 
ana, where  they  located  on  a farm.  Seven  years 
later  they  moved  into  Auburn,  where  Mr.  Long 
opened  a meat  market,  being  a pioneer  in  that  line 
here.  That  was  prior  to  the  use  of  refrigerators 
and  most  of  the  meat  was  peddled  by  wagon.  This 
business  he  conducted  until  his  death.  He  was  a 
democrat  in  his  political  affiliations,  and  he  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  They  were  the  parents  of  two  children, 
Henry  J.,  of  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan,  and  Michael  F. 

Michael  F.  Long  received  a good  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Auburn  and  then  for  a number 
of  years  he  was  engaged  in  teaching  schools,  being 
employed  in  the  district  schools  and  in  Auburn.  He 
then  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Auburn, 
which  claimed  his  attention  for  three  years.  Mr. 
Long  then  took  the  United  States  civil  service  ex- 
amination and  received  an  oppointment  as  railway 
mail  clerk.  He  held  some  of  the  earliest  “runs”  in 
this  part  of  the  country,  having  those  from  Chicago 
to  Cleveland  on  the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  from  Chi- 
cago to  Newark,  Ohio,  on  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
Railroad,  and  then  opened  the  route  from  Toledo 
to  Dayton.  Eventually,  tiring  of  that  vocation,  Mr. 
Long  came  to  Butler  and  opened  a fine  meat  market, 
which  he  conducted  about  eight  years.  Then  for  six 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  farming  implement  busi- 
ness, relinquishing  that  vocation  to  enter  the  office 
of  county  clerk,  to  which  he  had  been  elected  on 
the  republican  ticket.  He  faithfully  and  efficiently 
discharged  the  duties  of  this  responsible  office  for 
four  years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  »his  term  he 
returned  to  Butler  and  entered  the  employ  of  the 
McCormick  Harvester  Company,  for  whom  he  trav- 
eled for  about  seventeen  years.  Because  of  failing 
health  he  was  compelled  to  resign  that  position,  and 


256 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


he  then  opened  the  Overland  Garage  at  Butler,  which 
he  is  now  conducting  and  in  which  he  has  met  with 
well-deserved  success. 

On  October  8,  1871,  Mr.  Long  was  married  to 
Vianna  Stonebraker,  and  to  them  were  born  four 
children,  namely:  Blanche,  the  widow  of  Charles 

Felske ; Lenore,  the  wife  of  Charles  LaDue,  of  New 
Rochelle,  New  York;  Louise,  wife  of  Albert  E. 
Whitehead ; George,  who  was  drowned  near  Butler 
when  fourteen  years  of  age.  The  mother  of  these 
children  died  in  1881  and  in  1885  Mr.  Long  mar- 
ried Eva  Share.  To  this  union  two  children  have 
been  born,  Frank  L.,  a butter  salesman,  and  T.  M., 
who  is  interested  with  his  father  in  the  garage. 

Politically  Mr.  Long  has  been  a life-long  re- 
publican and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  the  affairs 
of  his  community.  His  fraternal  relations  are  with 
the  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  His  life  has  become  a part  of  the  history 
of  his  community,  and  his  long  and  honorable  busi- 
ness career  has  brought  him  before  the  public  in 
such  a way  as  to  gain  the  esteem  and  confidence  of 
his  fellowmen. 

John  P.  Caton  is  a member  of  the  Caton  Broth- 
ers, furniture  and  undertaking,  having  built  up  one 
of  the  largest  and  finest  establishments  of  the  kind 
in  Northern  Indiana.  Mr.  Caton,  who  started  his 
career  without  fortune,  has  achieved  definite  suc- 
cess, and  is  rated  as  one  of  LaGrange’s  leading  men 
of  affairs  and  with  a public  spirit  responsive  to 
every  community  demand. 

He  was  born  at  LaGrange,  April  11,  1877,  a son 
of  Capt.  John  H.  and  Annetta  (Kingsley)  Caton. 
Concerning  his  father  and  mother’s  families  ex- 
tended reference  is  made  on  other  pages.  Mr. 
Caton  was  five  years  old  when  his  father  and  mother 
moved  to  the  farm  in  Milford  Township  where  he 
grew  up  and  lived  until  he  was  twenty  years  of 
age.  He  attended  public  schools  near  the  farm 
home,  also  the  South  Milford  High  School,  and 
took  a business  course  in  the  Hawkins  Commercial 
School  at  Huntington,  Indiana.  On  leaving  the 
farm  he  was  for  about  six  years  employed  in  the 
Hawk  Mills  at  Mongo.  He  left  there  and  in  order 
■to  prepare  himself  for  the  undertaking  profession 
entered  the  Carl  L.  Barnes  School  of  Embalming 
and  Sanitary  Science  at  Chicago,  of  which  he  is 
a graduate.  After  finishing  his  course  he  returned 
to  LaGrange,  for  2 J4  years  was  employed  by  John- 
ston Brothers,  furniture  and  undertaking,  and  then 
joined  his  brother  Claud  in  the  undertaking  busi- 
ness. A year  and  a half  later  they  leased  their 
present  store  in  the  Brown  Block,  and  under  the 
name  of  Caton  Brothers  have  rapidly  expanded 
their  business  as  dealers  in  high  class  furniture  and 
have  an  unsurpassed  equipment  and  service  for 
undertaking. 

In  1917  Mr.  Caton  with  Charles  Smith,  C.  B. 
Hinkley  and  Rolland  Van  Kirk  bought  out  the 
W.  W.  Murray  plant  and  organized  the  LaGrange 
Creamery  and  Ice  Company.  He  is  one  of  the  di- 
rectors of  that  important  local  utility.  Pie  was  also 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  LaGrange  County 
Trust  Company  and  has  been  its  vice  president  since 
organization.  Mr.  Caton  owns  eighty-five  acres  of 
good  land  in  Milford  Township,  constituting  a well 
improved  and  valuable  farm. 

He  has  been  quite  active  in  county  politics  as 
a republican  and  for  the  past  ten  years  has  held 
the  office  of  county  coroner.  He  is  a thirty-second 
degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a member  of  Miz- 
pah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne. 
He  received  his  early  degrees  in  Masonry  in  Mer- 
idian Sun  Lodge  No.  76,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 


Masons,  at  La  Grange.  He  is  also  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  LaGrange.  In  religious  mat- 
ters he  is  liberal,  giving  his  chief  support  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

May  21,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Maud  Hawk, 
daughter  of  William  C.  and  Augusta  (Shepardson) 
Hawk,  of  Mongo,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Caton  died  in 
January,  1902. 

_ Otto  Simmons.  Fully  eighty  years  have  passed 
since  the  Simmons  family  became  identified  with 
Steuben  County.  In  that  time  three  generations 
have  contributed  to  the  improvement  and  advance- 
ment of  this  section  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Otto 
Simmons  is  a member  of  the  third  generation,  and 
is  handling  the  operation  of  one  of  the  fine  farms 
in  Jackson  Township,  which  was  developed  from  a 
wild  estate  by  his  father. 

Mr.  Simmons  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he  is 
now  living  August  10,  1880,  son  of  Henry  Simmons, 
who  still  lives  with  him,  and  grandson  of  Cephus 
and  Lizzie  (Churchill)  Simmons.  Cephus  Simmons 
was  born  in  Vermont  and  his  wife  near  Plymouth 
Rock,  Massachusetts.  They  were  married  in  Ver- 
mont and  in  about  1837  started  for  the  West.  At 
that  time  there  were  no  railroads,  and  they  traveled 
partly  by  stage  and  partly  by  ox-team  until  they 
reached  Steuben  County.  He  lived  most  of  his  life 
in  Jackson  Township  and  as  a mason  followed  his 
trade  in  Salem,  Jackson  and  Millgrove  townships. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  a farm  of  forty 
acres  in  Jackson  Township.  His  children  were 
Harriett,  Ellen,  Henry,  Maria,  Lucy  and  Viola. 

Henry  Simmons,  who  was  born  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship October  27,  1840,  grew  up  in  the  pioneer  days, 
attended  local  schools  and  after  his  marriage  secured 
eighty  acres  of  the  present  homestead  farm.  It 
was  wild  and  uncleared  land,  and  his  first  home  was 
a log  house.  As  he  prospered  he  added  more  land 
until  he  had  no  acres,  and  all  he  spent  on  building 
improvements  represents  his  investment  and  labor. 
Henry  Simmons  married  Nancy  Parker,  a daughter 
of  Isaac  and  Margaret  Parker.  They  had  four  chil- 
dren : Philena  and  Hattie,  both  of  whom  died  in 
childhood;  Abbie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Oliver  Walter; 
and  Otto. 

Otto  Simmons  secured  his  education  in  the  Mor- 
gan District  School  of  Jackson  Township,  and  from 
early  boyhood  has  been  working  on  the  home  farm. 
For  twenty  months  he  lived  on  a nearby  farm,  and 
with  that  exception  his  entire  life  has  been  spent  on 
the  place  developed  by  his  father.  Since  1900  he 
has  been  renting  the  farm  and  does  general  farming 
and  stock  raising. 

Mr.  Simmons  married  in  1899  Mabel  Tubbs,  a 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Barbara  Tubbs.  They  have 
four  children:  Wren,  born  in  1900,  is  a student  of 
the  High  School  at  Flint,  Lela,  Ania  and  Frank. 

Daniel  J.  Yoder  carries  the  heavy  responsibili- 
ties of  managing  and  operating  a large  farm  in  Eden 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  Largely  through 
his  individual  enterprise  and  efforts  he  has  made  a 
success  of  farming,  and  his  farm  and  home  bear 
many  evidences  of  his  progressive  spirit.  His  home 
is  near  Schrock. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 19,  1856,  a son  of  Jonathan  J.  and  Catherine 
Yoder,  the  former  a native  of  Mifflin  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  the  latter  of  Holmes  County,  Ohio. 
Mr.  Yoder  went  to  Holmes  County  when  sixteen 
years  old  and  married  for  his  first  wife  Rebecca 
Lantz.  He  had  one  son,  Gabriel,  now  deceased. 
After  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  married  Cath- 
erine Yoder,  and  continued  to  live  in  Holmes  County 


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HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


257 


until  1865,  when  he  brought  his  family  to  Newbury 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  After  a brief  resi- 
dence there  he  bought  another  place,  and  finally 
bought  the  160  acres  where  his  son  Daniel  now 
lives,  and  was  on  that  farm  until  his  death.  Of  his 
thirteen  children  seven  are  still  living:  John  J.,  of 

Newbury;  Lydia,  wife  of  Manassas  Borntrager; 
Barbara,  widow  of  Jonas  B.  Yoder;  Jonathan,  who 
married  Magdalena  Miller,  of  Eden  Township ; Ben- 
jamin C.,  of  Eden  Township,  who  married  Mary 
Beachy;  Daniel  J. ; David,  of  Newbury  Township, 
who  married  Sarah  Yoder. 

Daniel  J.  Yoder  was  eight  years  old  when  brought 
to  LaGrange  County.  Here  he  finished  his  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools  and  lived  at  home  to  the 
age  of  twenty-one.  He  then  worked  out  at  day 
labor,  and  being  a young  man  of  thrifty  habits  and 
sound  industry  soon  accumulated  about  $200.  With 
that  capital  he  rented  his  father’s  farm  (or  two 
years,  then  for  two  years  rented  the  place  where 
he  now  lives,  and  then  bought  it. 

November  14,  1878,  he  married  Elizabeth  Each. 
To  their  happy  union  were  born  twelve  children, 
eleven  of  whom  are  still  living : Samuel,  Enos, 

Andrew,  Jonathan,  David,  Emanuel,  Anna,  Sarah, 
(deceased),  Daniel,  Mary,  Elizabeth  and  Menno. 
The  family  are  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite 
Church. 

Mr.  Yoder  not  only  owns  150  acres  of  the  old 
homestead,  but  also  eighty  acres  across  the  road 
and  eighty  acres  in  another  locality  of  Eden  Town- 
ship. 

Melvin  J.  Van  Wagner.  Of  the  numerous  good 
farms  in  Jackson  Township,  Steuben  County,  one 
in  its  present  day  improvements  and  value  represents 
years  of  faithful  toil  and  good  management  on  the 
part  of  its  former  owner,  the  late  Melvin  J.  Van 
Wagner.  Mrs.  Van  Wagner  and  her  children  still 
live  on  the  old  homestead  and  enjoy  much  of  the 
prosperity  created  by  her  honored  husband. 

Mr.  Van  Wagner  was  born  in  Salem  Township, 
Steuben  County,  March  2,  1852,  a son  of  Harvey 
and  Abigail  (Parsell)  Van  Wagner.  His  parents 
came  at  quite  an  early  day  to  Steuben  County,  set- 
tled in  Salem  Township  on  rented  land,  and  Harvey 
Van  Wagner  followed  several  different  occupations, 
including  that  of  butcher.  He  lived  at  Flint  for  a 
time  and  died  at  Plymouth,  Ohio.  He  was  born  in 
1826  and  died  April  3,  1903.  Mr.  Van  Wagner’s 
mother  passed  away  in  1875.  Their  children  were 
six  in  number,  Mary  Jane,  Melvin  J.,  Diantha,  Henry, 
Isaac  and  Sylvester. 

Melvin  J.  Van  Wagner  acquired  his  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Salem  Township,  and  leaving 
home  at  an  early  age  he  worked  for  others,  both 
by  the  month  and  year.  Finally  he  rented  some  land 
and  later  bought  a place  of  forty  acres  near  Turkey 
Lake.  He  sold  that  and  again  continued  renting 
for  several  years  and  about  twenty  years  ago  he 
bought  sixty  acres,  but  later  sold  forty  acres  of 
that  tract  and  then  bought  sufficient  land  to  give 
him  a farm  of  200  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  It 
was  with  the  cultivation  and  management  of  this 
farm  that  he  was  busied  at  the  time  of  his  death 
on  October  23,  1916.  He  put  up  many  improvements 
and  as  a stockman  specialized  in  pure  bred  Shrop- 
shire sheep. 

He  was  one  of  the  leading  democrats  of  the  county 
and  was  twice  a candidate  for  sheriff.  He  made  a 
good  campaign,  but  at  that  time  the  county  was 
strongly  entrenched  in  republican  favor.  Mrs.  Van 
Wagner  is  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
as  was  her  husband. 

October  4,  1874,  he  married  Mary  E.  Laughrey, 
who  was  born  in  Salem  Township  March  31,  1856, 
Vol.  II— 17 


a daughter  of  John  and  Charity  (Young)  Loughrey. 
Her  parents  settled  in  that  township  in  April,  1850, 
buying  160  acres  southeast  of  where  the  Block 
Church  now  stands.  Her  father  died  there  in  1865 
and  her  mother  in  1886.  Mr.  Laughrey  was  a demo- 
crat and  his  wife  a Presbyterian.  In  the  Laughrey 
family  were  ten  children:  Nancy,  Emily,  Andrew, 

William,  James,  George,  Elmer,  Irvin,  Jane  and 
Mary  E.  All  of  them  grew  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood except  James,  who  died  in  Ohio. 

Mrs.  Van  Wagner  was  the  mother  of  seven  chil- 
dren, and  now  has  a number  of  grandchildren.  Her 
oldest  child  was  Bernice,  who  died  September  27, 
1909.  She  was  the  wife  of  Ernest  Shank  and  the 
mother  of  three  children,  named  Arlo,  Keith,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  five  years,  and  Wier.  Lloyd, 
who  is  now  the  active  manager  of  the  home  farm, 
married  Floy  Shank,  a daughter  of  Norman  Shank, 
of  Jackson  Township,  and  they  had  seven  children, 
Gerald,  Raymond,  Melvin,  Dale,  Hope,  Wendall  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy.  The  third  and  fourth  chil- 
dren of  Mrs.  Van  Wagner  died  in  infancy.  Bertha 
is  the  wife  of  Clyde  Purdy,  and  their  family  con- 
sists of  Vera,  Elton,  Robert,  Alice,  Paul  and  By- 
ron. Carl  Van  Wagner  married  Hattie  Groves  and 
has  two  children,  named  Mary  and  Basil.  Byron,  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  married  Florence  Davis,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Joyce  and  Harold  B. 

Jacob  J.  Yoder.  Hardly  any  name  has  a sturdier 
and  more  substantial  record  in  connection  with  the 
agriculture,  business,  social  and  civic  life  of  North- 
east Indiana  than  that  of  Yoder.  Jacob  J.  Yoder’s 
family  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County  for  over  fifty- 
five  years,  and  most  of  his  own  life  has  been  spent 
within  the  borders  of  that  county.  His  home  was 
formerly  in  Clay  Township  but  for  several  years 
past  he  has  owned  one  of  the  good  farms  of  New- 
bury Township. 

Mr.  Yoder  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  11,  1861,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara 
(Miller)  Yoder.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  father  born  December  11,  1831, 
and  his  mother  October  22,  1835.  They  were  mar- 
ried on  March  3,  1854,  and  in  1863  came  to  La- 
Grange County  and  settled  in  Newbury  Township. 
A year  later  Jacob  Yoder  went  to  Clay  Township, 
and  he  lived  on  his  farm  there  until  his  death  in 
1915.  His  wife  passed  away  December  19,  1879. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  A 
record  of  their  family  of  children  is  as  follows: 
George,  born  March  21,  1855 1 Edward,  born  Feb- 
ruary 15,  1857,  died  in  infancy;  Lydia,  born  March 
9,  1858.  and  died  December  3,  1896;  Jacob  J. ; Wil- 
liam, born  March  7,  1863;  Samuel,  born  March  29, 
1866;  Fannie,  born  August  31,  1870;  Lizzie,  born 
October  29,  1872;  Andrew,  born  September  n,  1875, 
died  April  30,  1900;  and  Susan,  born  January  13, 
187c. 

Jacob  J.  Yoder  was  two  years  old  when  brought 
to  LaGrange  County,  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  school  near  his  father’s  home  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  in  early  manhood  began  farming  there. 
He  owned  a good  farm  of  eighty-four  acres  in 
section  27,  but  sold  this  property  in  1913  and  bought 
his  present  home  in  section  1 of  Newbury  Town- 
ship. He  owns  151  acres  and  has  repaired  and  put 
all  the  buildings  in  good  condition  and  is  well  sit- 
uated for  the  profitable  handling  of  his  operations  as 
a farmer  and  stockman. 

In  1884  Mr.  Yoder  married  Sarah  Miller,  a daugh- 
ter of  Jonison  Miller.  Their  married  life  continued 
for  sixteen  years,  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Yoder 
October  2,  1900.  To  their  marriage  were  born  seven 
children : Ammon,  who  marriecj  Katie  Mishler ; 

Henry,  who  served  in  the  National  Army,  spending 


258 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


about  six  months  in  France;  William,  who  was  also 
a soldier,  his  time  with  the  army  being  spent  at 
Camp  Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky;  Owen;  John; 
Norah,  who  is  the  wife  of  James  Troyer  and  has  a 
son,  Samuel;  and  Artie.  In  1908  Mr.  Yoder  mar- 
ried Rebecca  Huber,  a daughter  of  Jacob  B.  Huber 
of  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder  are  members  of  the 
Mennonite  Church.  In  January,  1912,  they  adopted 
a boy  two  years  old  and  a girl  three  weeks  old,  and 
these  foster  children  are  receiving  every  advantage 
in  their  home.  They  bear  the  names  Paul  and  Mary 
Yoder. 

Herman  E.  Krueger  is  owner  of  the  .Forest  View 
Farm  in  Fairfield  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  The 
record  of  the  family  might  be  called  a tri-county 
family  history,  having  been  identified  with  three 
counties  in  Northeast  Indiana.  His  parents  on  com- 
ing from  Germany  first  settled  at  Kendallville,  and 
all  the  Krueger  children  except  Herman,  the  young- 
est of  ten,  were  born  in  Noble  County.  In  1880  the 
family  moved  from  Noble  to  Steuben  County,  and 
there  Herman  E.  Krueger  was  born  December  4, 
1882.  Since  reaching  manhood  he  has  established 
his  home  in  DeKalb  County.  Some  of  the  interesting 
facts  and  comments  on  the  history  of  his  parents  are 
told  in  later  paragraphs. 

Herman  E.  Krueger  married  Paulina  Kiebel  April 
10,  1910.  They  had  a daughter  born  July  22,  1912. 
The  wife  and  mother  died  two  weeks  after  the  birth 
of  the  daughter,  and  the  child  has  since  been  cared 
for  by  his  sister,  Mrs.  Augusta  Richard  of  Kendall- 
ville. Mrs.  Krueger  was  a daughter  of  Otto  and 
Wilhelmina  (Mensil)  Kiebel.  Her  brothers,  Otto, 
Albert  and  Abe,  and  her  sisters,  Bertha  and  Emma, 
are  all  residents  of  Noble  County.  Her  parents  came 
from  Germany  and  Paulina  was  born  in  that  coun- 
try and  was  an  infant  when  brought  to  America. 

October  11,  1914,  Mr.  Krueger  married  Bertha 
Helen  Voges.  She  is  a native  of  DeKalb  County 
and  a daughter  of  Albert  and  Helena  (Hoffmeyer) 
Voges.  Her  father  came  from  Germany  and  in  1879 
moved  to  Michigan  and  finally  came  to  DeKalb 
County.  Mrs.  Krueger’s  sisters  are  Sophia,  Mary 
and  Emma,  and  she  has  one  brother,  John  Voges. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Krueger  buried  twin  children.  Their 
two  living  children  are  George  Walter  and  Helen 
Sophia,  who  represent  the  fourth  generation  of  the 
Krueger  family  in  America. 

The  family  home,  Forest  View,  in  Fairfield  Town- 
ship, is  wholly  surrounded  by  timber,  and  has  be- 
come a farm  of  much  value  under  Mr.  Krueger’s 
management.  The  family  are  members  of  Zion 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Krueger  attended 
parochial  school  one  year,  preparing  for  confirma- 
tion, while  Mrs.  Krueger  was  in  the  parochial  schools 
until  after  confirmation  and  then  attended  public 
school.  His  chief  education  was  acquired  in  the 
public  schools  of  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  Under  existing  circumstances  his  own  chil- 
dren will  be  given  the  advantages  of  the  public 
schools.  In  politics  the  record  of  both  the  Krueger 
and  Voges  families  has  been  throughout  democratic. 

The  parents  of  Herman  E.  Krueger  were  Charles 
Henry  and  Sophia  (Miller)  Krueger.  They  came 
from  Mecklenburg,  Germany,  and  landed  in  New 
York  City  on  New  Year’s  Day  of  1861,  after  eight 
weeks  on  the  water.  They  were  steerage  passengers 
on  a freight  vessel  laden  with  munitions  of  war 
shipped  from  Hamburg,  Germany,  to  the  United 
States  at  the  time  of  the  Civil  war.  There  were 
triangular  bars  of  lead  ready  to  be  made  into  bul- 
lets. The  passengers  on  the  boat  included  too  Ger- 
man immigrants,  and  the  Kruegers  afterward  knew 


some  of  them  and  had  them  as  neighbors  and  friends 
in  America.  The  Kruegers  brought  their  packs,  con- 
taining blankets,  clothing  and  other  supplies.  From 
New  York  they  went  to  Cleveland  aboard  an  emi- 
grant train.  From  Cleveland  they  came  to  Kendall- 
ville. They  began  housekeeping  with  a store  box  for 
a table.  Charles  H.  Krueger  worked  in  stores  at 
Kendallville  for  several  years,  until  he  was  able  to 
buy  a farm  in  Steuben  County.  They  were  among 
good  people  and  in  time  they  were  able  to  help 
others.  “If  father  were  living,”  says  Mr.  Herman 
E.  Krueger,  “he  could  fill  up  a history  with  the  story 
of  his  life.”  Later  Charles  H.  Krueger  sent  for  his 
father  and  mother  and  a brother,  Fred  Krueger, 
who  is  still  living  at  Sturgis,  Michigan. 

While  Mr.  Krueger’s  parents  came  in  a sailing 
vessel  Mrs.  Krueger’s  father  came  by  steamer  and 
was  on  the  water  half  the  time.  The  Krueger  family 
history  in  the  New  World  began  almost  sixty  years 
ago.  Herman  E.  Krueger’s  mother  is  still  living  in 
Steuben  County  with  her  son  William  F.  Krueger. 

Charles  Garlets.  The  Garlets  family  has  long 
been  one  of  importance  in  LaGrange  County,  and 
several  branches  receive  special  attention  in  this 
publication.  The  home  of  Charles  Garlets  is  a 
farm  in  Greenfield  Township,  and  he  is  cultivating 
land  today  which  his  grandfather  originally  im- 
proved. 

Mr.  Garlets  was  born  in  Springfield  Township, 
April  1,  1870,  and  is  a son  of  John  P.  and  Mary 
(Horner)  Garlets.  Of  the  earlier  generations  of 
the  Garlets  family  nothing  more  need  be  said  at 
this  point,  since  the  subject  is  covered  elsewhere. 
Mary  Horner  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Mary  (Graham)  Horner,  both 
natives  of  the  same  state.  William  Horner  was 
a son  of  Jacob  and  Catherine  Horner,  who  spent 
all  their  lives  in  Pennsylvania.  William  Horner 
brought  his  family  to  LaGrange  County  in  1868, 
locating  in  Greenfield  Township.  His  first  wife 
died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  children  by  that  mar- 
riage were  Daniel,  John,  Noah,  Mrs.  Lizzie 
Laughery,  Mrs.  Mary  Garlets  and  Anna.  In  West- 
moreland County,  Pennsylvania,  William  Horner 
married  Mary  Millhoff.  On  coming  wesj  the  Hor- 
ner family  traveled  by  railroad  as  far  as  Sturgis, 
Michigan,  from  which  point  teams  and  wagons 
brought  them  to  LaGrange  County.  William  Hor- 
ner spent  the  rest  of  his  life  on  his  farm  in  Green- 
field Township.  By  his  second  wife  he  had  four 
children:  Jemima,  Eli  (who  died  in  infancy),  Wil- 
liam and  Catherine.  His  sons  Daniel,  John  and 
Noah  Horner  were  all  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  John  was  reported  missing  after  one  battle 
and  his  exact  fate  was  never  determined. 

John  P.  Garlets  was  born  and  received  his  early 
education  partly  in  Ohio  and  partly  in  Indiana, 
being  a youth  when  his  family  came  to  LaGrange 
County.  He  did  his  first  farming  on  the  George 
Thompson  farm,  and  in  1873  he  bought  twenty-five 
acres  of  the  place  where  Milton  Garlets  now  lives 
in  Springfield  Township.  Later  he  owned  ninety 
acres  there,  and  his  toil  cleared  up  most  of  the 
land.  In  1901  he  moved  to  the  farm  owned  by  his 
son  Charles  in  Greenfield  Township.  He  had  160 
acres  there,  this  being  land  that  his  father  had  first 
owned.  He  and  his  wife  lived  there  until  they 
retired  to  Mongo  in  the  spring  of  1912  and  he  died  in 
March,  1913. 

Charles  Garlets  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents. 
He  attended  the  Sand  Hill  School  and  the  schools 
of  Mongo,  and  after  his  marriage  worked  on  his 
father’s  farm  at  monthly  wages,  and  also  ran  the 
homestead  on  his  own  responsibility.  For  three 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


259 


years  he  farmed  in  Michigan  and  in  1910  he  went 
west  to  the  Yakima  Valley  of  Washington,  where 
he  bought  a farm  and  lived  about  a year.  He 
then  returned  to  his  father’s  old  place,  and  now 
regards  that  as  his  permanent  home  and  himself 
as  a fixture  in  the  agricultural  community.  He  is  a 
breeder  of  full  blood  Shorthorn  cattle. 

On  July  15,  1888,  Mr.  Garlets  married  Miss  Al- 
meda  Cook.  She  was  born  in  Portage  County, 
Ohio,  and  her  parents,  Milton  E.  and  Levina  (Hull) 
Cook,  were  also  natives  of  that  county,  and  in  1873 
came  to  LaGrange  County  and  bought  a farm  in 
Johnson  Township.  They  lived  there  nine  years 
and  north  of  LaGrange  nine  years,  after  which  her 
father  and  mother  went  to  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
and  spent  their  last  years  in  that  county.  In  the 
Cook  family  were  nine  children,  all  still  living,  as 
follows:  Eldora,  Mrs.  John  Minch;  Minnie,  wife 
of  William  Fair;  Mrs.  Charles  Garlets;  Arilda, 
wife  of  Frank  Sturgis;  Ernest;  Lily,  wife  of  Elmer 
Sawyer,  of  Stillwater,  Oklahoma;  Chloe,  Mrs.  Clar- 
ence Darner;  Edith,  who  is  the  >vife  of  John  Wrinkle 
and  lives  at  Archbold,  Ohio ; and  Viola,  Mrs.  J.  P. 
Smith,  of  Bryan,  Ohio. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Garlets  have  two  children : Mil- 

ton,  born  in  1891,  married  Bess  Gochenaur,  and 
Charles,  Jr.,  Milton  M.  and  John  P.  are  the  three 
grandchildren  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  Garlets. 
The  daughter,  Thelma,  was  born  in  1898  and  is  now 
a teacher  in  the  Darrow  school.  She  is  a graduate 
of  the  LaGrange  High  School  with  the  class  of 
1917. 

Daniel  A.  Schaeffer.  Through  a period  of 
three-quarters  of  a century  the  name  and  good 
works  of  the  Schaeffer  family  have  effected  a con- 
tinuous impression  upon  the  material  and  social 
progress_  of  Fremont  Township  in  Steuben  County. 
A farm  in  section  16  of  that  township  was  originally 
acquired  direct  from  the  Government  by  the  late 
John  Schaeffer,  and  that  farm  today  is  owned  and 
under  the  capable  management  and  direction  of  his 
son,  Daniel  A.  Schaeffer. 

The  late  John  Schaeffer  was  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  April  10,  1820,  a son  of 
William  and  Margaret  (Beck)  Schaeffer.  Reared 
on  a farm  and  with  a common  school  education,  he 
found  his  opportunities  somewhat  limited  in  the 
well-settled  districts  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
spent  his  youth,  and  in  1845  he  came  to  Northeast 
Indiana  and  entered  a tract  of  land  in  Fremont 
Township.  After  he  had  completed  his  business 
transaction  at  the  land  office  and  had  made  some 
other  preparations  he  and  a Mr.  Michael  went  back 
to  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania.  They  walked 
the  entire  distance,  the  journey  taking  them  three 
weeks.  Few  men  aside  from  professional  pedes- 
trians would  undertake  such  a journey  today  for 
any  price.  There  was  a strong  stimulus  urging 
John  Schaeffer  to  make  the  journey.  When  he  re- 
turned to  Dauphin  County  he  was  married  Novem- 
ber 4,  1847,  to  Eve  Walmer.  She  was  a native  of 
the  same  county,  born  in  1823.  In  1848  John 
Schaeffer  made  permanent  settlement  on  his  land 
in  Steuben  County,  and  gradually  cleared  away  the 
heavy  timber  until  he  had  a cultivated  farm,  and 
owned  172  acres.  He  and  his  wife  were  active 
members  of  the  German  Methodist  Church.  John 
Schaeffer  died  May  5,  1904,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  1901.  Of  their  seven  children  five  reached 
mature  years:  David  J.,  John  W.,  Eleanor  E., 
Daniel  A.  and  Margaret  M. 

Daniel  A.  Schaeffer  was  born  at  the  old  home- 
stead in  Fremont  Township  May  22,  1858,  acquired 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  and  began 
farming  with  his  father.  In  1887  he  married  Miss 


Ollie  Balch,  a daughter  of  William  and  Susan  Balch. 

He  then  took  his  bride  to  Reading,  Michigan,  was 
engaged  in  the  butcher  business  there  six  years,  for 
another  year  lived  at  Coldwater,  Michigan,  in  the 
same  line  of  business,  and  then  returned  to  look 
after  the  homestead  farm,  his  parents  being  well 
advanced  in  years.  He  made  his  father  and  mother 
comfortable,  and  they  lived  with  him  until  their 
death.  Mr.  Schaeffer  owns  ninety-six  acres  of  the 
old  homestead,  and  has  it  well  equipped  with  build- 
ings and  other  facilities  for  farming  and  stock 
raising. 

He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Evangelical 
Church  at  Fremont.  They  have  five  children,  named 
Earl,  Glenn,  Hazel,  Paul  and  Lyle.  Earl  married 
Edith  Eastham  and  has  two  children,  named  Dean 
and  Esther.  Glenn  married  Laura  Adams  and  has 
a child,  Rolene.  Hazel  is  the  wife  of  Harold  Hoff- 
naughle,  and  their  family  consists  of  Richard  and 
Rollo. 

George  F.  Chrystler  has  been  a resident  of 
LaGrange  County  for  half  a century,  and  from  farm 
labor  and  farm  renter  has  so  conducted.his  affairs  as 
to  become  owner  of  a good  farm  and  independently 
prosperous. 

Mr.  Chrystler,  whose  home  is  in  Clay  Township, 
was  born  in  Cattaragus  County,  New  York,  Febru- 
ary 7,  1847,  a son  of  Abraham  Chrystler.  There  are 
several  representatives  of  the  Chrystler  family  in 
Northeast  Indiana,  and  much  of  Mr.  Chrystler’s 
family  history  is  told  on  other  pages.  Mr.  Chrystler 
when  a boy  of  only  thirteen  began  working  out  by 
the  month,  and  continued  in  that  line  until  he  was 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  then  for  about  two  years 
he  was  a renter,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  bought 
his  first  land  and  is  now  owner  of  a good  farm  of 
160  acres. 

In  1870  he  married  Samantha  Saylor,  a daughter 
of  William  Saylor.  They  are  the  parents  of  five 
children  and  have  a number  of  grandchildren.  The 
oldest,  William,  married  Rosa  Olney  and  has  three 
children,  Arthur,  Harley  and  Hazel.  Bracie,  whose 
first  husband  was  Frank  Smith,  by  whom  she  had 
two  daughters,  Alma  and  Ethel,  is  now  the  wife  of 
Jacob  Selig  and  has  a son,  Howard.  A'Jva  married 
May  Snow  and  has  a son,  Raymond.  Frank  is  at 
home.  Guy  married  Viola  Church,  and  they  have 
a son,  Harold. 

Daniel  J.  Glick.  The  farming  interests  of  La- 
Grange County  are  heavy  and  valuable,  made  so 
through  the  efforts  of  some  of  the  best  agriculturists 
of  Indiana.  One  of  the  men  who  has  achieved  to 
an  enviable  prosperity  in  this  very  important  in- 
dustry is  Daniel  J.  Glick  of  Newbury  Township.  He 
was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania,  July  9, 
1863,  a son  of  John  and  Martha  (Hooley)  Glick. 
These  parents,  in  1868,  came  to  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  and  for  ten  years  lived  on  rented  land  in 
Middlebury  Township,  then  buying  sixty-seven  acres 
of  land,  on  which  the  father  died  May  17,  1896,  aged 
sixty-six  years,  ten  months  and  five  days.  He  was 
born  July  14,  1829.  His  widow,  who  survives  him, 
was  born  March  15,  1835,  and  is  now  eighty-five 
years  of  age.  Their  children  were  as  follows : 
Emma ; Fannie ; Daniel ; Katie,  who  is  deceased ; 
.Noah,  who  is  a resident  of  Clear  Spring;  Lydia,  who 
is  a resident  of  Middlebury  Township;  John,  who 
lives  in  Iowa;  Jacob,  who  lives  in  Ohio;  and  Sam- 
uel, who  also  lives  in  Ohio. 

Daniel  J.  Glick  was  only  five  years  old  when  he 
was  brought  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  was  here 
reared,  and  entered  upon  his  industrial  career  as  a 
farm  hand,  working  by  the  month.  Until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old  he  gave  his  father  the  money 


260 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


he  earned.  On  January  28,  1886,  he  was  married  to 
Rosa  Hostetter,  born  September  18,  1862,  a daugh- 
ter of  Enos  and  Ann  (Emmerick)  Hostetter.  Mr. 
Hostetter  died  in  1862,  and  his  widow  was  again 
married  and  moved  to  Minnesota,  where  she  died 
in  1918,  aged  eighty-two  years.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage there  were  four  children,  namely:  Martin,  who 
is  a resident  of  Wabash  County,  Illinois;  Abraham, 
who  lives  in  Minnesota;  Jacob,  who  also  lives  in 
Minnesota ; and  Airs.  Glick.  By  the  second  mar- 
riage there  were  two  children : Charles  E.  and 

Caroline. 

After  his  marriage  Daniel  J.  Glick  lived  on  rented 
land  and  worked  for  others  by  the  day  until  he  in- 
herited a third  interest  in  the  homestead  of  his  fa- 
ther. He  moved  on  this  property  and  conducted 
it  for  three  years,  and  at  the  same  time  rented  160 
acres  additional.  At  the  expiration  of  the  three 
years  Mr.  Glick  bought  forty-seven  acres  of  land 
at  Honeyville  in  Eden  Township,  for  which  he 
paid  $50  per  acre,  later  adding  twenty-seven  acres 
to  that  farm,  and  operating  it  all  until  1901.  In 
that  year  he  sold  his  property  and  went  to  Tioga 
County,  Ohio,  buying  225  acres  at  $20  per  acre. 
Three  years  later  he  returned  to  LaGrange  County, 
and  bought  a farm  of  160  acres  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship, for  which  he  paid  $50  per  acre,  to  which  he 
has  added  eighty  acres.  He  also  owns  two  more 
pieces  of  property  in  this  same  township,  one  of 
twenty  acres  and  the  other  of  eighty  acres.  Still 
later  he  disposed  of  some  of  his  property,  but  still 
owns  240  acres,  well  cultivated,  on  which  are  ex- 
cellent buildings  and  fine  improvements.  All  of 
what  he  now  owns  he  has  made  himself,  and  de- 
serves much  credit  for  his  success  in  life. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glick  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children : Katie,  who  is  the  wife  of 

Noah  M.  Borntreger,  of  Eden  Township,  has  the 
following  children:  Mahlon,  Rosa  and  Enos;  Moses, 
who  is  a resident  of  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  mar- 
ried Barbara  Harshbarger,  and  they  became  the 
parents  of  children  as  follows : Levi,  Rosa,  who  died 
in  1918,  Milo,  Lizzie  and  John;  Enos,  who  is  a res- 
ident of  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  married  a sister  of 
the  wife  of  his  brother  Moses,  and  their  children 
are  Katie  and  Ada,  twins,  Perry  and  Mary,  the  last 
named  being  deceased ; Mattie,  who  married  Earl 
Kemp,  lives  in  Washington  County,  Iowa ; and  Anna, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Atlee  Miller  of  Newbury  Town- 
ship. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Glick  are  members  of  the  old 
order  of  Alennonites,  and  are  most  excellent  people 
in  every  respect.  Mr.  Glick  is  a man  whose  spoken 
word  is  as  good  as  another’s  signed  note,  and  few 
men  in  his  locality  command  such  universal  respect 
as  he. 

T.  W.  Harwood,  of  Wilmington  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  was  a soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  though 
more  than  half  a century  has  passed  since  the  close 
of  that  conflict  he  is  still  active  as  a farmer  and  citi- 
zen and  still  does  a day’s  work  when  his  stock  and 
fields  require  it. 

Air.  Harwood  was  born  in  Vermont,  a son  of  Asa 
and  Cynthia  (Stockwell)  Harwood,  the  former  a 
native  of  Massachusetts  and  the  latter  of  Vermont. 
When  they  left  the  Green  Mountain  State  they 
moved  to  Medina  County,  Ohio,  and  in  March,  1857, 
settled  in  Wilmington  Township  of  DeKalb  County, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Asa  Har- 
wood was  a man  well  advanced  toward  age  when  the 
Civil  war  came  on,  but  he  enlisted  in  the  Forty- 
Fourth  Indiana  Infantry  and  served  until  wounded 
and  incapacitated  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  After 
the  war  he  lived  on  his  farm  and  also  followed  his 
mechanical  trade  at  Waterloo.  He  was  the  father  of 


five  children,  and  two  of  the  sons  were  in  the  , war. 
The  three  children  now  living  are  Emmett,  Henry 
and  T.  W.  Henry  was  the  other  soldier  son  and  now 
lives  in  Michigan. 

T.  W.  Harwood  was  sixteen  years  old  when  he 
came  to  DeKalb  County  and  he  finished  his  educa- 
tion here  in  the  district  schools.  He  served  nearly 
a year  toward  the  close  of  the  Civil  war,  and  then 
returned  to  DeKalb  County.  In  June,  1865,  he  mar- 
ried Julia  A.  Smurr.  After  their  marriage  they  set- 
tled on  the  farm  where  they  live  today.  Mr.  Har- 
wood has  ninety  acres  in  his  own  name  and  twelve 
acres  belong  to  his  wife.  His  land  and  other  ac- 
cumulations represent  many  years  of  faithful  labor 
on  his  part. 

Mrs.  Harwood  is  a daughter  of  George  N.  and 
Rebecca  (Kinsey)  Smurr,  and  a granddaughter  of 
George  Smurr,  who  came  as  a pioneer  to  DeKalb 
County  and  entered  forty  acres  from  the  Govern- 
ment, part  of  which  is  now  in  the  home  farm  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harwood.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harwood  have 
six  children : Albert  W.,  born  November  20,  1866, 

and  married  Elizabeth  Dill;  George  N.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1869,  married  Leora  Love;  Daniel  C.,  born 
Alarch  6,  1873,  now  deceased;  Anna  I.,  born  Feb- 
ruary 9,  1876,  wife  of  Fred  Piper;  Cecil  L.,  born 
August  23,  1878,  married  Nora  Gesinger;  and  Inez, 
born  March  5,  1886,  wife  of  Ray  Treman.  Mr.  Har- 
wood is  a republican  in  politics.  „ 

Harvey  B.  Lewis,  former  county  auditor  of  La- 
Grange  County,  is  a native  of  Steuben  County,  where 
his  people  lived  for  a number  of  years,  and  the 
place  of  their  original  settlement  in  Northeast  In- 
diana was  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County. 
Harvey  B.  Lewis  for  many  years  has  been  an  ex- 
tensive sheep  breeder,  and  the  farm  he  occupies 
and  owns  in  Springfield  Township  is  probably  the 
oldest  feeding  ground  for  sheep  in  LaGrange 
County. 

Air.  Lewis  was  born  in  Salem  Township,  Steu- 
ben County,  November  3,  1877,  son  of  Dwight  and 
Sarah’  (Newnam)  Lewis.  His  father  was  born  in 
Chenango  County,  New  York,  in  1843,  son  of  Har- 
vey and  Elizabeth  (Bassett)  Lewis.  As  noted  else- 
where in  this  publication,  the  family  came  to 
Steuben  County  about  1850,  and  Dwight  Lewis, 
then  a boy  of  seven  years,  grew  up  on  a farm  in 
Salem  Township,  and  finished  his  education  in  the 
Orland  High  School.  As  a farmer  he  started 
with  forty  acres,  but  soon  went  on  the  old  Lewis 
homestead  and  was  known  for  years  as  one  of  the 
leading  feeders  of  cattle  and  sheep.  He  was  a re- 
publican, and  for  three  terms  held  the  office  of 
county  commissioner  in  Steuben  County.  He  was 
president  of  the  Farmers  Insurance  Company  for 
more  than  twenty  years,  from  the  time  of  its  or- 
ganization until  his  death.  He  was  also  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  Order,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias,  while  he  and 
his  wife  were  active  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

Sarah  Newnam  was  born  in  Springfield  Town-  ' 
ship,  LaGrange  County  in  1844,  and  the  promi- 
nence of  the  Newnam  family  calls  for  some  special 
mention  here.  Her  father,  Nicholas  Benson  New- 
nam, came  to  Springfield  Township  in  1836,  set- 
tling on  the  land  now  included  in  the  large  place 
of  H.  B.  Lewis,  his  grandson.  He  lived  there  until 
his  death  in  1876.  Nicholas  Benson  Newnam  was 
the  father  of  fifteen  children,  and  all  of  them  are 
now  deceased  except  Mrs.  Sarah  Lewis.  One  son 
was  Samuel  H.  Newnam,  who  was  born  in  1841, 
on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  nephew,  Har- 
vey Lewis.  He  spent  his  life  there.  With  a capi- 
tal of  only  $100  he  began  renting  the  homestead 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


261 


and  after  his  father’s  death  he  bought  320  acres. 
He  was  a stockman,  and  made  his  farm  widely 
known  as  a feeding  ground  for  sheep.  He  was  a 
republican  and  served  as  county  commissioner  of 
LaGrange  County.  Samuel  Newnam  married  in 
December,  1870,  Emma  Faulkner,  who  was  born 
in  Springfield  Township  in  1841. 

Dwight  Lewis  and  wife  had  two  sons,  Benson 
R.  and  Harvey  B.  Benson  was  born  June  1,  1872, 
and  received  his  higher  education  in  the  Tri-State 
College  at  Angola  and  in  Purdue  University.  His 
iqterests  have  been  identified  with  lifestock,  and 
for  a number  of  years  he  did  a farming  and  stock 
shipping  business.  He  still  owns  490  acres  in  Steu- 
ben County,  including  the  old  homestead.  His 
business  abilities,  however,  have  called  him  to 
greater  responsibilities  and  on  August  1,  1906,  he 
moved  to  East  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  from  that 
date  until  March  1,  1919,  was  connected  with  the 
widely  known  livestock  and  commission  house  of 
Clay,  Robinson  & Company.  He  was  hog  sales- 
man and  manager  of  this  company  in  the  Buffalo 
market.  March  1,  1919,  he  engaged  as  a salesman 
with  Stacy,  Dement  & Beadle  at  East  Buffalo. 
Benson  Lewis  married  Nellie  Strong  and  has  two 
sons,  Myron  Dwight  and  Burdette  Parker. 

Harvey  B.  Lewis  was  reared  on  the  homestead 
farm  of  his  father,  and  attended  public  schools, 
supplemented  by  attendance  at  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege in  Angola.  After  his  father’s  death  he  ac- 
quired eighty  acres  of  the  homestead  and  in  1918 
sold  that  to  his  brother.  Since  1901  he  has  been 
on  the  Samuel  H.  Newnam  farm  of  320  acres.  He 
rented  it  until  1908,  and  then  bought  the  old  New- 
nam place.  Among  other  improvements  he  has 
erected  a second  dwelling  house  on  the  farm.  As 
noted  above  he  makes  a specialty  of  sheep  feed- 
ing, and  is  one  of  the  leading  men  engaged  in  that 
business  in  LaGrange  County.  He  was  one  of  the 
organizers  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Stroh 
in  1915,  and  has  since  been  president  of  that  institu- 
tion. 

March  15,  1906,  he  married  Olive  Dunham,  who 
was  born  in  York  Township,  Steuben  County,  in 
1879,  a daughter  of  Lorenzo  and  Sarah  Dunham, 
pioneer  settlers  of  Steuben  County.  Her  mother  is 
living  in  Springfield  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Lewis  have  two  children : Burton,  born  October 

12,  1907,  and  Geneva,  born  July  28,  1909. 

Peter  F.  Weaver  was  born  at  old  Brockville,  now 
Fremont,  September  24,  1848.  He  was  six  years 
old  when  Brockville  was  changed  to  Fremont.  He 
was  born  on  a farm  and  still  lives  on  a farm.  His 
home  is  sixty-six  acres  within  the  village  limits  of 
Fremont.  His  has  been  a life  of  more  than  seventy 
years,  and  in  that  time  he  has  witnessed  a wonderful 
. panorama  of  change.  The  first  school  he  attended 
in  the  village  was  kept  in  a log  school  house.  He 
was  in  school  only  during  the  winter  terms  and 
when  there  was  little  to  do  on  the  farm.  The 
school  was  a subscription  school,  supported  by  the 
families  who  had  children  there,  and  besides  money 
contributions  the  different  families  also  contributed 
wood  supplies.  Peter  F.  Weaver  has  plowed  many 
a day  with  an  ox  team  and  he  helped  to  build  the 
first  railroad  through  Fremont. 

He  comes  of  a family  of  pioneers  and  of  patriotic 
Americans.  His  ! father,  Jacob  Weaver,  was  born 
in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  son  of  Henry 
and  Polly  Weaver,  both  natives  of  that  state.  Henry 
Weaver  came  to  Steuben  County,  following  his  son 
Jacob,  and  spent  his  last  years  here.  His  children 
were  Jacob,  George,  Susannah  and  Polly.  Polly 
became  the  wife  of  Mike  Bailey. 


The  parents  died  in  Fremont  Township.  Henry 
Weaver,  January  10,  1855,  age  seventy-seven  years 
and  four  months,  and  his  wife,  Polly,  died  Septem- 
ber 24,  1851,  age  sixty-nine  years. 

January  20,  1842,  Jacob  Weaver  married  Mar- 
garet Schaeffer.  She  was  born  in  Susquehanna 
Township  of  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  Octo- 
ber 16,  1823,  and  represented  a lineage  that  has 
helped  to  make  American  history.  The  first  repre- 
sentative of  the  Schaeffer  family  in  Pennsylvania 
was  John  Nicholas  Schaeffer,  who  sailed  from 
Rotterdam,  Holland,  on  the  ship  Dragon,  George 
Spencer,  Master,  and  arrived  in  Philadelphia  Sep- 
tember 6,  1749.  He  settled  in  Berks  County  and 
was  commissioned  captain  of  the  First  Battalion, 
Berks  County  Militia,  January  20,  1777.  His  bat- 
talion rendered  service  in  Pennsylvania,  New  York 
and  New  Jersey  in  the  War  of  the  Revolution. 
John  Nicholas  Schaeffer  became  an  extensive  land 
owner  and  one  of  the  most  influential  members  of 
old  Berks  County.  He  married  Juliana  Margaretta 
Michael,  whose  parents  sailed  from  Rotterdam,  Hol- 
land, on  the  Phoenix,  John  Mason,  Master,  reaching 
Philadelphia  September  15,  1749.  The  children  of 
John  Nicholas  Schaeffer  and  wife  were  all  born 
in  Heidelberg  Township  of  Berks  County,  as  fol- 
lows : Christian,  born  July  24,  1753,  became  a large 
land  holder  in  Dauphin  County;  Casper,  born 
November  27,  1754;  Margaretta,  born  January  1, 
1757;  Elizabeth,  born  March  4,  1759;  Susanna,  born 
January  13,  1761;  Nicholas,  born  September  12, 
1763;  Felix,  born  February  17,  1766;  Anna  Margaret, 
born  February  1,  1768;  Michael,  born  May  15,  1770; 
William,  born  June  20,  1772;  Johan,  born  January 
1,  1775;  and  John  born  March  27,  1778.  The  father 
of  these  children  died  November  3,  1780,  and  his 
widow  August  26,  1804.  Members  of  the  Schaeffer 
family  have  participated  in  every  American  war  in 
the  history  of  the  nation,  including  the  Revolution- 
ary, the  Whiskey  Insurrection,  the  War  of  1812,  the 
Mexican  and  Civil  wars,  the  various  Indian  wars, 
the  Spanish-American  war,  while  a direct  descend- 
ant, one  of  the  Weaver  family  of  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  was  in  the  present  war  with  Germany. 

William  Schaeffer,  maternal  grandfather  of  Peter 
F.  Weaver,  was  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, at  the  date  above  noted  and  died  in  1831.  In 
1813  he  married  for  his  third  wife  Margaret  Beck, 
who  was  born  June  4,  1790.  The  children  of  Wil- 
liam Schaeffer  were  named  Barbara,  Samuel,  Jacob, 
John,  Margaret,  Catherine,  Susannah,  Daniel,  Peter, 
Mary  and  Lydia.  William  Schaeffer  was  a distiller 
in  Pennsylvania  and  after  his  death  his  widow  and 
her  children  managed  the  distillery.  After  her  sons 
came  to  manhood  she  came  to  Fremont,  Indiana, 
about  1844,  where  her  sons  Samuel  and  John  were 
living. 

Jacob  Weaver  and  wife  with  their  two  children, 
William  Henry  and  Mary  Amanda,  left  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1845,  and  they  came  to  old  Brockville  in 
Steuben  County,  making  the  journey  with  a horse 
team.  Jacob  Weaver  at  that  time  bought  thirty 
acres  of  land  from  Evert  Parmenter,  located  a half 
mile  northeast  of  the  present  town  of  Fremont. 
Only  one  acre  had  been  cleared,  and  the  only  struc- 
ture was  a small  log  house.  Jacob  Weaver  did 
much  to  improve  his  circumstances,  owning  fifty- 
'two  acres  of  land  and  making  a comfortable  home 
and  other  provisions  for  his  family.  He  lived  there 
the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a member  of  the 
German  Methodist  Church  and  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. His  family  consisted  of  four  children  : William 
Henry,  born  October  10,  1842,  and  died  April  12, 
1859;  Mary  Amanda,  born  September  23,  1844,  wife 
of  Henry  Lott;  Priscilla  Ann,  born  August  22, 


262 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


1846,  and  .died  March  16,  1859,  and  Peter  F.,  who 
was  born  September  24,  1848. 

Peter  F.  Weaver  married  March  30,  1873,  Clara 
E.  Fox.  She  was  born  July  27,  1854,  a daughter  of 
Jacob  K.  and  Susannah  (Michael)  Fox.  In  the 
year  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Weaver  began  farming  on 
a place  near  the  old  home,  but  in  1889  he  returned 
to  the  homestead  and  built  the  house  in  which  he 
now  lives  in  comfort.  He  has  lived  there  for 
thirty  years,  and  still  looks  after  the  farm.  His 
wife  died  April  9,  1908.  She  was  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Villa  and  Lillie,  twins,  born  Janu- 

ary 10,  1875,  the  former  dying  September  28,  1875 ; 
Bertha  May,  born  December  1,  1881 ; and  Rolland  J. 

Rolland  J.  Weaver,  who  was  born  February  26, 
1894,  is  exemplifying  the  fighting  blood  of  his 
Schaeffer  ancestors,  and  is  now  in  France  with  the 
Three  Hundred  and  Ninth  Supply  Company  of  the 
Quartermaster’s  Corps.  He  went  to  France  June  6, 
1918,  landing  at  Brest  on  the  eighteenth  of  the  same 
month,  and  was  still  with  the  army  of  occupation 
in  April,  1919. 

Arthur  G.  Smith,  assessor  of  Johnson  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  has  spent  all  his  life  on 
one  farm  in  that  locality,  his  place  being  located 
in  Woodruff. 

Nearly  fifty  years  ago  at  one  corner  of  that  farm 
stood  an  old  tavern  by  the  wayside  and  in  that 
house  Arthur  G.  Smith  was  born  October  1,  1870. 
His  parents  were  Michael  and  Sarah  (Bower) 
Smith.  His  father  was  born  in  Alsace-Lorraine,  a 
French  subject,  on  May  24,  1837.  The  mother  was 
born  in  Ohio,  February  28,  1841.  He  died  March 
10,  1890,  and  she  passed  away  August  17,  1903. 
Michael  Smith  came  to  the  United  States  when  a 
boy,  the  family  locating  in  LaGrange  County,  where 
he  grew  up  and  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith 
from  his  father.  He  worked  as  a blacksmith  all  the 
rest  of  his  life  and  conducted  a shop  on  the  farm 
where  Arthur  G.  Smith  now  lives.  He  was  the 
father  of  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are  still 
living:  Charles  F.,  of  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah;  Byron, 
a captain  in  the  National  army,  and  still  in  the 
overseas  service  in  France  in  April,  1919;  Arthur 
G. ; Eugene,  who  lives  in  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  is 
foreman  in  the  interlocking  and  signal  department 
of  the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad;  and  Mayme,  wife 
of  Melvin  Rowe,  of  Great  Falls,  Montana. 

Arthur  G.  Smith  has  spent  his  entire  life  in 
LaGrange  County  and  is  now  cultivating  land  that 
has  produced  perhaps  fifty  successive  crops  for  the 
Smith  family.  His  farm  comprises  sixty-two  and  a 
half  acres.  He  received  his  early  education  in  the 
local  schools  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty- 
one.  On  November  18,  1897,  he  married  Cora  M. 
Preston.  She  was  born  near  LaGrange  August  17, 
1876,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Preston, 
and  received  her  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
LaGrange  and  was  a successful  teacher  before  her 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  three  children : 
Hazel  M.,  who  is  attending  the  high  school  at  Wol- 
cottville ; and  Carl  F.  and  Glenn  E.,  both  in  the 
common  schools.  Mr.  Smith  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics and  was  elected  on  that  ticket  to  the  office  of 
assessor. 

Jacob  Rheinheimer!  The  record  of  this  well 
known  citizen  of  Newbury  Township  introduces  a 
prominent  family  of  LaGrange  County,  one  that  has 
been  a live  and  progressive  factor  in  the  county 
history  for  more  than  half  a century. 

Jacob  Rheinheimer  was  born  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship February  27,  1870,  a son  of  John  and  Anna 
(Miller)  Rheinheimer.  His  mother  was  born  in 
1845,  a daughter  of  Christian  Miller,  who  was  one 


of  the  early  settlers  in  LaGrange  County  and  died 
in  Eden  Township.  Christian  Miller  married  a Miss 
Hostetler.  John  Rheinheimer  was  born  in  Ger- 
many in  1840  and  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
settled  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio.  Two  years  later, 
in  1863,  he  moved  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  was 
married  here,  and  out  of  his  careful  savings  bought 
a farm  of  eighty  acres.  In  1879  he  sold  that  place 
and  went  to  Oregon,  where  he  remained  from 
August  to  the  following  April.  He  then  returned  to 
LaGrange  County  and  settled  in  Newbury  Township, 
where  he  owns  138  acres.  He  died  February  12, 
1906,  and  his  wife  in  1886.  Their  children  were 
Polly,  Christian,  Mary,  Carrie,  Jacob,  John  (de- 
ceased), Lizzie  and  Minnie. 

Jacob  Rheinheimer  grew  up  on  a farm,  had  a pub- 
lic school  education,  and  in  1899,  twenty  years  ago, 
bought  forty  acres  of  his  present  home  farm.  Later 
he  bought  fifty  acres  more  and  also  has  another  place 
of  sixty-five  acres  in  Newbury  Township.  He  has 
acquired  these  properties  through  his  long  continued 
industry  and  good  management  and  they  represent 
practically  financial  independence.  Mr.  Rheinheimer 
is  a breeder  of  Belgian  horses.  He  and  his  family 
are  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

In  1891  he  married  Rachel  Sunthimer,  a daughter 
of  Fred  Sunthimer,  while  her  maternal  grandfather 
was  Joseph.  Miller,  an  early  settler  in  LaGrange 
County.  Reference  to  the  Sunthimer  family  is  made 
on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  Mrs.  Rheinheimer 
died  in  1895,  the  mother  of  three  children,  Uriah  Ed- 
ward, John  Frederick  and  Ira  J.  In  1898  Mr.  Rhein- 
heimer married  a sister  of  his  first  wife,  Mary  Ann, 
who  at  that  time  was  the  widow  of  Jacob  J.  Johns. 
By  her  first  marriage  she  had  two  children,  Addie 
and  Hettie,  both  now  deceased.  Hettie  married  Eli 
Plank,  and  at  her  death  left  a daughter,  Mary  Cath- 
erine, who  now  lives  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rheinheimer. 

H.  S.  Platner  is  proprietor  of  the  old  Platner 
farm  seven  miles  east  of  Auburn  in  Wilmington 
Township,  and  has  118  acres  under  a perfect  state 
of  cultivation  and  efficient  management. 

Mr.  Platner  was  born  on  this  farm  February  23, 
1869,  and  has  assisted  in  its  cultivation  for  nearly 
thirty  years.  He  is  a son  of  Samuel  and  Sofia  (Rey- 
nolds) Platner,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
father  was  born  in  Lancaster  County  March  14,  1814. 
They  were  married  in  Marion  County,  Ohio,  farmed 
there  for  two  years  and  in  1847  moved  to  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  first  settling  in  Concord  Township 
and  later  moving  to  Wilmington  Township  on  the 
farm  now  owned  by  their  son.  The  mother  died 
there  in  1893  and  the  father  on  March  26,  1895.  He 
was  a democrat  and  an  active  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  at  Newville.  Of  the  nine  children  three 
are  now  living:  Laura,  widow  of  Wiliam  Stroh, 

of  Auburn ; J.  E.  Platner,  who  lives  near  St.  Peters- 
burg, Florida ; and  H.  S.  Platner. 

H.  S.  Platner  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and  had 
a district  school  education,  supplemented  by  several 
terms  in  the  Angola  Tri-State  College.  He  spent  two 
years  as  a locomotive  fireman  on  a western  railroad, 
and  on  returning  to  DeKalb  County  he  married 
Bertha  Rose  on  May  4,  1891.  She  has  lived  in  De- 
Kalb County  since  early  girlhood. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Platner  have  two  children : Joy, 

wife  of  Rolland  Muhn,  a contractor  and  carpenter 
tof  Auburn;  and  Jessie  Platner.  They  also  have  two 
grandchildren.  Mr.  Platner  is  affiliated  with  St.  Joe 
Lodge  No.  602,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

Frank  McKinley.  For  several  years  before  his 
marriage  Frank  McKinley  was  working  as  an  in- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


263 


dustrial  farm  hand  in  LaGrange  County,  and  about 
thirty-five  years  ago  he  settled  on  a farm  in  Spring- 
field’  Township  and  has  been  giving  a good  ac- 
count of  himself  as  a local  agriculturist  ever  since. 
For  the  past  few  years  he  has  been  a factor  in 
the  Mongo  community,  where  he  owns  a small  farm 
adjoining  the  village. 

He  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 9,  1855,  a son  of  William  and  Sarah  (Romine) 
McKinley.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Samuel 
and  Mary  (Starky)  McKinley,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Ireland.  He  married  and  lived  for  several 
years  in  Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Ashland 
County,  Ohio,  when  his  son  William  was  about  four- 
teen years  old.  Samuel  and  Mary  McKinley  both 
died  and  are  buried  at  Hayesville,  Ohio. 

William  McKinley,  father  of  Frank,  was  edu- 
cated in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  and  during  the 
early  forties  moved  to  Greenfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  where  for  one  year  he  rented 
a farm.  That  was  before  the  old  Plank  Road  to 
Fort  Wayne  was  built  This  road  is  mentioned 
because  his  business  in  early  days  was  freighting 
and  teaming  to  Fort  Wayne.  Later  he  returned 
to  Ohio,  and  in  1862  settled  in  Jackson  Township 
of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  where  he  cleared  up 
a tract  of  land  and  lived  the  life  of  a farmer  until 
his  death.  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  Cedar 
Creek  Cemetery.  He  held  several  local  offices. 
William  McKinley  was  twice  married.  He  was  the 
father  of  fourteen  children  by  his  two  wives.  His 
first  wife  was  Mary  Sheneman,  and  her  children 
were  Belle,  Benjamin  and  Adam.  For  his  second 
wife  he  married  Sarah  Romine,  who  was  born  at 
Woodruff,  Indiana,  a daughter  of  Ross  Romine, 
who  married  a Miss  Oliver.  Ross  Romine  and 
wife  were  married  at  Woodruff  in  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty, and  lived  there  and  also  in  Ohio.  Six  of  the 
Romine  sons  were  Union  soldiers  and  two  of  them 
were  killed  in  battle.  The  children  of  William 
McKinley  and  Sarah  Romine  were  Ross,  James, 
Samuel,  Frank,  William,  Stephen,  Alexander,  Al- 
mida  and  Arminda,  twins,  Jane  and  Louisa.  Of 
these  Samuel,  Alexander  and  Almida  are  deceased. 

Frank  McKinley  spent  most  of  his  early  life  in 
DeKalb  County.  The  home  in  which  he  was  reared 
was  one  of  strict  Presbyterian  influence,  both  par- 
ents being  stanch  members  of  that  church.  At  the 
age  of  twenty  he  came  to  Springfield  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  and  worked  on  the  farm  of 
John  Booth  until  his  marriage.  He  then  located 
on  the  farm  where  his  son  Clyde  now  lives,  and 
developed  that  place  of  eighty  acres,  putting  up  all 
the  buildings  and  clearing  part  of  the  land.  In 
1916  he  moved  to  his  present  home  at  the  edge  of 
Mongo,  where  he  built  a fine  residence  and  has  a 
farm  of  thirty  acres  well  diversified,  one  of  his 
specialties  being  the  breeding  of  Duroc  hogs. 

In  1883  Mr.  McKinley  married  Miss  Flora  Cus- 
ter. She  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  two  or  three 
years  old  when  her  parents,  Daniel  and  Elizabeth 
(Roush)  Custer,  came  to  LaGrange  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McKinley  bad  five  children:  Bessie,  Mrs. 
Herman  Haskins,  of  LaGrange;  Clyde  C.,  on  the  old 
farm;  Clifford,  in  a lumber  yard  at  Jones,  Michi- 
gan ; Evert,  cashier  of  the  State  Bank  at  Hicks- 
ville,  Ohio ; and  Mildred,  at  home.  Mr.  McKin- 
ley has  for  many  years  been  affiliated  with  Mongo 
Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Daniel  Custer,  father  of  Mrs.  McKinley,  was 
born  in  ■ Stark  County,  Ohio,  August  29,  1832,  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Rebecca  (Machen)  Custer.  Isaac 
Custer  was  born  either  in  Scotland  or  of  Scotch 
parents,  while  his  wife  was  of  Irish  ancestry.  Daniel 
Custer  was  one  of  a family  of  eight  children,  was 


reared  and  educated  in  Stark  County,  and  married 
there  Elizabeth  Roush.  She  was  a native  of  Tus- 
carawas County,  Ohio,  and  a daughter  of  Frederick 
and  Christina  (Roush)  Roush,  who  died  in  Tus- 
carawas County.  James.  Custer,  a brother  of  Daniel, 
was  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war.  Daniel 
Custer  brought  his  family  to  LaGrange  County  in 
1866,  and  after  a brief  residence  at  LaGrange  lo- 
cated on  a farm  in  Springfield  Township,  where 
he  cleared  the  land  and  made  a good  home.  His 
farm  contained  120  acres,  and  both  he  and  his  wife 
died  there.  They  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  In  the  Custer  family  were  six  children : 
Margaret,  Mrs.  Alonzo  Wilson;  Amanda,  wife  of 
John  Fair;  Jefferson;  William;  Flora,  Mrs.  Frank 
McKinley;  and  Ella,  deceased  wife  of  Ralph  Fair. 

Sanford  McElhenie  is  an  intelligent  and  pros- 
perous young  farmer  of  Steuben  County,  and  in 
the  twenty  years  since  he  attained  manhood  has 
made  a great  deal  of  progress  in  bettering  his  own 
circumstances  and  has  at  the  same  time  been  a 
factor  in  the  welfare  of  several  communities  where 
he  has  lived  and  worked. 

Mr.  McElhenie  was  born  in  Camden  Township  of 
Hillsdale  County,  Michigan,  January  11,  1878,  a 
son  of  Sanfrancisco  and  Margaret  (Logan)  Mc- 
Elhenie. His  mother  was  born  in  Williams  County, 
Ohio,  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Caroline  (Oven- 
house)  Logan.  Robert  Logan  moved  from  Williams 
County  to  Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben  County 
in  1871,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  on  a farm 
south  of  Clear  Lake.  He  was  the  father  of  seven 
children,  named  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  Samuel, 
Thomas  J.,  Lettie,  George  W.  and  Clyde. 

James  E.  McElhenie,  grandfather  of  Sanford, 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  married  Priscilla 
Teeters,  a native  of  Sandusky  County,  Ohio.  From 
Ohio  this  family  moved  to  Steuben  County  about 
1853  and  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Clear 
Lake  Township.  James  McElhenie  spent  the  rest 
of  his  years  in  that  township  and  died  in  August, 
1894.  He  and  his  first  wife  had  four  children : 
Edgar  M.,  Sanfrancisco,  Elisha  M.  and  Mary.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  James  E.  McElhenie 
married  Lucinda  Wallace,  of  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
and  by  that  union  there  were  six  children,  named 
Clara,  Sadie,  Cora,  Della,  Linnie  and  Ada. 

Sanfrancisco  McElhenie,  generally  known  as 
Frank,  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  came 
to  manhood  in  Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  and  during  his  active  career  was  a pros- 
perous farmer  there,  owning  120  acres  in  that  town- 
ship and  also  fifty  acres  in  Fremont  Township.  He 
retired  from  the  heavier  responsibilities  of  the  farm 
in  'March,  1913,  and  has  since  lived  in  the  Village 
of  Fremont.  Mrs.  McElhenie  died  there  June  9, 
1918.  They  had  one  son  and  two  daughters:  San- 

ford, Jenrtie,  wife  of  Earl  Cope,  and  Hattie,  wife 
of  Ira  Thomas. 

Sanford  McElhenie,  though  a native  of  Michigan, 
has  spent  practically  all  his  life  in  Steuben  County. 
He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  district 
schools  of  Clear  Lake  Township,  attended  the  Tri- 
State  Normal  College,  and  for  several  terms  was 
a successful  teacher.  His  home  was  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  In  1903 
he  began  farming  on  eighty  acres  which  he  had 
bought  in  York  township,  and  for  fifteen  years  was 
one  of  the  substantial  agriculturists  of  that  locality. 
In  March,  1918,  he  moved  to  his  present  place  in 
Fremont  Township,  where  he  has  120  acres  in  sec- 
tions 22  and  27  devoted  to  general  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

Mr.  McElhenie  on  June  24,  1903,  married  Laura 


264 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Dean,  a daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  (Parr)  Dean, 
of  Litchfield,  Michigan.  To  their  marriage  were 
born  four  children:  John  S.,  Rowena,  who  died 

March  5,  1919,  Franklin  S.,  who  died  May  1,  1914, 
at  the  age  of  six  months,  and  Linnie  Lucile.  Mr. 
McElhenie  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen  of 
America. 

Samuel  P.  Hostetler.  The  best  Americans  today 
are  those  whose  energies  are  devoted  to  the  produc- 
tive processes  by  which  the  world  is  fed  and  clothed. 
Measured  by  this  standard,  Samuel  P.  Hostetler,  of 
Clay  Township,  in  LaGrange  County,  has  an  enviable 
record.  He  has  been  a practical  farmer  all  his  life 
and  has  sought  no  honors  beyond  those  connected 
with  good  honest  toil  and  kindly  relations  with  his 
community. 

He  was  born  in  Eden  Township,  September  27, 
1871,  and  is  of  a family  whose  long  connections  with 
this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  have  been  surveyed 
on  different  pages  of  this  publication.  His  grand- 
father was  Moses  J.  Hostetler,  who  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  9,  1812.  He 
married  Elizabeth  Mast,  who  was  born  May  1,  1822. 
They  were  early  settlers  in  LaGrange  County,  and 
Moses  died  April  17,  1894,  and  his  wife  August  9, 
1889.  Their  children  were  John  M.,  Elizabeth  J., 
Elias  M.,  Moses  M.,  Eva,  Paul  J.,  Lizzie,  Polly, 
Jacob  J.,  David  J.,  Andrew  J.,  Uriah  J.  and  Henry  J. 

Paul  J.  Hostetler,  father  of  Samuel  P.,  was  born 
November  25,  1847,  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio.  Nov- 
ember 16,  1869,  he  married  Esther  Miller,  who  was 
born  October  16,  1851,  a daughter  of  Samuel  D. 
and  Fannie  (Baumgardner)  Miller,  both  natives  of 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  Samuel  D.  Miller 
moved  from  Somerset  County  to  Newbury  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County  about  1843,  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  as  an  honored  and  diligent  worker. 
He  established  his  home  in  the  midst  of  the  heavy 
woods,  built  a log  house  and  eventually  cleared  up 
and  developed  a good  farm  of  160  acres.  The  Millers 
were  all  members  of  the  old  order  of  the  Amish 
Mennonite  Church.  In  the  Miller  family  were  nine 
children:  Sarah,  who  died  in  childhood,  Joseph, 

Daniel,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Barbara,  Esther,  Samuel 
and  Yost. 

Paul  J.  Hostetler  began  farming  in  Eden  Town- 
ship soon  after  his  marriage.  He  remained  there 
about  six  years  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  career  in 
Newbury  Township.  His  widow  is  still  living  on 
the  old  farm.  Its  buildings  and  improvements  rep- 
resented his  management  and  labor.  He  and  his 
wife  were  also  of  the  old  order  of  the  Mennonite 
Church.  Paul  Hostetler  did  a successful  business 
as  a farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  at  one  time  owned 
about  800  acres  of  land.  The  children  born  to  him 
and  his  wife  were  Samuel,  Moses,  Emma,  who  died 
December  4,  1876,  Elmer,  Perry,  who  died  February 
1,  1888;  Paul  Almon;  Andrew  Omer;  and  Early  P. 

Samuel  P.  Hostetler  acquired  his  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  Eden  Township,  farmed  in  that 
locality,  but  about  twelve  years  ago  moved  to  his 
present  place  in  Clay  Township,  where  he  owns  160 
acres.  Fie  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Men- 
nonite Church.  March  11,  1893,  he  married  Eliza- 
beth Yoder,  and  they  have  two  children,  Orley  O. 
and  Wilma.  Orley  married  Bessie  Nelson  and  has  a 
daughter,  Susannah. 

Mrs.  Hostetler  is  a daughter  of  Jacob  J.  and 
Barbara  (Miller)  Yoder,  the  former  born  in  Somer- 
set County,  Pennsylvania,  December  11,  1851,  and 
the  latter  on  October  22,  1853.  Jacob  J.  Yoder,  who 
died  in  1913,  spent  many  years  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer  in  Clay  Township.  His  children  were: 


George  A.,  Lydia,  deceased,  Jacob  J.,  William  M., 
Samuel  J.,  Fannie,  Elizabeth,  Andrew,  deceased, 
and  Susan. 

John  Crampton.  Just  as  the  young  men  of  to- 
day have  rallied  to  the  defense  of  the  country  did 
the  “boys  of  the  ’6os”  respond  to  the  call  for 
troops,  and  not  only  did  the  latter  stay  in  the  serv- 
ice as  long  as  they  were  needed,  but  when  they  re- 
turned home  they  developed  into  fine  citizens,  as- 
sisting their  government  in  times  of  peace  as  well 
as  in  those  of  war.  The  experiences  of  these  old 
soldiers  and  the  success  attained  by  so  many  of 
them  in  the  days  after  the  war  must  prove  encourag- 
ing to  the  veterans  of  the  great  war  who  face  prac- 
tically the  same  problems.  One  of  these  honored 
veterans  of  the  Civil  war,  who  for  many  years  was 
a leading  agriculturist  of  Steuben  County,  is  John 
Crampton  of  Steuben  Township. 

John  Crampton  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  Eng- 
land, September  24,  1841,  a son  of  William  and  Mary 
(Oatfield)  Crampton,  the  former  of  whom  was  born 
in  Lincolnshire,  England,  in  1817.  In  1849  William 
Crampton  came  to  the  United  States,  leaving  his 
family  behind  him  until  he  could  make  a home  for 
them,  and  the  journey  across  consumed  six  weeks. 
In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  located  land  in  Steuben 
Township,  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  and  in  1850 
sent  for  his  family.  Mrs.  Crampton  came  to  join 
him,  bringing  the  five  children  with  her,  and  it  took 
her  thirty-one  days  to  cross  the  ocean.  They  were 
poor  and  had  to  work  hard,  and  before  they  died 
were  very  prosperous,  owning  one  of  the  finest  farms 
in  the  township.  The  five  children  born  in  England 
were  as  follows : Henry,  John,  William,  Herbert 

and  Tom,  and  after  they  were  settled  in  Steuben 
County,  three  others,  Martha,  George  and  Jesse,  were 
born  to  them. 

John  Crampton  was  brought  up  to  make  himself 
useful  at  home,  and  when  he  began  working  for 
others,  as  he  did  when  old  enough,  his  services  were 
of  value.  Although  not  born  in  this  country,  John 
Crampton  is  a loyal  American  and  proved  it  very 
conclusively  when  he  enlisted  for  service  during 
the  Civil  war,  on  October  24,  1864,  in  Company  A, 
Forty-fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  received  his 
honorable  discharge  September  14,  1865. 

Returning  home,  the  gallant  young  soldier  was 
united  in  marriage  on  November  28,  1865,  to  Amelia 
A.  Shaver,  a daughter  of  Franklin  and  Fila  Shaver. 
The  following  December  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crampton 
moved  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  where  they  were 
engaged  in  farming  for  2 Rj  years,  and  then  re- 
turned to  Steuben  Township  and  bought  land.  In 
1883  they  built  the  brick  residence  they  still  occupy, 
and  they  have  erected  all  the  other  buildings  on 
the  farm, as  well  as  made  many  other  improvements. 
The  farm  comprises  317  acres  of  very  fertile  land, 
and  it  is  exceedingly  valuable.  During  the  earlier 
days  Mr.  Crampton  was  a contractor  for  digging 
ditches,  and  during  that  period  conducted  his  farm 
with  hired  help. 

Mrs.  Crampton  is  a most  remarkable  lady,  being 
now  in  excellent  health  and  holding  the  record  for 
not  requiring  medical  attention,  for  she  has  not 
called  upon  a physician  for  professional  aid  for 
fifty-three  years  with  the  exception  of  having  had 
a broken  bone  set  in  her  wrist.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cramp- 
ton have  never  had  any  children.  They  are  known 
all  over  Steuben  County,  and  few  people  are  so 
popular.  Mr.  Crampton  has  always  advocated  im- 
provements in  the  public  schools  and  of  the  public 
highways,  and  can  always  be  relied  upon  to  give 
his  assistance  to^  whatever  measures  are  on  foot 
to  bring  about  a’betterment  of  existing  conditions. 


/ 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


265 


Edward  A.  Wolfe.  Of  all  the  lines  of  business 
that  engage  the  attention  of  men  and  firms  in  the 
United  States  today,  none  equal  in  importance  those 
connected  with  the  production  and  handling  of  food 
stuffs,  particularly  grain,  the  food  of  the  world.  The 
carrying  on  of  this  business  in  an  honorable  way,  to 
assure  justice  both  to  themselves  and  the  public,  is 
a matter  of  grave  Consideration  with  such  firms  as 
Wolfe  & Bevington,  owners  and  operators  of  two 
grain  elevators  at  Shipshewana,  and  additionally  in- 
terested along  assimilated  lines.  The  members  of  the 
above  firm  are  men  of  sterling  character  and  of  con- 
siderable business  experience,  and  both  personally 
and  as  a firm  they  enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  public. 

Edward  A.  Wolfe  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  January  25,  1890, 
and  is  a son  of  Christian  and  Rosanna  (Schwartz) 
Wolfe.  Both  were  born  in  1850,  in  Wurtemberg, 
Germany,  and  grew  up  and  were  married  there. 
When  they  came  to  the  United  States  they  settled 
first  in  Ohio,  coming  from  there  to  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  in  1880.  The  father  bought  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Van  Buren  Township  and  engaged 
in  farming  there  for  some  years,  then  moved  to 
St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and  there  his  death 
occurred  in  1896  from  a stroke  of  lightning.  The 
mother  of  Mr.  Wolfe  still  lives  in  Michigan.  They 
had  the  following  children:  Rosa,  Lucy,  Frank, 
William,  Ernest  and  Edward  A.,  all  of  whom  are 
living. 

Edward  A.  Wolfe  attended  the  public  schools  and 
was  graduated  from  the  Brighton  High  School.  In 
1913,  in  association  with  his  brother  William  Wolfe, 
he  bought  a grain  elevator  at  Shipshewana,  after 
farming  for  himself  for  a year.  Then  Frank  Bev- 
ington bought  a half  interest  in  the  elevator,  and 
the  firm  of  Wolfe  & Bevington  has  become  one  of 
large  importance  here,  owning  and  operating  two 
elevators  at  present,  buying  wool  and  handling  all 
kinds  of  farm  products.  In  addition  to  carefully 
attending  to  the  business  of  the  firm  Mr.  Wolfe  is 
a justice  of  the  peace,  to  which  office  he  was  elected 
on  the  republican  ticket. 

On  November  30,  1913,  Mr.  Wolfe  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Norma  Bevington,  who  then  lived 
at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  but  was  born  in  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 20,  1894.  She  is  a daughter  of  Frank  and 
Martha  (Robeck)  Bevington,  now  of  Shipshewana. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolfe  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church.  His  political  support  has  been 
given  the  republican  party  ever  since  he  reached 
manhood. 

During  the  World  war  Mr.  Wolfe  proved  true 
and  loyal.  On  September.  3,  1918,  he  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Motor  Transport  Corps,  going  first 
to  Lafayette,  Indiana,  and  from  there  was  trans- 
ferred to  Fort  Sheridan,  Illinois,  later  to  Camp 
Merritt,  New  Jersey,  and  from  there  to  Camp  Mills, 
Long  Island.  While  at  Fort  Sheridan  he  was  made 
truckmaster.  His  training  was  thorough,  but  be- 
fore his  unit  took  passage  for  overseas  the  armistice 
was  signed  with  the  enemy,  and  soon  after  he  was 
released  from  the  obligations  he  had  himself  as- 
sumed when  he  felt  such  to  be  his  duty. 

Frank  Bevington,  father  of  Mrs.  Wolfe,  and  Mr. 
Wolfe’s  business  partner,  was  born  in  Van  Wert 
County,  Ohio,  September  20,  1869,  a son  of  James 
H.  and  Malinda  (Hooks)  Bevington,  the  former  of  . 
whom  was  born  in  1837  in  Van  Wert  County,  and 
the  latter  in  1838  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio.  James 
H.  Bevington  was  a farmer  before  he  enlisted  for 
service  in  the  Civil  war,  in  which  he  served  two 
years  in  a heavy  artillery  regiment.  Of  his  six 
children  Frank  was  the  third  in  order  of  birth.  He 
was  reared  in  Van  Wert  County  and  attended  the 
public  schools  and  took  a course  in  the  Ohio  North- 


ern- University  at  Ada.  For  sixteen  years  he  occu- 
pied himself  in  farming  during  the  summers  and 
taught  school  in  the  winters.  In  1909  he  removed 
to  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  where  he  bought 
a farm  of  120  acres,  and  after  selling  that  property 
became  manager  of  the  Sturgis  Grain  Company  at 
Sturgis,  and  two  years  later  bought  a grain  elevator 
at  Atkins,  Michigan,  which  he  operated  until  1915, 
when  he  came  to  Shipshewana,  Indiana,  bought  a 
half  interest  in  his  son-in-law’s  business,  and  since 
then  has  been  one  of  the  city’s  active  business  men. 

In  1890  Mr.  Bevington  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Martha  Robeck,  of  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  and 
they  have  had  children  as  follows : Lillie,  who  be- 

came the  wife  of  Alonzo  B.  Smith,  of  Van  Wert 
County,  Ohio,  has  two  sons,  Gordon  and  Gale ; 
Norma  A.,  who  is  the  wife  of  Edward  A.  Wolfe; 
Henry  Guy,  who  was  the  first  man  to  enter  the 
World  war  from  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  enlisting  in  August,  1917,  and  sailing  for 
France  in  November  following,  and  is  yet  in  Europe; 
and  Malinda  C.,  who  is  a student  in  the  high  school 
at  Shipshewana.  Mr.  Bevington  has  always  given 
his  political  support  to  the  republican  party,  but  has 
never  felt  inclined  to  accept  any  public  office.  He 
was  reared  and  has  in  turn  reared  his  own  family  in 
the  faith  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  For 
many  years  he  has  been  identified  with  the  order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  prizes  his  membership  in  the  lodge 
at  Ohio  City,  Ohio. 

) 

Vernon  L.  Kepler,  whose  farm  interests  are  lo- 
cated a half  mile  north  of  the  village  of  Arctic  in 
Troy  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  is  president  of 
the  Arctic  Co-operative  Shipping  Association,  one 
of  the  most  successful  marketing  organizations  of 
the  farmers  in  that  section  of  Northeast  Indiana.  The 
manager  of  the  association  is  C.  H.  Fetter ; P.  S. 
Farnham  is  secretary  and  treasurer,  and  the  other 
directors  are  Charles  Lehman,  M.  S.  Enterline, 
Charles  Ridge,  Lewis  Miller,  George  Harmon  and 
Fred  Kimple. 

Vernon  L.  Kepler  was  born  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship of  DeKalb  County  January  17,  1874,  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Malinda  (Rosenbury)  Kepler.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Stark  County,  Ohio.  The 
parents  were  married  in  Indiana,  and  then  settled 
on  a farm  in  Frankln  Township,  where  they  lived 
until  the  death  of  the  mother.  They  were  active 
members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  and  the 
father  was  a democrat.  The  children  were:  Nealia, 
wife  of  Henry  Oberlin  ; Alta,  wife  of  William  Lewis ; 
Mertie,  wife  of  Jink  Houlton ; Vernon  L. ; and  Jen- 
nie, wife  of  Ward  Fisher. 

Vernon  L.  Kepler  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Franklin  Township  and  had  a district  school  edu- 
cation. He  remained  at  home  with  his  father  until 
he  was  twenty-five  years  of  age.  April  15,  1901,  he 
married  Mattie  McClintock,  who  was  born  in  Troy 
Township.  They  have  four  sons,  Arthur,  Chester, 
Ferm  and  Roscoe.  Arthur  completed  the  work  of 
the  common  schools  at  the  age  of  fifteen  and  is 
now  in  high  school. 

Mr.  Kepler  is  affiliated  with  Butler  Lodge  No.  158 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  past  chancellor  of 
the  lodge.  He  is  a republican,  is  present  supervisor 
of  his  township  and  a member  of  the  Township 
Committee.  For  a number  of  years  he  has  been 
successfully  identified  with  farming,  and  has  a well 
improved  place  of  140  acres. 

Harlow  J.  Hern  is  one  of  the  citizens  of  long- 
est residence  and  most  honorable  standing  in  La- 
Grange County.  In  fact  he  is  one  of  the  oldest 
living  native  sons.  He  was  born  near  Plato  in 


266 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Bloomfield  Township,  December  22,  1834  or  1835. 
One  part  of  his  life  record  that  commends  him 
especially  to  the  present  generation  was  his  service 
as  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war. 

His  parents  were  William  and  Sarah  (Good- 
neau)  Hern,  both  natives  of  the  State  of  New 
York.  The  paternal  grandfather,  William  Hern, 
followed  his  son  William  to  Indiana,  and  spent  his 
last  days  with  him.  The  maternal  grandfather  also 
came  to  LaGrange  County,  but  suffered  so  much 
from  the  ague,  then  prevalent  here,  that  he  re- 
turned east.  William  and  Sarah  (Goodneau)  Hern 
came  to  LaGrange  County  from  New  York  in  1837. 
That  was  a day  when  there  were  no  railroads  in 
the  Middle  West,  and  thev  made  the  journey  by 
team  and  wagon.  Their  first  home  was  near  Plato 
in  Bloomfield  Township,  where  they  were  partic- 
ipants in  the  historic  Association  Farm  near  where 
Brighton  now  is.  Part  of  the  land  now  owned 
by  Harlow  J.  Hern  was  included  in  his  parents’ 
possessions.  Later  William  Hern  owned  the  very 
farm  where  Harlow  lived  for  so  many  years,  a 
little  west  of  Brighton,  a portion  including  some 
of  the  old  Association  Farm.  William  Hern  had 
about  180  acres,  and  cleared  much  of  it  and  im- 
proved it  with  good  buildings.  He  and  his  wife 
had  three  children:  William,  deceased;  Susan  E., 
deceased  wife  of  Samuel  Bradford;  and  Harlow  J. 

Harlow  J.  Hern  grew  up  in  a pioneer  community, 
attended  the  schools  that  were  maintained  near  his 
home,  and  also  was  a student  in  a school  at  Salem, 
Ohio.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Company  C of  the 
One  Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  enlisted  as  a 
private,  later  »was  made  corporal,  and  by  special 
ability  was  assigned  to  scouting  duty.  While  in 
command  of  a detachment  of  scouts  and  carrying 
dispatches  to  Knoxville  he  was  accidentally 
wounded.  His  revolver  was  in  his  boot  and  as 
he  jumped  off  his  horse  the  trigger  was  caught  in 
the  bridle  reins  and  the  discharge  caused  a severe 
wound  in  his  leg. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Hern  lived  on  the  old  farm, 
and  was  actively  identified  with  agriculture  and 
stock  raising  there  until  his  residence  burned  in 
February,  1917.  Since  then  he  has  made  his  home 
at  Brighton,  where  he  has  bought  a residence.  His 
farm  until  recently  was  the  same  size  as  that  of 
his  father’s.  This  farm  is  now  occupied  by  his 
son-in-law,  and  a new  home  has  been  erected  to 
replace  the  old  one.  Mr.  Hern  in  former  years 
raised  fine  cattle  and  standard  bred  horses.  He 
has  been  a factor  in  community  affairs,  serving 
three  years  as  township  trustee. 

About  1856,  in  Ohio,  he  married  Miss  Martha 
Mix,  a native  of  that  state  and  a daughter  of 
James  and  Naomi  Mix.  She  died  the  mother  of 
four  children:  Willis,  Charles  and  Harlie,  and 

Arthur  died  in  infancy.  Charles  is  now  deceased. 
September  28,  1881,  at  Burr  Oak,  Michigan,  Mr. 
Hern  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Mohler,  daughter  of 
William  and  Esther  Mohler,  the  former  a native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  Moh- 
ler family  came  to  Indiana  about  1867.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hern  had  four  children : Mary,  Grace,  Ross 
and  Maude.  Grace  is  deceased. 

E.  L.  Kiester.  One  of  the  most  progressive 
farmers  and  stockraisers  of  this  part  of  Indiana  is 
E.  L.  Kiester  of  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben 
County,  who  is  known  far  and  wide  as  a breeder 
of  the  large  type  of  blooded  registered  Poland- 
China  hogs.  He  was  born  in  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, March  1,  1866,  a son  of  Levi  and  Catherine 
(Cromley)  Kiester.  Levi  Kiester  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  wife  was  born 
in  the  same  county.  In  1842  Levi  Kiester  came  to 


Indiana  from  his  native  state,  locating  on  a farm 
in  Noble  County.  At  that  time  there  were  still 
Indians  in  that  section  of  the  state,  and  the  most 
rigid  pioneer  conditions  prevailed,  so  that  the  family 
suffered  many  privations,  but  lived  through  them 
and  became  well-to-do  and  active  in  local  affairs. 
He  owned  and  conducted  a farm  of  200  acres  in 
Washington  Township,  Noble  County,  remaining 
there  until  his  death  in  1901.  Levi  Kiester  and  his 
wife  had  the  following  children:  John,  Mary, 

Emily,  George,  Charles,  E.  L.  and  Ambr.ose  (who 
is  deceased),  and  five  others  who  died  when  very 
young.  For  a number  of  years  Levi  Kiester  was 
well  known  as  a Mason. 

The  children  of  this  generation  would  feel  that 
they  were  very  much  abused  if  they  had  to  attend 
a school  like  the  one  which  housed  E.  L.  Kiester 
and  his  schoolmates  in  Washington  Township, 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  yet  he  and  they  there 
learned  the  fundamental  principles  to  which  they 
later  added  knowledge  through  experience  and 
observation  of  men  and  events.  There  Mr.  Kiester 
grew  to  manhood  and  began  farming  on  the  home- 
stead, but  later  went  into  a merchandise  business 
at  Defiance,  Ohio,  and  conducted  it  for  eight  years, 
when  he  sold  it,  and  in  November,  1915,  came  to' 
his  present  180-acre  farm  in  Pleasant  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  renting  it  until  he  moved 
on  it,  after  he  bought  it  in  1912.  He  has  made 
practically  all  of  the  improvements  on  the  place, 
including  the  erection  of  the  buildings,  and  he  has 
also  increased  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  the  farm 
having  been  very  much  run  down  when  he  bought 
it,  but  through  the  application  of.  scientific  knowl- 
edge it  has  been  completely  reclaimed  and  is  now 
one  of  the  best  rural  properties  in  this  part  of  the 
township.  Experiment  having  taught  him  of  the 
desirability  of  raising  the  large  type  blooded  Poland 
China  hogs,  all  registered,  he  has  specialized  along 
this  line  for  some  years  and  now  has.  some  of  the 
best  swme  in  Northern  Indiana.  His  success  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  proves  conclusively  that 
it  does  pay  to  cultivate  the  land  according  to  modern 
methods,  and  that  time  and  money  invested  in  this 
way  makes  large  returns. 

Mr.  Kiester  married  Nevada  Harper,  of  Ligonier, 
Indiana,  who  died  in  early  life,  leaving  him  an 
infant  daughter.  In  1904  Mr.  Kiester  married  Mary 
D.  Hoyles,  of  Garrett,  Indiana,  who  was  born  at 
Avilla,  "Noble  County,  Indiana,  a daughter  of  Simon 
and  Ellamanda  Beeber,  early  settlers  of  Noble 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kiester  have  one  son,  Edwin 
Lee  Kiester,  at  home.  Mr.  Kies.ter’s . daughter, 
Beulah,  who  married  John  Brown,  lives  in  Canada. 
Mr.  Kiester  also  has  one  step-son,  Harry  Hoyles, 
who  lives  in  Decatur,  Illinois. 

James  H.  Mills.  The  Mills  home,  known  as  the 
Drake  farm,  is  in  section  5 of  Johnson  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  in  the  same  locality  where  Mrs. 
Mills  has  spent  practically  all  her  life.  Ihe  farm 
comprises  eighty  acres.  Mr.  Mills  started  out  when 
he  left  home  as  a farm  worker  at  monthly  wages, 
and  is  one  of  the  men  who  has  achieved  independ- 
ence in  farming  though  starting  with  very  limited 
capital. 

He  was  born  in  Johnson  Township,  August  10, 
1870,  a son  of  Charles  H.  and  Hopey  A.  (Gardner) 
Mills.  His  father,  a native  of  New  York  State, 
came  to  Indiana  when  a boy,  grew  up  here  and  lived 
out  his  life  as  a farmer  in  Johnson  Township.  In 
politics  he  was  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  very  devout  members  of  the  Methodist  Church 
at  Valentine  and  gave  liberally  to  all  church  causes. 
Of  their  family  of  six  children  four  are  living: 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


26? 


James  H. ; Clara,  wife  of  Arthur  Huff ; Laura,  wife 
of  Milton  Bellman;  and  Vera,  wife  of  Raven  Drew. 

James  H.  Mills  received  a common  school  edu- 
cation and  attended  the  high  school  one  year.  He 
was  nineteen  years  old  when  he  left  home  and  be- 
came a wage  earner  by  working  for  neighboring 
farmers,  and  he  continued  in  that  way  until  he  had 
the  experience  and  the  meager  capital  which  en- 
couraged him  to  start  life  independently.  On  August 
1 7,  1890,  he  married  Nina  E.  Drake,  daughter  of 
Joseph  A.  and  Severnia  E.  (Turner)  Drake.  Her 
father  was  born  in  Wood  County,  Ohio,  and  her 
mother  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  and  after  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Indiana  about  1870,  stopping 
at  Waterloo  and  then  settling  in  Johnson  Township 
of  LaGrange  County,  where  they  spent  the  rest 
of  their  years.  Joseph  A.  Drake  served  three  years 
as  a Union  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drake 
had  two  daughters':  Elminda,  born  May  3,  1869, 

was  married  in  1888  to  L.  J.  Baldwin  and  is  now 
deceased.  Nina  E.  was  born  September  9,  1873, 
and  had  a common  school  education.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Mills  have  four  children : Ethel  E.  is  a graduate 

of  the  common  schools  and  had  three  years  in  high 
school.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  William  H.  Baker. 
Hazel,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  married 
Delbert  Carney.  Ilo  is  the  wife  of  Herman  H. 
Baker.  Jasper  D.  is  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools  and  is  now  a student  in  the  Wolcottville 
high  school.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church  and  Mr.  Mills  is  one  of  the 
trustees,  while  Mrs.  Mills  is  secretary  of  the  Ladies’ 
Aid  Society  and  treasurer  of  the  Missionary  Society 
at  Valentine.  Both  are  members  of  the  Gleaners. 

’Silas  H.  Nugen.  Probably  every  farm  owner  and 
farmer  in  DeKalb  County  claims  acquaintance  with 
Silas  H.  Nugen,  who  for  many  years  has  been  a 
leader  in  the  agricultural  community  and  the  pro- 
gressive affairs  of  farmers.  Mr.  Nugen’s  career  has 
been  one  of  self  help,  and  progress  from  limited 
circumstances  to  a position  of  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  land  owners  of  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of  DeKalb 
County  February  2,  1857,  a son  of  John  and  Rebecca 
(Hughes)  Nugen.  His  father  was  a native  of  Ire- 
land, came  to  the  United  States  when  a young  man, 
lived  in  Ohio  until  after  his  marriage,  and  then  came 
to  DeKalb  County  and  secured  160  acres  in  Jackson 
Township.  His  first  home  was  a log  cabin,  and 
when  that  was  replaced  by  a frame  house  a fire  de- 
stroyed the  building  and  he  had  to  build  over  again. 
He  was  reared  a Catholic  but  later  became  affiliated 
with  the  Methodist  Church.  He  was  a democrat  in 
politics.  John  Nugen  died  about  1865,  and  was  the 
father  of  six  children. 

Silas  H.  Nugen,  the  only  one  of  thesd  children 
now  living,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Jackson 
Township  and  was  a small  boy  when  his  father  died. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  took  upon  himself  the  re- 
sponsibilities of  earning  his  way  and  worked  out  at 
monthly  wages  and  also  attended  winter  terms  of 
school  whenever  possible.  For  three  years  he  was 
employed  by  John  Sheffer  and  then  for  about  three 
years  was  with  William  Carr.  Being  thrifty  and  in- 
dustrious he  accumulated  about  $700,  and  with  that 
capital  he  rented  the  Carr  farm.  He  also  bought 
an  interest  in  a threshing  outfit  and  operated  it  for 
two  years.  Mr.  Nugen  paid  $1,300  for  eighty  acres 
covered  with  heavy  timber,  and  as  he  cleared  the 
land  he  sold  the  timber  and  put  the  cleared  spaces 
into  crops. 

September  1,  1885,  he  married  Emma  Bartels.  At 
that  time  he  moved  to  his  present  farm.  Mrs.  Nugen 
was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  but  was  living 


in  Jackson  Township  at  the  time  of  her  marriage. 
In  connection  with  farming  and  clearing  his  land 
Mr.  Nugen  bought  a threshing  outfit  and  conducted 
it  for  thirteen  years,  rendering  an  important  service 
to  the  grain  growers  of  the  county.  Later  he  bought 
another  eighty  acres,  and  at  the  present  time  has 
428  acres  in  DeKalb  County. 

Along  with  the  building  up  and  management  of 
his  farming  interests  Mr.  Nugen  has  again  and 
again  been  called  upon  for  public  duties.  He  was 
elected  and  served  five  years  as  township  assessor 
and  later  filled  the  office  of  township  trustee  six 
years.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Grange 
in  Jackson  Township  and  was  its  master.  He.  is 
now  manager  of  the  Farmers  Shipping  .Association 
at  Auburn  and  is  treasurer  of  the  DeKalb  County 
Federation  of  Farmers.  He  is.  affiliated  with  Auburn 
Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  is  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nugen  have  seven  children : Roy, 

Dorsey,  John,  Frank,  Harold,  Lelah  and  Hayes. 

Henry  W.  Kline  is  a well  known  farmer  and 
onion  grower  in  Troy  Township  of  DeKalb  County. 
Mr.  Kline  is  a young  man,  but  has  much  to  show 
for  the  energetic  years  of  his  active  career.  He 
had  only  $250  of  capital  when  he  bought  his  present 
farm  of  seventy-one  acres,  and  he  has  handled  his 
land  and  its  resources  and  his  business  affairs  with 
such  efficiency  as  to  be  considered  one  of  the  inde- 
pendent and  substantial  men  of  his  community. 

He  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  October 
17,  1882,  a son  of  John  and  Christina  (Kaiser) 
Kline,  the  former  a native  of  New  York  State  and 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  His  parents  were  married  in 
Williams  County,  and  settled  on  a farm  close  to  the 
Indiana  line.  They  are  members  of  the  German 
Lutheran  Church  and  the  father  is  a democrat.  There 
were  twelve  children,  and  those  to  grow  up  are: 
Henry  W. ; Louise,  wife  of  Daniel  Erney;  Clara, 
wife  of  William  Linn;  Clarence,  of  Elkhart,  In- 
diana ; Fred,  of  Williams  County,  Ohio ; Charles, 
also  of  Williams  County;  Ida,  Hettie,  Wayne  and 
Ernest,  all  at  home. 

Henry  W.  Kline  attended  the  district  schools  of 
his  home  community  until  he  was  sixteen  years  of 
age  and  lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
twenty-seven.  On  August  11,  1910,  he  married  Lou 
A.  Wise.  She  was  a graduate  of  the  Butler  High 
School  and  for  many  years  was  a successful  teacher. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kline  are  members  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  the  Zion  Church,  and  he  is  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sunday  school.  He  is  also  affiliated 
with  Eden  Lodge  No.  644,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
in  politics  is  a republican.  Mr.  Kline  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Arctic  Co-operative  Association. 

Daniel  Garlets.  One  of  the  improved  farms 
in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County  is 
that  owned  by  Daniel  Garlets,  much  of  the  prop- 
erty having  been  in  the  possession  of  the  family 
for  nearly  half  a century.  Mr.  Garlets  has  been 
one  of  the  busy  and  substantial  men  of  his  com- 
munity for  many  years. 

He  was  born  near  Newr  Philadelphia  or  Canal 
Dover  in  the  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  February  5, 
1857,  a son  of  Peter  and  Maria  (Fair)  Garlets. 
His  father  died  April  7,  1914,  after  having  resided 
in  LaGrange  County  for  forty-seven  years  to  the 
day.  The  mother  died  in  1889.  Daniel  Garlet  grew 
up  on  the  home  farm  from  early  childhood,  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of  Indiana,  and  since 
early  manhood  has  been  a farmer.  He  owns  157 
acres  and  for  a number  of  years  was  one  of  the 
farmer  specialists,  growing  vegetables  and  other 


26$ 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


truck.  Besides  the  old  home  property  he  has  other 
lands.  Mr.  Garlets  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows. 

In  1878  he  married  Miss  Mary  Faust,  of  Branch 
County,  Michigan.  Mr.  Garlets  has  children,  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren.  His  first  wife’s 
two  children  were  Willie  and  Pearl.  Willie,  who 
lives  at  Bronson,  Michigan,  married  Eliza  Jennings, 
a daughter  of  Edgar  Jennings,  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County.  Their  two  children  are 
Clarice  and  Marie.  Clarice  is  the  wife  of  Joy  Q. 
Dennis  and  is  the  mother  of  two  children,  Robert 
and  Eegeru.  Marie  is  the  wife  of  Don  Harris. 
The  daughter  Pearl  married  Carl  Bartholomew 
and  her  five  children  are  Claude,  Kenneth,  Oscar, 
Leon  and  Berneta,  deceased.  Mrs.  Garlets  died  in 
1900,  and  in  1901  he  married  Mary  A.  Campbell, 
who  was  born  in  Decatur  County,  Indiana,  in  1877! 
To  their  marriage  have  been  born  five  children, 
Goldie,  Peter,  Lucile,  Eunice  and  Paul.  Paul  died 
at  the  age  of  two  years. 

David  B.  Kuhns  is  known  as  a man  who  has 
achieved  a worthy  success,  having  started  in  life 
with  little  save  the  skill  and  strength  of  his  hands 
and  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Lakeside  Farm,  situated 
on  the  banks  of  Long  Lake  in  Noble  and  York 
townships  of  Noble  County.  He  has  238  acres  and 
is  one  of  the  enviable  men  who  are  now  well  estab- 
lished in  American  agriculture. 

Mr.  Kuhns  was  born  in  Noble  Township  of  Noble 
County  January  20,  1862,  son  of  Samuel  and  Martha 
(James)  Kuhns.  f|is  father  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Ohio;  and  his  mother  in  the  same  state. 
Samuel  Kuhns  came  to  Indiana  as  early  as  1832, 
locating  in  the  southern  part  of  Noble  Township, 
where  he  entered  a fractional  eighty  acres.  His 
wife’s  people  were  also  early  settlers  in  York  Town- 
ship and  cleared  up  a farm  there.  After  their 
marriage  Samuel  Kuhns  and  wife  moved  to  Noble 
Township,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives 
as  industrious  farmers.  He  was  a republican  in 
politics.  In  their  family  were  four  children:  James 
M.,  deceased;  Phoebe,  wife  of  Thomas  Collier,  of 
Pierceton,  Indiana;  John,  deceased;  and  David  B. 

David  B.  Kuhns  spent  his  early  life  on  a farm 
adjoining  the  Lakeside  Farm  which  he  now  owns. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  and  was  fourteen 
years  old  when  his  mother  died.  Two  years  later 
he  started  out  to  earn  his  own  living.  He.  worked 
in  brickyards,  on  railroads  and  at  other  employment, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  found  himself 
possessed  of  a wife  and  one  horse.  He  then  rented 
land  from  his  father,  and  has  made  such  good  use 
of  his  opportunities  and  energies  that  he  now  owns 
not  only  his  father’s  old  farm  but  also  the  farm  of 
his  wife’s  father,  altogether  constituting  one  of  the 
best  landed  estates  in  Noble  County. 

December  25,  1882,  Mr.  Kuhns  married  Miss 
Catherine  Taggart.  She  was  born  in  Noble  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County,  December  25,  1864,  daughter 
of  John  and  Sarah  (Mayfield)  Taggart.  Her  father 
was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Man  January  12,  1819,  and 
came  to  America  on  a sailing  vessel,  being  nine 
weeks  on  the  ocean.  Landing  in  New  York,  he 
came  on  west  to  Indiana  and  located  near  Ligonier. 
His  first  wife,  Catherine  Clark,  whom  he  married 
on  the  Isle  of  Man,  died  soon  after  coming  to  the 
United  States,  leaving  four  children,  Thomas  R„ 
John  J.,  William  C.  and  Eliza.  He  then  married 
Sarah  Mayfield,  who  had  been  previously  married 
and  had  one  child,  Elizabeth  Fair.  They  became 
the  parents  of  eleven  children.  Ten  of  them  are 
still  living,  as  follows:  Edward;  Lafayette;  Martha; 


Sadie  and  Catherine,  twins ; Sherman  ; Sophronia ; 
Frank;  Charles;  and  Amos.  Catherine  Taggart  was 
reared  in  Noble  Township,  and  attended  the  dis- 
trict schools  near  her  home. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhns  have  four  children : Dorris 
is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  was  trained 
as  a stenographer,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Hilbert 
Walters  of  South  Bend.  Samuel,  after  graduating 
from  the  high  school  and  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  became  a teacher  and  is  now  owner  of  the 
Albion  Garage.  He  married  Oma  Shoe.  The  two 
youngest  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kuhns  are  Dale 
and  Glenn,  both  at  home. 

Mr.  Kuhns  is  affiliated  with  Albion  Lodge  No.  97, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  is  a past  chan- 
cellor of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  in  politics  is 
a republican. 

George  Oliver  Harding,  of  Clay  Township,  rep- 
resents one  of  the  oldest  families  to  settle  in  La- 
Grange  County.  The  Hardings  have  been  here  for 
more  than  eighty  years  and  their  record  is  one  of 
industrious  and  good  citizenship  and  undoubted 
patriotism. 

George  Oliver  Harding,  whose  father  died  while 
a Union  soldier,  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County,  September  22,  1862.  His 
grandfather,  Oliver  Harding,  was  a native  of  New 
York  State  and  married  Almina  Leonard.  In  1835 
they  brought  their  family  from  New  York  to  Clear 
Spring  Township,  LaGrange  County,  entered  160 
acres  of  land,  and  made  some  of  the  first  clearings 
in  the  wilderness  of  this  county.  Oliver  Harding 
did  not  live  long  to  develop  his  holdings,  since  he 
died  April  12,  1837,  his  wife  passing  away  in  October 
of  the  same  year.  They  have  four  children : Leon- 
ard, born  November  12,  1831 ; Levi,  born  August  26, 
1833;  Demick,  born  March  15,  1835;  and  Elisha, 
born  April  22,  1837. 

Elisha  Harding,  who  was  born  in  Clear  Spring 
Township,  was  one  of  the  first  white  children  born 
in  that  locality.  He  grew  up  there  in  pioneer  days 
and  in  1861  married  Elizabeth  Bain,  daughter  of 
Peter  and  Sarah  J.  (Schermerhorn)  Bain.  Elisha 
Harding  soon  left  his  young  wife  to  go  into  the 
army,  enlisting  in  the  129th  Indiana  Infantry.  After 
he  had  been  in  service  for  a couple  of  years  or  more 
he'  returned  home  on  a furlough,  and  immediately 
on  rejoining  his  command  was  sent  to  the  hospital 
with  erysipelas.  Later  he  developed  smallpox  and 
died  Januarjr  24,  1864.  His  widow  survived  him  with 
one  child,  George  Oliver,  and  after  the  death  of  the 
husband  a daughter  was  born,  Sarah  Jane.  Mrs. 
Elisha  Harding  after  the  death  of  her  husband 
moved  to  Lima  Township,  and  died  March  25,  1903. 

George  Oliver  Harding  attended  district  schools 
in  Lima  and  Clay  townships  and  has  made  the 
best  of  his  opportunities  through  his  industrious  life. 
In  1883  he  bought  h'is  home  farm,  comprising  eighty 
acres  in  section  20  of  Clay  Township. 

In  1892  Mr.  Harding  married  Martha  E.  Chrystler, 
a daughter  of  William  and  Van  Lula  (Latta) 
Chrystler.  Mrs.  Harding  died  February  11,  1909. 
The  children,  eight  in  number,  most  of  them  at  home 
with  their  father,  are  Sarah  Jane,  Julia  Catherine, 
Laura  L.,  Esther  Van  Lula,  Ruth  A.,  Amy  Viola, 
William  Oliver  and  Gladys  E. 

Raymond  U.  Bowser  came  to  Spencerville  from 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  less  than  twenty  years  ago, 
and  he  and  his  wife  had  as  cash  assets  not  more 
than  six  dollars.  He  began  farming,  but  his  natural 
bent  for  salesmanship  and  business  has  been  turned 
to  advantage  and  he  has  built  up  an  extensive  busL 
ness  at  Spencerville,  dealing  in  livestock,  and  han- 
dles a large  amount  of  goods  used  both  in  town  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


269 


country,  including  fireproof  safes,  sheet  metal  for 
all  purposes  in  buildings,  pumps,  plumbing  supplies, 
windmills  and  gasoline  engines. 

Mr.  Bowser  was  born  in  Perry  Township  of  Allen 
County,  Indiana,  September  17,  1878,  a son  of  Theo 
and  Celia  A.  (Gloyd)  Bowser.  His  father  was  also 
born  in  Perry  Township,  and  is  still  living  on  a 
farm  in  that  county.  The  mother  is  deceased.  Both 
were  active  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church, 
and  Theo  Bowser  has  been  a republican.  There  were 
three  children:  Raymond  U. ; Ivan,  of  Fort  Wayne; 
and  Homer,  a farmer  in  Perry  Township. 

Raymond  U.  Bowser  grew  up  on  the  homestead 
farm,  attended  public  schools  and  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  entered  the  Bowser  factory  at  Fort  Wayne, 
where  he  thoroughly  learned  a trade  as  a mechanic 
and  machinist.  He  spent  about  five  years  there,  and 
in  1900  came  to  DeKalb  County  and  located  on  a 
farm  west  of  Spencerville.  Beginning . almost  in 
poverty,  he  has  made  such  good  use  of  his  time  and 
opportunities  that  he  owns  today  the  most  modern 
and  best  home  in  Spencerville  and  is  also  stockholder 
in  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank  and  is  one  of 
the  busiest  men  in  the  community. 

Mr.  Bowser  is  a republican  in  politics  and  his  wife 
is  a Methodist.  They  have  four  children : Roy,  who 
graduated  from  high  school  at  the  age  of  sixteen 
and  is  now  assisting  his  father,  Cleo,  who  has  com- 
pleted the  work  of  the  common  schools,  and  Gale 
and  Ada. 

Fred  C.  Fast,  who  recently  became  identified  with 
the  business  community  of  Angola,  where  he  is  ren- 
dering a useful  service  in  helping  supply  that  city 
with  pure  milk,  is  a member  of  an  old  and  interest- 
ing family  of  Steuben  County,  where  he  himself 
was  born  and  has  spent  his  life. 

His  grandfather  was  Christian  Fast,  who  came  to 
Northeast  Indiana  in  1852.  He  was  born  in  Fay- 
ette County,  Pennsylvania  in  1814,  son  of  Martin  and 
Catherine  (Blosser)  Fast.  In  1816  the  family  joined 
the  few  scattered  pioneers  of  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
where  Christian  Fast  grew  up  in  a frontier  com- 
munity. On  coming  to  Steuben  County  in  1852  he 
settled  in  Pleasant  Township,  where  in  the  course 
of  a quarter  of  a century  he  developed  a fine  farm, 
after  taking  it  as  wild  land,  and  surrounded  himself 
with  every  material  comfort  and  evidence  of  popular 
esteem.  He  died  December  13,  1898.  In  1839 
married  Henrietta  Sowle,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  State  in  1820.  They  had  a family  of  eight 

children.  .... 

Allen  Fast,  a son  of  Christian  Fast,  is  widely 
known  in  Steuben  County  as  one  of  the  former 
sheriffs.  He  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
August  25,  1845,  and  from  the  age  of  seven  lived  on 
his  father’s  farm  in  Pleasant  Township.  Winter 
terms  of  school  and  summer  work  in  the  fields  were 
his  early  opportunities  and  advantages.  He  also 
learned  the  carpenter  trade.  From  1878  to  1882  he 
was  trustee  of  Richland  Township,  and  in  the  latter 
year  was  elected  sheriff,  and  by  re-election  in  1884 
served  two  terms.  Since  retiring  from  this  office 
he  has  been  primarily  engaged  in  farming  in  Rich- 
land Township,  but  is  now  living  retired  in  Angola. 
He  has  been  noble  grand  of  his  lodge  and  four 
times  represented  his  lodge  in  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Indiana  Odd  Fellows.  In  1864  he  married  Julia  A. 
Sowle,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Ann  Marietta  Sowle. 
She  died  in  1866,  the  mother  of  one  child,  Curtiss. 
Allen  Fast  married  in  1869  Emma  Gaskell,  who  was 
born  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County,  daugh- 
ter of  Asa  and  Emily  (Goodale)  Gaskell.  By  this 
union  there  were  four  children,  Stanley,  Fred,  Ethie 
and  May. 


Mr.  Fred  C.  Fast  was  born  at  Metz  February  25, 
1878,  and  supplemented  the  advantages  of  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  York  Township  with  studies  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola.  As  part  of 
his  life  experience  and  service  he  taught  school 
twenty-two  months.  After  that  he  settled  down  to 
the  industrious  business  of  farming  in  Richland 
Township,  and  for  fifteen  years  also  operated  a saw- 
mill and  converted  a large  amount  of  native  timber 
into  good  hardwood  lumber.  In  the  spring  of  1919 
he  left  his  farm  and  established  his  retail  dairy  busi- 
ness at  Angola. 

Mr.  Fast  married  in  1900  Miss  Artie  Deller,  daugh- 
ter of  John  A.  and  Lucy  (Mercer)  Deller.  They 
have  four  interesting  young  children,  Ralph,  Wanda, 
Margaret  and  Christian.  Mr.  Fast  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a past  chancellor  of 
Metz  Lodge  No.  411.  With  his  family  he  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church. 

Melvin  Eugene  Wilson.  The  Wilsons  have  been 
regarded  as  one  of  the  most  permanent  families 
of  LaGrange  County,  and  their  activities  as  farmers 
and  good  citizens  have  made  them  especially  well 
known  in  Springfield  Township. 

Melvin  Eugene  Wilson  was  born  in  that  town- 
ship June  1,  1857,  a son  of  Wallace  William  and 
Elizabeth  (Notestine)  Wilson.  Wallace  W.  Wil- 
son came  to  LaGrange  County  when  a young  man, 
was  married,  and  in  1861,  at  the  call  of  his  coun- 
try, he  left  his  farm  and  his  family  to  enlist  in 
Company  G of  the  Thirtieth  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
served  as  a courageous  soldier  until  he  was  shot 
in  the  leg  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River.  He  died 
and  was  buried  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  He  left 
two  children,  Isaac  Elonzo  and  Melvin  Eugene,  the 
latter  be:ng  about  six  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  The  widowed  mother  carefully  reared  her 
two  sons  and  lived  to  the  advanced  age  of  eighty- 
six,  passing  away  February  22,  1917. 

Melvin  Eugene  Wilson  received  his  primary  edu- 
cation in  Springfield  Township,  and  since  early 
youth  has  known  no  other  occupation  than  farm- 
ing and  has  always  been  a resident  of  his  present 
community.  He  bought  the  farm  where  he  now 
lives  about  1906.  This  farm  has  two  complete 
sets  of  building  improvements,  and  the  buildings 
where  his  son  Roy  lives  were  put  there  by  Mr. 
Wilson  himself.  He  owns  290  acres,  and  he  and 
his  son  are  well  known  stockmen,  keeping  pure- 
bred Shorthorn  cattle,  Duroc  Jersey  hogs,  high 
grade  Shropshire  sheep  and  grade  horses. 

In  1880  Mr.  Wilson  married  Miss  Catherine  Alice 
Horner.  She  was  born  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, daughter  of  William  and  Mary  (Milhuff) 
Horner.  Her  parents  came  from  Westmoreland 
County,  Pennsylvania,  to  LaGrange  County  in  1868 
and  settled  in  Greenfield  Township,  where  they 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  on  a farm.  Mrs.  Wil- 
son’s grandparents  all  lived  out  their  lives  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. Four  children  were  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilson,  the  two  oldest,  Earl  and  Marvin  dying 
young.  Corda  is  the  wife  of  Claud  Funk  and  has 
a daughter,  Margaret  E.,  their  home  being  on  her 
father’s  farm  in  Greenfield  Township.  Roy  is  asso- 
ciated with  his  father  in  farming  and  on  February 
22,  1916,  married  Miss  Neva  McKinzie,  daughter  of 
Nelson  McKinzie,  a native  of  Springfield  Township. 
Roy  and  wife  have  one  daughter,  Evelyn  May. 

John  B.  A.  W.  Mugg.  Members  of  the  Mugg 
family  were  identified  with  the  pioneer  element  in 
Pleasant  Township  of  Steuben  County,  locating 
there  during  the  decade  of  the  thirties.  A promi- 
nent representative  of  this  family  was  the  late  John 


270 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


B.  A.  W.  Mugg,  who  began  life  a poor  boy  and  by 
industry  and  good  judgment  acquired  a competence. 
He  was  a farmer  and  business  man  and  was  widely 
known  throughout  Steuben  County. 

He  was  the  son  of  Jesse  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Squires)  Mugg.  Jesse  J.  Mugg  was  born  in  Yates 
County,  New  York,  February  13,  1814,  and  married 
Elizabeth  Squires,  a native  of  Ontario  County,  New 
York,  January  17,  1818.  The  date  of  their  marriage 
was  June  12,  1836,  in  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and  between 
the  years  1841  and  1844,  they  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  where  they  engaged  in  the  hotel 
business  at  Angola.  Jesse  J.  Mugg  died  at  Angola, 
September  9,  1864.  His  wife  passed  away  December 
6,  1854.  Their  children  were : Sarah  Caroline,  born 
July  13,  1839,  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  died  at  Angola, 
November  21,  1857;  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Charles 
Merriam,  born  September  8,  1841,  in  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  died  in  Chicago  in  1903 ; Adaline 
Louisa,  born  June  25,  1844,  at  Angola,  died  March 

20,  1845,  at  Angola;  Francis  Lafayette,  born  June 

21,  1846,  at  Angola,  died  February  28,  1847,  in  the 
town  of  his  birth;  John  B.  A.  W.  (the  subject  of 
this  memoir),  born  October  13,  1850,  in  Angola,  died 
November  1,  1910,  at  Angola;  Helen  Eliza,  born  June 
27,  1848,  at  Angola,  wife  of  Andy  Hackett,  deceased, 
who  resides  at  Beatrice,  Nebraska,  the  only  surviv- 
ing member  of  her  parents’  children. 

Jesse  J.  Mugg  married  for  his  second  wife,  Nancy 
Nichols,  on  December  24,  1861,  but  there  were  no 
children  by  that  union.  Concerning  Jesse  J.  Mugg’s 
career  it  may  be  stated  that  by  trade  he  was  a shoe- 
maker, and  when  he  first  came  to  Angola  he  pur- 
chased lots  from  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public 
square  east  to  Martha  street.  On  the  corner  of  East 
Maumee  and  the  public  square,  was  a building  in 
which  Mr.  Mugg  conducted  a shoeshop.  Subse- 
quently he  owned  and  conducted  the  Russell  House, 
then  known  as  the  Eldorado.  He  owned  a stock  of 
goods  in  the  Carver  building;  in  1852  he  and  his 
wife  moved  this  stock  to  Elkhart;  where  they  con- 
ducted a store  two  years,  and  in  1854  returned  to 
Angola,  to  the  same  building  they  had  left.  Mr. 
Mugg  soon  built  a building  just  west  of  the  Russell 
House,  into  which  he  moved  his  general  stock  of 
merchandise.  Later,  he  sold  out  his  stock  to  John 
Bigler,  who  moved  it  to  Michigan.  In  1855  Mr.  Mugg 
bought  the  property  on  the  corner  of  West  Maumee 
and  North  Superior  street,  where  he  remained  until 
his  death,  September  9,  1864.  During  the  time  he 
resided  in  Angola,  he  was  county  treasurer,  from 
1844  to  1850.  He  had  stock  in  the  Jonathan  Weaver 
grist-mill  and  after  its  destruction  by  fire,  he  went 
into  the  rebuilt  mill  in  order  to  retrieve  his  loss. 
Politically,  Mr.  Mugg  was  a democrat,  and  his  fra- 
ternal society  affiliations  were  numbered  among  the 
Masons  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
was  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  Angola 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  formed  in  1857. 

John  B.  A.  W.  Mugg,  son  of  the  above  named 
Jesse  J.  Mugg,  born  in  Angola,  Indiana,  October  13, 
1850,  lived  in  the  place  of  his  birth  until  the  death 
of  his  father  in  1864,  when  he  went  to  Clyde,  Ohio, 
to  live  with  his  uncle,  Basil  Mugg.  His.  uncle  had  a 
life  scholarship  at  Hillsdale  College  (Michigan)  and 
John  was  sent  there,  but  not  liking  it,  returned  to 
Clyde.  When  seventeen  years  of  age,  he  went  to 
Missouri,  where  he  clerked  in  a store,  but  finally 
returned  to  Angola,  where  he  lived  with  his  sister, 
Helen  Eliza,  wife  of  Andy  Hackett.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  he  again  returned  to  Clyde,  Ohio,  and 
settled  up  with  his  uncle,  who  had  been  his  legal 
guardian,  and  then  came  to  Angola.  He  was  not 
given  his  full  name  until  large  enough  to  talk.  His 
father  wanted  him  named  Warwick  and  the  mother 


desired  his  name  to  be  Arthur.  His  uncle,  Basil 
Mugg,  told  him  if  he  would  have  his  name — John 
Basil,  he  would  give  him  a colt.  After  that  he  called 
himself  John  Basil  Arthur  Warwick  Mugg.  When 
he  went  to  Clyde  to  make  settlement  with  his  uncle, 
he  received  the  promised  colt  and  rode  it  back  to 
Angola. 

He  of  whom  this  sketch  is  written  was  reared  and 
educated  mostly  in  Angola,  and  from  1888  to  1891, 
was  engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  having  for  his 
partner  his  father-in-law,  Moses  L.  Freligh.  In  1894 
Mr.  Mugg  moved  to  his  farm  at  the  west  end  of 
Crooked  Lake,  in  Pleasant  Township,  but  in  1900, 
returned  to  Angola  and  in  1907,  built  the  substan- 
tial brick  home  at  the  corner  of  North  Wayne  and 
Broad  Streets,  where  his  daughters,  Lola  and  Mabel, 
now  reside. 

Mr.  Mugg  was  united  in  marriage  March  18,  1880, 
to  Miss  Sophia  Adelaide  Freligh.  She  was  born  in 
Pleasant  Township,  Steuben  County,  September  1, 
1858,  daughter  of  Moses  L.  and  Eleanor  (Lockwood) 
Freligh.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ontario  County, 
New  York,  May  12,  1828,  and  her  mother  in  the  same 
county  and  state,  May  20,  1833.  John  Freligh,  father 
of  Moses  Freligh,  came  from  Holland  to  Clyde, 
Ohio,  when  he  was  twelve  years  old. 

Moses  Freligh  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1834; 
he  was  married  December  16,  1856,  and  lived  on  the 
old  Freligh  farm  three  and  one-half  miles  northeast 
of  Angola,  where  his  father  had  settled  upon  coming 
to  this  county.  By  occupation  Moses  Freligh  was 
a farmer,  but  was  also  interested  in  business  in 
Angola,  where  he  died  May  30,  1908.  His  wife  passed 
away  November  30,  1914.  They  had  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding  anniversary  in  1906.  Eleanor 
Lockwood  was  a daughter  of  James  and  Ann 
(Berry)  Lockwood,  who  in  the  spring  of  1837,  ar- 
rived in  Steuben  County  and  settled  on  a farm  that 
is  now  owned  by  Charles  McClue.  Ann  Berry 
Lockwood  came  from  Ireland  when  four  years  of 
age.  In  1855  James  Lockwood  moved  to  Atlantic, 
Iowa,  where  his  wife  died  October  21,  1876,  aged 
sixty-nine  years  and  seven  months.  He  then  re- 
turned to  Steuben  County  and  lived  here  till  death 
in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years  and  four 
months.  James  Lockwood  was  a carpenter  by  trade. 
He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : Ann, 
born  July  27,  1829,  died  August  10th  of  the  same 
year ; Albert,  born  September  29,  1830,  and  died 
August  2,  1861 ; Eleanor,  born  May  20,  1833,  died 
November  30,  1914;  Lucy  Kirk,  born  March  29,  1836; 
Adelaide,  born  April  28,  1844,  died  August  9,  1852. 
Moses  and  Eleanor  Freligh  had  two  children,  Sophia 
Adelaide  and  Elfie  May.  The  latter  was  the  wife 
of  Fred  L.  Picket,  and  after  his  death  became  the 
wife  of  Homer  S.  Green  of  Bluffton,  Ohio.  By  her 
first  husband,  she  had  a daughter,  Emma  L.  Picket 
Clymer.  Mrs.  Clymer  has  one  child,  Margaret 
Louise,  born  October  14,  1915. 

Concerning  Mrs.  Mugg  it  should  be  said  that  she 
was  a well  educated  woman,  having  attended  high 
school  under  Professor  Williams  and  Professor 
Albert  W.  Long.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mugg  were  the 
parents  of  two  daughters,  Lola  Inez  and  Mabel  Ade- 
laide, of  whom  further  mention  will  be  made. 

Mr.  Mugg,  after  enjoying  the  prosperity  earned 
by  his  years  of  industry,  spent  the  last  years  of  his 
life  in  comfort  and  died  November  1,  1910.  His 
widow  passed  away  May  17,  1917.  Politically,  Mr. 
Mugg  was  a democrat  and  in  lodge  affiliations  was 
a member  of  the  Masonic  order,  also  a member  of 
the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge.  In  Masonry,  he  had  ad- 
vanced high  and  was  a member  of  Angola  Com- 
mandery  No.  45,  Knights  Templar.  Both  he  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


271 


his  wife  were  charter  members  of  Irene  Court  No. 
44  of  the  Tribe  of  Ben  Hur. 

Of  the  two  daughters  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mugg, 
above  named,  it  should  be  said  that  Lola  Inez  was 
born  in  a home  owned  by  her  grandfather,  Freligh, 
on  North  Wayne  street,  May  5,  1888,  and  graduated 
from  the  Angola  High  School  June  1,  1907.  She 
completed  her  course  in  the  Tri-State  College  June 
1,  1916.  She  is  a graduate  in  music  with  the  degree 
of  B.  M.,  also  finished  a course  in  art,  and  has  been 
a talented  and  successful  teacher.  For  two  years 
she  taught  music  in  Fort  Wayne,  from  May,  1915, 
to  May,  1917. 

Mabel  A.  Mugg,  sister  of  Lola  Inez,  was  born  in 
Angola,  May  28,  1892,  graduated  from  high  school 
in  1909,  and  for  three  years  attended  the  Tri-State 
College.  She  began  teaching  in  1910,  and  for  two 
years  was  at  Churubusco,  one  year  at  Helmer,  and 
she  also  taught  three  years  in  the  South  Whitley 
High  School. 

The  sisters,  Lola  I.  and  Mabel  A.  Mugg,  own  a 
business  block  in  Angola,  and  a farm  of  two  hun- 
dred acres  in  Pleasant  Township.  While  enjoying 
incomes  from  a substantial  property,  they  have  al- 
ways sought  lines  of  special  usefulness  and.  effort, 
and  have  rendered  much  good  service  in  their  com- 
munity. Lola  is  an  active  worker  in  the  First  Con- 
gregational Church  and  her  sister,  Mabel,  in  the 
Christian  Church  of  Angola.  Both  belong  to  the 
Eastern  Star  Chapter  and  the  Rebekahs,  the  latter 
being  a Past  Noble  Grand,  while  Lola  is  a member 
of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  Both  Lola  and  Mabel  re- 
ceived the  decoration  of  Chivalry  conferred  by  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  November  8, 
1919,  at  Kendallville. 

William  H.  Marks.  There  are  several  localities 
in  LaGrange  County  that  are  able  to  appreciate  the 
abilities  of  William  H.  Marks  as  a farmer  and 
business  man.  It  was  his  ability  to  direct  farming 
operations  on  a large  scale  that  constituted  the  quali- 
fications leading  to  his  appointment  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  DePauw  University  lands  in  Clear  Spring 
Township.  This  is  a large  body  of  733  acres.  He 
manages  the  lands  and  all  the  operations,  and  in- 
dividually farms  a large  part  of  the  tract  himself. 
Besides  this  work,  which  obviously  requires  most  of 
his  time,  he  himself  owns  a farm  in  Clay  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  March  27,  1864, 
a son  of  David  and  Anna  (Eiman)  Marks.  His 
father  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1842  and 
his  mother  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  February  to,  1841.  David  Marks 
came  to  LaGrange  County  when  a boy,  grew  up  and 
married  in  Johnson  Township,  then  moved  to  Clay 
Township,  later  bought  a farm  in  Broomfield  Town- 
ship, and  after  many  years  of  residence  retired  to 
the  city  of  LaGrange,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  He  was  a democrat.  He  and  his  wife  had  six 
children:  William  H. ; Nancy  A.,  who  is  married 

and  lives  in  Oregon ; Martha  E.,  wife  of  Albert 
Bixler;  Florence,  wife  of  Frank  Duncer ; Daisy, 
wife  of  James  Corry;  and  Bertha  J.,  widow  of  Fay 
Cresler. 

William  H.  Marks  was  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  LaGrange,  and  he  acquired  an 
education  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city,  but  in 
early  manhood  decided  upon  farming  as  his  choice 
of  vocation.  On  December  16,  1886,  he  married  Miss 
Rebecca  C.  Bushong.  She  was  born  in  Bloomfield 
Township,  Februa^  10,  1867,  a daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Margaret  (Moffett)  Bushong.  Her  early  edu- 
cation was  acquired  in  the  public  schools  of  Rome 
City. 


After  his  marriage  Mr.  Marks  began  farming  in 
Clay  Township,  but  after  several  years  moved  to 
Johnson  Township,  then  to  Clear  Spring  Township, 
and  for  seven  years  again  lived  on  his  farm  in  Clay 
Township.  Several  years  ago  he  was  appointed 
superintendent  of  the  farms  owned  in  Clear  Spring 
Township  by  DePauw  University.  Mr.  Marks  is 
affiliated  with  Star  in  the  West  Lodge  No.  159,  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  also  with  the 
Knights  of  the  Maccabees,  and  is  a democrat  in 
politics. 

He  and  his  wife  have  five  children : Virgil  D., 

a graduate  of  the  common  schools ; Hazel  M.,  who 
also  completed  her  work  in  the  common  schools  and 
is  the  wife  of  Glenn  Mooney;  Carl  J.,  who  has 
finished  school  and  is  still  at  home ; Melvie  B.,  wife 
of  Norman  Dodge;  and  Vera  V.,  a graduate  of  the 
common  schools. 

Hon.  Orville  Carver.  At  no  time  in  the  last  half 
century  has  the  community  of  Angola  been  unappre- 
ciative of  the  services  and  the  possession  of  Orville 
Carver.  He  fought  as  a soldier  of  the  Union  in  the 
Civil  war.  He  was  in  the  drug  business  for  so  many 
years  that  the  people  of  Angola  came  to  look  upon 
his  store  as  a permanent  feature  of  the  business 
district.  He  was  postmaster  fifty  years  ago,  and 
has  been  a member  of  the  State  Senate,  prominent 
in  republican  politics,  and  in  many  ways  has  con- 
stituted the  ideal  of  good  citizenship. 

Mr.  Carver  was  born  at  Hebron  in  Tolland  County,' 
Connecticut,  August  20,  1843,  a son  of  Dr.  Lewis  E. 
and  Frances  A.  (Porter)  Carver.  His  parents  were 
also  natives  of  Connecticut.  In  1845  the  family  came 
west  and  settled  in  Steuben  County,  at  Orland,  then 
known  as  Vermontville,  where  Doctor  Carver  prac- 
ticed his  profession  of  medicine,  riding  horseback 
over  three  counties.  In  1850  he  moved  to  Angola, 
and  lived  there  until  his  death.  There  were  many 
interruptions  to  his  career  as  a phygcian.  In  1849 
he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  and  after  three  years 
was  elected  county  recorder.  When  his  official  duties 
required  his  presence  at  Indianapolis  he  made  the 
trip  on  horseback  from  Angola.  He  was  one  of  the 
first  members  of  the  republican  party,  and  was  a 
strong  anti-slavery  man.  In  the  early  days  his  home 
was  a station  on  the  underground  railroad.  His 
wife,  Frances  A.  Carver,  was  a member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church.  In  his  religious  views  he  was  lib- 
eral. Doctor  Carver  and  wife  had  eight  children: 
Eugenia,  deceased;  Orville;  Adelaide,  deceased;  Os- 
car; Adelbert,  deceased;  Eugene;  Frank;  and  one 
that  died  in  infancy. 

Orville  Carver  was  seven  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Angola,  and  he  received  his  early 
education  there  in  the  public  schools.  While  he  lost 
much  during  his  school  days  by  his  early  enlistment 
he  believes  that  it  intensified  his  loyalty  and  patriot- 
ism. He  was  only  seventeen  when  he  enlisted,  in 
May,  1861,  in  the  Fourth  Michigan  Infantry,  and 
after  a few  weeks  of  training  participated  in  the 
first  battle  of  Bull  Run.  He  was  also  in  the  Penin- 
sular campaign,  Antietam,  Gaines  Mills,  Malvern 
Hill,  second  battle  of  Bull  Run,  Chancellorsville,  the 
Wilderness,  Petersburg,  Gettysburg  and  Fredericks- 
burg. He  participated  in  forty-two  engagements, 
both  large  and  small.  At  the  battle  of  Gettysburg 
he  was  struck  by  a minie  ball,  but  was  not  in  a hos- 
pital during  his  service  of  over  three  years.  He  was 
mustered  out  at  Detroit  in  July,  1864,  but  later  re- 
enlisted, this  time  in  Hancock’s  veteran  corps,  and 
was  with  the  army  until  some  months  after  the 
close  of  hostilities. 


272 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mr.  Carver  returned  to  Angola  to  engage  in  the 
drug  business,  and  that  was  the  enterprise  by  which 
he  was  perhaps  best  known  to  the  people  of  the  com- 
munity for  forty  years.  In  1869,  under  President 
Grant,  he  was  appointed  postmaster,  and  for  fourteen 
years  kept  the  postoffice  in  his  store.  In  1889,  with 
W.  G.  Croxton,  Mr.  Carver  organized  the  Steuben 
County  State  Bank,  and  has  been  one  of  its  directors 
and  its  vice  president  for  thirty  years. 

There  are  many  other  relationships  by  which  he 
has  been  identified  with  the  community.  At  one 
time  he  was  trustee  of  Pleasant  Township,  and  was 
elected  a member  of  the  State  Senate  to  succeed 
James  Drake.  For  ten  years  he  was  a trustee  of 
the  Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  one  of  the  men 
most  active  in  promoting  the  upbuilding  of  that  in- 
stitution. He  also  served  as  the  first  mayor  of 
Angola,  and  for  three  successive  terms  was  chairman 
of  the  republican  county  committee.  He  was  on 
the  governor’s  staff  at  the  World’s  Columbian  Ex- 
position at  Chicago,  with  the  rank  of  lieutenant 
colonel  of  artillery.  He  was  a delegate  to  the  Na- 
tional Convention  of  1884  when  James  G.  Blaine 
was  nominated.  He  also  attended  as  a delegate  the 
Progressive  National  Convention  at  Chicago  in  1916. 
Mr.  Carver  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  for  more  than  half  a century, 
and  in  1885  was  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge,  and 
was  one  of  the  members  who  located  Circil  Hill 
Cemetery,  and  was  a trustee  over  thirty  years.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  trustees  of  the  order  during 
the  construction  of  their  lodge  building,  62  by  210 
feet,  the  largest  structure  in  the  city.  He  was  a 
charter  member  of  the  Silver  Gray  Fishing  Club 
thirty-six  years.  For  many  years  he  has  also  been 
an  active  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Re- 
public. He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Congregational  Church.  Mr.  Carver  has  owned  two 
farms  near  Angola,  one  of  160  acres  2^4  miles  south- 
west, and  the  other  of  thirty-three  acres  about  a mile 
from  Angola,  but  the  smaller  farm  is  now  owned 
and  occupied  by  his  son  Lewis. 

In  1867,  at  Union  City,  Michigan,  Mr.  Carver  mar- 
ried Miss  Fronia  Thayer,  daughter  of  E.  Thayer, 
formerly  of  New  York.  Mrs.  Carver  died  in  1889, 
without  children.  In  1892  he  married  Miss  Flor- 
ence Bowman,  daughter  of  a former  sheriff  of 
Steuben  County.  She  is  the  mother  of  his  two  sons, 
Edwin  B.  and  Lewis  O.,  twins,  born  August  18,  1895. 
Both  sons  were  educated  in  the  grammar  and  high 
schools,  and  attended  Tri-State  College.  Lewis  mar- 
ried Rose  Gale,  and  has  one  son,  Waldo  O.  The  son 
Edwin  was  taking  an  engineering  course  at  the  Tri- 
State  College  when  he  was  called  into  active  service 
as  a member  of  the  National  Guard  for  duty  on  the 
Texas  border.  Later  as  sergeant  of  Company  B 
of  the  One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Seventh  Field  Ar- 
tillery he  went  to  France.  Mr.  Carver  is  proud  of 
the  service  he  and  his  sons  have  rendered  to  their 
country. 

Ora  B.  Notesxine.  More  than  seventy  years 
have  passed  since  the  Notestine  family  became  es- 
tablished in  LaGrange  County.  They  have  been 
people  of  the  highest  worth  and  respectability,  have 
been  good  farmers  and  have  supplied  patriotic  citi- 
zenship to  their  community,  state  and  nation. 

Ora  B.  Notestine  is  one  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion, and  owns  one  of  the  good  farms  of  Spring- 
field  Township.  He  was  born  on  that  farm  Feb- 
ruary 26,  1870.  His  parents  were  John  and  Maria 
(Brown)  Notestine.  His  father  was  born  in  Ohio, 
September  11,  1832,  and  his  mother  in  New  York 


State,  October  15,  1831.  In  1847  the  Notestine 
family,  consisting  of  Nicholas  and  Sarah  Note- 
stine and  their  children,  including  John,  set  out 
from  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  and  after  a num- 
ber of  days  of  travel  reached  Springfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County.  Nicholas  Notestine  acquired 
120  acres,  which  he  developed  as  a farm  and  later 
bought  forty  acres  more.  He  died  in  Springfield 
Township  in  April,  1870,  and  his  wife  in  1885. 
Their  children  were : Lavina,  born  September  24. 

1825;  Peter,  born  February  20,  1828;  Elizabeth, 
born  April  14,  1830;  John,  born  September  11, 
1832;  Henry  M.,  born  March  24,  1835,  and  died 
young;  Sarah,  born  November  24,  1837 ; Isaac,  born 
February  2,  1843;  Della  Ann,  born  March  20,  1846; 
Delilah,  born  December  31,  1848. 

John  Notestine  was  fifteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  Indiana.  He  acquired  most  of  his  edu- 
cation in  his  native  state,  but  also . attended  school 
in  LaGrange  County.  Besides  farming  he  also 
followed  the  trade  of  carpenter.  He  bought  forty 
acres  of  land  and  later  traded  it  for  forty  acres 
now  owned  by  his  son  Ora,  and  also  bought  the 
other  forty  acres  which  makes  that  a complete  farm 
of  eighty  acres.  He  lived  there  until  his  death  in 
March,  1917.  His  widow  is  still  living,  residing 
with  her  son  Ora.  John  Notestine  was  a republi- 
can and  voted  for  Lincoln.  He  and  his  wife  had 
four  children : Charles  R.,  born  February  6,  1857 ; 
Armida,  born  January  10,  1859;  Hattie,  born  June 
26,  1865 1 and  Ora  B.,  born  February  26,  1870. 

Ora  B.  Notestine  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
besides  the  district  school  attended  the  LaGrange 
High  School.  For  a quarter  of  a century  he  has 
been  operating  the  old  homestead  of  eighty  acres 
and  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  men  in  LaGrange 
County  who  thoroughly  understand  the  business  of 
agriculture  and  stock  farming.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican  and  for  four  years  was  honored  with 
the  office  of  trustee  of  Springfield  Township. 

November  30,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Anna  Fair. 
She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  October  1, 
1873,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  (Strome) 
Fair,  and  a granddaughter  of  John  Fair,  one  of  the 
early  pioneers  of  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Notestine  had  eight  children,  named  Carl  Gerald, 
Pauline  Augusta,  Harriet  May,  Harold  Ora.  Isabel 
Pearl,  Charles  Franklin,  Marie  Elizabeth,  and  Paul 
Gaylord.  But  the  youngest  died  in  infancy. 

Harry  K.  Brandeberry.  It  is  remarkable  how 
many  of  the  farmers  of  Steuben  County  are  the 
sons  of  farmers,  this  region  giving  to  the  state 
some  of  the  best  agriculturalists  because  they  have 
been  trained  in  their  line  of  work  from  boyhood, 
and  have  always  been  interested  in  it.  One  of  the 
men  who  comes  under  this  classification  is  Harry  K. 
Brandeberry,  whose  father  was  one  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Steuben  County  and  a farmer  of  Rich- 
land Township,  where  the  son  now  resides.  Harry 
K.  Brandeberry  was  born  in  Richland  Township 
July  6,  1877,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Thressa  (Thomp- 
son) Brandeberry.  The  father  was  born  in  Carroll 
County,  Ohio,  July  20,  1833.  He  was  married  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  his  wife  having  been  born 
there  February  12,  1840,  although  in  the  meanwhile 
he  had  come  to  Steuben  County  in  1854,  securing 
land  in  the  woods  in  Richland  Township.  On  this 
he  built  a log  cabin  and  cleared  off  his  land.  Al- 
though he  had  left  home  and  become  self-supporting 
when  only  thirteen  years  old,  he  prospered  and 
became  a man  of  considerable  means,  at  his  death, 
September  14,  1909,  owning  two  farms  of  140  acres 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


273 


of  land  and  property  in  Angola.  In  addition  to 
farming  he  bought  and  sold  considerable  farm  land, 
but  in  his  later  years  lived  in  retirement  at  Angola. 
His  wife  died  many  years  before  him,  passing  away 
April  16,  1885.  They  had  the  following  children : 
Olive,  who  is  the  widow  of  Bruce  Garwood;  W.  C., 
who  is  a farmer  of  Richland  Township;  Edna,  who 
is  the  wife  of  S.  C.  Hammond,  a son  of  Dr.  A. 
Hammond ; and  Harry  K.,  whose  name  heads  this 
review.  Mrs.  Brandeberry  was  an  earnest  member 
of  the  Christian  Church. 

Harry  K.  Brandeberry  attended  the  public  and 
high  schools  at  Angola,  being  graduated  from  the 
latter  May  28,  1892,  and  he  later  was  a student  for 
several  terms  at  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola. 
In  1002  Mr.  Brandeberry  moved  on  his  present  farm 
in  Richland  Township,  since  which  time  he  has 
erected  a comfortable  residence,  and  here  he  is 
carrying  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
also  owns  another  farm  of  fifty  acres  in  Richland 
Township.  In  politics  he  is  a republican.  His 
fraternal  connections  are  with  Metz  Lodge,  Knights 
» of  Pythias,  the  third  largest  of  this  order  in  the 
county,  which  has  a fine  hall  of  its  own. 

On  March  1,  1902,  Mr.  Brandeberry  was  married 
in  Richland  Township  to  Miss  Ina  Gasser,  who  was 
born  in  Scott  Township  November  20,  1881,  a daugh- 
ter of  Frederick  and  Charlotte  (Tuttle)  Gasser,  and 
granddaughter  of  Benedict  Gasser,  whose  biography 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Frederick  Gasser 
and  his  wife  are  now  living  in  comfortable  retire- 
ment at  Angola,  but  were  formerly  farming  people 
of  considerable  prominence  in  Scott  Township. 
They  had  two  children,  namely : Lena,  who  is  the 
wife  of  John  Carson,  of  Angola;  and  Ina,  who  is 
Mrs.  Brandeberry.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brandeberry  have 
one  son,  Harold  Kelley,  who  was  born  October  11, 
1903,  is  now  attending  the  Metz  High  School.  He 
and  his  mother  belong  to  the  Christian  Church. 
Mr.  Brandeberry  is  a man  of  sterling  worth  and 
stands  well  in  public  esteem.  His  family  is  an  old 
and  honored  one  in  the  county,  as  is  that  of  Mrs. 
Brandeberry,  and  their  connections  are  many  in  this 
part  of  the  state. 

Myron  Atwater  has  been  a citizen  of  Clay 
Township,  LaGrange  County  for  over  half  a cen- 
tury, and  is  one  of  the  staid  and  prosperous  farmers 
and  land  owners  of  that  community,  still  enjoying 
good  health,  a reasonable  degree  of  prosperity,  and 
the  fullness  of  esteem  on  the  part  of  his  neighbors 
and  friends. 

Mr.  Atwater  was  born  in  Luzerne  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  27,  1841,  a son  of  Thomas  S.  and 
Hannah  (Enos)  Atwater  and  a grandson  of  Luther 
Atwater.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  New 
York  State.  Thomas  S.  Atwater  came  to  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  in  1855,  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death  in  1872  lived  in  Lima  Township,  about  a 
mile  northwest  of  the  village  of  Lima.  He  had 
married  for  his  first  wife  a Miss  Conner,  and  had 
one  daughter,  Margaret.  His  second  wife,  Hannah 
Enos,  who  died  in  1875,  was  the  mother  of  four 
children  named  Myron,  Charles  L.,  John  and 
Monroe. 

Myron  Atwater  as  a young  man  worked  on  his 
father’s  farm.  He  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  LaGrange  County,  had  a common  school 
education,  and  in  April,  1865,  came  to  the  farm  in 
Clay  Township  where  he  lives  today  and  where  it 
is  a matter  of  satisfaction  to  him  to  survey  the 
many  improvements  that  have  grown  up  under  his 
hands  and  management.  All  the  good  buildings  on 
the  farm  have  been  put  there  during  his  ownership. 
His  farm  comprises  160  acres. 

Vol.  11—15 


Mr.  Atwater  served  one  term  as  trustee  of  Clay 
Township,  and  his  son,  Walter,  is  now  filling  the 
same  office.  February  11,  1867,  he  married  Ann 
Brinley,  a daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Guy- 
singer)  Brinley.  Mrs.  Atwater  died  in  1908,  the 
mother  of  eight  children:  Nellie,  wife  of  Albert 

H.  Yoder;  Thomas,  a farmer  in  Haskell  County, 
Kansas;  Mary,  wife  of  Elmo  Neely;  Walter,  the 
present  township  trustee;  Jessie,  wife  of  Norman 
Zimmerman;  Grover,  on  the  farm  with  his  father; 
and  two  children  that  died  in  infancy.  After  the 
death  of  his  first  wife  Mr.  Atwater  married  Mrs. 
Laura  (Cripe)  Schrock.  By  her  first  husband  she 
had  three  children,  named  Mabel,  Carl  and  Lettie 
Schrock. 

Wallace  Abel.  The  present  representative  on 
the  Board  of  County  Commissioners  of  DeKalb 
County  from  the  southeastern  district  is  Wallace 
Abel,  member  of  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
families  of  that  part  of  the  county,  and  his  own 
record  as  a farmer,  business  man  and  public-spirited 
citizen  has  given  him  every  title  to  the  confidence 
expressed  in  his  incumbency  of  his  present  office. 

Mr.  Abel,  who  is  also  a trustee  of  Newville  Town- 
ship, where  he  resides,  was  born  in  Concord  Town- 
ship November  4,  185!,  a son  of  George  and  Ann 
(Milliman)  Abel.  His  mother  was  a daughter  of 
John  and  Mary  (Warren)  Milliman,  both  natives 
of  New  York  State.  Mary  Warren  was  related  to 
General  Warren,  one  of  the  first  American  officers 
to  lose  his  life  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  George 
Abel  was  born  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  and  his 
wife  in  New  York  State.  Later  both  families  came 
to  Indiana  and  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in  pioneer 
times.  George  Abel  and  wife  after  their  marriage 
began  farming  in  Concord  Township,  and  he  lived 
there  until  his  death.  His  widow  is  still  a resident 
of  St.  Joe,  aged  eighty-six  years,  and  is  a member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  George  Abel  died  in 
1862.  He  was  the  father  of  five  children,  and  the 
three  now  living  are  Wallace,  Charles,  a carpenter  in 
Michigan,  and  Fremont,  whose  home  is  at  St.  Joe. 

Wallace  Abel  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Concord 
Township,  had  a limited  common  school  education, 
and  was  eleven  years  old  when  his  father  died.  After 
that  he  helped  on  the  farm  and  lived  with  his  mother 
until  he  was  twenty-one. 

In  1876  he  married  Antoinette  Coburn.  She  was 
born  in  Newville  Township  August  10,  1858,  a daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Lovesta  Coburn,  and  had  the 
advantages  of  the  common  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Abel  have  four  children:  Roy,  born  May  15,  1877, 

Bessie,  born  September  24,  1879,  Blanche,  born  March 
19,  1882,  and  Gladys,  born  July  24,  1895.  The  son 
is  a graduate  of  the  St.  Joe  High  School  and  is 
identified  with  farming  on  the  home  place.  The 
daughters  were  all  well  educated,  Gladys  graduating 
from  the  Butler  High  School  and  was  formerly  a 
teacher.  The  daughters  are  all  married.  Mrs.  Abel 
is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Abel  is 
treasurer  of  William  Hacker  Lodge  No.  326,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Politically  he  has  been 
active  in  the  democratic  party  for  a number  of  years. 
He  served  four  years  as  trustee  of  Newville  Town- 
ship and  was  elected  to  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners and  entered  upon  his  duties  January  1, 
.1915.  In  1917  he  was  elected  for  a second  term.  He 
follows  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  has 
eighty-seven  acres  in  Newville  Township. 

Ambrose  L.  Logue  is  a native  of  Iowa  but  has  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  LaGrange  County  and  is  known 
among  his  neighbors  of  Milford  Township  as  a suc- 
cessful general  farmer  and  stockraiser.  His  home  is 
in  section  22  of  that  township.  He  has  interests  in 


274 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


several  business  concerns  and  his  career  has  been 
one  of  steady  progress  towards  prosperity  and  the 
full  usefulness  of  manhood. 

Mr.  Logue  was  born  at  Winfield,  Iowa,  September 
28,  1864,  a son  of  Emanuel  and  Julia  A.  (Adams) 
Logue.  His  father,  a native  of  Maryland,  was  edu- 
cated as  a minister  of  the  Church  of  God,  and  as 
a missionary  he  built  and  organized  the  first  Church 
of  God  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  That  was  in 
1857,  and  he  labored  in  Iowa  until  his  death  in  1867. 
The  widowed  mother  is  still  living,  with  home  at 
Morning  Sun,  Iowa. 

Ambrose  L.  Logue  was  three  years  old  when  his 
father  died,  and  he  was  afterward  adopted  by  David 
and  Sarah  Bixler,  with  whom  he  came  to  Indiana. 
He  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his  foster  parents  and 
attended  the  Kendallville  High  School.  In  1885  Mr. 
Logue  married  Ida  Foster.  They  have  a son,  Clar- 
ence, who  was  educated  in  the  common  and  high 
schools  and  lives  in  Chicago. 

Mr.  Logue  owns  128  acres  and  is  still  actively 
engaged  in  farming.  He  is  a past  grand  of  South 
Milford  Lodge  No.  619  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  is  a past  chief  patriarch  of  the  en- 
campment and  has  served  as  district  deputy  grand 
master.  Politically  he  is  a democrat. 

Daniel  Dague  has  been  a respected  resident  and 
industrious  farmer  of  Greenfield  Township  in  La- 
Grange  County  for  forty  years.  His  early  life  be- 
fore coming  to  this  county  was  spent  in  Ohio  and 
Michigan,  where  his  parents  resided. 

He  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  April  14, 
1849,  a son  °f  Levi  and  Harriet  (Flackinger) 
Dague.  His  father  was  born  in  Wayne  County  in 
1824  and  his  mother  in  Pennsylvania,  August  7, 
1822.  They  were  married  August  7,  1845,  and  about 
1867  they  moved  to  Branch  County,  Michigan, 
where  Mrs.  Levi  Dague  died  in  1872.  She  was 
the  mother  of  five  children : Mary  Ann,  born  Sep- 
tember 20,  1846,  in  Ohio;  Daniel;  Susan,  born 
September  19,  1850;  Jonas,  born  October  26,  1852; 
and  Catherine  Margaret,  born  May  22,  1859.  After 
the  death  of  the  mother  in  Branch  County  the 
father  moved  to  Mason  County,  Michigan,  and 
bought  forty  acres  and  lived  on  it  ten  years.  He 
married  for  his  second  wife  Leah  Hoffmyer.  After 
selling  his  Mason  County  land  he  came  to  LaGrange 
County  and  died  in  Greenfield  Township. 

Daniel  Dague  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Ohio  and  was  about  eighteen  years 
of  age  when  he  went  to  Michigan  with  his  parents. 
He  lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-seven  and 
then  married  Catherine  Libey.  Her  father,  John 
Libey,  was  an  early  settler  in  LaGrange  County 
and  died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dague  came  to 
LaGrange  County  in  1879  and  bought  120  acres 
in  Greenfield  Township.  Mr.  Dague  has  improved 
the  land,  erected  good  buildings,  has  a farm  well 
adapted  for  crops  and  livestock.  For  twenty  years 
he  fed  sheep  on  a rather  extensive  scale.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics  and  with  his  family  is  identi- 
fied with  the  Dunkard  Church. 

He  and  his  wife  had  three  daughters.  Wilma  is 
the  oldest.  Alice  Adella  is  the  wife  of  D.  Swi- 
hart,  and  her  four  sons  are  named  Donald,  May- 
nard, Stewart  and  Ledger.  The  youngest,  Elsie  is 
the  wife  of  Arlis  Depew  and  the  mother  of  two 
children. 

Samuel  Schieber,  one  of  the  progressive  farmers 
of  Richland  Township,  while  not  long  a resident 
of  Steuben  County  is  thoroughly  identified  with 
its  best  interests.  He  was  born  in  Bucyrus,  Craw- 


ford County,  Ohio,  July  31,  1853,  a son  of  John  C. 
and  Leah  (Hershberger)  Schieber,  and  grandson 
of  Gotlieb  and  Magdalena  (Brosy)  Schieber,  natives 
of  Germany,  who  in  1832  with  their  children  and 
seventeen  other  families  came  to  the  United  States, 
landing  at  New  York,  from  whence  they  came  west 
to  Buffalo,  New  York,  on  the  canal,  and  then 
traveled  by  lake  to  Sandusky,  Ohio.  From  there 
Gotlieb  Schieber  came  to  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
and  secured  heavily  timbered  land,  which  he  cleared 
and  developed  into  a farm,  and  on  which  he  lived 
until  his  death  in  1868,  his  widow  surviving  him 
until  1890.  Their  children  were  as  follows:  Chris- 
topher, Gotlieb,  Christian,  Catherine,  John  C., 
Jacob  and  Mary,  all  of  whom  are  now  deceased. 

John  C.  Schieber  was  born  in  Germany  in  1828, 
and  his  wife  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. Only  a child  when  his  parents  came  to 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  he  attended  its  schools 
while  growing  up,  and  after  he  became  a man  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  timber  land,  which  he  cleared, 
becoming  a successful  farmer.  He  died  on  his 
farm  in  igoa  and  his  wife  in  1909.  Their  children 
were  as  follows:  Samuel,  Amanda,  Mary,  Jacob, 

Joseph,  Lizzie,  Tillie,  Charley  and  Ida,  of  whom 
Mary  is  deceased. 

Samuel  Schieber,  like  his  father,  was  reared  on 
a Crawford  County  farm,  and  went  to  the  schools 
of  his  neighborhood.  He  remained  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  twenty-five  years  old  and  then  bought 
forty  acres  of  land  in  Crawford  County,  living  on 
it  until  1900,  when  he  went  to  Oklahoma,  but  in 
1905  came  to  Steuben  County,  renting  land  until 
1911,  and  then  bought  his  present  farm  of  forty- 
seven  acres.  He  repaired  the  barn,  did  some  ditch- 
ing and  made  other  improvements  and  now  has  a 
fine  property,  on  which  he  is  carrying  on  general 
farming  and  breeding  registered  hogs.  He  is  a 
republican,  but  does  not  aspire  to  office.  The  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church  holds  his  membership  and 
receives  his  generous  support. 

On  October  15,  1881,  Mr.  Schieber  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Susie  Nagel,  born  at  Sandusky, 
Ohio,  February  19,  1862,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Margaret  (Ulrich)  Nagel,  both  of  whom  were  born 
and  married  in  Germany.  Upon  coming  to  the 
United  States  they  first  stopped  in  Sandusky,  Ohio, 
later  settling  in  Crawford  County,  where  he  died 
in  1899,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years,  his  widow 
surviving  him  until  1907,  when  she  passed  away  at 
Bucyrus,  Ohio,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows:  John,  Sarah,  Amelia,  Sussie 
(who  is  Mrs.  Schieber),  and  Louisa.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schieber  have  the  following  children : Clarence, 

who  married  Bertha  Klink,  and  has  two  children, 
Esther  and  Victor;  Blanche,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Lloyd  Daley  of  South  Bend,  Indiana,  and  has  one 
son,  Fred;  Milo,  who  married  Lillian  Sternly,  and 
has  one  daughter,  Marian ; and  Leonard  Arthur, 
Earl  and  Lula,  all  of  whom  are  at  home.  Mr. 
Schieber  is  an  excellent  farmer  and  good  citizen, 
and  he  has  brought  up  his  children  to  be  industrious 
and  frugal. 

Rascelus  Gushwa.  A resident  of  LaGrange 
County  for  fifty  years,  Rascelus  Gushwa  has  for  the 
most  part  been  devoted  to  the  quiet  duties  of  agri- 
culture, but  his  name  has  at  different  times  ap- 
peared prominently  in  connection  with  public  affairs, 
especially  as  a successful  administrator  of  institu- 
tions for  the  poor  and  unfortunate.  He  is  now 
superintendent  of  the  Rogers  Orphans  Home  in 
Clear  Spring  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  December 
19,  1854,  a son  °f  Frederick  and  Eliza  J.  (Solomon) 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


275 


Cushwa,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  where  they  were  reared  and  married. 
From  Holmes  they  moved  to  Hancock  County  and 
in  1864  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  The 
father  was  drafted  for  army  service  in  1864  and 
died  three  months  later.  That  left  his  widow  with 
the  taxing  burden  of  caring  for  the  children,  a duty 
she  faithfully  performed  and  thereby  earned  their 
lasting  gratitude.  She  died  in  1911.  Of  the  seven 
children  five  are  living:  John,  of  LaGrange  County; 
Amanda,  wife  of  John  Holsinger,  of  Valentine, 
Indiana;  Joseph,  of  Ligonier ; Cynthia,  wife  of  Levi 
Fair,  of  Sturgis,  Michigan;  and  Rascelus. 

Rascelus  Gushwa  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Johnson 
Township  of  LaGrange  County  and  attended  the 
common  schools.  He  lived  at  home  with  his  mother 
to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  married  Ellen  W ells, 
of  DeKalb  County,  daughter  of  J.  C.  and  Hannah 
Wells.  Mrs.  Gushwa  was  born  and  reared  in  De- 
Kalb  County  and  had  a common  school  education. 

For  about  four  months  after  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Gushwa  lived  at  Cassopolis,  Michigan,  and 
then  returned  to  LaGrange  County.  With  limited 
capital,  they  had  to  accept  the  best  possible  means 
of  making  a living  and  for  twenty  years  were  rent- 
ers, thereby  earning  the  capital  which  enabled  them 
to  buy  a farm  of  sixty  acres  in  Clay  Township. 
About  that  time  Mr.  Gushwa  was  appointed  super- 
intendent of  the  County  Infirmary,  in  1895,  and  filled 
that  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  concerned  six 
and  a half  years.  He  then  returned  to  his  own 
farm,  and  in  1906  was  appointed  superintendent  of 
the  Rodgers  Orphans  Home.  He  remained  there 
five  years,  went  back  to  his  farm,  and  in  March, 
1919,  was  again  called  to  the  duties  of  superintend- 
ent, which  he  had  so  carefuly  performed  in  a pre- 
vious term. 

Mr.  Gushwa  and  wife  have  five  children : E.  A., 

a merchant  at  Shipshewana;  Carrie,  wife  of  Sher- 
man Hart,  of  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan;  Mertie, 
wife  of  Clarence  Wagoner,  of  Sturgis,  Michigan; 
Charles,  who  lives  on  a rented  farm  in  Newbury 
Township  of  LaGrange  County;  and  Mabel,  wife 
of  Arthur  Conway.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  Mr.  Gushwa  is  a past  chancellor 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  No.  144,  and  has 
been  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  His  wife  is 
active  in  the  Pythian  Sisters,  being  past  chief  and 
past  record  keeper.  Politically  Mr.  Gushwa  is  a 
republican,  and  several  years  ago  was  a candidate 
for  county  sheriff.  During  the  war  both  he  and  his 
wife  were  leaders  in  war  auxiliary  movements, 
especially  the  Red  Cross.  He  was  superintendent  of 
the  Red  Cross  sale,  and  put  the  county  over  the  top 
on  that  drive.  Mrs.  Gushwa  has  been  treasurer  of 
the  Red  Cross  of  Clay  Township. 

George  H.  Fairbanks.  For  three  score  and  ten 
years  George  H.  Fairbanks  has  been  a resident  of 
Allen  Township  of  Noble  County.  During  that  time 
he  has  had  the  experience  of  the  normal  lifetime, 
has  worked  industriously,  has  accumulated  a com- 
petence for  his  future  needs,  has  reared  a family 
and  is  a man  properly  looked  up  to  in  his  com- 
munity. 

Mr.  Fairbanks  is  a distant  relative  of  the  late  vice 
president  Charles  W.  Fairbanks.  He  was  born  in 
Geauga  County,  Ohio,  January  21,  1846,  a son  of 
Samuel  C.  and  Margaret  (Armstrong)  Fairbanks. 
Samuel  C.  was  a son  of  James  and  Margery  (Potter) 
Fairbanks.  James  in  turn  was  a son  of  Nahum 
Fairbanks.  The  Fairbanks  family  came  from  Eng- 
land to  the  American  colonies  about  1633,  the  im- 
migrant being  Jonathan  Fairbanks. 

In  the  same  year  that  he  was  born  George  H. 


Fairbanks  was  taken  by  his  parents  to  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  and  they  located  in  Allen  Township,  where 
he  grew  up  and  where  he  attended  such  schools  as 
were  maintained  in  his  day.  He  also  studied  in 
college,  but  on  leaving  school  he  took  up  the  voca- 
tion of  an  agriculturist  and  has  followed  it  without 
important  interruption  ever  since.  The  home  of  Mr. 
Fairbanks,  which  comprises  5154  acres  is  two  miles 
north  of  Avilla  and  just  100  rods  east  of  the 
geographical  center  of  Allen  Township. 

On  November  23,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Clara  J. 
Baughman,  who  was  born  at  Lisbon  in  Allen  town- 
ship of  Noble  County,  January  22,  1855,  daughter 
of  G.  D.  Baughman.  Mr.  Baughman  was  one  of 
the  trustees  of  Allen  Township,  as  was  also  the 
father  of  Mr.  Fairbanks.  Mrs.  Fairbanks  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools  and  for  one  term  taught 
in  Whitley  County.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fairbanks  settled  on  their  home  farm.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  has  served  in  township 
offices.  He  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge  No. 
76,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  with 
Chapter  No.  64,  Royal  Arch  Masons. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fairbanks  have  four  daughters : 
Edna  E.,  a graduate  of  the  Avilla  High  School,  is 
the  wife  of  David  Shanline,  of  Avilla ; Agnes  A., 
a graduate  of  the  same  school,  was  a teacher  and  is 
now  the  wife  of  R.  A.  Whitford;  Bessie  B.,  also  a 
high  school  graduate,  is  still  at  home,  as  is  her  sister, 
Lucile  M.,  who  likewise  completed  the  course  in  the 
high  school. 

Clarence  Richardson,  a native  of  Northeast  In- 
diana, has  spent  his  life  profitably  and  usefully  as 
a farmer  in  Steuben  County  and  is  directing  the 
business  of  one  of  the  good  farms  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township  July  12,  1875, 
a son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Sowle)  Richardson.  His 
parents  were  both  born  in  Ohio  and  were  brought  to 
Steuben  County  when  children,  grew  up  there  and 
married.  The  paternal  grandfather  was  William 
Richardson,  an  early  settler  in  Pleasant  Township, 
where  he  located  in  the  ’40s.  The  maternal  grand- 
father was  Joseph  Sowle,  member  of  the  prominent 
family  of  that  name  who  had  much  to  do  with  the 
early  development  of  Pleasant  Township.  Henry 
Richardson  served  eighteen  months  as  a soldier  in 
the  Civil  war.  He  died  in  July,  1896,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four,  and  his  widow  passed  away  in  1906,  at 
the  age  of  sixty-two.  He  was  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post,  3.  republican,  and  his  wife  was  a 
Methodist.  He  had  six  children : Cora,  Mary,  Clar- 
ence, Austin,  Harry  (who  is  deceased),  and  Dora. 

Clarence  Richardson  grew  upon  the  home  farm 
of  his  father,  attended  the  public  schools,  and  since 
early  manhood  has  been  identified  with  the  agricul- 
tural industry.  He  has  a lease  on  the  old  Palda 
farm  and  is  one  of  the  most  successful  tenant  farm- 
ers in  the  township.  He  is  a republican  and  his 
family  attend  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

In  1895  he  married  Miss  Laura  Farley,  of  Steuben 
County.  Five  children  were  born  to  them : Sylvia, 

Lewella,  Mabel,  Joseph  and  Walter  C.  Sylvia  ac- 
quired a splendid  education  in  the  Angola  High 
School  and  Tri-State  Normal  and  is  the  wife  of 
Hugh  Campbell.  They  have  three  children,  named 
-Donald  Irwin,  Mabel  Louise  and  Robert  Hugh.  The 
daughter  Lewella  is  the  wife  of  Paul  Moore  and  has 
one  daughter,  Virginia  Maxine. 

Carl  U.  Bartholomew  is  in  the  midst  of  a very 
busy  and  successful  career  as  a farmer  in  Spring- 
field  Township,  LaGrange  County.  At  the  age  of 
forty  he  has  accomplished  many  of  those  things 


276 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


that  an  ambitious  man  desires  to  do,  and  undoubt- 
edly there  are  many  years  of  usefulness  and  honor 
still  before  him. 

Mr.  Bartholomew,  who  is  related  to  many  inter- 
esting and  prominent  families  of  LaGrange  County, 
was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  August  28,  1879, 
a son  of  Horace  Oscar  and  Edna  (Shepardson) 
Bartholomew.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Horace 
Bartholomew,  was  a soldier  in  the  Fifteenth  United 
States  Infantry  in  the  Mexican  war  of  1846-47. 
He  died  while  on  the  victorious  march  under  Gen- 
eral Scott  from  Vera  Cruz  to  Mexico  City.  He 
left  his  widow,  whose  maiden  name  was  Salena 
Gates,  with  two  children,  Horace  Oscar  and  Mary. 
Mary  afterward  married  Miles  Squire.  When 
Horace  Bartholomew  entered  the  army  he  and  his 
family  were  living  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michi- 
gan, where  his  son  Horace  Oscar  was  born  May 
13,  1845.  The  widowed  mother  brought  her  chil- 
dren to  LaGrange  County  about  1850,  and  in  1851 
she  became  the  wife  of  Hugh  Caldwell,  a well 
known  pioneer  character.  Hugh  Caldwell  located 
at  Brighton  and  for  many  years  was  a blacksmith 
there.  He  finally  bought  the  farm  where  Carl  U. 
Batholomew  now  lives,  and  died  in  1877,  his  widow 
surviving  him  until  1887. 

Horace  Oscar  Bartholomew  was  reared  at 
Brighton,  was  educated  in  public  schools  and  the 
Orland  High  School,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
successful  farmer  of  the  county.  He  owned  240 
acres,  and  died  on  the  homestead  January  28,  1919. 
His  widow  still  lives  among  her  children.  Horace 
O.  Bartholomew  was  a republican  and  served  as 
a member  of  the  first  advisory  board  in  Spring- 
field  Township.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. His  wife,  Edna  Shepardson,  was  born  in 
Springfield  Township,  September  20,  1852,  daugh- 
ter of  Edmond  and  Catherine  (Wilson)  Shepard- 
son. Edmond  was  a son  of  Otis  Shep'ardson,  who 
came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1835  and  entered  a 
large  tract  of  land  near  "Mongo,  building  a house 
near  the  present  schoolhouse.  He  died  May  7, 
1843,  and  was  buried  in  the  Shepardson  family 
graveyard.  His  wife  was  Susan  Gibbs,  who  was 
born  at  Stratton,  Vermont,  October  13,  1796.  The 
children  of  Otis  Shepardson  and  wife  were : Otis, 

Edmond,  Elijah,  Lorenzo  Dow,  Pliny,  Samuel,  and 
Susan,  who  became  the  wife  of  Frank  Freileigh. 

Edmond  Shepardson  was  born  November  15, 
1822,  and  came  to  LaGrange  County  with  his  par- 
ents in  1835.  For  many  years-  he  was  a merchant 
at  Mongo,  and  died  August  ix,  1882.  He  was  a 
man  of  varied  capabilities,  a blacksmith  by  trade, 
also  a farmer,  and  while  running  his  farm  estab- 
lished a stock  of  merchandise  at  Mongo.  He  was 
also  a buyer  of  wool  and  other  farm  produce.  It 
was  through  him  that  the  name  of  the  community 
was  changed  to  Mongo  while  he  was  postmaster 
there.  He  was  a republican  and  was  one  of  the 
first  school  trustees.  One  of  his  brothers,  Elijah 
Shepardson,  was  a soldier  in  the  Confederate  army 
during  the  Civil  war.  The  wife  of  Edmond  Shep- 
ardson died  June  10,  1902.  Their  family  consisted 
of  Emma,  Edna,  Sarah  Elizabeth,  Augusta,  Dow 
Fremont,  Susan  Sophia,  Clara  Elizabeth,  and  John 
Everett. 

Horace  O.  Bartholomew  and  wife  had  just  two 
sons,  Carl  U.  and  Don  C.  Don  C.  has  had  an  in- 
teresting military  career.  He  was  educated  in  the 
Lima  High  School,  the  Tri-State  College,  formerly 
was  a teacher  at  Mongo  and  Brushy  Prairie  and 
also  in  Michigan,  and  in  1916  graduated  from  the 
Detroit  School  of  Medicine.  In  June  of  that  year 
he  went  into  the  regular  army  with  the  Reserve 
Medical  Corps,  was  stationed  at  Washington  for  a 


time  and  in  July,  1918,  went  overseas  to  France. 
He  was  assigned  to  work  with  the  Eighty-fifth  Di- 
vision with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  He  re- 
turned to  the  United  States  in  April,  1919,  an  in- 
valid, and  recuperated  at  Base  Hospital  No.  25  at 
Fort  Benjamin  Harrison.  Since  his  recovery  he 
has  been  assigned  a place  on  the  hospital  staff  at 
that  fort.  He  married  Amy  Huss,  daughter  of  Nel- 
son Huss,  of  Springfield  Township. 

Carl  U.  Bartholomew  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
had  a good  education  in  the  public  schools,  the 
Mongo  High  School  and  the  Tri-State  College  and 
since  school  days  has  been  busily  engaged  as  a 
farmer.  He  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  He  is  a 
republican  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

In  1901  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Pearl  Garlets,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary  (Faust)  Garlets,  of 
an  old  and  well  known  family  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship. To  their  marriage  were  born  five  children: 
Claud  H.,  Kenneth  B.,  Benita,  who  died  in  infancy, 
Oscar  D.  and  Leon  B. 

F.  A.  Zeigler,  who  has  spent  his  life  in  Northeast 
Indiana,  was  for  over  a quarter  of  a century  an 
industrious  and  skillful  harnessmaker,  but  in  later 
years  has  been  identified  with  farming  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  December  2,  1861, 
a son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Melton)  Zeigler, 
the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  Samuel  Zeigler  when 
a young  man  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio, 
and  later  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
spent  practically  all  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a farmer. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His 
children,  six  in  number,  were  J.  B.,  Frank,  F.  A., 
Barbara  Ann,  Mary  Josephine,  and  Elmer.  Of 
these  Frank  and  Elmer  are  now  deceased. 

F.  A.  Zeigler  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
district  schools  of  DeKalb  County.  When  not  in 
school  he  was  working  on  a farm  and  soon  after 
reaching  his  majority  he  left  the  farm  to  learn  the 
harnessmaker’s  trade.  That  was  his  business  for 
twenty-seven  years. 

Mr.  Zeigler  married  Neoma  Langley,  a daughter 
of  Samuel  Langley.  She  died  in  1904.  In  De- 
cember, 1907,  Mr.  Zeigler  married  Mrs.  Cora  (Zel- 
ler) Ransburg,  widow  of  Dr.  Martin  V.  Ransburg. 
Since  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Zeigler  has  lived 
on  his  wife’s  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Salem  Town- 
ship and  has  proved  his  adaptability  to  farming, 
looking  after  his  present  interests  with  as  much 
skill  as  he  formerly  did  in  his  mechanical  trade. 
The  farm  is  in  section  14.  Mr.  Zeigler  is  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at 
Salem,  with  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Rebekahs, 
and  his  church  is  the  Methodist. 

Mrs.  Zeigler  is  a daughter  of  Henry  Zeller.  By 
her  first  husband  she  has  one  child,  Dawson 
Ransburg. 

Charles  E.  Chrystler,  the  present  assessor  of 
Clay  Township,  is  a member  of  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  that  section  of  LaGrange  County. 
His  own  career  has  been?  spent  largely  in  farming 
and  his  efforts  have  been  directed  to  such  good 
purpose  that  he  owns  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
township. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  February  17, 
1876,  a son  of  William  and  Lula  (Latta)  Chrystler, 
the  former  a native  of  New  York  State.  A more 
complete  record  of  his  father’s  family  is  found  on 
other  pages.  Mr.  Chrystler  as  a boy  attended  a dis- 
trict school  near  his  old  home,  and  was  also  a pupil 


la  grange 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


277 


in  the  schools  of  Flint  in  Jackson  Township,  Steuben 
County.  He  had  barely  reached  his  majority  when 
he  started  as  an  independent  farmer  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  has  been  a hard  and  constant  worker  ever 
since.  His  first  farm  consisted  of  forty  acres,  and 
in  February,  1917,  he  moved  to  his  present  farm  in 
section  12,  where  he  had  a hundred  acres,  most  of 
it  under  cultivation  and  with  good  improvements. 
He  is  a breeder  of  good  livestock.  Mr.  Chrystler 
entered  upon  his  duties  as  township  assessor  in 
January,  1919.  He  is  a member  of  Lodge  No.  144  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  LaGrange. 

In  1899  he  married  Ethel  L.  Richner,  a daughter 
of  John  D.  and  Viola  (Davis)  Richner.  They  have 
three  children,  Leo,  Iva  and  Wayne. 

Leopold  C.  Stiefel.  The  year  1919  rounded  out  a 
half  century  of  growth  and  service  for  a mercantile 
establishment  at  Angola,  known  far  and  wide  all 
over  Steuben  and  adjoining  counties.  Today  it  is 
a monumental  department  store,  and  the  business  as 
a whole  exemplifies  and  represents  the  genius  of 
the  Stiefel  family  as  merchants.  The  present  pro- 
prietor, Leopold  C.  Stiefel,  has  been  connected  with 
the  store  since  his  twenty-first  birthday  and  had  as 
associates  several  of  his  brothers.  The  business 
was  founded  fifty  years  ago  by  his  father,  the  late 
Joseph  Stiefel. 

Joseph  Stiefel  was  a native  of  Germany,  as  was 
his  wife,  Caroline  Heilbronner.  Joseph  came  to 
America  about  1845,  reaching  New  York  City  with 
nothing  to  commend  him  to  the  favor  of  the  new 
world  except  a willingness  to  work  and  learn.  Af- 
ter one  year  in  New  York  he  went  to  Fort  Wayne, 
and  a short  time  afterward  to  Auburn,  Indiana. 
There  he  began  a small  mercantile  business  in  part- 
nership with  Aaron  Wolf.  These  two  men  were 
partners  for  a number  of  years,  and  after  dissolv- 
ing their  relations  Joseph  Stiefel  returned  to  New 
York  City  after  the  Rebellion  and  engaged  in  the 
wholesale  clothing  business.  He  had  a partner  named 
Strauss.  His  own  enterprise  and  experience  might 
have  insured  the  success  of  the  business  even  in  the 
keen  competition  of  the  metropolis,  but  through 
mismanagement  on  the  part  of  his  partner  the  firm 
became  bankrupt,  and  Mr.  Stiefel  was  left  to  shoul- 
der the  heavy  debts  of  the  firm.  He  sacrificed  nearly 
everything  he  had  to  satisfy  his  creditors,  the  ven- 
ture entailing  him  a loss  of  nearly  $100,000.  He 
had  only  $1,000  left  to  start  life  over  again. 

In  the  fall  of  1869,  with  the  moral  and  financial 
support  and  credit  offered  by  eastern  manufacturers 
and  wholesalers  who  had  a keen  sense  of  gratitude 
toward  the  stalwart  character  of  the  man,  Joseph 
Stiefel  came  to  Angola  and  opened  up  a modest 
stock  of  clothing.  He  had  a small  place,  and  the 
store  at  first  was  known  simply  as  J.  Stiefel.  Af- 
ter three  years  he  took  in  as  his  partner  his  oldest 
son,  Moses,  and  the  name  was  changed  to  J.  Stiefel 
& Son,  clothing  and  dry  goods.  Fifteen  years  later 
another  son,  Louis,  came  into  the  firm,  entailing  an- 
other change,  as  J.  Stiefel  & Sons.  It  was  about 
five  years  later  that  Leopold  C.  Stiefel  acquired  an 
interest  in  the  partnership,  and  at  that  time  the 
father  retired.  The  new  title  was  J.  Stiefel’s  Sons. 
After  two  years  Moses  Stiefel  withdrew  to  go  into 
business  in  New  York  City,  and  Louis  and  Leopold 
remained  together  about  seven  years.  Leopold  then 
bought  the  interest  of  his  brother  Louis  and  con- 
tinued the  name  as  J.  Stiefel’s  Son. 

Many  notable  changes  have  occurred  in  half  a 
century,  and  the  most  marked  of  them  all  is  the 
sole  ownership  of  Mr.  Leopold  Stiefel.  In  the 
early  years  the  firm  did  a business  hardly  exceed- 
ing $20,000.  In  1918  the  aggregate  of  sales  was 
$150,000,  and  from  the  showing  made  in  the  early 


months  of  1919  the  volume  of  business  will  prob- 
ably exceed  $200,000  for  that  year.  Mr.  Stiefel  has 
inaugurated  many  modern  methods,  including  a one 
price  system,  and  has  further  expanded  the  business 
to  include  everything  found  in  a modern  depart- 
ment store.  The  business  employs  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty-five  people,  and  the  stock  is  housed  in 
a modern  business  block  66  by  170  feet,  with  steam 
plant  and  electricity  for  lighting  generated  in  the 
building.  Mr.  Leopold  Stiefel  is  vice  president  of 
the  Indiana  Retail  Dry  Goods  Association. 

Leopold  Stiefel  was  born  at  Auburn,  Indiana, 
March  24,  1863.  June  6,  1892,  he  married  Edith 
Kahn,  of  Indianapolis,  a daughter  of  Samuel  Kahn, 
of  that  city.  They  have  two  daughters,  Charlotte 
K.  and  Elsie  R.  Mr.  Stiefel  is  widely  known  as  a 
merchant  over  the  State  of  Indiana.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Masons  at  Angola. 

Dexter  E.  Wilder.  The  Wilders,  originally  from 
New  England,  were  among  the  substantial  settlers 
from  that  point  of  origin  who  established  the  first 
homes  and  institutions  in  Millgrove  Township  of 
Steuben  County.  Dexter  E.  Wilder  represents  the 
third  generation  of  the  family  here  and  has  spent 
all  of  his  own  life  of  over  sixty  years  in  the  same 
township  and  county. 

He  was  born  in  Millgrove  Township,  December  7, 
1856,  a son  of  Charles  H.  and  Betsey  (Smith; 
Wilder  and  a grandson  of  William  and  Mary 
(Breed)  Wilder.  William  Wilder  was  a native  of 
Massachusetts  and  his  wife  of  New  Hampshire. 
William  Wilder  was  a pioneer  in  three  states.  In 
early  manhood  he  pioneered  into  Otsego  County, 
New  York,  and  had  much  to  do  with  the  early  de- 
velopment of  that  section.  In  1835  he  moved  with 
his  family  to  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  in  February, 
1836,  came  to  Steuben  County,  settling  on  land  en- 
tered by  him  the  year  before.  William  Wilder 
entered  240  acres,  and  the  family  eventually  had 
over  500  acres  in  the  same  locality.  This  old  Wilder 
farm  is  the  place  where  Howard  Barnes  now  lives. 
William  Wilder  set  out  a long  row  of  maple  trees, 
some  of  which  are  still  standing.  He  died  about 
1863,  and  his  wife  died  in  1852. 

Charles  H.  Wilder  was  born  in  New  York  State 
and  was  a small  boy  when  brought  to  Steuben 
County.  He  grew  up  in  Millgrove  Township,  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  served  over  three 
years  in  the  Union  army  as  a member  of  the  One 
Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry.  After  the  war  he 
owned  a farm  of  forty  acres  in  Branch  County, 
Michigan.  He  died  in  1882.  Charles  H.  Wilder 
married  Betsey  Smith,  a native  of  Steuben  County 
and  daughter  of  Hezekiah  and  Mary  (Calkins) 
Smith.  Hezekiah  Smith  was  born  in  Connecticut  in 
1801  and  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1844.  Betsey 
Smith  was  Charles  H.  Wilder’s  first  wife  and  Dex- 
ter E.  Wilder  was  the  only  child  from  this  mar- 
riage. This  was  before  the  commencement  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  after  Mr.  Wilder’s  return  home  he 
subsequently  married  Jennie  Casper,  and  to  this 
union  Mary  Wilder  was  born,  and  she  married 
Fred’  Kimball. 

Dexter  E.  Wilder  was  the  only  child  of  his  mother. 
He  was  educated  in  public  schools  and  the  Orland 
Academy,  learned  the  jeweler’s  trade,  though  most 
of  his  life  has  been  spent  as  a farmer.  He  has  much 
mechanical  skill  and  has  used  it  to  good  purpose  on 
his  farm.  Mr.  Wilder  has  a life  lease  on  111  acres 
belonging  to  his  uncle  Orlando  Wilder.  He  also 
owns  33 1-3  acres  adjoining  his  home  place.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican. 

In  1886  Mr.  Wilder  married  Lucinda  Kreider,  of 
Elkhart  County.  She  is  a daughter  of  Tobias  and 


278 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Eliza  (Myers)  Kreider,  who  came  from  Ohio  to 
Elkhart  County  and  later  moved  to  Branch  County, 
Michigan,  where  Mrs.  Wilder’s  mother  died  in  1868, 
at  the  age  of  forty-two.  Her  father  subsequently 
returned  to  Ohio  and  died  in  1896,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilder  have  four  children  and  sev- 
eral grandchildren.  The  oldest  is  Bessie,  a graduate 
of  the  Orland  High  School  and  wife  of  Burton 
Ivugler.  Jessie,  also  a graduate  of  the  Orland  High 
School,  married  Louis  Webb  and  their  children  are 
Lyle  Raymond,  Lois  Caryl,  Wanda  May  and  Weir 
Charles.  Charles  H.  Wilder,  the  third  child,  grad- 
uated from  the  Orland  High  School  and  was  em- 
ployed in  the  Liberty  Motor  Works  at  Detroit.  He 
married  Grace  Adams  and  has  three  children,  John 
Kendrick,  Patricia  Jane  and  Nance  Lucinda.  The 
youngest  child,  William  Roland,  who  completed  the 
common  school  course  and  then  took  a course  in 
automobile  engineering  with  the  American  School 
of  Correspondence,  served  seven  months  overseas 
as  a member  of  the  Seventieth  Artillery.  He  re- 
ceived his  honorable  discharge  in  March.  1919,  and 
is  now  employed  with  the  Cadillac  Company  at 
Davenport,  Iowa. 

Wilton  E.  Purdy.  Of  a family  whose  lives  of  in- 
tegrity and  industry  have  identified  them  perma- 
nently with  the  best  interests  of  Steuben  County, 
one  deserving  special  mention  is  that  of  Wilton  E. 
Purdy,  whose  years  have  been  spent  profitably  in 
the  county  since  earliest  childhood,  and  is  today 
owner  of  a fine  farm  in  Millgrove  Township. 

Mr.  Purdy  was  born  in  Canada  November  4,  1859, 
a son  of  Robert  and  Eliza  S.  (Benschoten)  Purdy. 
The  more  important  data  of  the  earlier  family  his- 
tory is  given  on  other  pages.  Wilton  E.  Purdy  came 
to  Steuben  County  with  his  parents  in  March,  1861, 
when  he  was  not  yet  two  years  old.  He  grew  up 
at  Orland,  attended  the  public  schools  there  through 
the  grades,  and  as  a youth  took  up  the  trade  of 
wagon  maker.  He  worked  at  it  four  years  and 
afterward  as  a carpenter.  He  was  the  carpenter  for 
the  construction  of  his  own  residence  and  other 
buildings  on  his  farm.  About  1882  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  has  eighty  acres  in  his  home  in  Mill- 
grove  Township  and  thirty-eight  acres  in  Jackson 
Township.  He  follows  diversified  farming.  Mr. 
Purdy  is  a democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Grange. 

March  25,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Hattie  Robinson. 
She  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  March  25,  1861, 
a daughter  of  Albert  B.  and  Lovina  S.  (Sprague) 
Robinson.  Her  parents  settled  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship in  1854.  Her  father  at  one  time  owned  283 
acres  there.  The  first  home  of  the  Robinsons  was 
a log  house,  and  much  of  the  land  was  cleared  dur- 
ing the  lifetime  of  Albert  Robinson,  who  died  No- 
vember 20,  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  His 
wife  died  at  Orland  May  7,  1881,  aged  fifty-five.  In 
the  Robinson  family  were  the  following  children : 
Chauncey,  who  was  born  December  28,  1842,  owned 
a large  ranch  of  500  acres  in  Kansas,  and  died  in 
1918;  Hannah,  who  was  born  November  30,-1844, 
and  died  in  1865 ; Fowler  Elias,  born  April  7,  1847, 
and  died  in  July,  1848;  Frank  Lee,  born  December 
12,  1859,  died  February  2,  i860;  Hattie  R.,  Mrs. 
Purdy;  and  Albert  Fremont,  born  January  6,  1864, 
a wholesale  commissioner  dealer  at  Fort  Wayne. 

Mrs.  Purdy’s  father  was  a prominent  man  in  Steu- 
ben County,  was  a good  farmer,  was  a physician  by 
profession  and  also  a teacher  and  minister.  Mrs. 
Purdy  was  educated  in  the  Orland  Academy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purdy  have  one  son,  Clyde,  born 
April  12,  1883.  He  attended  the  Orland  High  School 


and  is  now  a salesman  of  motor  trucks  and  lives  at 
Lafayette,  Indiana.  He  has  also  been  interested  in 
lands,  having  owned  160  acres  in  Oklahoma,  also  200 
acres  in  Kentucky,  which  he  sold,  and  had  another 
farm  in  Missouri.  Clyde  married  Bertha  Van  Wag- 
ner, daughter  of  Melvin  J.  and  Mary  (Laughrey) 
Van  Wagner,  of  Steuben  County.  They  have  six 
children:  Vera,  born  January  9,  1905;  Elton  J., 

born  May  12,  1906;  Robert  N.,  born  October  21, 
1907;  Alice  Bernice,  born  April  10,  1909;  Paul  Wil- 
son, born  November  7,  1913;  and  Byron  D.,  born 
August  20,  1917.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Purdy  also  have 
an  adopted  daughter,  Irene,  born  October  3,  1909, 
and  still  in  school. 

John  W.  McKenzie,  proprietor  of  one  of  the 
largest  and  finest  farms  and  containing  one  of  the 
best  country  homes  in  Greenfield  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  has  spent  all  his  life  in  that  lo- 
cality and  was  born  there  October  22,  1865.  His 
present  home  is  only  a half  mile  from  his  birth- 
place. 

He  was  the  youngest  of  the  four  children  of  his 
parents,  John  and  Julia  (Klinghaman)  McKenzie, 
and  was  born  in  LaGrange  County.  His  father 
was  born  in  1822  and  his  mother  in  1825,  both  in 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  mar- 
ried and  where  all  their  older  children  were  born. 
These  children  were  Josiah,  Nelson,  Simon,  Ellen 
and  John.  The  McKenzie  family  came  to  La- 
Grange  County  in  June,  1865,  and  settled  in  Spring- 
field  Township.  The  father  rented  a farm  one  year, 
and  then  bought  no  acres  southwest  of  Brighton, 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  and  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1894,  his  wife  passing  away  in  1880.  John 
McKenzie,  Sr.,  was  a democrat  and  his  wife  was 
a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  W.  McKenzie  has  found  his  opportunities 
within  a very  small  radius  from  the  home  of  his 
childhood.  He  attended  public  schools,  also  the 
high  schools  at  Mongo  and  Howe,  and  has  had  fully 
thirty  years  of  practical  experience  as  a farmer 
and  stockman.  In  1904  he  and  his  wife  located 
on  an  eighty  acre  place  originally  acquired  direct 
from  the  Government  by  Mrs.  McKenzie’s  grand- 
father, Benjamin  Reed.  Benjamin  Reed  after  se- 
lecting his  land  walked  to  the  land  office  at  Fort 
Wayne  to  enter  it.  Mr.  McKenzie  is  a democrat 
in  politics. 

October  23,  1890,  he  married  Libbie  Reed.  She 
was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  October  27, 
1861,  daughter  of  Nathan  and  Julia  (Elya)  Reed. 
Nathan  Reed  was  born  in  a log  cabin  in  Green- 
field Township,  on  the  land  where  his  only  child 
and  daughter,  Mrs.  McKenzie  now  lives.  His  birth 
occurred  in  July,  1836.  His  wife  was  a native  of 
New  York  State.  The  grandfather,  Benjamin  Reed, 
married  Nancy  Barr,  a daughter  of  Amos  Barr. 
Benjamin  Reed  was  born  in  Delaware  and  his  wife 
in  Ohio.  When  the  nineteenth  century  was  still 
young  Benjamin  Reed  came  west,  and  in  South- 
western Michigan  took  up  a tract  of  land,  but  be- 
coming dissatisfied  sold  his  rights  for  fifty  dollars. 
That  land  is  now  the  site  of  the  City  of  Niles.  On 
leaving  Michigan  he  came  to  LaGrange  County  and 
acquired  the  eighty  acres  mentioned  above.  Later 
he  added  sixty  acres  to  this,  and  all  told  accumu- 
lated about  400  acres  in  LaGrange  County.  He 
died  in  Greenfield  Township,  May  4,  1890,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four,  while  his  widow  survived  him 
until  June,  1904,  and  was  then  eighty-nine  years  of 
age.  Their  children  were  Nathan,  Amos  and  Sarah 
Jane.  Amos  died  in  the  Civil  war,  while  Sarah 
became  the  wife  of  John  Whitlock. 

Nathan  Reed  grew  up  in  pioneer  surroundings, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


279 


and  though  his  education  was  confined  to  the  com- 
mon schools  he  became  widely  informed  through 
his  habit  of  diligent  and  attentive  reading.  For 
many  years  he  was  accounted  the  best  speller  in 
Greenfield  Township.  His  interest  in  such  mat- 
ters did  not  prevent  him  from  achieving  success 
in  practical  business.  He  owned  240  acres  of  well 
improved  land  in  Springfield  Township,  and  140 
acres  of  this  is  now  contained  in  the  farm  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McKenzie.  His  last  days  were  spent  at 
the  McKenzie  home,  where  he  died  in  February, 
1905.  Nathan  Reed  was  a republican  and  served 
as  trustee  of  Springfield  Township. 

At  the  present  time  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKenzie  have 
480  acres.  He  built  a fine  barn  40  by  70  feet  in 
1909,  and  the  following  year  put  up  what  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  best  residences  in  Greenfield 
Township.  Mr.  McKenzie  is  an  expert  stockman, 
and  for  a number  of  years  has  raised  hogs  on  a 
large  scale. 

To  his  marriage  were  born  three  children : Alnie, 
the  oldest,  is  a graduate  of  the  Brighton  High 
School  and  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  is  still  at 
home ; Anddra  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Brighton 
and  LaGrange  High  schools,  attended  the  Tri-State 
College  and  was  a teacher  until  her  marriage  to  Vern 
Elliott,  son  of  James  Elliott,  of  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship. Nathan  Reed  McKenzie,  the  only  son,  was 
educated  in  the  Brighton  High  School  and  is  a 
farmer  at  home.  He  married  Marion  Troxel,  a 
daughter  of  Charles  Troxel,  of  Greenfield  Town- 
ship, and  they  have  a daughter,  Halcyon  Mae. 

Lester  J.  Hughes  during  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  career  covering  thirty  years  has  been  a suc- 
cessful farmer  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  and  has  also  been  active  in  politics  and 
public  affairs. 

He  was  born  in  Salem  Township,  July  3,  1868, 
son  of  John  and  Martha  (Meek)  Hughes.  His 
grandfather,  David  Hughes,  was  a pioneer  in  Salem 
Township  and  one  of  the  earliest  merchants,  and 
he  also  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace.  John 
Hughes  spent  his  active  career  in  Salem  Township 
as  a sawmiller  and  farmer,  and  died  in  1893. 

Lester  J.  Hughes  is  a brother  of  Frank  D. 
Hughes,  a former  clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court  of 
Steuben  County.  Lester  was  reared  and  educated 
in  his  native  township,  attending  the  common 
schools,  and  in  early  life  started  out  to  make  his 
living  as  a farm  hand.  In  1889  he  married  Susan 
Haines,  a daughter  of  John  and  Maria  Haines. 
She  died  in  1903,  the  mother  of  one  son,  Dean,  who 
is  now  associated  with  his  father  in  managing  the 
home  farm.  Dean  married  Grace  Ensley  and  has 
one  child,  Phillys. 

March  30,  1908,  Mr.  Hughes  married  Bell  Wark, 
a daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Wark.  They 
have  two  children,  Roena  and  Lois. 

Mr.  Hughes  began  farming  on  his  brother  Frank’s 
place  in  1900,  living  there  near  Salem  for  two  years, 
then  spent  some  time  in  the  Village  of  Salem,  and 
in  1906  bought  his  present  farm  of  120  acres  in 
section  14.  He  has  made  the  building  improvements 
and  has  supplied  the  farm  with  a generous  equip- 
ment of  everything  necessary  for  its  successful 
operation. 

Mr.  Hughes  served  six  years,  from  1908  to  1914,  . 
as  assessor  of  Salem  Township.  He  is  at  present 
deputy  assessor  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Samuel  R.  Yoder,  whose  place  in  LaGrange 
County  is  that  of  a prosperous  farmer  and  stockman 


in  Clay  Township,  has  accomplished  those  things  in 
life  that  the  people  of  LaGrange  County  in  general 
have  come  to  expect  of  members  of  the  Yoder 
family. 

This  particular  branch  of  the  family  was  estab- 
lished here  in  pioneer  times  by  Reuben  Yoder,  who 
was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  Jan- 
uary 9,  1831.  He  was  a son  of  Christian  C.  and 
Catherine  (Miller)  Yoder,  both  natives  of  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Reuben  Yoder  married  Har- 
riet Riehl,  a native  of  Somerset  County  and  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Mary  Riehl.  John  Riehl  was  a 
cabinet  maker  by  trade.  Reuben  Yoder  moved  from 
Pennsylvania  to  Newbury  Township,  of  LaGrange 
County,  about  1851.  He  lived  in  that  locality  the 
rest  of  his  life  and  died  after  a long  and  active 
career  in  1912.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1908.  They 
had  a family  of  children  whose  names  were : 
Elizabeth,  Samuel  R.,  Daniel  R.,  Mary,  Menno  S., 
Moses  A.,  Peter,  Abraham  (who  died  when  four 
months  old),  and  Levi  R. 

Samuel  R.  Yoder  attended  district  school  in  New- 
bury Township,  where  he  was  born  March  9,  1856, 
and  made  his  first  independent  efforts  as  a farmer 
in  that  township.  In  1891  he  bought  his  first  place, 
of  eighty  acres  in  section  9,  Clay  Township,  and  has 
worked  there  steadily  for  over  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury. He  has  rebuilt  the  buildings  and  made  many 
substantial  improvements.  He  served  one  term  as 
assessor  of  Newbury  Township,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  both  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church. 

May  16,  1880,  he  married  Emma  Lupoid,  daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Shirley  Lupoid.  They  have  a family 
of  four  children.  Orpha  Pearl  is  the  wife  of  Wil- 
liam Mast,  and  is  the  mother  of  Lucile,  Doris  and 
Woodrow.  Nellie  Opal  married  James  Limeric. 
Roy  and  Ray  are  twins.  The  former  married  Beulah 
Evans.  Ray  married  Lettie  Dillon  and  has  two 
children,  named  Otha  and  Raymond. 

A.  I.  Shaeffer.  It  is  a recognized  fact  that  busi- 
ness is  the  very  life  blood  of  national  health  and 
prosperity,  and  no  branch  of  it  is  more  important 
than  that  represented  by  the  farmers  of  this  coun- 
try, who  through  their  industry  and  knowledge  of 
their  work  are  producing  crops  never  before 
equalled,  upon  which  the  future  of  the  world  is 
depending.  Indiana  has  always  been  noted  for  its 
fertile  farm  lands,  and  at  present  under  the  directing 
hands  of  men  of  experience  in  agricultural  matters 
it  is  holding  its  place  among  its  associate  states. 
One  of  these  representative  farmers  of  Steuben 
County  is  A.  I.  Shaeffer,  who  owns  and  operates 
a valuable  farm  in  Scott  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Fremont  Township,  two  miles  west  of  Freemont, 
August  27,  1857,  a son  of  Samuel  Shaeffer,  born 
in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1816. 

The  first  of  the  Schaeffer  family  to  locate  in  Penn- 
sylvania was  John  Nicholas  Shaeffer,  and  he  sailed 
from  Rotterdam,  Holland,  on  the  sailing  vessel 
Dragon,  George  Spencer,  master,  arriving  at  Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania,  September  6,  1749.  Settling 
in  Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  he  soon  became 
prominent  in  local  affairs  and  was  commissioned 
captain  of  the  First  Battalion  of  Berks  County 
Militia,  January  20,  1777,  which  saw  extensive  serv- 
ice in  Pennsylvania,  New  Jersey  and  New  York 
during  the  American  Revolution.  John  Nicholas 
Shaeffer  was  a large  landowner  and  one  of  the  most 
influential  men  of  his  community. 

John  Nicholas  Shaeffer  was  married  to  Juliana 
Margaretta  Michael,  whose  parents  also  sailed  from 
Rotterdam,  Holland,  for  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  arrived  September  15,  1749,  on  the  sail- 
ing vessel  Phoenix,  John  Mason,  master.  The 
children  born  of  this  marriage  were  as  follows : 


280 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Christian,  who  was  born  July  24,  1753,  became  an 
extensive  landholder  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, and  reared  a family  in  that  section ; Casper, 
who  was  born  November  27,  1754;  Margaretta,  who 
was  born  January  1,  1757;  Elizabeth,  who  was  born 
March  4,  1759;  Felix,  who  was  born  February  17, 
1760;  Susan,  who  was  born  January  13,  1761;  Nich- 
olas, who  was  born  September  12,  1763 ; Anna  Mar- 
garet, who  was  born  February  1,  1768;  Michael,  who 
was  born  May  15,  1770;  William,  who  was  born 
June  20,  1772;  Johann,  who  was  born  January  1, 
1775;  and  John,  who  was  born  March  27,  1778.  All 
these  children  were  born  in  Heidelberg  Township, 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania.  John  Nicholas 
Shaeffer  died  November  3,  1780,  his  widow  surviv- 
ing him  until  August  26,  1804. 

The  John  Shaeffer,  whose  name  is  attached  to 
numerous  old  documents,  was  the  youngest  son  of 
John  Nicholas  and  Juliana  (Michael)  Shaeffer,  and 
he  died  September  24,  1836,  having  served  in  the 
War  of  1812,  holding  the  commission  of  captain. 
• His  children  were  as  follows:  John,  Elias,  Lydia, 

Chink  and  Catherine  Elser.  Records  show  that 
members  of  the  Shaeffer  family  have  served  this 
country  as  soldiers  during  the-  Revolutionary  war, 
the  Whiskey  insurrection,  the  War  of  1812,  the 
Mexican  war,  the  Civil  war,  the  Spanish-American 
war  and  the  World  war,  which  certainly  entitles 
them  to  register  themselves  as  100  per  cent  Ameri- 
cans. 

The  grandfather  of  A.  I.  Shaeffer,  whose  name 
heads  this  review,  was  William  Shaeffer,  who  was 
born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1 777.  He 
was  a farmer  and  distiller,  owning  forty  acres  of 
land,  on  which  there  was  a substantial  stone  resi- 
dence, in  which  his  children  were  all  born  and 
reared,  as  well  as  several  of  his  grandchildren.  His 
distillery  was  built  of  logs,  was  two  stories  in  height, 
the  upper  story  being  used  for  living  purposes.  The 
water  used  in  distilling  was  carried  by  pipes  made 
of  logs,  hollowed  out  and  fitted  together,  into  the 
upper  story  from  a spring  in  a field  on  high  ground. 
The  necessary  fuel  was  procured  from  a wooded 
tract  on  the  mountain  side  about  three  miles  dis- 
tant. 

William  Shaeffer  was  married  three  times,  his  first 
wife  dying,  leaving  him  with  two  little  daughters, 
Nelly  and  Elizabeth.  To  take  care  of  them  he  em- 
ployed a housekeeper,  whom  he  subsequently  mar- 
ried, but  as  she  only  survived  a year  he  married  for 
his  third  wife  Margaret  Beck,  born  June  4,  1790, 
the  ceremony  taking  place  in  1813.  They  had  nine 
children  to  reach  maturity,  two  passing  away  in  in- 
fancy. These  children  were  as  follows : Barbara, 

Samuel,  Jacob,  John,  Margaret,  Catherine,  Susannah, 
Daniel,  and  Lydia.  The  daughters  of  William 
Shaeffer’s  first  marriage  became  the  wives  of  Ger- 
mans named  Maigleig  and  Neidhammer,  and  nothing 
is  known  of  them  subsequently  nor  of  their  de- 
scendants. William  Shaeffer  died  in  1831,  when  his 
youngest  child,  Lydia,  was  but  eleven  months  old. 
His  wife,  left  a widow  with  a large  family,  bravely 
went  into  the  field  with  her  sons  and  labored  to 
make  a living.  The  eldest  daughter,  with  the  help 
of  an  old  woman,  Betsy  Gewherlinz,  who  lived  with 
the  family,  kept  house  and  took  care  of  the  younger 
children.  The  distillery  was  operated  by  the  sons 
and  the  husband  of  Mrs.  Neidhammer,  Mrs.  Shaef- 
fer’s stepdaughter,  for  a time,  but  later  was  aban- 
doned. One  of  the  sons,  Daniel  Shaeffer,  is  quoted 
as  saying:  “When  I came  home  on  my  wedding 

trip  in  1847,  I caught  a mess  of  frogs  in  an  old 
vat  in  the  distillery.” 

The  second  son,  Jacob,  becoming  dissatisfied  with 
his  mother’s  management,  left  home,  but  Samuel 
and  John  remained  with  her,  and  worked  for  and 


with  her  until  1844,  when  they  came  to  Indiana  in 
search  of  new  homes.  After  Mrs.  Shaeffer’s  fam- 
ily had  grown  up  and  gone  to  homes  of  their  own 
she  sold  the  homestead  in  Dauphin  County  and  came 
to  Indiana  to  live  with  her  children,  the  majority  of 
whom  had  located  at  Fremont,  Steuben  County, 
Margaret,  Samuel  and  John  arriving  here  in  1844-5, 
and  Lydia  in  1851.  Daniel  accompanied  his  mother 
in  1854.  He  visited  with  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
and  then  going  back  to  Dauphin  County,  brought 
his  family  to  Fremont  in  1855.  Mrs.  Shaeffer  lived 
until  January  14,  1875,  and  spent  her  declining  years 
at  the  homes  of  her  several  children,  to  the  very 
last  being  an  important  factor  in  their  lives.  She 
passed  away  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Margaret, 
who  was  the  wife  of  Jacob  Weaver.  This  branch  of 
the  Shaeffer  family  was  descended  from  Christian 
Shaeffer  of  Susquehanna  Township,  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  who  was  the  father  of  Wil- 
liam Shaeffer,  and  son  of  John  N. 

Samuel  Shaeffer,  son  of  William  Shaeffer  and 
father  of  A.  I.  Shaeffer,  was  married  in  1840  to 
Susanna  Weaver,  born  in  Dauphin  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, a sister  of  Peter  Weaver,  a biography  of 
whom  appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  During 
1844-5  Samuel  Shaeffer  came  to  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  locating  on  a farm  of  192  acres  in  Fremont 
Township,  where  he  carried  on  general  farming  and 
stockraising,  and  improved  his  property,  erecting 
the  necessary  buildings  and  fences,  and  otherwise 
adding  to  its  value.  The  children  born  to  him  and 
his  wife  were  as  follows : Mary,  who  was  born  in 

1842,  died  in  1848;  Oliver,  who  was  born  in  1844; 
Enasetta,  who  was  born  in  1846,  died  in  1855 ; Daniel, 
who  was  born  in  1849,  died  in  1904;  Christopher, 
who  was  born  in  1855;  and  A.  I.,  who  was  the 
youngest  in  the  family.  Samuel  Shaeffer  died  at 
Fremont  September  16,  1877,  his  wife  surviving  him 
until  February  3,  1880.  They  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Methodist  Church  of  Fremont, 
and  he  was  one  of  the  largest  contributors  toward 
the  erection  of  the  first  church  edifice  of  that  de- 
nomination at  Fremont. 

A.  I.  Shaeffer  attended  the  public  schools  of  Fre- 
mont Township,  and  during  his  boyhood  and  youth 
assisted  his  father  on  the  farm.  When  he  was 
twenty  years  old  he  began  conducting  a threshing 
outfit,  operated  by  horse  power,  and  in  1878  added 
the  conduct  of  a sawmill  to  his  activities,  moving  in 
that  year  to  Fremont,  where  his  mill  was  located. 
In  1879  he  bought  a steam  rig  to  replace  the  horse 
power  in  his  mill,  and  continued  to  live  at  Fremont 
until  1896,  at  which  time  he  rented  the  farm  of 
George  Straw  near  Fremont,  and  lived  on  it  for  ten 
years,  moving  then  to  a farm  in  Jamestown  Town- 
ship. Two  years  later,  in  December,  1909,  Mr. 
Shaeffer  bought  his  present  farm  of  seventy  acres, 
since  which  time  he  has  rebuilt  and  added  to  the 
barn  and  erected  several  other  buildings,  putting 
the  place  in  first  class  order.  His  farming  is  carried 
on  according  to  modern  methods,  and  he  is  satis- 
fied with  the  results,  as  he  has  every  reason  to  be. 

On  December  10,  1878,  Mr.  Shaeffer  was  married 
to  Miss  Ellen  C.  Kauffman,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  Kauffman,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children : Bert  E.,  who  was  born  Decem- 

ber 3,  1879,  died  November  9,  1908,  and  married 
Euphemia  Lytle,  who  died  January  4,  1919,  leav- 
ing their  one  child,  A.  C.,  who  was  born  December 
18,  1907;  Ina  May,  who  was  born  March  21,  1881, 
married  Lester  Harter,  and  they  had  one  child, 
Bernice  Harter.  She  was  later  married  to  Wilbur 
E.  Young,  and  they  have  had  three  children,  Ber- 
nard F„  Berdene  and  Berlene.  The  third  child  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Shaeffer,  Eva  A.,  was  born  October 
13,  1892,  and  she  was  married  to  Ivan  Isenhower, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


281 


and  they  have  a son,  Maynard  S.,  who  was  born  in 
November,  1916. 

Daniel  J.  Shank  has  spent  all  his  life  in  Indiana 
and  for  nearly  forty  years  has  been  a resident  of 
Steuben  County,  and  for  the  past  thirty  years  has 
been  proprietor  of  a large  and  flourishing  lumber 
business  in  the  City  of  Angola.  He  grew  up  around 
his  father’s  grist  mill  and  acquired  a knowledge  of 
the  milling  business  and  was  connected  with  milling 
operations  for  some  years. 

Mr.  Shank  was  born  in  Adams  County,  Indiana, 
April  9,  1849,  a son  of  John  R.  and  Mary  (Lizer) 
Shank.  His  father  was  a native  of  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother  of  Center- 
ville, Wayne  County,  Indiana.  John  R.  Shank  went 
to  Ohio  in  1841,  and  soon  afterward  to  Indiana.  A 
miller  by  trade,  he  followed  his  occupation  in  Adams 
County  for  many  years,  but  in  1890  moved  to  Steu- 
ben County  and  operated  a mill  at  Hamilton  for 
several  years.  He  finally  retired  to  Angola,  where  he 
died  in  1900,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  His  wife, 
who  died  at  the  same  age,  passed  away  in  1912. 
John  R.  Shank  was  a democrat  and  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  four 
children:  Michael,  who  died  about  1852;  Kansas  B., 
who  died  in  1865 ; Daniel  J. ; and  Henry,  who  for 
a number  of  years  was  a druggist  in  Angola. 

Daniel  J.  Shank  acquired  a good  public  school  edu- 
cation in  his  native  county.  After  several  years  of 
work  with  his  father  in  the  milling  business  he  moved 
to  Angola  in  1880,  and  acquired  an  interest  in  the 
local  grist  mill  and  lumber  yard.  In  1887  he  bought 
the  lumber  yard  near  the  depot,  and  for  over  thirty 
years  has  supplied  the  needs  of  a large  surrounding 
country  with  lumber  and  building  materials.  For 
about  ten  years  of  this  time  he  also  sold  coal.  Mr. 
Shank  has  been  a director  in  the  Steuben  County 
State  Bank  for  twelve  years,  and  has  prosecuted  all 
his  business  interests  with  much  vigor  and  corre- 
sponding success. 

He  has  been  a member  of  the  City  Council,  is  a 
republican,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias, 
and  is  a member  of  a very  interesting  local  social 
club  known  as  the  Scavenger  Club.  This  club  evi- 
dently has  strong  fraternal  ties  among  its  members, 
since  it  holds  only  one  stated  meeting  in  the  even 
years  of  the  calendar,  the  date  of  meeting  being  on 
February  2,  “ground  hog  day.”  Mr.  Shank’s  mother 
was  a devout  Methodist,  but  he  is  a member  of  no 
church.  His  family  are  all  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

In  1873,  at  Monroeville,  Allen  County,  Indiana,  he 
married  Miss  Malinda  C.  Dague,  of  that  county, 
though  a native  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Shank  died  January 
18,  1918,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four,  after  they  had 
been  married  forty-five  years.  She  was  the  mother 
of  four  children : Emmet  E.  is  associated  with  his 

father  in  the  lumber  business  and  by  his  marriage 
to  Ella  Goff  has  three  children,  named  Adelbert, 
Editha  and  Anna  Malinda.  Nora  V.  is  the  wife  of 
Joseph  Brokau  and  has  four  sons,  Austin,  John, 
Richard  and  Robert,  the  last  two  twins.  Myrtle  P. 
is  the  wife  of  George  G.  Niehous  and  has  one  child, 
Mary  Malinda.  Mildred  Mary  is  the  wife  of  John 
Bakstad. 

Jefferson  Betz  is  an  honored  figure  in  the  com- 
munity of  Franklin  Township,  DeKalb  County,  is 
an  old  soldier  of  the  Union,  has  been  a resident  of 
DeKalb  County  for  half  a century,  and  is  now  en- 
joying a well  earned  retirement  from  his  respon- 
sibilities as  a farmer. 

Mr.  Betz  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 


December  21,  1838,  a son  of  Henry  and  Catherine 
(Stull)  Betz,  the  former  a native  of  Bedford  Coun- 
ty, Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio.  After  their  marriage  they  spent 
all  their  lives  in  Columbiana  County.  Jefferson 
Betz  grew  up  in  his  native  state,  had  a common 
school  education,  and  early  in  the  Civil  war  en- 
listed in  Company  D of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifteenth  Ohio  Infantry.  He  saw  a great  deal  of 
active  service  during  the  next  fifteen  months,  and 
was  then  granted  an  honorable  discharge  on  ac- 
count of  impaired  hearing.  After  the  war  he  went 
back  to  his  native  district  in  Ohio  and  in  April, 
1865,  married  Jennie  Musser.  She  was  born  in 
Columbiana  County. 

Mr.  Betz  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  in  1869 
and  has  been  a resident  of  DeKalb  County  ever 
since.  For  many  years  he  worked  in  the  fields  and 
handled  his  farm,  but  is  now  living  in  comfort 
among  his  children.  He  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics and  active  in  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Hamil- 
ton. 

He  is  the  father  of  four  children : Della,  wife 

of  George  W.  Kepler;  Dora,  wife  of  Oliver  W. 
Fee ; Elmer,  who  lives  on  the  home  farm  in  Frank- 
lin Township;  and  Emma,  wife  of  Clyde  Hinker. 

George  W.  Stout  probably  has  the  premier  honors 
of  long  and  veteran  service  in  Uncle  Sam’s  post- 
office  department.  He  has  been  connected  with  the 
Hamilton  postoffice  almost  continuously  for  thirty 
years,  most  of  the  time  as  assistant  postmaster,  and 
since  1914  has  been  chief  executive  of  the  office. 

Mr.  Stout  was  born  at  Fairfield  Center  in  DeKalb 
County,  Illinois,  August  19,  1866,  a son  of  Andrew 
J.  and  Sarah  Anna  (Houser)  Stout.  His  mother, 
who  died  July  28,  1914,  was  born  in  Ohio,  a daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Houser.  The  paternal  grandfather, 
George  Stout,  was  an  Ohio  farmer  living  near 
Attica.  Andrew  J.  Stout  was  born  in  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  March,  1868,  came  to  Hamil- 
ton from  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  established 
himself  as  a shoe  and  boot  maker.  He  bought  his 
leather  direct  from  the  tanners.  In  connection  with 
his  business  he  also  served  about  twelve  years  as 
postmaster  of  Hamilton.  He  was  also  a skillful 
veterinarian,  and  practiced  that  profession  for  a 
number  of  years.  In  1917  he  disposed  of  his  busi- 
ness interests  at  Hamilton  and  has  since  lived  re- 
tired at  Ashley.  Recently  he  paid  a visit  to  old 
home  localities  in  Ohio  after  he  had  been  away 
from  that  community  for  forty  years,  and  he  died 
at  the  home  of  his  son  in  Dayton,  Ohio,  March  12, 
1919.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children:  George 

W.,  Samuel  W.,  one  that  died  in  infancy,  and 
John  W. 

George  W.  Stout  received  his  education  in  Hamil- 
ton, graduating  from  high  school  there,  and  took 
a business  course  at  Oberlin,  Ohio,  and  was  a stu- 
dent in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola  when  illness 
of  his  father  called  him  home.  He  then  took  up 
the  duties  of  assistant  postmaster,  and  has  assisted 
every  postmaster  since  his  father’s  time  with  the 
exception  of  one.  He  received  appointment  as  post- 
master of  Hamilton,  July  1,  1914. 

July  28,  1888,  Mr.  Stout  married  Lenora  Dirrim, 
of  DeKalb  County,  daughter  of  Robert  R.  and 
Amanda  (Firestone)  Dirrim.  The  Dirrims  are  one 
of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  families  of  DeKalb 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stout  had  six  children : 
Webster  G.,  assistant  postmaster  under  his  father 
at  Hamilton,  married  Mrs.  Vera  B.  (Copp)  Barney, 
daughter  of  Abner  Copp,  of  St.  Joseph,  Indiana. 
Letha  M.  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  Mountz,  operating 
the  Home  Bakery  at  Butler.  Walter  L.  died  July 


282 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


20,  1904.  Fernie  B.  and  Waldo  F.  are  still  at  home, 
and  George  W.  died  in  infancy. 

Charles  C.  Eaton.  Forty-three  years  ago  when 
a boy  of  twelve  Charles  C.  Eaton  helped  put  in  and 
harvest  a routine  of  crops.  He  has  never  missed  a 
season  since  then,  and  out  of  his  forty  odd  years  of 
farming  experience  he  has  achieved  a competency 
and  one  of  the  best  farms  in  Clay  Township  of 
LaGrange  County.' 

Mr.  Eaton  was  born  in  that  township  July  4,  1864, 
a son  of  Josiah  and  Rachel  (Preston)  Eaton.  His 
mother  was  a daughter  of  John  M.  Preston.  Josiah 
Eaton,  a native  of  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  grew  up 
in  Lima  Township  of  LaGrange  County  from  the 
year  1845  and  began  farming  there.  About  1856  he 
moved  to  a place  in  Clay  Township  owned  by  Dr. 
J.  T.  Hobb,  and  as  a renter  made  such  good  use  of 
his  opportunities  that  in  a few  years  he  acquired  the 
ownership  of  the  Hobb  farm.  He  was  not  only  a 
successful  farmer,  but  served  as  assessor  of  Clay 
Township,  and  was  drainage  commissioner  of  La- 
Grange County  eight  years.  He  was  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church  and  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school  many  years.  He  and  his  wife 
had  five  children:  Sarah  E.,  wife  of  Mott  Bowen; 

J.  Edward;  Charles  C. ; William,  deceased;  and 
Alton  H. 

Charles  C.  Eaton  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Clay  Township,  and  during  his  mature  career  has 
kept  his  affairs  progressing  and  prospering.  He 
owns  a farm  of  233J4  acres  in  Clay  Township,  his 
home  being  in  section  10.  He  has  for  a number  of 
years  been  a prominent  hog  raiser.  He  served  nine 
years  as  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  of 
the  Methodist  Protestant  Church,  of  which  he  and 
his  wife  are  both  active  members. 

In  1888  he  married  Eva  McManus,  daughter  of 
Nelson  McManus.  She  died  August  24,  1893,  the 
mother  of  two  children ; Ethel  and  Clarence.  Ethel 
is  the  wife  of  Lloyd  Bricker  and  has  four  children, 
named  Cecil,  Gladys,  Melvin  and  Mary  Jane.  Clar- 
ence married  Bessie  Ellsworth  and  has  a son,  Charles 
Ellsworth.  In  November,  1894,  Mr.  Eaton  married 
Addie  Atwater,  a daughter  of  William  Atwater. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Bell,  still  at  home. 

Moses  M.  Miller,  who  for  over  a quarter  of  a 
century  has  had  his  home  in  section  29  of  Clay 
Township,  has  developed  a fine  farm  out  of  the 
woods  there,  and  is  a sturdy  representative  of  one 
of  the  old  and  well  known  family  names  of  La- 
Grange County. 

He  was  born  in  Hickory  County,  Missouri,  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1870.  His  father  is  Moses  P.  Miller,  more 
extended  reference  to  whose  career  will  be  found 
on  other  pages.  Moses  P.  Miller,  who  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1845,  had  come  to  LaGrange 
County  in  1857,  but  from  1869  to  1872  lived  in 
Hickory  County,  Missouri,  and  since  then  has  been 
a resident  of  LaGrange  County. 

Moses  M.  Miller  was  therefore  brought  back  to 
LaGrange  County  before  he  was  able  to  remember 
things  consecutively,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since. 
He  attended  district  schools  in  Eden  and  Clay 
townships,  was  employed  on  his  father’s  farm,  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  worked  out  as  a farm  hand, 
and  the  following  fall  moved  to  the  place  where  he 
is  still  living.  He  was  married  July  19,  1891,  and 
took  his  bride  to  a tract  of  timbered  land,  where 
his  efforts  have  resulted  in  many  improvements  and 
developments.  He  makes  a specialty  of  well  bred 
Holstein  cattle  and  is  properly  regarded  as  one  of 
the  best  farmers  in  the  township. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Lydia  Patterson.  They  had 


ten  children : Rollin,  born  May  7,  1892,  and  died  in 

March,  1896 ; Ray  M. ; Roy ; Minnie  May ; Samuel ; 
Moses  Ivan;  Ina  and  Nina,  twins,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Milo  Uriah;  and  Wilbur.  Mr.  Miller  and 
family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church. 

Mrs.  Miller  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Township 
of  LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of  George  and 
Polly  (Miller)  Patterson.  Her  father  was  a life- 
long farmer  in  LaGrange  County.  In  the  Patterson 
family  were  the  following  children:  John,  Simon, 

who  died  December  27,  1899;  Fannie,  who  died  in 
1915;  and  Clara,  Lydia,  Hattie,  Jacob,  Amanda, 
Susan,  and  Daniel. 

John  Mault.  For  over  thirty  years  the  name  of 
John  Mault  has  been  identified  with  the  farming 
enterprise  of  Sparta  Township.  He  is  proprietor 
of  one  of  the  well  managed  and  valuable  farms  of 
that  locality  of  Noble  County,  his  home  being  on 
the  Lincoln  Highway  three  miles  southeast  of  Ligo- 
nier. 

He  was  born  in  Shelby  County,  Ohio,  January  24, 
i860,  a son  of  William  and  Amanda  (Morris)  Mault. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Shelby  County, 
were  married  there,  and  on  August  20,  1866,  moved 
to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Sparta 
Township,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives. 
They  were  active  church  people  and  William  Mault 
was  a republican.  Of  seven  children  three  are  still 
living:  John  R. ; William,  of  Sparta  Township;  and 

Clara,  wife  of  James  Smith. 

John  R.  Mault  was  only  six  years  old  when 
brought  to  Noble  County,  and  he  grew  up  here,  at- 
tending the  district  schools  and  also  the  high  school 
at  Syracuse.  He  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty- 
one.  Then  after  several  years  of  work  on  his  indi- 
vidual account  he  married  on  July  3,  1886,  Martha 
L.  Beck.  She  was  born  in  Hardin  County,  Ohio, 
April  6,  1869,  a daughter  of  Lewis  F.  Beck,  of  Pauld- 
ing County,  Ohio.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mault  have  six 
children:  Minnie,  wife  of  Ralph  Gallup;  Wilbur, 

who  is  married  and  lives  in  Toledo,  Ohio;  Andrew, 
a farmer  at  Middlebury,  Indiana;  Albert,  unmarried 
and  at  home ; Walter,  also  at  home,  who  married 
Elma  Price ; and  Clarence,  at  home. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Broadway  Chris- 
tian Church.  Mr.  Mault  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Kimmell,  his  wife 
is  a member  of  the  Rebekahs  at  Cromwell,  both  are 
members  of  the  Knights  and  Ladies  of  the  Macca- 
bees, and  she  belongs  to  the  Pythian  Sisters  at  Crom- 
well. In  politics  he  is  a republican  but  has  never 
had  official  aspirations.  The  Mault  farm  is  one  of 
the  best  in  Sparta  Township,  comprising  136  acres, 
and  is  well  stocked  with  grade  cattle  and  hogs  and 
has  very  superior  equipment  and  facilities. 

Clyde  A.  Walb,  president  of  the  LaGrange 
County  Trust  Company,  has  been  a man  of  affairs 
in  LaGrange  County  for  a number  of  years.  He 
was  formerly  county  surveyor  and  engineer.  In 
later  years  a prominent  drainage  contractor,  he 
still  operates  a large  fleet  of  dredges  which  have 
excavated  millions  of  cubic  yards  in  the  process 
of  reclaiming  thousands  of  acres  of  fertile  soil  in 
Northern  Indiana. 

Mr.  Walb  was  born  in  Clay  Township  of  La- 
Grange County  October  3,  1878,  son  of  Reuben  B. 
and  Susana  (Norris)  Walb.  His  parents  are  still 
living.  He  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Clay  Township, 
attended  district  schools  there,  graduated  from  the 
LaGrange  High  School,  and  studied  civil  engineer- 
ing. He  was  elected  county  surveyor  and  engineer 
on  the  republican  ticket,  filling  that  office  with 
credit  for  six  years.  He  then  engaged  in  the  busi- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


283 


ness  of  drainage  contracting,  operating  steam  shovel 
dredges,  and  his  work  in  this  line  has  included  a 
number  of  contracts  in  different  parts  of  the  state 
and  in  other  states.  He  owns  ten  steam  shovel 
dredges  and  has  a highly  adequate  and  efficient  or- 
ganization for  their  operations.  Mr.  Walb  helped 
organize  the  LaGrange  County  Trust  Company  and 
has  been  president  since  it  started. 

He  married  Vida  Wildman,  a graduate  of  the 
Wolcottville  High  School.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren: Walter,  Eloise,  Ralph  and  Clyde  A.  Jr.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  which  Mr.  Walb  is  a trustee.  He  is  ac- 
tive in  Masonry,  being  past  high  priest  of  the 
Royal  Arch  Chapter,  is  a member  of  the  Knights 
Templar,  the  Scottish  Rite  and  the  Shrine.  He  is 
also  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  is 
present  county  chairman  of  the  republican  party. 

Besides  the  interests  detailed  above  Mr.  Walb 
is  president  of  the  LaGrange  Hardware  Company 
and  is  half  owner  in  a tract  of  320  acres  of  land. 
He  is  therefore  one  of  the  most  substantial  men 
of  LaGrange  County  and  it  is  easy  to  understand 
the  weight  his  name  carries  in  public  affairs. 

Laora  M.  Rowe  formerly  a druggist  and  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  real  estate  and  insur- 
ance business  at  LaGrange,  and  is  member  of  a 
family  that  has  played  an  active  part  in  this  sec- 
tion of  Northeast  Indiana  for  over  sixty  years. 

He  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  August  15, 
1838,  a son  of  Milton  and  Caroline  (Dorsey)  Rowe. 
His  father  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  July 
31.  1833,  and  his  mother  near  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
February  18,  1832.  They  were  married  in  Preble 
County,  Ohio,  October  26,  1854,  and  after  living 
for  some  time  in  Preble  County  came  in  the  spring 
of  1861  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  settled 
on  a farm  of  120  acres  in  Eden  Township.  Later 
Milton  Rowe  added  forty  acres  more  and  was  one 
of  the  industrious  agriculturists  of  that  locality  un- 
til his  death  on  June  17,  1915.  His  wife  died  March 
25,  1886.  They  were  the  parents  of  a large  family 
of  nine  children.  Josiah,  a farmer  of  Eden  Town- 
ship, married  Nora  Benham ; Emma  who  died  April 
13,  1880,  the  wife  of  Mathias  Longcor;  Laora  M., 
Henry  A},  who  died  in  his  fourth  year ; Margaret 
E.,.wife  of  August  Herrmann  of  LaGrande,  Ore- 
gon ; Cecelia,  who  died  March  4,  1896,  wife  of  Lo- 
renzo Haller ; Charles  who  married  Anna  McKib- 
ben  lives  on  the  McKibben  homestead ; Mary  E., 
who  died  October  25,  1899,  the  wife  of  John  Pen- 
rose ; and  Howard  P.,  who  lives  at  Enterprise,  Ore- 
gon, and  married  Cora  Pierman. 

Laora  M.  Rowe  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm 
in  LaGrange  County  and  supplemented  his  educa- 
tion in  the  country  schools  with  attendance  at  the 
LaGrange  County  Normal.  At  the  age  of  nineteen 
he  taught  his  first  term  of  school  and  was  an  edu- 
cator six  years,  four  years  in  country  schools  and 
two  years  in  the  LaGrange  schools.  He  then  joined 
his  brother-in-law  E.  S.  Ballou  and  Dr.  Betts  in 
the  drug  business  and  continued  in  that  line  for 
about  fourteen  years  until  he  sold  out.  During 
the  second  administration  of  President  Cleveland 
he  was  appointed  postmaster  of  LaGrange.  Since 
then  he  has  been  an  insurance  man,  a notary  public, 
a dealer  in  real  estate  and  now  is  a member  of 
the  LaGrange  Bar  and  these  various  activities  ac- 
count for  the  last  eighteen  years  of  his  life. 

Mr.  Rowe  is  a democrat,  and  four  times  received 
appointment  by  the  judge  as  a member  of  the  board 
of  review.  October  12,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Ann 
M.  Ballou,  sister  of  O.  L.  and  E.  S.  Ballou,  else- 
where mentioned  in  this  publication.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 


Rowe  had  three  children,  Anna  M.,  dying  in  in- 
fancy; Lura  A.,  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School,  now  residing  at  Lincoln,  Nebraska,  and 
Anna  C.,  also  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School  and  the  wife  of  Walter  Spangenberg  of 
Sturgis,  Michigan,  and  the  mother  of  one  child, 
June  Pauline. 

Jacob  Miller.  There  are  a great  many  people 
who  will  recall  the  upright  life  and  character  of  the 
late  Jacob  Miller,  who  for  many  years  was  one  of 
Salem  Township’s  most  substantial  farmers.  The 
farm  he  acquired,  developed  and  owned  so  many 
years  is  now  the  property  of  his  widow  and  under 
the  active  management  of  his  only  son,  Henry 
Miller. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Ohio  January  28,  1844, 
son  of  an  Ohio  farmer  who  lived  near  Edgerton. 
Jacob  Miller  had  a good  rearing  and  training  in 
early  youth,  especially  in  habits  of  industry  and 
thrift,  and  he  became  a resident  of  Steuben  County 
in  1874,  moving  from  DeKalb  County.  At  that  time 
he  bought  215  acres  in  Salem  Township,  and  during 
the  next  quarter  of  a century  he  was  busily  engaged 
in  cultivating  his  fields,  making  improvements  in 
every  direction,  putting  up  all  the  buildings  which 
still  adorn  and  give  value  to  the  place,  and  left 
his  work  well  done  when  he  obeyed  the  last  sum- 
mons on  April  23,  1900. 

January  5,  1869,  five  years  before  coming  to 
Steuben  County,  Mr.  Miller  married  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Slayman.  She  was  born  in  Fairfield  Township  of 
DeKalb  County  June  21,  1851,  a daughter  of  George 
and  Barbara  (Bales)  Slayman.  Her  father,  who 
was  born  in  1824,  was  a pioneer  in  Fairfield  Town- 
ship, DeKalb  County,  and  lived  as  a farmer  there 
until  his  death  in  1881.  His  children  were  Rebecca, 
Sarah  E.,  Jennie,  Ida  Bell,  who  died  in  infancy, 
Ella,  a son  that  died  in  infancy,  and  Arwilda. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  Miller  had  three  children, 
Henry  and  Mina,  twins,  and  Cora  Elizabeth,  who 
died  when  two  years  old.  Mina  is  the  wife  of 
John  Holbrook,  a farmer  of  Salem  Township. 

Henry  Miller  was  born  September  11,  1869,  and 
has  lived  since  earliest  childhood  on  the  home  farm 
in  Salem  Township.  He  attended  the  Turkey  Creek 
School  there  and  began  making  himself  useful  to 
his  father  when  a small  boy.  Since  his  father’s 
death  in  1900  he  has  been  farming  the  place  on  his 
own  responsibility  and  raises  a great  deal  of  live- 
stock. The  farm  now  comprises  380  acres,  owned 
by  the  Miller  estate. 

Henry  Miller  married  Nettie  Frederick,  daughter 
of  Joseph  Frederick.  They  have  three  sons,  Ray 
Owen,  Clyde  William  and  Russell  Ellsworth. 

Alvin  E.  Lambright.  An  unusual  example  of  a 
progressive  and  successful  farmer  of  Northeast  In- 
diana is  afforded  in  the  person  of  Alvin  E.  Lam- 
bright, whose  home  is  in  section  19  of  Johnson 
Township,  six  miles  south  of  LaGrange.  Mr.  Lam- 
bright is  not  yet  forty  years  of  age,  and  in  a dozen 
years  has  achieved  a degree  of  material  success 
which  counts  him  among  the  large  farmers  and 
land  owners  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  the  old  Lambright  farm  where  he 
still  resides  November  2,  1881,  a son  of  Michael  M. 
and  Agusta  (Schintzer)  Lambright.  His  father, 
born  in  Germany  March  9,  1837,  came  to  the  United 
States  with  his  father  in  1845  and  in  1850  the  family 
moved  from  Ohio,  their  first  place  of  settlement,  to 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  Michael  Lambright 
grew  up  in  Indiana,  and  was  married  in  Ohio,  where 
his  wife  was  born.  He  then  settled  in  Johnson 


284 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Township  of  LaGrange  County,  on  section  19,  #md 
lived  there  forty  years  or  more,  until  1902,  when  he 
retired  to  Wolcottville.  He  died  September  12, 
1907,  and  his  wife,  March  22,  1918.  Of  their  nine 
children  one  died  in  infancy  and  six  are  still  living: 
William  J.,  a retired  farmer  at  Wolcottville;  Adolph, 
of  Johnson  Township;  Etta,  wife  of  William  Rowe 
of  Wolcottville;  Lewis  M.,  an  engineer  with  the  New 
York  Central  Railroad,  living  at  Elkhart;  Carrie, 
wife  of  Frank  Eddy  of  Moorcroft,  Wyoming;  and 
Alvin  E. 

Alvin  E.  Lambright  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education.  For  three 
years  of  his  early  life  he  worked  out  by  the  month, 
and  he  started  with  limited  capital.  He  inherited 
part  of  the  old  Lambright  farm,  and  from  that  as 
a beginning  has  built  up  a farm  of  300  acres  under 
his  individual  ownership,  and  is  one  of  the  lead- 
ing producers  of  crops  and  live  stock  in  LaGrange 
County.  He  raises  large  numbers  of  cattle  and 
hogs  and  has  made  it  a rule,  a profitable  one,  to 
raise  his  own  feed,  a policy  with  him,  as  with  many 
others,  which  has  proved  very  profitable.  Mr.  Lam- 
bright also  owns  a three-fourths  interest  in  the 
Lambright  Block  at  Wolcottville.  Perhaps  his  chief 
hobby  is  good  roads,  and  he  was  instrumental  in 
constructing  a mile  and  a half  of  gravel  road  along 
his  own  farm.  Politically  he  is  a democrat. 

Mr.  Lambright  married  Martha  A.  Moore  of  Clear 
Spring  Township,  LaGrange  County.  They  have 
four  children:  Dorothy,  Ruth  A.  and  Ruby  W., 

twins,  and  Alvin  E.,  Jr. 

Harry  C.  Marquiss  made  a successful  record  as 
an  Illinois  farmer  and  then  brought  the  proceeds  of 
his  experience  to  Noble  County,  and  now  owns  one 
of  the  valuable  farms  of  York  Township,  located 
2 p2  miles  northeast  of  Albion. 

Mr.  Marquiss  was  born  in  Piatt  County,  in  the 
corn  belt  of  Illinois,  December  9,  1862,  a son  of 
Henry  and  Mary  J.  (Corn)  Marquiss.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Ohio,  and  their  respective 
families  moved  to  Illinois  at  an  early  day.  They 
married  in  that  state,  became  farmers,  and  the  father 
was  also  interested  in  a grist  and  sawmill.  He  died 
when  Harry  C.  Marquiss  was  a small  child.  The 
mother  never  married  again,  and  managed  to  keep 
her  family  together.  She  had  eight  children,  and 
the  three  sons  still  living  are:  Oliver  A.,  a farmer 

in  Piatt  County,  Illinois;  James  E.,  superintendent 
of  waterworks  and  street  superintendent  at  Monti- 
cello,  Illinois;  and  Harry  C. 

Harry  C.  Marquiss  grew  up  in  Piatt  County,  Illi- 
nois, attended  the  country  schools,  and  lived  at  home 
until  he  was  about  twenty-four  years  of  age.  He 
married  Anna'  C.  Duvall  in  1886.  Mrs.  Marquiss 
was  born  in  Piatt  County  May  13,  1866,  and  was 
educated  in  the  common  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marquiss  lo- 
cated on  her  mother’s  farm  and  pushed  their  affairs 
in  Illinois  to  successful  ends  for  a number  of  years. 
In  1910  they  came  to  Indiana,  and  Mr.  Marquis  now 
owns  240  acres  in  Noble  County. 

He  and  his  wife  became  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren, including:  Charles  H.,  who  entered  the  Great 
Lakes  Training  Station  as  a machinist  in  the  avia- 
tion section,  and  later  was  appointed  an  instructor 
in  that  branch ; Mary,  a graduate  of  a high  school 
in  Illinois,  is  the  wife  of  Clarence  Baldwin,  of  Noble 
County ; Emma  is  unmarried  and  at  home ; Loren, 
who  saw  active  services  with  the  American  Expedi- 
tionary Forces  in  France;  Carl;  Wilber,  a graduate 
of  the  Albion  High  School;  Albert;  Otis,  also  a 
high  school  graduate;  and  Lora  A.,  who  died  in 
October,  1918,  aged  twenty-six  years.  She  was  the 
wife  of  Herman  Parrott. 


Mr.  Marquiss  has  for  many  years  been  an  active 
Odd  Fellow  and  in  his  home  lodge  at  Deland,  Illi- 
nois, served  as  noble  grand,  and  also  as  chief  pa- 
triarch of  the  Encampment  at  Monticello,  Illinois, 
and  represented  both  branches  in  the  Grand  Lodge. 
He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  Rebekahs 
of  Albion.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America.  In  politics  he  has  been  a vig- 
orous republican,  and  while  living  in  Illinois  served 
as  assessor  and  as  a justice  of  the  peace  for  eight 
years. 

Eugene  Dickinson.  Of  the  men  whose  ability, 
industry  and  forethought  have  added  to  the  charac- 
ter, wealth  and  progress  of  LaGrange  County,  none 
deserves  better  mention  than  Eugene  Dickinson  of 
Johnson  Township.  Mr.  Dickinson  grew  up  in  La- 
Grange County,  learned  farming  by  practical  ex- 
perience and  has  proved  one  of  the  progressive 
agriculturists  of  the  county.  He  is  well  known  as 
a breeder  of  Jersey  cattle.  His  farm  two  and  a half 
miles  north  of  Wolcottville  has  about  fifty  head  of 
these  beautiful  animals,  his  herd  being  headed  by  a 
grandson  of  “Hood  Farm  Torona.”  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Dickinson  have  about  240  acres  of  land  in  Johnson 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  August  31,  1853,  a son  of  Barrett 
W.  and  Sarah  J.  (Rowe)  Dickinson.  His  father 
was  born  in  Genesee  County,  New  York.  His 
grandfather,  William  Dickinson,  came  to  LaGrange 
County  in  pioneer  days,  in  1836,  and  bought  a sec- 
tion of  land  in  Johnson  and  Orange  townships  of 
Noble  County.  He  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
Johnson  Township  and  was  one  of  the  prominent 
citizens  of  early  days.  It  is  said  that  he  brought 
the  first  carriage  to  this  part  of  Indiana.  He  was 
a member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  William  Dick- 
inson had  four  children : Barrett  W.,  Almon,  Eu- 

gene and  Emily  Hurlbert,  all  of  whom  are  now 
deceased. 

Barrett  W.  Dickinson  after  his  marriage  lived  on 
a farm  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County  and 
died  there  when  his  only  child,  Eugene,  was  eleven 
months  old.  His  widow  then  married  Almon  Dick- 
inson, brother  of  her  first  husband,  and  they  soon 
afterward  came  to  LaGrange  County  and  located  on 
the  farm  where  Eugene  Dickinson  now  lives.  'To 
their  marriage  were  born  three  children. 

Eugene  Dickinson  has  lived  practically  all  his  life 
at  his  present  home.  He  was  educated  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  afterward  was  graduated  from 
Indiana  University  with  the  degree  A.  B.  He  also 
attended  the  Divinity  School  of  the  old  Chicago 
University  and  was  awarded  the  degree  Bachelor 
of  Divinity,  and  in  the  same  year  the  Master  of  Arts 
degree  by  Indiana  University.  He  was  ordained  a 
Baptist  minister  and  is  widely  known  over  this  sec- 
tion of  Indiana  for  his  unusually  able  efforts  in 
the  ministry.  He  was  pastor  of  churches  at  La- 
Grange and  Kendallville,  and  continued  his  chosen 
profession  from  1886  to  1906.  Since  retiring  from 
the  ministry  he  has  given  all  his  time  to  farming 
and  stockraising. 

June  18,  1879,  he  married  Angie  G.  Wildman,  a 
sister  of  H.  H.  Wildman,  the  Wolcottville  banker. 
One  of  their  two  children  died  at  the  age  of  nine. 
The  only  survivor  is  Lena  W.,  who  graduated  from 
the  Baptist  College  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and 
took  her  A.  B.  degree  from  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago. She  was  a teacher  in  the  high  school  at 
Montague,  Michigan,  and  at  Litchfield,  Illinois,  until 
her  marriage  to  Professor  R.  G.  Rapp  at  Hammond, 
Indiana.  Mr.  Dickinson  in  politics  is  a republican. 

Charles  Jordan  was  one  of  the  enterprising  mer- 


HARRY  C.  MARQUISS  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


285 


chants  of  Steuben  County,  and  in  a brief  life 
achieved  a large  measure  of  success  and  the  respect 
of  the  entire  community  in  which  he  lived  and 
labored. 

He  was  born  in  Steuben  County  July  26,  1852, 
son  of  David  and  Alvina  (Wier)  Jordan.  The  par- 
ents came  from  New  York  State  in  1851  and  settled 
in  Fremont  Township  of  Steuben  County,  later 
moved  from  their  farm  to  Angola,  and  lived  there 
until  the  death  of  David  about  five  years  later.  His 
widow  survived  him  about  twenty  years.  He  was 
a republican  and  a Methodist.  David  Jordan  and 
wife  had  six  children : Henry,  Andrew,  Harriet, 

Loretta,  Charles  and  Ella. 

Charles  Jordan  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm 
and  had  a public  school  education.  He  engaged  in 
business  as  a meat  dealer  and  rendered  a good  serv- 
ice and  made  friends  of  all  his  patrons.  He  was 
engaged  in  that  line  until  his  death  on  July  25,  1886, 
just  a day  before  his  thirty-fourth  birthday.  He 
was  a republican  -in  politics. 

In  November,  1874,  Charles  Jordan  married  Nancy 
Spangle,  member  of  one  of  the  older  families  of 
Steuben  County.  She  was  born  in  that  county  No- 
vember 3,  1856,  daughter  of  Simon  and  Harriet 
(Bennett)  Spangle,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  the  latter  of  Seneca  County,  Ohio.  They 
were  married  in  Seneca  County  and  came  from 
there  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  settling  in  Jack- 
son  Township  and  later  moving  three  miles  north 
of  Angola.  Simon  Spangle  died  in  1885,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-two  and  his  wife  on  October  20,  1898,  aged 
seventy-four.  Their  children  were:  Susan,  wife 

of  George  Johnson,  of  Brooklyn,  New  York;  Mary, 
wife  of  Hiram  Baker ; Elizabeth,  wife  of  S.  L. 
Crandall;  Edwin,  Ephraim,  Jane,  Nancy  and  Etta. 
The  three  living  are  Mrs.  Jordan,  Edward  and 
Ephraim. 

Mrs.  Nancy  Jordan  is  still  living  in  Angola  and 
is  the  mother  of  one  son,  David  Charles  Jordan, 
who  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  includ- 
ing the  high  school  at  Angola,  took  a business  course 
in  the  Tri-State  College  and  attended  Notre  Dame 
University  one  year.  He  is  a graduate  from  the 
pharmacy  department  of  Purdue  University,  and 
for  several  years  was  in  the  drug  business  at  .Alex- 
andria, Indiana,  and  has  since  been  a traveling  rep- 
resentative for  the  great  paint  manufacturers,  Sher- 
win-Williams Company.  David  Charles  married  in 
1917,  Cora  Fulton,  who  was  born  at  Lockport,  New 
York. 

Wiliaam  Chrystler.  Very  many  of  the  early 
settlers  of  Indiana  were  natives  of  New  York,  and 
when  they  journeyed  into  what  was  then  a frontier 
region  they  bore  with  them  the  habits,  thoughts  and 
customs  of  a sturdy  civilization  that  has  its  influ- 
ence yet,  as  is  evidenced  by  the  good  citizenship 
that  prevails  throughout  Indiana.  To  have  been 
born  in  the  Empire  State  and  to  live  in  Indiana 
has  many  times  been  helpful  in  opening  the  door 
of  both  soc:al  and  business  opportunity.  This  has 
been  the  fortunate  experience  of  William  Chrystler, 
one  of  the  highly  resnected  and  substantial  men 
of  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  whose  fine  farm  is 
situated  in  Clay  Township. 

William  Chrystler  was  born  in  Cattaraugus 
County,  New  York,  August  7,  1852.  His  parents 
were  Abraham  and  Martha  (Bowers)  Chrystler, 
both  of  whom  were  born  in  New  York  and  were 
married  in  that  state.  In  1858  they  moved  to  In- 
diana, urged  perhaps  by  the  needs  of  a growing 
family,  and  for  some  years  lived  in  different  sec- 
tions before  settling  in  Jackson  Township,  Steuben 


County,  in  the  early  ’6os.  Later  the  family  home 
was  near  Nevada  Mills.  Both  parents  died  in 
Steuben  County.  They  had  nine  children,  namely : 
Wesley,  Henry,  Martha,  George,  William,  Helen, 
Amanda,  Emma  and  Eugene.  The  father  was  an 
industrious  man  although  he  never  accumulated  a 
fortune.  The  mother  taught  her  children  to  be 
honest  and  frugal  and  ever  set  them  the  best  of 
examples.  While  never  active  to  any  extent  in  poli- 
tics, the  father  was  a well  informed  man  and  gave 
his  political  support  to  the  republican  party  because 
he  believed  in  its  principles. 

William  Chrystler  was  about  seven  years  old 
when  he  had  a chance  to  start  to  school  in  Steu- 
ben County,  and  was  thirteen  years  old  when  he 
began  work  for  George  Twitched.  He  continued 
to  work  on  farms  in  Steuben  and  afterward  in 
LaGrange  County,  to  which  he  came  in  1870.  Here 
he  bought  land  and  now  owns  120  acres  of  valu- 
able farming  land,  which  lies  in  Clay  Township. 
For  a number  of  years  after  his  marriage  he  con- 
tinued to  farm  and  raise  stock,  but  later,  when 
another  business  opportunity  was  presented,  he 
turned  the  management  of  his  farm  over  to  one 
of  his  sons.  It  is  not  so  many  years  ago  that  scien- 
tists discovered  the  process  of  preserving  green 
fodder  for  the  use  of  stock,  the  building  of  silos 
being  a comparatively  new  departure  in  many  of 
the  otherwise  well  managed  farming  districts.  Mr. 
Chrystler,  as  an  intelligent  and  progressive  agri- 
culturist, has  gone  into  the  business  of  selling  silos, 
and  is  meeting  .with  the  success  so  important  an 
enterprise  deserves. 

On  October  xi,  1871,  William  Chrystler  was  mar- 
ried, to  Miss  Hannah  Latta,  who  is  a daughter  of 
Silas  Latta,  extended  mention  of  whom  will  be 
found  on  another  page  of  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Chrystler  have  had  ten  children,  as  follows : 
Charles,  whose  sketch  appears  in  this  work;  Wil- 
liam Albert,  who  is  a farmer  in  Clay  Township, 
married  Clara  Myers  and  they  have  two  children ; 
Mattie,  who  was  the  wife  of  Oliver  Harding,  left 
nine  children  at  time  of  death;  Samuel,  who  at  his 
death  left  a widow,  May  Van  Darsen ; Fred,  de- 
ceased, married  Celia  Paigh ; Lewis,  who  married 
Eunice  Baer;  Julia,  who  is  the  wife  of  Lewis 
Myers;  Myrtle,  who  is  the  wife  of  Stephen  Eddy; 
Cecil,  who  married  Grace  Swinehart,  is  living  in 
LaGrange ; and  Edith,  who  died  when  five  months 
old.  Of  the  above  family,  Lewis  Chrystler  rents 
the  homestead  farm.  In  politics  Mr.  Chrystler  and 
his  sons  are  republicans,  but  for  the  last  twenty 
years  he  has  been  active  in  the  prohibition  move- 
ment. Few  men  in  this  section  of  Indiana  are  bet- 
ter known. 

Ichabod  Parsell  is  the  present  trustee  of  Steuben 
Township,  Steuben  County.  One  of  the  most  im- 
portant offices  in  the  county  government,  the  people 
of  Salem  Township  chose  Mr.  Parsell  for  that  re- 
sponsibility by  reason  of  his  long  residence,  his 
successful  record  as  a farmer,  and  his  ability  and 
trustworthiness  in  every  relationship  of  life. 

Mr.  Parsell  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of 
Steuben  County  March  4,  1864,  and  is  a son  of 
Abijah  D.  Parsell  and  grandson  of  Moses  Parsell. 
Moses  Parsell  was  born  February  12,  1797,  and  in 
1838  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
and  settled  among  the  pioneers  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship. On  December  17,  1817,  he  married  Mary 
Campbell,  who  was  born  September  10,  1795.  She 
died  in  1824,  and  in  1825  he  married  Hannah 
Crilley,  who  died  in  1846. 

Abijah  D.  Parsell  was  born  in  New  Jersey  Octo- 
ber 25,  1827,  a child  of  his  father’s  second  marriage, 


286 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  was  eleven  years  old  when  the  family  came 
to  Steuben  County.  He  finished  his  education  here 
in  the  district  schools,  and  in  1851  married  Jane  T. 
Alcott.  She  was  born  in  Ohio  September  24,  1829, 
a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Nancy  Alcott.  After  his 
marriage  Abijah  Parsell  bought  a farm  in  section 
35  of  Jackson  Township,  and  spent  over  twenty 
years  as  a practical  farmer.  In  1872  he  engaged  in 
the  produce  business  at  Angola,  remained  there  a 
year,  and  in  1878  resumed  his  connection  with  the 
mercantile  interests  of  Angola  and  continued  it 
until  his  death  on  November  11,  1882.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1888.  Of  their  seven  children  three 
reached  mature  years:  Austin  M.,  born  November 

1,  1855;  Ichabod;  and  Michael  A.,  born  January 
18,  1870. 

Ichabod  Parsell  acquired  part  of  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Jackson  Township 
and  also  attended  the  public  schools  of  Angola.  He 
started  life  as  a farmer  in  Salem  Township,  and 
has  owned  his  farm  in  section  2 of  that  township 
for  many  years.  He  continued  the  active  super- 
vision of  his  130  acres  until  1915,  since  which  date 
he  has  lived  in  the  Village  of  Salem.  He  also  owns 
forty  acres  in  section  35  of  Jackson  Township. 

December  3,  1891,  Mr.  Parsell  married  Estella  D. 
(Brown)  Woodford,  daughter  of  Samuel  W.  and 
Elizabeth  (Wilson)  Brown.  Her  first  husband  was 
Ira  Woodford,  and  by  that  union  she  has  a daugh- 
ter, Ruth,  now  the  wife  of  Wallace  D.  Kinsey.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Parsell  have  one  son,  Samuel  A.,  who  is 
now  running  his  father’s  farm  in  Salem  Township. 
Samuel  married  Muriel  Spears  and  has  two  children, 
Barbara  Ruth  and  Bettie  Muriel. 

Mr.  Parsell  was  accorded  the  responsibilities  of 
the  office  of  township  trustee  in  1914,  and  after 
one  term  of  four  years  was  re-elected  on  his  record 
in  1918.  His  wife  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  at  Salem. 

Elias  C.  Wemple  has  lived  since  early  infancy 
in  LaGrange  County,  grew  up  on  a farm,  adopted 
agriculture  as  his  mainstay  in  life,  and  is  now  pro- 
prietor of  a good  farm  in  Johnson  Township.  He 
has  fared  equally  well  in  the  esteem  of  his  com- 
munity, and  made  a splendid  record  during  the 
time  he  served  as  township  trustee. 

Mr.  Wemple  was  born  in  Schenectady,  New  York, 
December  28,  1857,  son  of  John  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Strang)  Wemple.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
New  York,  and  after  their  marriage  came  to  In- 
diana in  1855.  A year  later  they  went  back  to  their 
native  state,  and  in  1859  came  to  Indiana,  and  from 
that  time  until  their  death  lived  in  Clear  Spring 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  Five  of  their  chil- 
dren are  still  living:  Abraham,  of  Perry  Township, 
Noble  County;  Angelica,  widow  of  Hiram  B.  Smith; 
James,  of  Wexford  County,  Michigan;  Elijah  P.,  of 
Topeka,  Indiana;  and  Elias  C. 

Elias  C.  Wemple  was  eighteen  months  old  when 
his  parents  came  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  grew 
up  here  and  was  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
He  lived  at  home  with  his  parents  until  he  was 
twenty-eight  years  old.  In  1886  he  married  Mattie 
E.  Baugher.  She  is  a native  of  LaGrange  County 
and  made  good  use  of  her  early  advantages  in  the 
common  schools  and  the  Ontario  Normal  and  for 
seventeen  years  was  a successful  and  popular 
teacher.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wem- 
ple began  farming  north  of  Valentine,  and  in  1890 
moved  to  their  present  place  a half  mile  west  of 
that  village.  Mr.  Wemple  has  72 y2  acres  devoted  to 
general  farming  and  stockraising. 

He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge 
and  also  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees.  He 


is  a past  chancellor  and  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge, 
and  Mrs.  Wemple  is  a past  chief  of  the  Pythian 
Sisters.  Mr.  Wemple  was  elected  to  the  office  of 
township  trustee  on  the  democratic  ticket. 

Aaron  Yoder.  Farming  is  the  oldest  industry, 
and  it  is  one  of  the  most  important,  attracting  to 
it  some  of  the  exceptional  men  of  the  country,  who 
recognize  the  fact  that  in  it  they  can  develop  from 
comparative  poverty  to  affluence  provided  they  are 
willing  to  exert  themselves  and  save  their  money. 
One  of  the  leading  agriculturalists  of  LaGrange 
County,  who  has  placed  himself  in  the  front  ranks 
of  his  calling  through  his  own  efforts,  is  Aaron 
Yoder,  of  Newbury  Township.  He  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  November  26,  1862, 
a son  of  Daniel  and  Barbara  (Kauffman)  Yoder, 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he  died  in 
1886,  aged  sixty-one  years.  His  widow  survives 
him  and  is  now  eighty-one  years  old.  Their  chil- 
dren were  as  follows : Aaron,  whose  name  heads 

this  review;  Noah,  who  was  taken  away  by  death 
in  1887;  Levi,  who  was  third  in  the  family;  Stephen; 
and  Nathaniel.  The  father  was  a widower  when 
he  married  the  mother  of  Aaron  Yoder,  having 
been  previously  married  to  Miss  Catherine  Hos- 
tetter,  and  their  children  were  as  follows:  Cynthia; 
Moses,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  years ; 
Josiah,  who  died  in  1887;  Daniel;  and  Barbara. 

Growing  up  in  his  native  state,  Aaron  Yoder  at- 
tended its  public  schools,  and  remained  at  home 
assisting  his  father  until  he  attained  his  majority. 
At  that  time  he  commenced  working  for  the  neigh- 
boring farmers  for  a year,  when  he  moved  to  La- 
Grange County.  During  the  two  years  that  followed 
his  advent  in  the  neighborhood  he  worked  for  others, 
and  then  rented  a farm  for  nine  years,  moving 
from  it  to  another  rented  place  for  a year.  In 
1898  he  bought  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Newbury 
Township,  later  adding  forty  acres  to  it  and  now 
has  100  acres  of  finely  cultivated  land.  He  has 
two  sets  of  modern  buildings  on  the  place,  and  his 
farm  is  well  improved  in  every  way. 

In  1887  Mr.  Yoder  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Amanda  Hostetter,  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1861, 
but  brought  to  LaGrange  County  by  her  parents, 
Samuel  and  Sarah  (Miller)  Hostetter,  in  1866.  Mr. 
Hostetter  is  now  deceased,  but  his  widow  survives 
and  makes  her  home  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder. 
Childless  themselves,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoder  adopted 
a boy  when  he  was  only  six  weeks  old  and  reared 
him.  He  was  born  November  11,  1894,  and  after 
taking  the  grammar  and  high  school  courses  of  his 
neighborhood  attended  Goshen  College,  and  for 
three  winters  was  engaged  in  teaching.  During  the 
World  war  he  was  called  into  the  service  March 
29,  1918,  and  after  the  preliminary  training  at  Camp 
Taylor  was  sent  to  France,  and  was  at  the  front 
when  the  armistice  was  signed.  He  was  returned 
to  the  United  States  in  May,  1919,  and  after  his 
honorable  discharge  returned  to  the  farm,  where 
he  is  now  engaged  in  assisting  his  father.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Yoder  are  consistent  members  of  the  Men- 
nonite  faith. 

John  H.  George.  Among  the  men  known  in  Stu- 
ben  to  be  good,  practical  farmers  and  representative 
citizens  is  John  H.  George  of  Otsego  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  February 
16,  1869,  a son  of  Robert  and  Anna  (Smith)  George, 
he  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  November  12, 
1842,  and  she  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  in  1848. 
For  a time  after  their  marriag?  they  lived  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Ohio,  but  in  1878  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  buying  forty  acres  near  Fox  Lake 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


287 


in  Pleasant  Township,  but  later  went  to  Scott  Town- 
ship, on  eighty  acres  which  they  bought.  After 
selling  this  farm  they  went  on  the  Russell  farm  in 
Steuben  Township,  but  after  four  years  went  on 
another  farm  in  the  same  township  and  conducted 
it  for  seven  years.  Once  more  they  went  on  the 
Russell  farm,  and  there  Mrs.  George  died  July  24, 
1912.  Robert  George  died  in  a hospital  at  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  October  6,  1917.  In  politics  he 
was  a democrat,  but  did  not  aspire  to  office.  The 
United  Brethren  Church  held  his  membership.  A 
level-headed  man,  he  worked  hard  and  did  his  duty 
as  he  saw  it,  and  no  man  in  his  neighborhood  was 
held  in  higher  esteem.  He  and  his  wife  had  chil- 
dren as  follows : Alice,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years;  John  H.,  whose  name  heads  this  review;  W., 
who  lives  at  Pleasant  Lake;  Dora,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Eugene  Van  Auken;  an  unnamed  infant;  Elsa; 
Frank;  two  unnamed  infants;  and  Robert. 

John  H.  George  was  reared  as  any  farmer’s  son 
of  his  time  and  locality,  and  received  the  benefits 
of  a public  school  education.  In  February,  1909, 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Richland  Town- 
ship, and  in  1912  made  another  purchase,  investing 
in  twenty  acres  in  Otsego  Township  on  which  he 
now  lives.  In  1918  he  added  forty  acres  to  his  orig- 
inal eighty  acres  in  Richland  Township.  All  of  the 
improvements  on  his  property  have  been  made  by 
him  and  the  land  is  very  valuable,  and  he  is  a man 
of  considerable  means.  In  national  affairs  he  is 
a democrat,  but  in  local  elections  reserves  the  right 
to  cast  his  vote  for  the  man  he  deems  best  fitted 
for  the  office  in  question.  Mr.  George  joined  the 
Odd  Fellows  at  Angola,  later  transferring  to  the 
lodge  at  Metz,  and  now  belongs  to  Mount  Pleasant 
Lodge  No.  239,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  Metz  Lodge  No.  2111,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Having  spent  his  life  in  Steuben  County,  Mr. 
George  naturally  is  deeply  interested  in  it  and  all 
that  pertains  to  its  welfare,  being  willing  and  ready 
to  lend  his  aid  to  further  public  improvements.  His 
family  is  an  old  and  honored  one  in  this  part  of  the 
state,  and  its  members  are  desirable  additions  to  any 
community  in  which  they  have  located,  for  they 
are  upright  and  law  abiding  and  thoroughly  Ameri- 
can in  every  respect. 

Henry  Moreland  Wade.  While  he  owns  the 
farm  on  which  he  lives  in  comfort  and  plenty  in 
Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  Mr. 
Wade  since  1905  has  relieved  himself  largely  of 
the  responsibilities  and  labors  of  its  management 
and  is  enjoying  a well  merited  leisure  during  his 
declining  years. 

His  _ family  had  very  early  and  pioneer  associa- 
tions in  Northeast  Indiana.  However,  Mr.  Wade 
himself  was  born  in  Canada,  June  23,  1844.  He 
was  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents  returned 
to  LaGrange  County  in  1849.  His  father,  Robert 
Wade,  was  born  in  England  and  in  1829  came  to 
America  with  his  brothers  John  and  Richard,  lo- 
cating in  the  region  around  White  Pigeon,  Michi- 
gan. In  1830  Robert  Wade  wrote  a very  detailed 
letter  back  to  his  parents  in  England,  giving  a de- 
scription of  the  country  of  Southern  Michigan  and 
Northern  Indiana,  then  practically  an  uninhabited 
wilderness.  Probably  through  the  influence  of  this 
letter  his  parents,  Robert  Wade,  Sr.,  and  wife,  also 
came  to  America  and  spent  their  last  years  in 
LaGrange  County.  In  1833  Robert  Wade  married 
Jane  Giles.  She  came  from  England  to  Detroit, 
Michigan,  with  her  parents  in  1830,  but  the  entire 
family  went  back  to  England  the  same  year.  Soon 
afterward  they  returned  to  the  United  States  and 
settled  on  English  Prairie  in  Greenfield  Township, 


LaGrange  County.  John  Giles,  her  father,  as  one 
of  the  pioneers  on  English  Prairie,  made  a device 
from  stones  by  which  he  was  able  to  grind  wheat, 
and  that  was  probably  the  first  instance  of  flour 
manufacture  in  that  community.  John  Giles  and 
his  wife  Jane,  are  both  buried"  at  Old  Lexington, 
now  Brighton,  in  Greenfield  Township. 

In  1837  Robert  Wade  and  wife  removed  to  Can- 
ada and,  as  noted  above,  lived  there  until  1849, 
when  they  returned  to  LaGrange  County  and  set- 
tled in  Springfield  Township.  In  1853  Robert  Wade 
went  west  to  California  and  a few  years  later  met 
his  death  as  a passenger  on  the  Central  America, 
a ship  which  went  down  off  the  coast  of  Lower 
California.  He  had  served  as  a volunteer  soldier 
at  the  time  of  the  Blackhawk  Indian  war  in  1832. 
His  wife  died  June  20,  1885,  aged  seventy-seven 
years,  five  months  and  four  days.  She  was  an 
active  member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Robert 
Wade  and  wife  had  a family  of  eight  children: 
Elizabeth,  deceased  wife  of  Addison  Phillips ; Mary 
Ann,  deceased  wife  of  Abram  Ackerman;  John 
and  Charles,  both  deceased ; Ellen,  who  married 
Henry  Deal;  Henry  M. ; Sarah  Jane,  who  was  the 
wife  of  Headly  Deal ; and  Walter,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy. 

Henry  Moreland  Wade  was  educated  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  Springfield  Township,  and  in  early 
youth  he  and  his  brother  Charles  bought  out  the 
interests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead. 
Later  Henry  sold  his  share  to  his  brother  Charles 
and  then  bought  eighty  acres  where  he  is  now  liv- 
ing. His  farm  at  the  present  time  comprises  ninety 
acres,  forty  acres  in  LaGrange  and  fifty  acres  in 
Steuben  County.  His  farm  has  modern  buildings 
and  for  years  Mr.  Wade  conducted  it  as  a high 
class  general  farm.  Mr.  Wade  is  a republican  and 
served  four  years  as  trustee  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship. He  is  widely  known  for  his  musical  gifts 
and  was  a teacher  of  music  for  many  years  and 
was  a member  and  for  thirty  years  was  chorister 
at  the  Springfield  Church. 

December  16,  1870,  Mr.  Wade  married  Mrs.  Chris- 
tina Schreder.  She  was  born  December  28,  1837, 
and  died  April  5,  1911,  aged  seventy-three  years, 
three  months  and  eleven  days.  Her  first  husband 
was  George  Schreder,  and  her  two  children  by 
that  union  were  Thomas  Herbert  and  Mary  Ma- 
tilda, the  latter  the  wife  of  James  Spero.  Mrs. 
Schreder’s  maiden  name  was  Lupton.  Her  father, 
Thomas  Lupton,  was  a Methodist  minister  and  also 
owned  a farm  in  Lenawee  County,  Michigan,  where 
he  died.  Rev.  Mr.  Lupton  married  a Miss  Cooper. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wade  had  two  children,  Effie  Janet 
and  Dr.  Robert  L.  of  Fremont,  Indiana.  Concern- 
ing this  son  special  mention  is  made  elsewhere. 
The  daughter,  Effie,  was  born  September  9,  1873, 
on  the  farm  where  she  now  lives.  She  was  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  also  studied  music 
at  Hillsdale  College  under  Professor  Chase  and  in 
Detroit  under  Professor  Neff.  On  February  27, 
1907,  she  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Spears. 

Mr.  Spears  was  born  January  5,  1877.  He  is  a 
successful  farmer,  owns  eighty  acres  of  good  land 
and  also  handles  the  Wade  farm  of  ninety  acres 
and  lives  at  the  Wade  homestead.  He  is  a republi- 
can in  politics.  Mr.  Spears  is  a son  of  John  K. 
and  Emma  (Helmer)  Spears,  of  an  interesting  fam- 
ily of  LaGrange  County.  John  K.  Spears  was  born 
in  Springfield  Township  while  his  wife  was  a na- 
tive of  New  York.  His  grandparents  were  Tunis 
and  Mary  Spears,  who  came  to  LaGrange  County 
in  1836.  Tunis  was  a native  of  New  Jersey  and 
his  wife  of  Connecticut.  They  came  to  LaGrange 
County  from  Ohio  and  took"  up  eighty  acres  of 
government  land  a little  north  of  Applemanburg. 


288 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


This  land  was  all  under  timber  and  Tunis  Spears 
was  busily  engaged  in  clearing  and  developing  it 
as  a farm.  He  died  in  1850  and  his  widow  subse- 
quently married  a Mr.  Sears  and  died  at  the  pres- 
ent site  of  the  Village  of  Helmer,  owning  the  land 
on  which  that  town  is  built.  The  wife  of  John 
Iv.  Spears  was  a daughter  of  Peter  and  Esther 
Helmer,  who  came  from  New  York  State  about 
1848  and  acquired  land  in  Milford  Township,  mak- 
ing a home  in  the  woods,  where  they  spent  their 
last  years.  John  K.  Spears  acquired  his  early  edu- 
cation in  LaGrange  County  and  was  left  to  shift 
for  himself  when  about  thirteen.  He  worked  out 
for  monthly  wages,  subsequently  acquired  a farm 
south  of  Milford  and  later  lived  on  and  owned  a 
farm  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County. 
In  1897  he  moved  to  the  farm  now  owned  by  his 
son  in  Springfield  Township  and  had  eighty-five 
acres  there.  He  was.  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at.  Salem  Center.  John  K.  Spears  and 
wife  had  eight  children:  Etta,  Mrs.  John  Weber, 
of  Salem  Center;  Eliza,  wife  of  F.  T.  Miller,  of 
DeKalb  County ; Dora,  Mrs.  R.  Butler,  near  Wol- 
cottville  in  Noble  County;  John  Alva;  Fred,  of 
Salem  Center;  Clara,  Mrs.  Bijah  Emerson,  de- 
ceased ; Henry  Spears ; and  Harley,  present  county 
surveyor  of  LaGrange  County. 

John  Alva  Spears,  who  lives  on  the  old  Spears 
farm,  grew  up  in  Steuben  County,  later  was  in  the 
meat  business  in  Livingston  County,  Illinois,  for 
three  years  had  a market  at  Millersburg,  Indiana, 
and  in  igoi  came  to  the  home  farm  of  eighty-five 
acres.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Stroh 
Shippers  Association.  He  is  unmarried. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Spears  have  two  children : 
Lillian  Matilda,  born  April  10,  1909,  and  John  Wade, 
born  November  17,  1914. 

Nathan  Metz,  member  of  a very  well  known 
family  of  Steuben  County,  was  born  there  soon 
after  the  family  located  in  Indiana,  and  since  early 
manhood  has  been  an  industrious  and  successful 
farmer,  and  besides  making  comfortable  provisions 
for  himself  and  family  through  his  efforts  has  been 
honored  twice  with  the  office  of  trustee  of  Richland 
Township.  He  is  still  the  incumbent  of  that  office. 

Mr.  Metz  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  Septem- 
ber 2,  1863.  His  father,  Christopher  Metz,  was  born 
in  Baden,  Germany.  He  married  in  February,  1842, 
Eva  Katherine  Gretchman.  She  was  born  in  Baden 
April  2,  1822,  daughter  of  Carl  and  Marguerite 
Gretchman.  Christopher  Metz  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1855.  They  were  103  days  on  the 
ocean.  One  of  their  sons  died  in  Germany,  they 
buried  a daughter  at  sea,  and  another  daughter  was 
buried  in  New  York.  When  they  embarked  on  the 
ship  they  carried  with  them  supplies  of  clothing 
and  other  goods,  but  all  these  possessions  were  lost 
in  New  York.  The  family  went  on  to  Ohio,  and 
about  i860  came  to  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  where  with  the  exception  of  two  years 
Christopher  Metz  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  His 
children  besides  those  above  mentioned  were: 
Catherine  and  Joshua,  who  were  born  in  Germany; 
J.  H.  Metz;  William,  Martha,  and  Nathan. 

Nathan  Metz  attended  district  schools  and  fin- 
ished his  education  in  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  graduating  in  the  commercial  department. 
On  January  14,  1896,  he  married  Mrs.  Eugenia 
Morley,  widow  of  Robert  G.  Morley  and  daughter 
of  G.  C.  and  Cordelia  (Purvis)  Cary.  Her  first 
husband,  to  whom  she  was  married  October  3,  1875, 
was  Robert  G.  Morley,  who  was  born  in  Richland 
Township  in  1855,  only  son  of  Albert  and  Ruth 
(Dally)  Morley.  Albert  Morley  was  born  in  New 


York  in  1832,  of  New  England  parentage,  and  his 
father.  Ebenezer  Morley,  settled  in  Richland  Town- 
ship of  Steuben  County  in  1842,  among  the  pioneers. 
Robert  G.  Morley  was  for  several  terms  county 
surveyor  of  Steuben  County  and  died  July  22,  1886, 
when  his  career  was  especially  full  of  promise. 
Mrs.  Metz  by  her  first  marriage  had  three  children : 
Leo  R.,  who  married  Lelia  Dewire;  Nellie  C.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Shirley  Teegardin ; and  Ruth  Dea, 
who  died  August  22,  1889,  at  the  age  of  five  years. 

Mrs.  Metz  finished  her  education  in  the  Angola 
Academy  and  for  about  six  years  was  a successful 
teacher  in  Steuben  County.  After  his  marriage  Mr. 
Metz  began  farming  on  the  present  place  in  Rich- 
land Township,  and  has  done  much  to  improve  and 
increase  the  value  of  his  farm,  comprising  eighty- 
five  acres  in  section  20.  He  has  remodeled  the  barn 
and  carries  on  an  extensive  business  as  a crop  raiser 
and  raiser  of  good  livestock.  Mr.  Metz  served 
about  fourteen  years  on  the  Advisory  Board  of 
Richland  Township,  and  from  that  position  was' 
advanced  to  the  office  of  trustee  of  the  township 
in  1914.  He  gave  such  good  service  in  handling 
the  schools  and  other  matters  entrusted  to  his 
official  jurisdiction  that  he  was  re-elected  in  1918. 
He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Hamilton. 

G.  C.  Cary,  father  of  Mrs.  Metz,  was  born  in 
New  Jersey  and  in  1849  came  to  Richland  Township 
and  acquired  some  land  in  section  20,  eventually 
owning  a well  improved  farm  of  ninety-six  acres. 
He  was  one  of  the  early  school  teachers  in  Richland 
Township.  He  died  in  January,  1900,  and  his  wife 
in  1909.  Their  children,  five  in  number,  were  Lewis ; 
Eugenia ; Milton,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three:  Lizzie,  who  married  Elmer  Lees  and  residing 
in  Edon,  Ohio ; Lutie,  who  married  George  Scott 
and  also  lives  at  Edon,  Ohio. 

Jacob  J.  Lambright.  To  the  credit  of  the  many 
hard  working  years  of  Jacob  J.  Lambright  is  a farm 
accounted  one  of  the  best  in  LaGrange  County, 
known  as  the  Grain  and  Meadow  Farm,  comprising 
190  acres  in  Eden  Township.  This  beautiful 
country  estate  is  five  miles  north  and  a mile  and 
a quarter  west  of  Topeka,  and  part  of  the  land  was 
in  the  old  Lambright  homestead  where  Jacob  was 
born  December  28,  1879. 

He  is  a son  of  Jacob  J.  and  Sarah  (Yoder)  Lam- 
bright. His  father,  a native  of  Germany,  was 
brought  to  the  United  States  as  a boy  and  was 
bound  out  to  a family  in  Ohio.  After  coming  to 
Indiana  he  married  and  settled  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship, but  about  two  years  later  sold  that  place  and 
moved  to  the  farm  where  his  son  now  lives  and 
where  he  died.  He  had  a family  of  four  sons  and 
four  daughters,  six  of  whom  are  still  living:  Amos 
and  Michael,  of  Newbury  Township;  Jacob  J. ; 
Lizzie,  wife  of  Samuel  Miller;  Laura,  wife  of  David 
Hostettler ; and  Tillie,  wife  of  Calvin  Troyer. 

Jacob  J.  Lambright  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  and 
acquired  a common  school  education.  He  began 
working  for  others  when  about  fourteen  years  old, 
and  while  he  inherited  some  money,  most  of  his 
property  has  been  acquired  through  the  intelligent 
effort  by  which  he  has  accepted  his  opportunities 
and  managed  his  resources. 

He  married  Fannie  Yoder,  a native  of  LaGrange 
County.  After  their  marriage  they  rented  land  one 
year  and  then  bought  ninety-six  acres  of  the  old 
homestead.  Mr.  Lambright  now  owns  altogether 
325)4  acres,  having  eighty  acres  two  miles  south 
of  the  homestead  and  55)4  acres  just  east.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


289 


He  and  his  wife  have  nine  children : Jeremiah, 

Tobias,  Ammon,  Edward,  Clara  A.,  Milton,  Zilma, 
Elsie,  and  Freeman. 

Carman  J.  Closson.  There  is  no  other  line  of 
activity  which  exacts  such  exhausting  service  if 
success  is  attained  than  that  of  farming,  but  on 
the  other  hand  it  richly  rewards  those  who  are 
willing  to  labor  early  and  late  for  some  years, 
enabling  them  to  retire  at  an  age  when  they  are 
still  young  enough  to  take  pleasure  in  other  pur- 
suits, and  give  intelligent  attention  to  civic  mat- 
ters. Steuben  County  has  a number  of  these  sub- 
stantial men  who,  having  accomplished  their  aims, 
are  now  living  in  enjoyment  of  what  they  earned, 
leaving  the  active  operation  of  their  lands  to  others. 
One  of  these  retired  farmers  is  Carman  J.  Closson, 
of  Steuben  Township,  owner  of  160  acres  of  very 
valuable  farm  land. 

Carman  J.  Closson  was  born  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  September  14,  1850,  a son  of  George  W.,  and 
grandson  of  John  Closson  and  his  wife,  Esther. 
George  W.  Closson  was  born  in  Genoa  Township, 
Delaware  County,  Ohio,  January  8,  1816,  and  was 
there  reared  and  educated,  and  there  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Bertha  Weeks,  born  in  1819.  In  1852  George 
W.  Closson  and  his  father,  John  Closson,  came  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  the  latter  locating  in  Ot- 
sego Township,  and  the  former  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship. George  W.  Closson  bought  160  acres  of  land 
in  Steuben  Township  and  spent  the  remainder  of 
his  useful  life  upon  it.  In  addition  he  owned  forty 
acres  of  land  in  Otsego  Township,  and  was  a man 
of  considerable  influence  in  his  community.  He  and 
his  wife  had  the  following  children : Adalaide, 

Mary,  Edgar,  Carman  J.,  and  Bertha,  all  of  whom 
were  carefully  reared  by  their  watchful  parents, 
and  given  the  advantages  offered  by  the  public 
schools  of  Steuben  Township.  They  were  taught 
habits  of  industry  and  thrift,  and  became  valuable 
members  of  whatever  communities  they  settled  in. 

Carman  J.  Closson  is  a farmer  by  inheritance  and 
inclination,  for  he  has  always  liked  the  work  and 
believes  that  there  is  no  other  equal  to  it.  After  he 
grew  up  he  assisted  his  father,  and  in  1875  began 
farming  the  homestead  on  his  own  account.  In 
time  he  became  its  owner,  and  has  made  many  im- 
provements upon  the  place,  which  is  one  of  the  best 
in  the  township.  Here  he  carried  on  general  farm- 
ing and  stockraising  and  was  unusually  successful. 
He  still  retains  his  farm,  although  in  1911  he  re- 
tired from  the  active  management  of  it,  his  son-in- 
law,  Coy  Myers,  attending  to  that  for  him. 

On  November  17,  1877,  Carman  J.  Closson  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Eugenia  Carter,  a daughter 
of  James  and  Mary  (Staley)  Carter.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Closson  became  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren : Ruth,  who  is  deceased,  was  the  wife  of 

Bart  Scoville ; Carrie,  who  married  Blaine  Huff- 
man, has  two  children,  Esther  and  Russell ; Lois, 
who  died  in  childhood ; Isabel,  who  married  Coy 
Myers,  has  two  children,  Ellen  and  Ned;  and 
Dorothy,  who  is  at  home.  Mrs.  Closson  died  March 
18,  1914,  having  been  a most  devoted  wife  and 
mother,  and  she  was  deeply  mourned  by  the  entire 
neighborhood  for  her  many  noble  characteristics  and 
gentle  charities.  Mr.  Closson  has  spent  his  entire 
life  upon  his  present  farm,  and  is  proud  of  the 
fact  that  it  has  descended  to  him  from  his  father. 
He  believes  in  keeping  these  landed  properties  in 
the  family,  feeling  that  a community  benefits  when 
people  keep  on  living  in  it  from  one  generation  to 
another.  When  too  frequent  removals  are  made 
a feeling  of  indifference  arises,  and  it  is  difficult 
to  maintain  proper  civic  pride. 

Ynl . 11—19 


Hon.  C.  H.  Grube,  former  representative  of  De- 
Kalb  County  in  the  Indiana  Legislature,  is  a farmer 
by  occupation  but  has  many  broad  interests  and 
connections  that  made  him  truly  a representative  of 
his  home  locality. 

He  was  born  in  Stafford  Township  January  6, 
1888,  a son  of  William  Henry  and  Mary  (Haas) 
Grube.  His  grandfather,  Peter  Grube,  was  born  in 
Bavaria,  Germany,  December  26,  1804,  and  in  1835 
married  Elizabeth  May,  who  was  born  in  Bavaria  in 
1811.  They  came  to  the  United  States  in  1836, 
in  1838  settled  in  Ohio  and  in  1843  moved  to 
DeKalb  County.  Peter  Grube  arrived  in  this  coun- 
try with  only  $11  in  cash,  and  after  many  years  of 
hard  work  had  more  than  200  acres  of  farming  land. 
It  is  said  that  when  he  bought  his  first  eighty 
acres  he  could  pay  only  $50  in  cash.  He  was  cele- 
brated among  the  old  timers  for  his  great  endurance 
and  powers  as  a pedestrian.  He  was  the  father  of 
five  children:  William  H.,  Elizabeth,  Peter,  Kate 
and  Jacob,  all  of  whom  are  deceased  with  the  ex- 
ception of  William  Henry. 

William  Henry  Grube  was  born  at  Massillon,  Ohio, 
November  25,  1842,  and  from  the  age  of  one  year 
was  reared  in  DeKalb  County.  He  was  a thresher- 
man  for  a number  of  years,  and  developed  two 
fine  farms,  one  of  no  acres  and  another  of  160 
acres  in  Stafford  Township.  He  is  also  a director 
in  the  First  National  Bank  of  Butler,  and  has  many 
other  financial  interests.  He  is  a democrat  in  poli- 
tics and  is  affiliated  with  Forest  Lodge  No.  239,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  Butler  Chapter  No.  106,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  Butler  Council  No.  83,  Royal  and  Se- 
lect Masters,  Apollo  Commandery,  No.  19,  Knights 
Templar,  and  the  Mystic  Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne. 
He  has  been  a member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  of  Butler  for  fifty  years  and  was 
instrumental  in  the  building  of  the  new  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  Building  of  Butler.  In  1880 
William  Henry  Grube  married  Mary  Haas,  a Cana- 
dian girl  who  came  with  her  parents  to  the  United 
States  about  1870.  Their  oldest  child,  Charles, 
was  killed*  in  1903  while  in  his  junior  year  at  Pur- 
due University  and  while  on  his  way  to  Indianapolis 
to  play  football  with  Purdue  against  Indiana  Uni- 
versity. The  second  is  C.  H.  Grube.  Andrew  P.  is 
a graduate  of  the  Butler  High  School  and  now  runs 
the  old  homestead. 

C.  H.  Grube  grew  up  on  the  farm,  is  a graduate 
of  the  Butler  High  School  and  since  early  man- 
hood has  been  a practical  and  progressive  farmer. 
He  has  102  acres  of  land  in  Stafford  Township.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  Wilmington  Grange  at 
Butler,  and  is  president  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  the  Farmers  Elevator  Company.  He  was  one 
of  the  first  members  of  the  Farmers’  Mutual  Rod- 
ded  Fire  Insurance  Company,  which  takes  in  the 
counties  of  DeKalb  and  Steuben.  This  company 
was  organized  five  years  ago  and  they  now  have 
nearly  $2,000,000  of  insurance.  Mr.  Grube  has  been 
actuary  for  this  company  for  four  years.  He  was 
elected  to  the  Legislature  on  the  democratic  ticket 
in  1916.  Mr.  Grube  is  past  master  of  his  Masonic 
Lodge  past  high  priest  of  the  Chapter,  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Council,  of  Royal  and  Select  Masters, 
and  past  patron  of  the  Eastern  Star,  of  which  Mrs. 
Grube  is  past  matron.  She  is  also  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1913  he  married  Garnet  Brink,  daughter  of 
Frank  A.  Brink,  a well  known  attorney  of  Butler. 
She  was  a teacher  before  her  marriage.  They 
have  one  daughter  Mary  M.,  born  September  22, 
1914. 


290 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


James  K.  Duff,  D.  D.  S.,  who  has  enjoyed  un- 
usual success  in  his  professional  labors  as  a den- 
tist at  LaGrange  during  the  past  ten  years,  is  a 
member  of  an  old  and  well  known  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty family,  son  of  William  H.  and  Harriet  (Keith) 
Duff.  Concerning  his  parents  and  other  members 
of  the  family  further  mention  is  made  in  other 
pages  of  this  publication. 

Doctor  Duff  was  born  at  old  Lima,  now  Howe, 
November  29,  1882.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Howe  to  the  age  of  nine,  and  then  lived  with 
his  parents  at  LaGrange.  He  graduated  from  the 
LaGrange  High  School  in  1901.  For  three  years 
Doctor  Duff  was  a rural  mail  carrier  out  of  La- 
Grange. In  1906  he  entered  the  Indiana  Dental 
College  at  Indianapolis,  and  was  graduated  after 
the  full  course  in  1909.  He  at  once  began  prac- 
tice at  LaGrange,  and  in  his  professional  and 
through  various  manifestations  of  public  spirit  has 
closely  identified  himself  with  his  community.  He 
is  a member  of  the  town  board  of  LaGrange.  Dur- 
ing the  World  war  he  was  active  in  the  Prepared- 
ness League  of  American  Dentists,  and  served  as 
dental  member  of  the  medical  advisory  board.  He 
is  a member  of  the  American,  state  and  local  den- 
tal societies  and  the  Isaac  Knapp  Dental  Coterie  of 
Fort  Wayne.  He  also  belongs  to  the  Interstate 
Association  of  Anesthetists.  He  is  a member  of 
Sigma  Delta  dental  fraternity.  Politically  Doctor 
Duff  is  a republican. 

In  1909,  the  same  year  he  began  his  professional 
work,  he  married  Bess  L.  Gilbert,  daughter  of 
Charles  A.  and  Vira  (Hackett)  Gilbert.  Reference 
to  her  parents  is  made  on  other  pages.  Doctor  and 
Mrs.  Duff  have  one  daughter,  Gladys  Betty,  born 
July  11,  1911. 

James  B.  Watkins.  It  is  but  seldom  that  a man 
is  elected  to  public  office  unless  he  possesses  the 
confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  has  proven  by 
his  life  among  them  that  he  is  worthy  of  such 
distinction.  Thus  it  is  that  occupancy  of  office  is 
usually  taken  as  a proof  of  high  character  and 
ability,  and  when  this  is  combined  with  years  of 
successful  endeavor  along  any  one  line  it  furnishes 
incontestable  evidence  of  desirable  citizenship. 
James  B.  Watkins,  a native  son  of  Steuben  County, 
spent  his  life  in  the  county,  was  one  of  the  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Otsego  Township,  and  upon  sev- 
eral occasions  was  chosen  by  his  fellow  citizens 
for  important  offices  of  the  township  and  county, 
so  that,  judged  by  the  above  standards,  he  measured 
up  exceedingly  well  among  the  best  element  of  this 
part  of  the  state.  His  death  occurred  on  the  25th 
of  April,  1919. 

James  B.  Watkins  was  born  in  Richland  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  Indiana,  February  23,  1853, 
a son  of  Simpson  Watkins  and  grandson  of  Simp- 
son Watkins,  the  latter  having  been  an  extensive 
shipper  of  merchandise  and  produce  out  of  New 
Haven,  Connecticut.  His  children  were  as  follows : 
Greenleaf,  who  was  a pioneer  of  Illinois,  lived  to 
be  over  108  years  of  age;  Alonson,  Oliver  and 
Simpson. 

Simpson  Watkins,  the  younger,  father  of  James 
B.  Watkins,  was  born  in  New  York  State,  where 
he  was  later  married  to  Adelia  Thompson,  a daugh- 
ter of  James  and  Mary  (Mahetibal)  Thompson. 
About  1836,  desiring  to  secure  Government  land, 
Simpson  Watkins  came  as  far  west  as  Steuben 
County  and  entered  a tract  in  Richland  Township, 
after  which  he  rejoined  his  family  in  the  East.  In 
1840  he  once  more  made  the  trip  to  Indiana,  this 
time  bringing  with  him  his  wife  and  their  two  little 
daughters,  coming  from  New  York  to  Detroit, 


Michigan,  and  thence  the  remainder  of  the  way 
with  teams.  At  Adrian  it  was  impossible  to  secure 
horses,  so  oxen  were  hitched  to  the  wagons,  and 
the  little  party  arrived  in  safety  at  the  new  home. 
There  residence  was  maintained  until  about  1870, 
when  he  moved  into  Otsego  Township  and  lived 
there  for  eleven  years.  For  the  subsequent  ten 
years  he  was  in  Michigan,  but  then  returned . to 
Otsego  Township,  where  he  died  December  23,  1901. 
The  children  born  to  Simpson  Watkins,  the  younger, 
and  his  wife  were  as  follows:  Rosman;  Hulda, 

who  married  Joseph  Hall;  Oliver;  Lucretia,  who 
died  in  infancy;  Elonson;  Victor;  James  B.; 
Homer;  Willard;  and  Emory. 

James  B.  Watkins  attended  the  schools  of  Rich- 
land Township  and  Angola,  and  learned  farming  in 
all  of  its  details  from  his  father,  and  after  he 
attained  his  majority  he  began  conducting  the 
homestead.  After  he  had  been  married  about  four 
years  Mr.  Watkins  moved  on  his  present  farm, 
where  he  afterward  resided  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  when  they  lived  at  Angola  during  his 
period  of  service  as  county  auditor.  This  farm  com- 
prises 147  acres,  on  which  he  carried  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  The  original  farm  con- 
sisted of  forty  acres,  to  which  Mr.  Watkins  added 
from  time  to  time.  All  of  the  land  is  in  a high 
state  of  cultivation  except  that  portion  reserved  for 
pasturage,  and  he  erected  all  of  the  buildings,  as 
well  as  made  other  improvements,  and  it  is  now  a 
very  valuable  property. 

On  December  27,  1877,  Mr.  Watkins  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Margaretta  Cruson,  born  in  Wood 
County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Wesley  and  Mary  Ann 
(Apple)  Cruson,  the  former  of  whom  came  to 
Otsego  Township,  Steuben  County,  in  1864,  and  was 
engaged  here  in  farming  the  remainder  of  his  active 
life.  He  died  May  8,  1917,  his  wife  having  passed 
away  June  4,  1898.  They  had  two  children,  Mar- 
garetta and  Harlow.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watkins  had 
the  following  children  born  to  them : Alta,  who 

married  Charles  Ransburg,  and  has  a daughter, 
Pauline;  Frank,  who  married  Olive  Lewis,  and  has 
a son,  James  Howard;  and  Muriel,  who  married 
Glenn  Zimmerman  and  has  a daughter,  Margaretta. 
Mrs.  Watkins  belongs  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  to  which  Mr.  Watkins  gave  a liberal  sup- 
port. Some  years  ago  Mr.  Watkins  was  elected 
trustee  of  Otsego  Township,  and  served  two  terms, 
and  later  he  was  elected  auditor  of  Steuben  County, 
and  discharged  the  duties  of  both  offices  capably  and 
with  due  regard  to  the  community’s  interest. 

James  B.  Chandler.  For  the  greater  part  of  his 
active  lifetime  James  B.  Chandler  has  given  his  time, 
energies  and  enthusiasm  to  his  business  as  a farmer 
in  Johnson  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  to  his 
duties  as  a public  official,  and  to  the  performance 
of  all  the  obligations  laid  upon  a high-minded  and 
responsible  citizen. 

Mr.  Chandler,  who  is  a former  township  trustee, 
was  born  in  LaGrange,  Indiana,  June  14,  1853,  a 
son  of  Samuel  R.  and  Julia  H.  (Strang)  Chandler. 
His  father  was  born  in  Ohio  August  25,  1828,  and 
his  mother  in  New  York  City  August  13,  1829. 
They  came  to  Indiana  with  their  respective  parents, 
the  Chandler  family  settling  in  LaGrange  County 
during  the  ’30s,  and  the  Strangs  in  1840.  Samuel 
and  Julia  were  married  November  12,  1848,  in  Clear 
Spring  Township  of  that  county,  and  after  living 
on  a farm  for  a few  years  moved  to  LaGrange, 
where  Samuel  was  in  the  grocery  business  the  rest 
of  his  life.  He  also  served  as  deputy  sheriff,  and 
while  in  that  office  was  one  of  the  most  vigilant 
prosecutors  of  horse  thieves  in  the  early  days.  An 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


291 


important  part  of  his  business  was  dealing  in  horses. 
A judge  of  a good  horse  he  had  few  superiors,  and 
in  the  early  days  he  frequently  bought  large  num- 
bers of  horses  which  he  took  to  market  at  Toledo 
and  Detroit.  While  he  was  a good  mixer,  mingled 
with  men  and  affairs  all  his  life,  he  was  a model 
of  temperance,  never  tasted  whiskey  nor  tobacco, 
and  did  not  indulge  in  profanity.  In  politics  he  was 
a republican.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children, 
two  sons  and  two  daughters.  Both  daughters  died 
in  childhood.  The  other  son  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-nine. 

James  B.  Chandler  was  twelve  years  old  when  his 
parents  removed  from  LaGrange  to  a farm  in  Clear 
Spring  Township.  He  had  rather  limited  oppor- 
tunities to  get  a good  education,  and  from  early 
manhood  has  farmed,  worked  in  a sawmill  for 
several  years,  and  spent  one  year  in  New  York 
State  working  at  the  trade  of  carpenter.  From  the 
age  of  thirty-three  he  gave  his  entire  attention  to 
farming. 

Mr.  Chandler  married  Frances  S.  Koontz,  who 
was  born  in  Ohio  July  22,  1854,  and  came  to  In- 
diana in  1858,  and  has  ever  since  lived  in  LaGrange 
County.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chand- 
ler lived  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  and  from  1886 
to  1894  he  served  as  superintendent  of  the  Rogers 
Orphans  Home  in  that  township,  being  appointed 
to  those  duties  by  the  board  of  county  commission- 
ers. He  served  as  road  superintendent  of  Clear 
Spring  Township  during  the  life  of  that  law.  His 
service  as  trustee  of  Johnson  Township  was  for  a 
term  of  four  years.  These  various  positions  of  re- 
sponsibility have  come  to  him  without  solicitation, 
and  he  has  been  only  nominally  active  in  democratic 
politics.  Mr.  Chandler  has  a good  farm  of  ninety- 
five  acres,  and  still  handles  its  cultivation. 

He  and  his  wife  have  one  son,  John  P.,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  common  schools  at  the  age  of  thir- 
teen, also  attended  high  school,  and  since  he  mar- 
ried Eva  Huff  has  lived  on  the  home  farm  with  his 
father  and  mother.  Mr.  Chandler  is  affiliated  with 
Ionic  Lodge  No.  380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of 
Wolcottville,  Indiana. 

James  A.  Boots.  There  is  no  name  that  has  stood 
for  better  things  and  has  been  longer  identified  with 
DeKalb  County  than  that  of  Boots.  The  family 
was  established  here  by  the  late  John  S.  Boots,  whose 
life  was  one  of  great  purpose  and  energy  and  in 
many  ways  was  directly  associated  with  the  progress 
and  upbuilding  of  the  community. 

The  late  John  S.  Boots  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio,  October  5,  1822,  a son  of  James  and 
Sarah  (Stringer)  Boots.  His  father  died  in  1855 
and  his  mother  in  1877.  When  he  was  two  years 
old,  the  family  removed  to  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
where  John  S.  Boots  grew  to  manhood  and  acquired 
a district  school  education.  On  April  12,  1849,  he 
married  Eliza  Ambrose.  She  was  born  in  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  February  22,  1823.  A few 
days  after  his  marriage  John  S.  Boots  started  for 
the  West  to  find  a place  to  locate,  entered  land  in 
section  35  of  Jackson  Township,  and  on  June  20th 
again  started  from  Ohio,  this  time  with  his  wife 
to  make  permanent  settlement.  He  had  only  $2 
when  he  arrived  in  Indiana,  bought  160  acres,  cleared 
and  improved,  and  worked  steadily  until  he  was 
rated  as  one  of  the  prosperous  men  of  the  town- 
ship. He  developed  a fine  farm  of  280  acres.  He 
was  a real  leader  in  the  township,  and  was  a pioneer 
in  the  good  roads  movement.  For  many  years  he 
was  road  supervisor,  and  his  district,  No.  5,  was 
twice  awarded  prizes  for  the  best  roads  in  the 
county.  He  was  also  a school  director  and  in  every 
sense  a public  spirited  citizen.  John  S.  Boots  died 


in  1909.  His  first  wife  passed  away  August  26,  1866, 
the  mother  of  six  children:  Sarah  J.,  Amanda  S., 

James  A.,  Ida,  William  R.  and  John  T.  In  1868 
John  S.  Boots  married  Matilda  Hall.  Three  children 
were  born  to  their  union:  Pearl,  Clyde  and  Myrtle, 

all  living.  John  S.  Boots  was  a member  of  the 
Masonic  order  and  a republican  in  politics.  The 
old  homestead  farm  is  now  owned  and  occupied  by 
three  of  his  children:  Amanda  S.,  James  A.  and 

William  Rufus. 

James  A.  Boots,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  resides,  constituting  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  35,  3%  miles  west  of  Spencerville,  on  March 
19,  1856,  has  lived  here  all  his  life  and  has  never 
married.  He  is  a director  in  the  Farmers  and  Mer- 
chants Bank  at  Spencerville  and  a republican  in 
politics. 

I.  D.  Deller.  One  of  the  thoroughly  representa- 
tive farmers  of  Steuben  County  is  I.  D.  Deller,  who 
owns  180  acres  of  valuable  land  in  Steuben  Town- 
shin.  He  was  born  in  this  township  December  19, 
1858,  a son  of  Nicholas  Deller.  The  original  an- 
cestor was  born  in  Switzerland,  but  came  to  the 
United  States  in  1827,  settling  in  Butler  Township, 
Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  where  he  continued  to 
live  until  his  death. 

Nicholas  Deller  was  born  near  Berne,  Switzerland, 
in  1818,  accompanied  his  father  to  the  New  World 
in  1827,  and  was  reared  in  Butler  Townhip,  Colum- 
biana County,  Ohio.  There  in  young  manhood  he 
was  married  to  Lydia  Redman,  who  died  in  1848, 
leaving  three  children,  George  H.,  John  A.,  and 
Aaron.  There  were  also  two  children  who  died 
before  their  mother.  Nicholas  Deller  was  married 
second  to  Mary  Ann  Fetterhoof,  born  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  they  had  the  following 
children : Serena,  Loretta,  I.  D.,  Thompson,  and 

Perry  N.  In  1851  Nicholas  Deller  moved  with  his 
wife  and  children  to  Steuben  Township,  Steuben 
County,  and  settling  in  section  8,  lived  there  until 
death  claimed  him,  June  21,  1874.  He  was  a farmer 
by  occupation,  and  worked  hard  all  his  life. 

I.  D.  Deller  began  farming  on  his  present  farm 
and  has  made  a valuable  property  of  it,  erecting  all 
of  the  present  buildings,  which  are  modern  and  well 
adapted  for  their  several  purposes.  He  owns  180 
acres  of  fertile  land,  and  here  he  does  general  farm- 
ing and  stockraising,  and  his  efforts  have  met  with 
a gratifying  success. 

On  March  28,  1878,  Mr.  Deller  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Margaret  A.  Harpham,  and  they  have  the 
following  children : Geneva,  who  married  Ottimar 

Chasey,  has  two  children,  Paul  D.  and  Margaret 
A. ; and  Clarence  F.,  who  married  Dean  McDowel. 
For  a number  of  years  Mr.  Deller  has  been  a con- 
sistent member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  of 
which  he  is  at  present  a trustee.  In  all  of  his  busi- 
ness transactions  he  is  scrupulously  upright,  and 
when  he  makes  a promise  those  acquainted  with 
him  know  that  he  will  keep  it,  no  matter  what  the 
cost  may  be.  He  is  well  posted  on  current  affairs, 
and  gives  support  to  movements  looking  to  secur- 
ing good  roads,  efficient  teachers  and  first  class 
transportation  facilities  for  farm  products. 

. Charles  C.  Souder,  whose  farm  home  is  two 
miles  north  of  Butler,  has  been  industriously  engaged 
in  agriculture  in  DeKalb  County  for  over  twenty 
years.  He  is  a son  of  George  B.  Souder,  a well 
known  retired  farmer  living  in  Troy  Township. 

George  B.  Souder  was  born  in  Perry  County, 
Pennsylvania,  June  30,  1846,  son  of  John  and  Rachel 
A.  (Billow)  Souder  and  a grandson  of  Martin 
Souder..  Martin  was  a native  of  Germany,  came  to 
the  United  States  when  a boy,  settling  in  Perry 


292 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


County,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  and  reared  his 
family  there.  His  children  were  Henry,  John,  Katie, 
Rebecca  and  Sarah.  John  Souder’s  wife,  Rachel  A. 
Billow,  was  a daughter  of  George  Billow,  also  a 
native  of  Germany.  George  Billow  while  a soldier 
was  taken  prisoner  and  with  six  companions  was 
shut  up  in  a barn  preliminary  to  being  hanged.  The 
prisoners  escaped,  and  he  soon  afterward  came  to 
the  United  States,  settling  in  Perry  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  married  Susanna  Ensminger.  For 
a number  of  years  they  conducted  a popular  place 
of  entertainment  known  as  the  Billow’s  Tavern. 
After  his  death  his  widow  moved  to  Shelby,  Ohio, 
where  she  died.  In  the  Billows  family  were  children 
named  David,  Adam,  George,  Susan,  Sarah  and 
Rachel.  John  and  Rachel  Souder  moved  from  Perry 
County,  Pennsylvania,  to  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  spent  their  last  years.  Their  children 
were:  Jane,  wife  of  George  Blatman,  of  California; 
George  B. ; Hannah,  wife  of  Amos  Snyder,  of  But- 
ler, Indiana;  Rachel,  wife  of  Will  Sheley,  of  Browns- 
town,  Indiana. 

George  B.  Souder  was  fourteen  years  old  when 
he  accompanied  his  parents  to  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  and  he  acquired  most  of  his  education  in  a 
German  school  in  Pennsylvania.  On  February  27, 
1868,  he  married  Sarah  Melissa  Adams,  who  was 
born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  January  15,  1848, 
and  was  reared  near  Shelby.  After  his  marriage 
George  B.  Souder  rented  his  father’s  farm  five  years 
and  in  1873  came  to  DeKalb  County  and  bought 
eighty  acres  in  Franklin  Township.  He  lived  there 
until  1878,  when  he  bought  his  present  home.  He  is 
a republican  in  politics  and  has  filled  the  office  of 
supervisor.  Of  his  six  children  five  are  living: 
Charles  C.,  of  Franklin;  George  M.  and  Ernest  C., 
also  of  the  same  township;  Jessie  M.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Charles  A.  Dohner,  of  Troy  Township;  and 
Harry  L.,  also  a resident  of  Troy  Township  on  his 
father’s  farm. 

Charles  C.  Souder  was  born  near  Shelby,  Ohio, 
October  18,  1871,  and  was  a year  old  when  his  par- 
ents moved  to  DeKalb  County.  He  grew  up  on 
the  home  farm,  attended  the  local  schools,  and  in 
March,  1896,  married  Catherine  Coll.  She  was  born 
in  Troy  Township.  They  have  one  child,  Ora  L., 
who  was  born  June  23,  1898,  and  is  a graduate  of 
the  Butler  High  School  and  took  a business  course 
at  South  Bend. 

Mr.  Souder  is  a stockholder  in  the  Arctic  Co-opera- 
tive Livestock  Shipping  Association,  and  conducts 
his  general  farming  and  stock  raising  operations 
on  a place  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  a republican  and 
is  affiliated  with  Butler  Lodge  No.  283  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Harlie  J.  Hern  has  been  a resident  of  LaGrange 
County  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  is  a practical 
farmer,  for  many  years  was  engaged  in  educa- 
tional work,  and  on  November  5,  1918,  was  elected 
to  the  responsible  office  of  sheriff,  of  which  he  is 
the  present  able  incumbent. 

Mr.  Hern  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  June  2,  1872,  a son  of  Harlow 
J.  and  Martha  (Mix)  Hern,  the  former  a native 
of  Bloomfield  Township  and  the  latter  of  Lima 
Township  in  LaGrange  County.  His  father  after 
his  marriage  became  a Union  soldier,  and  after- 
ward returned  to  LaGrange  County  and  followed 
farming  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  an  ardent 
prohibitionist.  He  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom 
are  still  living. 

Harlie  J.  Hern  grew  upon  the  farm,  and  had 
meager  advantages  to  obtain  a good  education  until 


after  he  was  on  his  own  responsibility.  At  the 
age  of  thirteen  he  went  to  work  for  a neighbor 
and  at  the  age  of  fourteen  went  west  to  Nebraska 
and  spent  four  years  in  that  state  as  a cattle  herder 
and  also  as  an  employe  of  a big  contractor  on  rail- 
road construction.  He  was  working  for  Reuben  J. 
Towne  when  the  latter  was  elected  sheriff  of  Thayer 
County,  Nebraska,  and  then  became  his  deputy, 
serving  about  a year  in  that  capacity. 

Mr.  Hern  on  returning  to  LaGrange  County  at 
the  death  of  his  grandmother  took  charge  of  the 
farm  and  has  continued  farming  and  teaching  school 
in  winters  many  years.  He  owns  a well  improved 
place  of  142  acres  in  Lima  Township.  He  was 
called  from  the  farm  to  the  duties  of  public  office 
by  his  election  as  sheriff. 

December  30,  1897,  he  married  Florence  E.  Long, 
a native  of  LaGrange  County.  They  are  the  par- 
ents of  five  children,  Robert  J.,  Dorothy  F.,  Ralph 
E.,  Martha  A.  and  Helen  J.  The  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Howe.  Mr.  Hern 
is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Howe,  being  past  chancellor  of 
the  latter.  In  politics  he  is  a republican,  and  was 
elected  on  that  ticket  to  the  office  of  sheriff,  though 
his  general  popularity  among  the  citizenship  also 
counted  heavily  in  his  favor. 

Abraham  L.  Phillips  has  lived  on  one  farm  in 
Steuben  County  since  he  was  a small  child,  has 
cultivated  his  acres  and  made  many  crops,  and 
throughout  has  borne  the  reputation  of  being  a 
hard-working  and  public-spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Phillips,  whose  home  is  in  York  Township, 
was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  May  19,  1866. 
His  father,  the  late  Augustus  C.  Phillips,  who  died 
January  26,  1918,  was  born  in  Athens  County,  Ohio, 
February  23,  1834,  a son  of  Job  and  Louisa  Ann 
Phillips.  The  Phillips  family  located  in  Hancock 
County,  Ohio,  in  1835,  and  subsequently  moved  to 
Hardin  County  in  the  same  state,  where  Job  Phil- 
lips died  in  1879.  Augustus  Phillips  married,  No- 
vember 11,  1858,  Tabitha  White,  who  was  born 
in  Hancock  County  April  7,  1843,  daughter  of 
George  and  Isabel  White.  Mrs.  Augustus  Phillips 
died  February  25,  1917.  She  was  the  mother  of 
ten  children,  and  the  six  to  reach  mature  years 
were:  Leander  B.,  Louretta,  Abraham  L.,  Lucinda, 
Adolphua  and  Flora  D. 

Augustus  C.  Phillips  brought  his  family  to  York 
Township,  Steuben  County,  in  the  fall  of  1869, 
buying  eighty  acres  of  partially  improved  land  in 
section  20  of  York  Township. 

On  that  farm  Abraham  L.  Phillips  has  lived  since 
childhood,  acquired  an  education  in  the  public 
schools,  and  for  several  years  farmed  the  place  on 
the  shares  with  his  father. 

December  23,  1900,  he  married  Mabel  L.  Stallman, 
a daughter  of  A.  A.  Stallman,  a well  known  citizen 
of  Steuben  County.  Mrs.  Phillips  died  June  29, 
1919.  She  was  a member  of  the  Powers  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  as  is  also  Mr.  Phillips. 

Charles  S.  Royer  is  a LaGrange  County  citizen 
and  has  been  prospered  as  a farmer,  has  been  a 
good  business  man  and  has  shown  an  active  public 
spirit  in  all  his  relations  with  the  community.  Mr. 
Royer  owns  one  of  the  well  developed  and  valu- 
able farms  of  Johnson  Township,  in  section  8. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  township  August  29, 
1862,  son  of  A.  J.  and  Catherine  (Wert)  Royer. 
His  father  was  born  near  Akron  and  his  mother 
near  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  His  father  first  married  in 
Ohio  Martha  Stahl.  They  had  one  child,  Norman, 
who  is  now  a rural  mail  carrier  at  Wolcottville. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


293 


A.  J.  Royer  came  to  Indiana,  where  his  first  wife 
died,  and  he  then  married  Catherine  Wert  and  set- 
tled on  a farm.  They  lived  in  Johnson  Township 
for  forty  years  and  then  moved  to  LaGrange,  where 
the  father  spent  his  last  years  in  retirement.  They 
were  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Wood- 
ruff and  in  politics  he  was  a republican.  Of  eight 
children  born  to  their  marriage  seven  are  still  liv- 
ing; Mary,  wife  of  J.  H.  Murray  of  Albion,  Mich- 
igan; Charles  S. ; Dr.  William  A.  of  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan ; Ida,  wife  of  Clinton  Stover  of  Chicago ; 
Jennie,  wife  of  Daniel  Free  of  Battle  Creek;  Laura, 
wife  of  Arthur  Munger  of  Oklahoma;  and  Mrs. 
Lou  Wortheridge,  living  in  Canada. 

Charles  S.  Royer  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Johnson 
Township,  had  a common  school  education,  and  lived 
at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  chose  farm- 
ing as  his  vocation,  and  for  nine  years  occupied  and 
managed  the  old  homestead.  In  1899  he  bought  his 
present  place,  comprising  seventy-one  acres,  well 
improved  and  very  productive.  He  breeds  good 
horses  and  cattle.  Mr.  Royer  is  a republican  in 
politics  and  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  76  of  the 
Masonic  order  at  LaGrange  and  also  the  lodge  of 
Odd  Fellows  in  the  same  town.  He  is  a very  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Valentine,  and 
is  church  steward. 

October  17,  1888,  Mr.  Royer  married  Miss  Lizzie 
C.  Troxell.  Mrs.  Royer  is  one  of  the  practical  and 
public  spirited  women  of  LaGrange  County  and  has 
been  active  in  promoting  many  affairs  of  value  to 
the  community.  She  was  born  in  Florence  Town- 
ship, St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  near  Constan- 
tine, January  12,  1862,  a daughter  of  George  and 
Mary  E.  (Bradley)  Troxell.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Pennsylvania  in  1839  and  her  mother  in  1842. 
Her  mother  died  August  29,  1913,  and  her  father 
is  also  deceased.  Mrs.  Royer  was  six  years  old 
when  her  parents  came  to  Indiana  and  settled  near 
Ontario  in  LaGrange  County.  She  was  educated 
in  the  local  schools  and  taught  nine  years.  Mrs. 
Royer  was  one  of  the  seven  who  organized  the 
Agricultural  and  Horticultural  Society  of  LaGrange 
County  and  she  has  served  as  its  secretary  through- 
out its  existence  with  the  exception  of  three  years. 
The  society  now  has  over  100  members,  meets  six 
times  a year  and  has  accomplished  an  immense 
amount  of  good  in  the  matter  of  general  enlighten- 
ment and  the  promotion  of  those  principles  of  co- 
operation upon  which  good  agriculture,  fruit  grow- 
ing and  other  rural  interests  depend  for  their  suc- 
cess. Mrs.  Royer  is  also  a member  of  the  Eastern 
Star  and  of  the  Rebekahs,  and  belongs  to  two  lit- 
erary societies,  one  at  LaGrange  and  one  at  Wol- 
cottville. 

Howard  E.  Purdy.  It  is  an  opinion  shared  by 
many  people  in  Steuben  County  that  Howard  E. 
Purdy  has  done  his  work  well,  whether  as  a prac- 
tical farmer  or  as  a good  citizen.  He  has  spent 
practically  all  his  life  in  Steuben  County  and  for 
nearly  thirty  years  has  enjoyed  the  ownership  and 
the  returns  from  a fine  farm  in  Jackson  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Orland,  Indiana,  April  1,  1865, 
a son  of  Robert  N.  and  Eliza  (Benschoten)  Purdy. 
His  father  was  born  in  Canada,  near  Lake  Ontario, 
January  1,  1824,  and  died  August  12,  igo6.  The 
mother  was  a native  of  Erie  County,  Ohio,  a daugh- 
ter of  Daniel  Benschoten.  Robert  N.  Purdy  when 
a young  man  moved  from  Canada  to  Ohio,  from' 
that  state  went  to  Fond  du  Lac  County.  Wisconsin, 
working  in  a sash,  door  and  blind  factory,  and 
about  1859  settled  at  Orland,  Indiana,  where  his 
services  as  a carpenter  were  in  demand  throughout 
the  rest  of  his  active  life.  He  and  his  wife  had 
seven  children:  Tacy;  Wilton,  who  died  in  child- 


hood; Jennie,  Corena,  Wilton,  Iona,  and  Howard. 
The  public  schools  of  Orland  furnished  Howard  F. 
Purdy  with  his  early  advantages.  He  made  wise 
use  of  them  and  was  himself  a teacher  for  twelve 
years,  spending  one  year  in  LaGrange  County  and 
the  rest  of  the  time  in  Steuben  County.  He  taught 
his  first  school  in  1884,  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  and 
continued  teaching  even  after  he  became  a farmer, 
until  1896.  Mr.  Purdy  has  occupied  his  present 
farm  in  Jackson  township  since  1890.  He  owns  160 
acres,  eighty  acres  in  section  3 of  Jackson  and  eighty 
acres  in  section  34  of  Millgrove  Township.  The 
substantial  buildings  on  the  place  have  been  put  there 
in  his  time,  and  he  has  done  much  to  develop  his 
farm  as  a stockraising  proposition.  He  is  one  of 
the  few  breeders  in  Steuben  County  of  the  Milking 
Shorthorn  cattle. 

On  October  20,  1886,  Mr.  Purdy  married  Lydia  O. 
Stayner,  daughter  of  William  Perry  and  D.  Jane 
(Powers)  Stayner.  Her  father,  now  deceased,  was 
born  in  Ohio  in  February,  1829,  and  was  about  two 
years  old  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County  with  his 
father,  John  Stayner,  and  his  uncle,  Jacob.  Both 
his  father  and  uncle  had  served  as  soldiers  in  the 
War  of  1812.  John  Stayner  built  a cabin  in  the 
wilderness  on  the  north  side  of  Jackson  Prairie,  and 
for  over  eighty  years  members  of  the  Stayner  fam- 
ily have  played  a notable  part  in  Steuben  County. 
John  Stayner  died  in  1870.  It  was  at  his  suggestion 
that  his  township  was  named  in  honor  of  General 
Jackson.  He  was  instrumental  in  building  the  first 
schoolhouse  in  the  township,  the  first  county  clerk’s 
office  was  in  his  residence,  and  the  first  election  was 
held  in  his  dooryard.  At  one  time  he  represented 
his  district  in  the  Legislature.  Mrs.  Purdy’s  father 
for  many  years  owned  and  occupied  the  old  pioneer 
homestead.  He  married  Jane  Powers,  who  was  born 
in  New  York  State  in  1835,  and  her  father,  Stephen 
Powers,  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1837.  Mrs. 
Perrj'  Stayner  is  still  living  at  Orland.  Of  her  six 
children  only  two  reached  mature  years,  Oliver  and 
Lydia.  The  latter  was  born  August  28,  1866.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Purdy  have  two  children : Leo  B.  and 

Bertice. 

Leo  B.  Purdy  graduated  from  the  Orland  High 
School,  took  the  commercial  course  in  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College  at  Angola  and  also  the  normal 
work  taught  in  the  public  schools  of  Steuben  County 
seven  years,  and  is  now  teacher  of  manual  training 
in  the  Orland  High  School.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Orland  and  bjr  his  marriage  to 
Wilma  Case  has  two  children,  Raymond  C.  and 
Betty  Jane. 

Bertice  Purdy  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Orland 
High  School,  took  her  normal  preparation  in  the 
Tri-State  College,  and  was  a teacher  for  six  years 
in  Steuben  County  prior  to  her  marriage  to  D.  Carl 
Brown,  who  has  recently  been  returned  to  civil  life 
after  serving  with  the  national  forces.  He  sailed 
for  France  on  the  Saxonia  September  1,  1918,  being 
a member  of  Company  D,  Three  Hundred  and 
Thirty-Fifth  Infantry,  Eighty-Fourth  Division. 
From  the  Eighty-Fourth  he  was  transferred  to  Com- 
pany D of  the  Ninety-First  Division  and  still  later 
was  placed  in  the  Twenty-Seventh  Division.  He 
was  returned  to  New  York  March  9,  1919,  and  was 
mustered  out  at  Camp  Grant  April  5,  1919. 

H.  O.  Waltz  is  a prosperous  farmer  of  Spencer 
Township,  and  is  also  one  of  the  influential  men  in 
the  community  in  promoting  co-operation  among  the 
farmers  of  DeKalb  County  in  marketing  their  prod- 
ucts. He  is  manager  of  the  Tri-Township  Shipping 
Association.  This  corporation  has  as  its  officers : J. 
E.  Ulm,  president;  F.  E.  Rhodes,  secretary  and 
treasurer;  and  Mr.  Waltz,  manager. 


294 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Mr.  Waltz  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 
March  14,  1875,  son  of  William  and  Ellen  (Hil- 
bert) Waltz.  His  parents  were  both  born  in  Defi- 
ance County  and  his  father  was  a farmer  there  until 
his  death  in  1878.  The  mother  is  still  living  at  Lima, 
Ohio.  Both  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

H.  O.  Waltz,  the  only  one  now  living  of  two  chil- 
dren, was  reared  in  the  home  of  his  maternal  grand- 
parents after  the  death  of  his  father.  He  acquired 
a common  school  education  and  after  his  marriage 
he  farmed  the  Hilbert  place  for  two  years. 

November  24,  1898,  Mr.  Waltz  married  Miss  Cora 
Farlow.  She  was  born  in  the  same  community 
where  she  is  still  living.  They  lived  on  a farm  in 
Defiance  County  for  a number  of  years,  but  in 
1915  came  to  DeKalb  County  and  bought  the  no 
acres  known  as  the  Sunny  Brook  Farm.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Waltz  have  two  sons:  Harold  and  Olan,  both 
of  whom  graduated  in  the  same  class  in  the  common 
schools  and  the  former  is  now  in  high  school.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church 
but  attend  the  Christian  Church  at  Spencerville. 
Politically  Mr.  Waltz  is  a democrat. 

Rozain  Henry  Newman,  now  living  retired  in 
the  City  of  LaGrange,  has  spent  almost  a lifetime 
identified  with  the  agricultural  enterprise  in  La- 
Grange  County.  He  and  his  wife  were  among  the 
charter  members  of  the  Horticultural  and  the  Agri- 
cultural Society  of  that  county. 

Mr.  Newman  was  born  at  Ontario  in  Lima  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  February  22,  1844.  That 
was  three-quarters  of  a century  ago,  and  the  family 
name  was  one  of  the  first  to  he  identified  with  the 
pioneer  settlement  of  the  county.  His  parents  were 
Richard  L.  and  Mary  Ann  (Parker)  Newman.  His 
father  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 12,  1820,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  Gene- 
see County,  New  York,  in  August,  1821.  Richard  L. 
Newman  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1832,  when 
eleven  years  of  age,  in  company  with  his  uncle. 
He  grew  up  in  Lima  Township,  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  primitive  schools  there,  and  in  1851 
bought  a farm  west  of  Howe.  He  lived  on  that 
land  until  1858,  when  he  sold  and  moved  to  Van 
Buren  Township,  acquiring  160  acres  which  he  occu- 
pied and  cultivated  until  the  death  of  his  wife  in 
December,  1893.  After  that  he  lived  among  his 
children  and  died  at  the  home  of  his  son  Rozain 
in  LaGrange  June  28,  1912,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  nearly  ninety-two.  He  and  his  wife  were  married 
in  Lima  Township.  He  was  a republican,  and  was 
one  of  the  charter  members  of  the  First  Baptist 
Church  established  in  LaGrange  County.  That 
church  was  located  at  Howe,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  builders  of  its  first  edifice.  In  the  family  of 
Richard  L.  Newman  and  wife  were  five  children: 
Rozain  H. ; Frances  Emma,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  two  years;  Delmar,  of  Van  Buren  Township; 
Orlinda,  who  died  in  July,  1895;  and  Charles,  who 
lives  at  Howe,  Indiana. 

Rozain  H.  Newman  attended  common  schools 
in  Lima  and  Van  Buren  Townships,  and  finished 
his  education  in  the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario. 
When  a young  man  he  bought  the  land  included  in 
his  father’s  original  farm  a mile  west  of  Howe,  and 
remained  there  seven  years.  After  selling  that  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  Clay  Township,  and  at  the 
present  time  owns  200  acres  of  fertile  and  well 
improved  land  in  that  township.  He  has  placed  all 
the  building  improvements  on  the  land  except  the 
barn.  He  was  steadily  identified  with  productive 
agriculture  on  that  farm  for  twenty-eight  years. 
September  6,  1906,  Mr.  Newman  moved  to  La- 


Grange, and  for  the  past  thirteen  years  has  lived 
retired. 

Mr.  Newman  is  a republican,  though  he  has  never 
sought  official  honors.  He  and  his  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  October  8,  1865,  was  the 
date  of  his  marriage  to  Almeda  Laughlin.  She 
was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  June  23,  1848, 
a daughter  of  James  and  Isabel  (Libey)  Laughlin. 
In  1853  her  parents  moved  to  LaGrange  County 
and  settled  on  a farm  in  Van  Buren  Township, 
where  her  father  died  in  1863,  at  the  age  of  thirty- 
six,  and  her  mother  on  November  xi,  1888.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Laughlin  had  nine  children:  Almeda; 

Oscar,  deceased,  Margaret,  Lydia  Ann,  Mary  Emma, 
John  D.,  James  B.,  Samuel  and  Belle. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Newman  have  been  married  more 
than  half  a century.  Their  two  children  were  born 
early  in  their  married  life.  Emma,  born  Jxdy  19, 
1867,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Clay 
Township  and  the  Normal  School,  and  is  the  wife 
of  Oliver  Schutt.  She  has  two  sons,  named  Floyd 
and  Vern.  The  only  son  of  Mr.  Newman  is  Frank 
Burr,  born  April  28,  1870.  He  had  a good  educa- 
tion in  the  local  schools  and  is  now  in  the  shoe 
business  at  Jackson,  Michigan.  Frank  B.  Newman 
married  Della  Kimler.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
four  children,  Flora,  wife  of  Thomas  Cook,  Hollis, 
Cecil  and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  The  son  Hollis 
entered  the  aviation  department  in  the  National 
Army  in  February,  1918,  and  was  in  training  at  the 
aviation  field  at  Lake  Charles,  Louisiana,  and  later 
at  San  Antonio,  Texas,  where  he  was  honorably 
discharged  in  April,  1919.  The  son  Cecil  has  had 
a very  interesting  army  experience.  He  joined  the 
regular  army  in  1917,  and  was  on  the  Mexican 
border,  participating  in  the  expedition  under  General 
Pershing  in  the  pursuit  of  Villa.  Later  he  went  to 
France  with  General  Pershing  as  a member  of 
Company  G in  the  First  Division.  He  participated 
in  many  battles,  in  the  great  conflict  of  the  Argonne 
Forest.  He  was  wounded  in  the  left  leg  and  the 
right  hand  and  was  also  gassed.  He  received  his 
honorable  discharge  in  March,  1919.  Cecil  Newman 
married  Beatrice  Minnich,  a daughter  of  Charles 
Minnich,  of  Ontario,  Indiana. 

Frank  H.  Chadwick.  A veteran  merchant,  a 
citizen  whose  public  spirit  has  entered  into  and 
inspired  every  worthy  community  enterprise  for 
years,  Frank  H.  Chadwick  is  one  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty’s foremost  men  of  affairs  and  has  lived  in  this 
section  of  Northeast  Indiana  all  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben 
County  October  23,  1854.  His  grandfather,  Andrew 
Chadwick,  was  a native  of  New  York  State,  and 
was  an  early  settler  in  Northern  Ohio  at  Perrys- 
burg,  where  he  died  when  his  children  were  very 
young.  He  left  children  named  John,  Charles, 
"Samuel,  Rowena,  who  married  William  Maholm, 
Samantha,  who  became  the  wife  of  Hiram  Wake- 
field, and  Harriet,  who  married  William  Haynes. 
His  widow  afterward  married  a Mr.  Pratt  and  be- 
came the  mother  of  a daughter  named  Ann,  who 
married  Fred  Birdick. 

John  Chadwick,  father  of  the  Steuben  County 
merchant,  was  born  in  Ohio  June  25,  1825,  and  was 
a small  boy  when  his  father  died.  He  married 
Abigail  Saxon,  a native  of  New  York  State.  John 
Chadwick  was  one  of  the  men  who  helped  clear 
the  wilderness  of  Steuben  County.  He  arrived  here 
in  1848  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  woodland  in 
Jamestown  Township  at  $1.25  an  acre.  About  1859 
he  moved  to  Clear  Lake  Township,  on  another  farm 
of  eighty  acres,  and  in  1863  to  a farm  two  miles 
north  of  Angola  in  Pleasant  Township.  It  was  on 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


295 


that  land  that  he  built  his  first  frame  house,  his 
previous  residences  having  been  the  typical  log 
cabin.  Mrs.  Abigail  Chadwick  died  June  18,  1865, 
soon  after  removing  to  Pleasant  Township.  About 
1868  John  Chadwick  moved  to  a farm  two  and  a 
half  miles  southeast  of  Angola  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, and  in  1874  left  this  county,  going  to  Branch 
County,  Michigan,  and  locating  on  the  main  road 
between  Coldwater  and  Quincy.  In  1880  he  sold 
his  Michigan  farm  and  after  spending  one  year  in 
Missouri  went  to  Osage  County,  Kansas,  and  about 
1890  moved  to  a small  farm  near  Topeka  and  a year 
later  to  Potawattamie  County  in  that  state.  Upon 
the  death  of  his  second  wife,  Jane  Owen,  he  re- 
turned to  Topeka,  spent  two  years  in  the  home  of  a 
daughter,  and  then  returned  to  Steuben  County  and 
lived  with  his  son  Frank  H.  the  rest  of  his  life. 
He  died  October  1,  1909.  By  his  marriage  with 
Abigail  Saxon  he  had  four  children,  namely:  John, 
who  died  in  infancy ; Ethel  R.,  wife  of  Ezra  Haw- 
ley; Frank  H. ; and  Fred  N.  He  also  had  four 
children  by  his  second  marriage;  Mabel,  wife  of 
Nelson  McConnell,  Pearl  H.,  Lynn  and  Alice.  John 
Chadwick  was  for  a number  of  years  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Angola. 

Frank  H.  Chadwick  acquired  a good  education, 
attending  public  schools,  including  the  high  school 
at  Angola,  and  after  completing  high  school  he 
taught  one  term  in  Jamestown  Township  during  the 
winter  of  1872-73.  His  career  as  a merchant  began 
on  the  23rd  of  March,  1873,  more  than  forty-five 
years  ago,  when  he  was  assigned  duties  as  a clerk 
for  the  well  known  old  time  firm  of  Scoville  & 
Latson.  He  remained  in  their  store  three  years  and 
on  April  12,  1876,  removed  to  Pleasant  Lake  and 
began  a general  merchandise  business  which  has 
grown  and  prospered  through  more  than  forty  years 
of  active  management.  The  firm  was  originally 
Chadwick  & Company,  engaged  in  general  mer- 
chandise and  the  produce  business.  The  silent 
partner  of  the  firm  for  fourteen  years  was  Henry 
Linder.  Afterward  the  business  was  reorganized 
and  became  Chadwick,  Ransburg  & Company,  Mr. 
Linder  remaining  in  the  firm  until  his  death  in 
1906,  and  Mr.  Chadwick  then  bought  his  interests 
and  the  firm  has  since  been  Chadwick  & Ransburg. 
This  is  the  old  reliable  and  largest  store  for  gen- 
eral merchandise  in  the  little  city  of  Pleasant  Lake. 
Mr.  Chadwick  has  distinguished  himself  as  a man 
of  unusual  business  ability,  and  in  all  his  affairs 
has  been  very  systematic  and  efficient. 

In  1914  he  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First 
State  Bank  of  Pleasant  Lake,  which  was  opened 
for  business  November  1,  1914.  Mr.  Chadwick  is 
vice  president.  He  has  served  as  deacon  and  trus- 
tee of  the  First  Baptist  Church  of  Pleasant  Lake, 
and  from  1902  to  January,  1919,  was  superintendent 
of  its  Sunday  school.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Angola. 

October  24,  1875,  Mr.  Chadwick  married  Miss 
Arietta  S.  Snyder,  daughter  of  John  and  Cornelia 
Snyder.  They  became  the  parents  of  three  children : 
Carl  D.,  who  died  when  about  two  years  old,  John 
Guy  and  Ray  D.  John  Guy  is  a resident  of  Pleasant 
Lake  and  is  a traveling  salesman  for  a New  York 
wholesale  house.  He  married  Ethel  Lemon,  and 
has  three  children,  named  Robert,  Joyce  and  Frank- 
D.  Ray  D.  Chadwick  married  Agnes  Rose,  of 
Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  they  have  two  children, 
named  Judith  and  Ann.  Ray  Chadwick  is  a very 
successful  educator  with  some  unusual  experience 
as  a school  administrator,  and  in  1916  he  was  called 
to  the  Morgan  Park  School  at  Duluth,  Minnesota, 
as  its  principal  to  organize  and  introduce  the  Gary 
school  system  there. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chadwick  were  born  on  the  same 
day  and  their  first  child  was  born  on  their  birthday. 
Mr.  Chadwick  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife 
after  they  had  been  married  more  than  forty  years, 
on  January  14,  1916.  He  married  for  his  present 
wife  Mrs.  Nellie  L.  McElhennie,  of  Montpelier, 
Ohio. 

Charles  Wolf.  The  well-directed  labors  of 
Charles  Wolf,  one  of  the  progressive  and  energetic 
representatives  of  LaGrange  County,  is  represented 
in  the  ownership  of  a handsome  property  in  John- 
son Township,  all  of  which  stands  as  a monument 
to  his  hard  work  and  his  career,  which  he  began  as 
a farm  hand  and  continued  as  a renter  until  he  was 
able  to  become  a land  owner.  Mr.  Wolf  is  classified 
as  a general  farmer,  and  is  also  a successful  breeder 
of  Belgian  horses. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County  March  27,  1866,  a son  of  Washington  and 
Rebecca  (Keefer)  Wolf.  His  father  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  his  mother  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1843.  The  family  came  to  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  in  early  days,  where  Washington 
Wolf  spent  his  active  career  as  a farmer.  He  was 
a democrat,  and  by  his  first  marriage  was  the  father 
of  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  still  living, 
Charles;  William,  a farmer  in  Orange  Township; 
and  Eugene,  a farmer  in  the  same  locality.  By  his 
second  marirage  he  had  two  children,  Harvey  and 
Erie. 

Charles  Wolf  grew  up  at  the  old  home  farm,  ac- 
quired a district  school  education,  and  on  January 
27,  1887,  married  Lucetta  Keck.  She  was  born  in 
Orange  Township  April  10,  1866. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolf  had  practically  no  capital 
when  they,  were  married.  He  supported  his  family 
by  working  out  at  day  wages  for  fourteen  years. 
He  then  became  a renter  in  Johnson  Township,  and 
for  several  years  rented  the  farm  which  he  now 
owns,  comprising  147  acres.  He  also  owns  thirty- 
two  acres  in  another  tract. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolf  are  the  parents  of  ten  chil- 
dren : Arthur,  Claude,  Inez,  Hilda,  Ross,  Mary, 

Lester,  Russell,  Hester  and  Paul. 

Edwin  Ball.  The  Ball  family  is  one  of  the  old 
established  ones  of  Steuben  County,  and  its  repre- 
sentatives have  been  connected  with  agricultural  pur- 
suits since  locating  in  Indiana.  One  of  the  present 
members  of  this  family,  who  is  well  known  and 
highly  esteemed  in  his  neighborhood,  is  Edwin  Ball, 
a prosperous  farmer  of  Pleasant  Lake,  Steuben 
Township,  where  he  was  born  October  23,  1863,  a 
son  of  Augustus  V.  Ball. 

Augustus  V.  Ball  was  born  in  Ontario  County, 
New  York,  May  24,  1818,  and  died  May  14,  1907. 
He  was  a son  of  Gideon  Ball,  the  founder  of  the 
family  in  Steuben  County,  who  was  born  at  Gran- 
ville, Massachusetts,  December  27,  1785.  When  he 
was  still  a child  the  parents  of  Gideon  Ball  took  him 
to  Eastern  New  York,  and  located  at  the  mouth  of 
Catskill  Creek,  on  the  Hudson  River.  Still  later 
removal  was  made  to  Ontario  County.  There  Gideon 
Ball  was  married  to  Lydia  Dodge,  born  at  Wiscassit, 
Maine,  July  6,  1794,  but  taken  to  Ontario  County, 
New  York,  by  her  parents  while  yet  a little  girl.  In 
1832  Mr.  Ball  came  west  to  Sandusky,  Ohio,  and 
in  1835  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  where  he  en- 
tered about  900  acres  of  wild  land  in  Otsego,  Steu- 
ben and  Salem  townships.  Having  thus  prepared 
for  his  family,  he  brought  them  to  the  new  home 
May  24,  1836.  For  many  years  after  locating  in 
Steuben  County  Gideon  Ball  was  engaged  in  buying 
and  selling  land,  and  usually  was  successful,  so 
when  he  died  he  was  a man  of  considerable  means. 


296 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


At  his  death,  in  July,  1870,  he  was  survived  by  eight 
children,  all  but  the  youngest  being  natives  of  New 
York.  These  children  were  as  follows:  Sheldon, 

Augustus  V.,  Julius,  Edwin,  Frank,  Charlotte, 
Demia,  and  Emeline. 

Augustus  V.  Ball  was  eighteen  years  old  when 
he  came  with  the  rest  of  the  family  to  Steuben 
County,  and  until  he  was  twenty-four  years  of  age 
he  assisted  his  father  in  clearing  the  land.  In  that 
year  he  spent  a summer  season  cod  fishing  at  Hud- 
son Bay.  Upon  his  return  he  cleared  a farm  for 
himself  and  conducted  it  for  a time,  but  then  moved 
to  Pleasant  Lake  and  engaged  in  merchandising 
until  1865,  and  in  that  year  moved  on  a farm  of 
164  acres  in  sections  23  and  14.  This  gave  him  two 
farms,  aggregating  274  acres.  Augustus  V.  Ball  was 
married  to  Emeline  Stuttler,  born  July  31,  1843,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Reber  Stuttler.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Augustus  V.  Ball  became  the  parents  of 
three  children,  Edwin,  Theda,  and  Dora,  but  the 
last  named  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen  years.  Mrs. 
Ball  died  August  8,  1909. 

Edwin  Ball  attended  the  public  schools  of  Pleas- 
ant Lake  and  until  he  attained  his  majority  he  as- 
sisted in  the  work  of  the  homestead.  After  he  was 
twenty-one  years  old  he  began  buying  land  for 
himself,  now  owning  266  acres,  a portion  of  which 
formed  his  father’s  homestead,  on  which  he  has 
practically  spent  all  of  his  life.  Here  he  carries 
on  general  farming  and  stock-raising.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  progressive 
agriculturalists  of  his  township,  and  he  has  been  very 
successful  in  his  operations. 

On  February  16,  1892,  Mr.  Ball  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Zora  Lemon,  a daughter  of  J.  B.  and 
Celesta  (Carter)  Lemon.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ball  have 
one  son,  Wayne  E.  Well  known  as  a Mason,  Mr. 
Ball  belongs  to  the  local  lodge  of  that  order.  He 
fully  realizes  the  importance  of  his  calling,  espe- 
cially now  when  the  raising  of  food  occupies  so 
much  attention,  and  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  he  and 
his  have  been  connected  with  agricultural  pursuits. 
Never  caring  to  enter  the  political  arena,  Mr.  Ball 
has  nevertheless  done  his  duty  as  a citizen  and  given 
his  support  to  men  and  principles  which  best  meas- 
ured up  to  his  ideals  of  Americanism.  Having  lived 
in  Steuben  County  all  his  life  he  is  naturally  inter- 
ested in  everything  connected  with  its  progress,  and 
can  be  counted  upon  to  lend  assistance  to  any  move- 
ment which  has  for  its  object  the  advancement  of 
local  improvements.  His  excellent  judgment  on 
agricultural  matters  has  caused  him  to  be  accepted 
as  an  authority,  and  his  advice  is  oftentimes  sought 
by  those  less  experienced  than  he. 

Abraham  Ott  has  had  a long  and  prosperous 
career  as  a farmer  in  Noble  County,  and  his  at- 
tractive and  valuable  home  is  in  Noble  Township, 
where  he  has  lived  for  thirty-five  years. 

He  was  born  in  Green  Township  of  the  same 
county  October  24,  1856,  a son  of  Jesse  and  Dica 
(Brown)  Ott,  both  natives  of  Preble  County,  Ohio. 
His  father  who  was  born  in  1822,  grew  up  and  mar- 
ried in  Ohio,  and  about  1850  brought  his  family  to 
Indiana  and  settled  in  Green  Township  of  Noble 
County.  He  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  was  a 
man  who  well  earned  the  rich  esteem  which  he 
enjoyed  in  his  community.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
members  of  the  Christian  Church  in  his  neighbor- 
hood and  for  many  years  a trustee.  Of  the  family 
of  eight  children  seven  are  still  living.  Cornelius, 
a farmer  in  Noble  Township;  Amanda  J.,  wife  of 
William  Clucus ; John,  a farmer  in  Noble  Township; 
George  W.,  deceased;  Fred,  a farmer  in  Green 
Township;  Abraham;  and  Eli,  of  Whitley  County. 


Abraham  Ott  had  his  childhood  experiences  on  the 
home  farm  in  Green  Township  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools  there.  After  attaining  man’s  es- 
tate he  farmed  the  homestead  two  years.  In  May, 
1882,  he  married  Jane  Harlan,  a sister  of  Samuel 

F.  Harlan.  For  two  years  after  their  marriage  they 
lived  in  Whitley  County,  and  then  came  to  their 
present  home  of  160  acres  in  Noble  Township.  Mr. 
Ott  conducts  this  farm  as  a general  crop  proposi- 
tion and  is  also  a successful  stock  raiser.  He  and 
his  family  are  members  of  Miriam  Christian  Chapel, 
of  which  he  is  one  of  the  trustees.  In  politics  he  is 
a republican. 

He  and  his  wife  had  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  still  living:  Dica,  wife  of  Raymond  Reed; 
Agnes  E. ; Levi,  of  Columbia  City;  -Ethel,  wife  of 
Fay  Conrad;  Sula  and  Ruth,  both  at  home;  and 
Harlan  Zay,  who  attended  high  school  one  year. 
The  deceased  child  is  John,  who  died  aged  eighteen 
months. 

William  C.  Patterson,  one  of  Angola’s  most 
prominent  merchants  and  business  men,  and  repre- 
sentative of  an  old  family  in  Steuben  County,  was 
born  at  Angola,  December  24,  1863,  a son  of  Robert 
and  Amanda  (Mallory)  Patterson.  His  mother, 
who  is  still  living,  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1828. 
Robert  Patterson  came  to  Steuben  County  from 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  and  for  many  years  was  a 
merchant  at  Angola.  He  built  the  block  where 
Frank  E.  Burt  now  has  his  jewelry  store.  His 
death  occurred  in  Angola  in  1870.  They  had  four 
children : Charles,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 

years,  Frank,  who  died  when  twenty-four  years  of 
age,  William  C.  and  Fred  R. 

William  C.  Patterson  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Angola  and  began  his  business  career  as  clerk 
for  A.  H.  Brokan,  a grocer.  Later  he  became  asso- 
ciated with  S.  R.  Latson  in  the  dry  goods  trade, 
and  was  with  him  from  1880  to  1888.  In  the  latter 
year  he  bought  out  his  employer  and  soon  afterward 
formed  a partnership  association  with  his  brother 
Fred.  They  have  kept  their  business  growing  and 
expanding  until  the  Patterson  department  store  is 
now  one  of  the  best  and  most  reliable  sources  for 
high  grade  merchandise  and  mercantile  service  in 
Northeast  Indiana. 

Mr.  Patterson  is  a republican  and  an  Odd  Fellow 
and  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church.  Janu- 
ary 29,  1889,  he  married  Luna  Weaver,  who  was 
born  in  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana,  a daughter  of 
Jonathan  and  Elmira  Weaver.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pat- 
terson had  three  sons,  the  first  dying  in  infancy. 
The  other  two  are  Robert  G.  and  Ralph  W.  Robert 

G. ,  born  August  26,  1892,  is  a graduate  of  the 
Angola  High  School  and  the  Indiana  State  Uni- 
versity, and  left  his  father’s  business  to  join  the 
officers’  training  camp  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison, 
where  he  was  commissioned  a second  lieutenant.  He 
went  with  the  Eighty-Fourth  Division  to  France  and 
participated  in  the  record  of  that  division  of  the 
Expeditionary  Forces.  Ralph  W.  Patterson  was 
born  April  3,  1897,  was  educated  in  high  school  and 
the  Tri-State  College,  and  is  now  an  assistant  in 
his  father’s  store. 

Roy  E.  Rozell.  One  of  the  substantial  men  of 
Otsego  Township,  who  is  now  serving  as  trustee 
of  his  township,  was  born  here  December  16,  1876, 
a son  of  Charles  O.  and  Sarah  C.  (Lininger) 
Rozell,  and  grandson  of  David  C.  Rozell,  a native 
of  New  Jersey.  When  the  latter  was  still  a little 
boy  his  parents  migrated  as  far  west  as  Ohio,  and 
he,  in  1849,  animated  by  the  same  venturesome  spirit, 
crossed  the  plains  to  California  in  search  of  gold, 


. 


GEORGE  M.  DITMARS  AND  FAMILY 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


297 


making  the  return  trip  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  of 
Panama,  and  New  York  City.  While  he  was  suc- 
cessful in  his  search  for  gold,  he  was  unfortunate 
enough  to  deposit  his  fortune  in  an  unreliable  Cali- 
fornia bank,  and  lost  it  when  that  institution  col- 
lapsed. Upon  his  return  he  went  into  the  woods 
of  Michigan,  near  the  present  City  of  Saginaw, 
where  he  lived  until  1870,  at  which  time  he  came  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  buying  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  He  had 
three  children  by  his  first  marriage,  namely : Horace, 
Charles  O.  and  Cordelia.  After  the  death  of  the 
first  Mrs.  Rozell,  Mr.  Rozell  was  married  to  Mary 
E.  Todd. 

Charles  O.  Rozell  was  born  near  Fremont,  Ohio, 
September  25,  1849,  and  died  March  9,  1906.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Otsego  Township  December  24, 
1851,  and  died  May  3,  1911.  She  was  a daughter 
of  John  and  Elizabeth  Lininger,  the  former  of  whom 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  February  7,  1824, 
the  fourth  in  the  family  of  nine  children  born  to 
Samuel  and  Catherine  Lininger.  The  Lininger  fam- 
ily came  to  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  in  1839.  John 
Lininger  was  married  August  26,  1849,  to  Elizabeth 
Dotts,  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  their  chil- 
dren who  grew  to  maturity  were  as  follows : Sarah 
C.,  John  A.,  Francis  M.  and  Perry.  After  the  death 
of  the  first  Mrs.  Lininger,  John  Lininger  was  mar- 
ried to  Mrs.  Amelia  (Taylor)  Cleveland,  and  their 
children  were  as  follows : Sylvia  A.,  Elmer,  Luella 

and  Nettie.  In  1850  John  Lininger  came  to  Indiana 
and  spent  that  winter  in  Noble  County,  but  the 
subsequent  spring  came  to  Steuben  County,  locating 
on  eighty  acres  of  land  that  was  heavily  covered 
with  timber,  in  section  5,  Otsego  Township,  later 
increasing  this  homestead  to  120  acres,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  it  he  owned  forty  acres  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, all  of  which  he  cleared  and  developed.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  for  service  during  the  Civil  war 
in  the  Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Infantry,  but  was 
honorably  discharged  in  a few  months  on  account 
of  ill  health.  His  politics  were  those  of  a re- 
publican. Fraternally  he  belonged  to  Angola  Lodge 
No.  180,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 
Charles  O.  Rozell  was  engaged  in  farming  during  all 
of  his  mature  years,  first  on  rented  property,  and 
later  on  his  own  farm  of  160  acres  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship. He  and  his  estimable  wife  had  the  following 
children : Ora,  who  died  in  childhood ; Roy  E., 

whose  name  heads  this  review ; Ray  O.,  who  lives 
near  Hillsdale,  Michigan;  Glen  C.,  who  is  a farmer 
of  Otsego  Township. 

Roy  E.  Rozell  grew  up  in  his  native  township 
and  laid  the  foundations  for  higher  educational 
advantages  in  the  district  schools,  later  becoming 
a student  of  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola. 
Subsequently  he  became  one  of  the  popular  educa- 
tors of  Steuben  County,  teaching  for  four  consecu- 
tive years.  From  1901  to  1909  Mr.  Rozell  was  con- 
nected with  the  Government  service  as  an  employe 
of  the  postoffice  of  Toledo,  Ohio,  but  in  the  latter 
year  located  on  his  present  farm,  which  he  owns. 
There  are  105  acres  in  this  homestead  and  it  is  a 
part  of  section  8,  Otsego  Township.  In  addition 
Mr.  Rozell  is  serving  as  secretary  of  the  Co-opera- 
tive Shippers’  Association  of  Hamilton,  Indiana, 
shippers  of  live  stock.  Mr.  Rozell  was  chosen  by 
his  fellow  citizens  on  November  5,  1918,  to  repre- 
sent their  interests  as  a trustee  of  Otsego  Township, 
which  office  he  is  still  holding. 

On  April  28,  1898,  Mr.  Rozell  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Jessie  M.  Williams,  a daughter  of  Joseph 
and  Mary  Williams.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rozell  have 
had  the  following  children  born  to  them : Letha  G., 
who  was  graduated  from  the  Angola  High  School, 


attended  the  Tri-State  College  of  Angola,  graduated 
from  that  institution,  and  she  is  now  engaged  as  a 
teacher  of  the  Hamilton,  Indiana,  High  School ; 
Leon  E.,  who  is  a student  of  the  Angola  High 
School ; Alice  P. ; and  Sarah  J.  Mr.  Rozell  is  well 
known  as  a Mason.  He  is  a man  of  pleasing  per- 
sonality, and  his  varied  experience  has  taught  him 
to  be  an  excellent  judge  of  men  and  conditions. 
As  a farmer  he  is  making  a record  for  himself,  as 
he  has  in  other  lines  in  which  he  has  been  engaged, 
and  is  justly  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  representa- 
tive citizens  of  Steuben  County. 

Nelson  Baugher  is  an  honored  veteran  of  the 
Civil  war,  and  for  sixty  years  has  lived  in  one 
locality  of  LaGrange  County.  He  and  his  brother 
Isaac  are  bachelor  brothers  who  have  always  re- 
mained together,  have  kept  their  home  in  common, 
and  have  shared  many  of  their  business  and  other 
interests. 

Nelson  Baugher  was  born  in  Chester  Township 
of  Wabash  County,  Indiana,  February  28,  1842,  a 
son  of  Jesse  and  Clarinda  (Tindle)  Baugher.  His 
father,  a native  of  Rockingham  County,  Virginia,  was 
married  in  Wabash  County,  Indiana,  and  after  some 
years  there  moved  to  Whitley  County,  where  in  re- 
turn for  clearing  forty  acres  of  land  he  received 
a like  amount  of  wild  land.  Later  he  sold  that  and 
bought  eighty  acres  on  section  4,  Johnson  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  and  there  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  He  was  born  in  1813  and  died  in  1894.  He 
was  very  hard  working,  but  never  attained  any 
degree  of  wealth.  He  was  a republican,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  active  members  of  the  Christian 
Church.  In  the  family  were  twelve  children,  only 
three  of  whom  are  living  today:  Nelson;  Mattie  E., 
wife  of  Elias  C.  Wemple;  and  Isaac  W.  Isaac  was 
born  in  the  residence  of  Rev.  Squire  Rowe,  in 
Johnson  Township,  April  22,  1858,  and  is  still  living 
in  the  house  that  was  his  birthplace. 

Nelson  Baugher  grew  up  on  a farm,  and  had 
little  opportunity  to  attend  school,  his  services  be- 
ing required  at  home  as  soon  as  his  strength  per- 
mitted him  to  work  in  the  fields.  On  September 
28,  1864,  he  was  called  upon  to  shoulder  arms  in 
defense  of  the  Union,  and  served  with  a Union 
regiment  until  mustered  out  in  June,  1865.  He 
reached  home  July  3d  of  that  year,  and  it  may  be 
said  that  from  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  had 
no  other  outside  interests  than  that  constituting  his 
farm  and  the  immediate  locality.  His  brother  Isaac 
is  a member  of  and  has  filled  some  of  the  chairs  in 
LaGrange  Lodge  No.  144,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and 
Nelson  is  a member  of  both  the  lodge  and  encamp- 
ment of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  has  taken  the  Re- 
bekah  degrees.  Both  brothers  are  republicans  and 
Nelson  served  a number  of  years  as  supervisor. 
He  is  also  affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  Post  of 
LaGrange.  The  brothers  own  ninety-eight  acres  of 
land. 

George  M.  Ditmars  since  early  manhood  has  car- 
ried on  the  operations  of  the  old  Ditmars  home- 
stead in  Jackson  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  He 
is  the  only  son  of  the  late  Isaac  Ditmars,  who  owned 
and  developed  this  farm.  The  Ditmars  farm  is  two 
miles  southwest  of  Auburn. 

George  M.  Ditmars  was  born  in  Keyser  Township 
of  • DeKalb  County  August  r,  1869,  a son  of  Isaac 
and  Martha  (George)  Ditmars.  His  parents  are 
both  natives  of  Ohio,  his  father  of  Holmes  County. 
The  Ditmars  and  George  families  came  to  DeKalb 
County  in  the  early  days,  and  Isaac  spent  his  life 
as  a farmer.  He  died  in  1919  and  his  wife  in  1906. 
He  had  served  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  and  was  an  active  member  of  the 


298 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Grand  Army.  He  was  a Baptist  and  republican.  Of 
four  children,  one  died  at  the  age  of  ten  years  and 
George  M.  is  the  only  son.  Mary  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Olinger  and  Anna,  the  wife  of  Frank  Daw- 
son. 

George  M.  Ditmars  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  attended  the  district  schools.  November  8,  1893, 
he  married  Cora  E.  Olinger,  who  was  born  in 
Iveyser  Township,  a daughter  of  John  S.  and  Lucy 
(Yarde)  Olinger.  Ever  since  his  marriage  Mr. 
Ditmars  has  lived  on  the  homestead  and  manages 
and  owns  about  120  acres  in  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  and  his  wife  had  two  children: 
Chester,  who  was  born  October  7,  1895,  and  died 
at  the  age  of  three  years,  four  months  and  twenty- 
five  days ; and  Floyd  F.,  who  was  born  December 
6,  1897,  and  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and 
has  attended  the  Auburn  High  School. 

Mr.  Ditmars  is  a republican,  and  though  living  in 
a township  normally  democratic  by  over  eighty  votes 
came  within  four  votes  of  being  elected  trustee. 

Henry  Sunday.  A farm  in  section  8 of  Steuben 
Township  has  been  under  the  continuous  ownership 
and  management  of  the  Sunday  family  for  over  half 
a century.  Henry  Sunday  was  born  there,  and  for 
the  past  fifteen  or  twenty  years  has  owned  the  old 
homestead  and  has  made  it  the  scene  of  his  product- 
ive labors.  He  is  one  of  the  leading  citizens  of  that 
part  of  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Sunday  was  born  July  2,  1869,  son  of  Andrew 
and  Mary  (Ritter)  Sunday  and  grandson  of  Daniel 
and  Catherine  Sunday,  early  settlers  of  Steuben 
County.  Both  were  born  in  Center  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, Daniel  in  1809  and  Catherine  in  1806.  They 
moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and  from  the 
latter  state  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in 
1855,  accompanied  by  their  sons  John  and  Dan. 
Their  son  Andrew  preceded  them  to  this  county 
about  two  years.  Andrew  Sunday  was  born  in  San- 
dusky County,  Ohio,  August  ix,  1831,  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Steuben  Township,  and 
owned  a place  of  120  acres,  which  his  industry  did 
much  to  improve  and  make  valuable.  He  built  the 
barn  which  is  still  standing  on  the  farm.  He  was 
a hard  working  man,  but  did  not  realize  all  the 
fruits  of  his  industry,  since  he  died  February  25, 
1870,  when  not  yet  forty  years  of  age.  Andrew 
Sunday  married  Mary  Ritter,  who  was  born  No- 
vember 4,  1835,  and  died  April  6,  1912.  Her  father, 
Henry  Ritter,  was  born  in  Union  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1803,  was  reared  in  Ohio,  and  in  1851  set- 
tled in  section  8 of  Steuben  Township.  He  brought 
only  a few  hundred  dollars  to  that  county,  lived  in 
a log  cabin,  and  gradually  saw  his  industry  bear 
fruit,  and  he  had  a large  farm  of  over  200  acres. 
Henry  Ritter  married  Mary  Harpster,  and  they  were 
the  parents  of  five  children  : David,  Elizabeth,  Mary, 
Catherine,  and  one  daughter  that  died  in  infancy. 
Andrew  Sunday  and  wife  had  seven  children : Levi, 

born  April  11,  1856,  died  November  26,  i860;  Emma 
J.,  born  June  30,  1857,  died  August  26,  1858;  David, 
born  January  2,  1859;  Willie,  born  December  9,  1862, 
and  died  May  8,  1864;  Mary  Catherine,  born  June 
26,  1864,  was  married  to  Jefferson  Hartman;  Carrie 
Della,  born  December  11,  1867,  wife  of  William  H. 
Freed,  of  Steuben  County;  and  Henry.  The  mother 
of  these  children  was  an  active  member  of  the  Re- 
formed Church. 

Henry  Sunday  after  getting  his  education  in 
Steuben  Township  went  to  work  on  the  home  farm 
and  at  the  age  of  about  twenty-one  rented  the  farm 
from  his  mother.  After  his  mother’s  death,  in  1913, 
he  bought  the  old  homestead  and  is  using  it  as  a 
general  purpose  farm,  raising  the  special  crops  fitted 
to  this  climate  and  livestock. 


September  21,  1892,  Mr.  Sunday  married  Dora 
Hoyer.  She  was  born  April  26,  1873,  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Saul) 
Hoyer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sunday  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  They  have  two  daughters, 
Vera  G.,  born  March  6,  1897,  and  Dessa  M.,  born 
May  17,  1902.  Vera  is  the  wife  of  Bert  J.  Swager, 
and  her  only  child,  Robert,  was  born  September  7, 
1917. 

Peter  Kalb  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Wash- 
ington Township,  is  now  retired  from  his  active 
responsibilities  as  a farmer,  and  is  still  living  at  his 
country  home  in  section  3. 

He  was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  17,  1837,  a son  of  John  and  Phoebe 
(Howenstine)  Kalb.  His  mother  was  born  in  Ger- 
many and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  at  the 
age  of  three  years.  John  Kalb  was  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, was  married  in  that  state,  and  he  and  his 
family  moved  to  Ohio  with  wagons  and  teams, 
settling  in  Stark  County.  Peter  Kalb  grew  up  in  that 
section  of  Ohio  and  married  there  Sarah  J.  Henning. 
Not  long  afterward  they  came  to  the  woods  of  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  and  Mr.  Kalb  bought  eighty  acres, 
which  his  sustained  industry  through  a long  period 
of  years  brought  under  cultivation  and  gave  him  a 
good  farm,  where  he  has  prospered  and  where  he  has 
lived  for  half  a century.  He  still  owns  sixty  acres, 
but  has  not  cultivated  it  for  a number  of  years. 

His  first  wife  died  in  this  county,  and  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing: Amanda,  wife  of  Sam  Shoupe;  Phoebe,  wife 
of  Adam  Stump;  Millie,  wife  of  Marshall  Draime; 
and  Edward,  of  Washington  Township.  Mr.  Kalb 
married  for  his  second  wife  Lydia  A.  Deardorff, 
who  died  in  1907.  She  was  the  mother  of  one  daugh- 
ter, Maude  May,  born  September  21,  1885. 

Mr.  Kalb  is  a member  of  the  Christian  Church 
and  is  a republican  in  politics.  He  served  as  town- 
ship supervisor  fourteen  years. 

Elroy  Brooks,  a retired  farmer  living  at  Angola, 
was  born  in  York  Township  of  Steuben  County 
April  12,  1856.  His  grandfather  was  a native  of 
England,  and  he  brought  his  family  of  ten  children 
to  America  and  settled  in  Steuben  County.  Elroy 
Brooks’  father  was  born  in  England.  He  was  reared 
and  educated  in  Steuben  County,  and  left  his  farm 
of  fifty  acres  to  enter  the  Union  army  in  Company 
B of  the  One  Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry.  He 
died  as  a result  of  exposure  and  hardship  in  the 
war.  His  wife  was  Barbara  Douglass,  and  their 
children  were  Elroy,  Elizabeth,  Jay  and  Samuel. 

Elroy  Brooks  spent  thirty  years  of  his  life  as  a 
successful  farmer.  He  owned  a good  place  of 
forty-six  acres  in  Millgrove  Township.  Since  1912 
he  has  lived  at  Angola.  In  1878  he  married  Rosella 
Robnet,  daughter  of  James  and  Cloa  Robnet.  To 
their  marriage  were  born  five  children : Cora,  wife 

of  Henry  Nelson ; George,  who  was  killed  August 
15,  1918;  Dora,  wife  of  Worthy  Crowell;  Barbara, 
wife  of  Wade  Crampton,  of  Otsego  Township;  and 
Samuel  I. 

Frank  M.  Brown,  a resident  of  Fremont,  is  one 
of  the  largest  land  owners  and  farmers  in  Steuben 
County  and  is  a member  of  a family  that  has  been 
identified  with  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  since 
pioneer  days.  The  Brown  family  has  always  been 
one  of  prominence  and  its  members  have  a record 
of  unadulterated  American  patriotism. 

Several  of  his  early  ancestors  lived  at  Windham, 
Connecticut,  and  they  were  represented  by  service 
in  the  Revolutionary  war.  His  great-grandfather 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


299 


was  Elijah  Brown,  who  was  a son  of  Stephen,  a 
grandson  of  John  and  great-grandson  of  Ezekiel 
Brown,  a line  of  ancestors  going  back  to  the  very 
earliest  times  of  the  Connecticut  colony.  Elijah 
Brown  was  born  in  1773  and  married  Elizabeth 
Greenfield. 

Russell  Brown,  grandfather  of  Frank  M.  Brown, 
was  born  in  Stephentown,  Rensselaer  County,  New 
York,  January  24,  1805.  In  1828  he  married  Laura 
Sweet,  of  Stillwater,  New  York.  Her  father,  Wil- 
liam Sweet,  was  a Revolutionary  soldier.  In  1836 
Russell  Brown  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana, 
and  for  many  years  was  identified  with  the  upbuild- 
ing and  improvement  of  that  locality.  He  and  his 
wife  had  five  children,  Philena,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  fifteen,  Ezekiel,  Warren,  Erastus  and  William. 

Ezekiel  Brown,  father  of  Frank  M.  Brown,  was 
born  in  Cayuga  County,  New  York,  in  1830,  and  was 
about  six  years  old  when  brought  to  LaGrange 
County.  He  attended  a log  cabin  schoolhouse  and 
in  1858  moved  to  Steuben  County  and  became  a 
merchant  at  Crooked  Creek.  Soon  afterward  he 
bought  250  acres  of  land,  about  100  acres  of  which 
was  in  stumps.  Eventually  he  had  over  500  acres, 
constituting  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Steuben 
County,  improved  with  splendid  buildings.  The 
Brown  home  was  always  noted  for  its  hospitality. 
Ezekiel  Brown  represented  his  county  in  the  State 
Legislature  in  1878.  In  1855  he  married  Mary  C. 
Barry,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Darrow) 
Barry,  natives  of  Orleans  County,  New  York,  who 
came  to  Indiana  in  1835.  Ezekiel  Brown  and  wife 
had  two  sons,  Frank  M.  and  Clinton  M. 

Clinton  M.  Brown,  who  was  born  February  2, 
1859,  attended  high  school  at  Angola,  graduated 
from  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan  in  1881,  and  in 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  moved  to  Nebraska,  and 
in  many  ways  has  been  prominent  in  that  state. 
He  now  lives  at  Cambridge,  Nebraska,  where  he  is 
president  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Cambridge. 
He  is  an  attorney  by  profession  and  represented  his 
district  in  the  State  Legislature.  He  also  owns  and 
manages  a large  cattle  ranch  in  Wyoming. 

Frank  M.  Brown,  who  was  born  January  3,  1858, 
in  Applemanburg,  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  received  his  early  education  in  Jamestown 
Township  of  Steuben  County.  He  attended  high 
school  at  Angola  and  took  up  farming  at  an  early 
age,  having  made  a definite  choice  of  his  vocation 
as  an  agriculturist.  He  farmed  in  Jamestown  town- 
ship from  1882  until  the  spring  of  1916,  at  which 
time  he  retired  with  an  adequate  competence  for  all 
his  future  requirements.  Since  then  he  has  lived  in 
Fremont,  but  he  still  owns  three  farms  aggregating 
526  acres,  some  of  it  the  finest  land  in  Steuben 
County. 

January  3,  1882,  Mr.  Brown  married  Myra  Wilder, 
who  was  born  in  i860,  a daughter  of  Norton  and 
Lyda  (Shut)  Wilder.  Her  father  came  to  James- 
town Township  in  1858.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  have 
three  children:  Lewis  Glenn,  born  January  6,  1883, 

married  Pearl  Leg  and  has  two  children,  Roscoe 
and  Russell.  Lucile,  born  May  15,  1884,  is  the  wife 
of  Elmer  Van  Gilter,  living  on  a farm  in  James- 
town Township,  and  their  children  are  Marjorie, 
Maxine  and  Roberta.  The  youngest,  Laura  Bell, 
born  May  14,  1891,  is  the  wife  of  L.  W.  Masters, 
a dentist  by  profession. 

J.  W.  Van  Drew.  A resident  of  LaGrange 
County  nearly  fifty  years,  J.  W.  Van  Drew  is  one  of 
the  stanch  and  sturdy  followers  of  agriculture  in 
Johnson  Township,  and  is  a man  who  in  all  the 
relations  of  a busy  life  has  stood  true  to  principle, 
has  been  successful  in  his  affairs,  and  is  known  and 


honored  for  the  fine  family  and  good  influence 
that  has  always  radiated  from  his  home. 

Mr.  Van  Drew,  who  lives  in  section  19  of  Johnson 
Township,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June  17,  1850, 
a son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (Neighwander)  Van 
Drew.  His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  his  father  was  a farmer.  His  father 
was  a democrat,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  members 
of  the  Mennonite  Church.  Of  their  seven  children 
six  are  still  living:  Sarah,  J.  W.,  Jennie,  Sarah, 

Eliza  and  Margaret. 

J.  W.  Van  Drew  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education.  At  the  age 
of  twenty  he  left  home  and  came  to  Indiana,  and  in 
1872  settled  in  LaGrange  County.  He  married 
Alice  Case.  She  became  the  mother  of  three  chil- 
dren, two  of  whom  are  still  living:  Guy,  a mer- 

chant at  Des  Moines,  Iowa ; and  Ray,  a merchant 
at  Valentine,  Indiana.  On  November  7,  1889,  Mr. 
Van  Drew  married  Emma  Charles.  She  was  born 
in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jasper  E. 
and  Susanna  (Grossman)  Charles.  Her  parents  were 
born  and  were  married  in  Franklin  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, moved  from  there  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
and  in  1873  settled  at  Woodruff  in  Johnson  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Van  Drew 
received  her  education  in  the  schools  of  Ohio  and 
Indiana.  She  became  the  mother  of  three  children. 
Loyd  C.,  who  had  a high  school  education  and  a 
business  course  at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  was  with 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France  and  is 
now  at  home.  Hazel  M„  after  three  years  in  high 
school,  took  the  nurse’s  training  course,  is  a grad- 
uate nurse  of  Christ  Hospital  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio, 
and  in  1918  engaged  in  Red  Cross  work.  Florence 
M.  left  high  school  to  train  in  the  Lutheran  Hos- 
pital at  Fort  Wayne.  Mrs.  Van  Drew  is  a member 
of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics  Mr.  Van  Drew 
follows  the  democratic  allegiance.  His  place  of 
business  is  a farm  of  sixty-nine  acres,  where  he 
gives  his  time  to  general  farming  and  stockraising. 

Earl  Reed,  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Steuben 
County,  figured  for  many  years  as  a prominent 
timber  buyer  throughout  Northern  Indiana,  and  is 
now  busily  engaged  in  looking  after  and  supervising 
his  fine  farm  just  east  of  Fremont. 

Mr.  Reed,  who  was  brought  to  Steuben  County 
when  a child,  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
November  11,  1842,  son  of  James  and  Adaline  M. 
(Weber)  Reed,  the  former  a native  of  Seneca 
County,  Ohio.  Adaline  Weber  was  a daughter  of 
David  and  Lucy  Weber.  James  Reed  followed  farm- 
ing in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1853  brought 
his  family  to  Salem  Township,  Steuben  County, 
buying  eighty  acres.  Later  he  lived  in  Pleasant 
Township  and  still  later  in  Scott  Township,  where 
he  died. 

Earl  Reed  attended  school  in  Pleasant  Township 
and  as  a young  man  began  farming  there.  When 
about  thirty-four  years  old  he  took  up  the  business 
of  buying  timber  for  Huffman  Brothers  of  Fort 
Wayne.  He  also  bought  for  the  Michigan  Tie  Com- 
pany of  Grand  Rapids.  It  was  a business  that  re- 
quired much  travel  and  gave  him  the  acquaintance 
of  the  owner  of  nearly  every  important  timber  lot  in 
Northeast  Indiana.  He  thoroughly  understood  his 
business,  relied  upon  honest  principles  of  dealing, 
and  has  a host  of  friends  among  his  former  patrons. 
In  1904,  after  retiring  from  business  as  a timber 
buyer,  he  bought  his  present  farm  just  out  of  the 
corporation  limits  of  Fremont.  He  owns  100  acres, 
and  has  done  much  to  improve  it  in  material  build- 
ing equipment  and  also  in  increasing  the  fertility  of 
the  soil.  Mr.  Reed  is  a man  of  modern  and  pro- 
gressive views  in  this  respect,  and  every  year  feeds 


300 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


a large  number  of  live  stock  not  only  for  the  profit 
there  is  in  it  but  to  conserve  the  fertility  of  his 
farm.  Each  winter  he  feeds  a large  number  of 
lambs. 

Mr.  Reed  married  for  his  first  wife  Alta  Mabery, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Mabery.  She  was  the  mother 
of  three  children,  Lula,  Clyde  and  Carl.  Clyde  mar- 
ried Lona  Boor.  For  his  second  wife  Mr.  Reed 
married  in  1889  Rachel  Hodges,  daughter  of  Charles 
Hodges. 

Jonas  M.  Hutchins  has  lived  most  of  his  life 
in  Noble  County.  Farming  has  absorbed  his  ener- 
gies and  has  given  him  the  substantial  prosperity 
he  now  enjoys.  At  the  same  time  he  has  taken  an 
interest  and  helpful  part  in  all  commercial  affairs, 
including  the  church  and  educational  interests,  and 
is  still  giving  his  time  to  the  operation  of  his  farm 
in  section  2 of  Wayne  Township,  on  rural  route  No. 
1 out  of  Kendallville. 

Mr.  Hutchins  was  born  in  section  2 of  Wayne 
Township,  May  21,  1852.  His  parents  were  Roscoe 
and  Susie  (Stahl)  Hutchins.  Roscoe  Hutchins  was 
born  in  Knox  County,  Maine,  March  8,  1831.  His 
father,  Henry  Hutchins,  took  his  family  from  Maine 
to  Ohio  in  1834,  locating  near  Fostoria,  where  he 
lived  and  died.  His  children  were  Roscoe,  Charles, 
Franklin,  Lydia  A.  and  Almetia.  The  son  Franklin 
was  a Union  soldier  and  was  killed  in  the  great 
battle  of  Chickamauga. 

Roscoe  Hutchins  grew  to  maturity  in  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  attended  the  common  schools  there, 
and  soon  after  his  marriage  brought  his  bride  to 
Indiana,  in  1851,  locating  in  Wayne  Township  ot 
Noble  County.  He  lived  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
section  2 of  that  township,  from  which  community 
he  went  out  when  the  Civil  war  was  raging  as  a 
member  of  Company  K,  46th  Indiana  Volunteer 
Infantry,  and  though  he  was  on  constant  duty  for 
three  years  he  was  never  wounded.  At  the  close 
of  the  war  he  rejoined  his  family  in  Noble  County, 
and  thereafter  was  a successful  farmer.  He  was 
a democrat  in  politics.  Of  his  children,  six  in  num- 
ber, two  are  still  living,  Jonas  M.  and  Lydia  Ann 
Eliza,  the  latter  being  the  wife  of  George  R.  Lovett, 
a farmer  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  The  de- 
ceased children  are:  Delcena,  who  married  Frank 
Bower  and  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-four;  Frank- 
lin, who  died  when  two  years  old ; Jerome  D.,  who 
died  at  the  age  of  twenty-one;  and  Henry,  who 
died  when  fifty-five  years  old. 

Jonas  M.  Hutchins  spent  his  early  life  on  the 
home  farm  in  Wayne  Township,  and  while  there 
put  in  the  usual  time  attending  the  district  schools. 
He  was  with  his  parents  to  the  age  of  twenty-one, 
and  earned  his  way  by  contributing  his  labors  to 
his  father.  He  also  worked  as  a farm  hand  by 
the  month,  and  gradually  accumulated  enough  to 
enable  him  to  buy  his  first  farm,  consisting  of  fifty- 
four  acres.  He  did  well  in  handling  that  land  and 
has  since  increased  it  by  eighty  acres,  giving  him 
a well  proportioned  and  arranged  farm  of  a hun- 
dred and  thirty-four  acres,  highly  improved  and 
well  stocked. 

Mr.  Hutchins  married  for  his  first  wife  Opal 
Myers.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  children : Bes- 

sie F.,  wife  of  Clarence  Simon,  and  Sterling,  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  now  living 
at  South  Milford.  For  his  second  wife  Mr. 
Hutchins  married  Ida  May  Randal.  To  this  mar- 
riage were  also  born  two  children:  Wava  B.,  a 

graduate  of  the  common  schools,  and  also  a student 
at  the  European  Schools  of  Music,  Ft.  Wayne, 
Indiana,  is  the  wife  of  Roy  C.  Green ; Audrey  S.. 
a graduate  of  the  South  Milford  High  School  class 
of  1917,  is  the  wife  of  Fred  C.  Zimmerman.  The 


family  are  members  of  the  Evangelical  Church. 
Mr.  Hutchins  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Kendallville,  being  a past  chan- 
cellor and  a member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  He  has 
filled  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  his  pre- 
cinct for  the  past  ten  years,  and  has  gained  much 
esteem  in  his  community  for  his  impartial  handling 
of  the  various  cases  tried  before  him.  He  is  very 
active  in  his  church,  and  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

John  Dygert.  The  record  of  the  Dygert  family 
has  an  inalienable  right  in  the  affairs  of  Steuben 
County,  where  the  name  has  been  represented  promi- 
nently for  over  eighty  years. 

John  Dygert  was  born  in  Montgomery  County, 
New  York,  February  27,  1826,  a son  of  Adam  and 
Jane  (Duesler)  Dygert,  both  natives  of  New  York. 
The  Dygert  family  after  leaving  Montgomery 
County  lived  for  two  years  in  Seneca  County  and 
later  in  Monroe  County,  New  York.  In  the  early 
thirties  Adam  Dygert  came  to  Steuben  County  and 
entered  land  in  York  Township,  acquiring  160  acres. 
In  1838  he  settled  his  family  there,  and  he  and  his 
wife  lived  in  the  county  until  death.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  in  that 
generation  the  politics  of  the  family  Was  democratic. 
Adam  Dygert  and  wife  had  children  named  Lany, 
Abraham,  William,  Christian,  Levi,  Benjamin, 
Harvey,  John,  Jeremiah  and  Henry  Adam,  John 
Dygert  being  the  only  one  still  living. 

John  Dygert  was  twelve  years  old  when  he 
arrived  in  Steuben  County  October  19,  1838.  For 
over  eighty  years  he  has  been  a witness  of  changing 
scenes  and  conditions.  He  attended  some  of  the 
early  day  schools  and  as  a youth  he  manufactured 
many  grain  cradles  and  also  worked  one  year  at 
the  blacksmith’s  trade.  As  a farmer  he  bought  a 
tract  of  cranberry  land  two  miles  east  of  Angola, 
and  later  bought  the  farm  where  his  sons  Levi  and 
Carl  reside  and  where  he  makes  his  home.  Mr. 
Dygert  is  independent  in  politics  and  has  served 
as  assessor  and  township  treasurer  and  has  been  an 
active  leader  in  the  Grange  and  Farmers’  Alliance 
and  in  other  local  movements.  He  is  the  last  sur- 
viving county  official  of  the  group  who  were  in- 
cumbents of  office  when  the  court  house  was  built. 
At  that  time  he  was  serving  as  county  commissioner. 
He  is  liberal  in  his  religious  views. 

In  1851  John  Dygert  married  Caroline  Stotts,  of 
Steuben  County.  She  died  in  1875,  the  mother  of 
two  children : Charles  F.,  a farmer  in  Scott  Town- 
ship, and  Sarah  Jane,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Jackson  Nisinger  and  has  two  children,  Merle  and 
Caroline. 

April  20,  1881,  Mr.  John  Dygert  married  Miss 
Mary  Grubb.  She  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  September  27,  1843,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Bellamy)  Grubb.  Her  parents  were  natives 
of  England  and  her  father  was  killed  by  a falling 
tree  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  in  1843.  Mrs.  Dygert 
came  with  her  widowed  mother  to  Steuben  County 
in  1862.  Her  mother  died  February  1,  1881.  In  the 
Grubb  family  were  seven  childern:  Sarah,  William, 

Ann,  John,  who  died  while  a soldier  in  the  Civil 
war,  Alice,  Elizabeth  and  Mary. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dygert  had  three  sons : Ora  Clyde, 
Carl  and  Levi.  Carl  married  Grace  Weicht,  and 
their  six  children  were  John,  Audra,  deceased,  Mil- 
dred, Louise,  Galen  and  Herman. 

Levi  Dygert,  who  was  born  on  the  home  farm 
in  1885,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools,  and 
for  a number  of  years  with  his  brother  Carl  has 
worked  the  homestead.  He  is  independent  in  poli- 
tics, a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  Moose.  In 
1911  he  married  Miss  Balding,  who  was  born  in 
Scott  Township  June  3,  1891,  daughter  of  George 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


301 


and  Alice  (Nisinger)  Balding.  Her  father  died 
in  1894.  Levi  Dygert  and  wife  have  two  children: 
George  Wendell,  born  January  26,  1913,  and  Rollin 
John,  born  February  27,  1917- 

Warren  D.  Wells.  This  veteran  editor  and 
newspaper  man  of  Northeast  Indiana  has  evidently 
had  very  few  of  the  vicissitudes  and  rapid  changes 
of  the  average  publisher,  since  he  has  been  a fixture 
and  a useful  one  at  Fremont  for  over  a quarter  of 
a century,  where  he  founded  and  has  conducted  the 
Fremont  Eagle. 

Mr.  Wells  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
November  17,  1859,  a son  of  John  and  Julia  (Dewey) 
Wells.  His  mother  was  a native  of  Steuben  County, 
New  York.  John  Wells  was  born  in  1825  and  spent 
many  years  of  his  life  as  a farmer  in  Allen  County, 
Indiana,  where  he  died  in  1901.  His  widow  after 
his  death  made  her  home  with  her  only  son  and 
child,  Warren  D.,  at  Fremont,  where  she  died  in 
191 1. 

Warren  D.  Wells  acquired  a good  education,  at 
first  in  the  public  schools  in  Allen  County,  later  in 
Fort  Wayne  College  and  also  in  Valparaiso  College. 
He  taught  school  several  jrears,  and  in  1889  began 
the  printing  trade  at  Fort  Wayne.  Three  years 
later,  in  1892,  he  came  to  Fremont  and  established 
the  Fremont  Eagle,  a paper  that  has  stood  for  the 
best  interests  of  the  community,  has  been  published 
and  owned  by  Mr.  Wells  for  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury, and  has  become  a highly  successful  property. 

Mr.  Wells  while  he  has  given  his  time  to  the 
management  of  his  newspaper  has  also  been  a figure 
in  the  public  affairs  of  Steuben  County,  and  held 
the  office  of  County  Recorder  from  1908  to  1912. 
He  is  a Mason  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1884  he  married  Anna  M.  Clark,  a daughter 
of  Thomas  R.  and  Margaret  (Miller)  Clark.  They 
have  a family  of  six  children:  Emma  G.,  wife  of 

Otto  O.  Wolter;  Arthur  D.,  who  married  Hazel 
Whitmore;  Edgar  D.,  who  married  Edith  Birch; 
Donald  H. ; Henry  F.,  who  married  Sylvia  Noggle ; 
and  Winifred.  Arthur  has  followed  in  his  father’s 
footsteps  as  a journalist  and  is  editor  of  the  Orland 
Zenith,  published  at  Orland,  Indiana.  Mr.  Wells 
is  very  proud  of  the  fact  that  three  of  his  sons 
were  in  the  country’s  service  during  the  war,  Edgar, 
Donald  and  Henry.  Donald  is  now  managing  editor 
of  Base  Hospital  Journal  at  Camp  Sherman,  Ohio. 
Henry  is  with  Battery  C.  of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-Fourth  Field  Artillery,  and  is  with  the 
American  Army  of  Occupation  in  Luxemburg. 

Charles  Ramer.  Though  a comparatively  brief 
life  was  vouchsafed  to  Charles  Ramer,  he  devel- 
oped a real  farm  out  of  the  woods  of  Clear  Spring 
Township,  and  left  his  family  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances. He  was  highly  esteemed  as  a citizen 
and  was  true  to  himself  and  to  all  the  duties  and 
obligations  of  life. 

He  was  born  in  Brown  County,  Ohio,  January 
14,  1861,  a son  of  Henry  and  Catherine  (Suffef) 
Ramer.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany. 
Henry  Ramer  came  to  the  United  States  when  a 
young  man,  and  after  a year  or  two  went  back  to 
the  Fatherland  to  settle  up  his  father’s  estate.  On 
his  second  trip  to  this  country  he  met  Catherine 
Suffel,  and  on  May  27,  1859,  they  were  married' 
and  in  the  same  year  located  in  Brown  County, 
Ohio.  _ Henry  Ramer  was  born  April  22,  1830,  and 
his  wife  was  born  April  16,  1838.  They  were  the 
parents  of  twelve  children.  In  1877  the  family 
moved  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  in  i8g6  to 
LaGrange  County,  where  Henry  Ramer  died  July  15, 
1897,  and  his  widow  March  23,  1905. 


Charles  Ramer  was  sixteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  Indiana,  had  a farm  rearing  and  a com- 
mon school  education,  and  on  April  19,  1885,  mar- 
ried Mary  A.  Reidenbach.  She  was  born  in  Elk- 
hart Township  of  Noble  County  May  3,  1862,  a 
daughter  of  Philip  and  Catherine  (Kermin)  Reiden- 
bach. She  was  reared  on  a farm  in  Noble  County 
and  had  a common  school  education. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ramer  after  their  marriage  lived 
in  Noble  County  a few  years,  and  on  coming  to 
LaGrange  County  located  on  the  place  of  160  acres 
which  at  that  time  was  all  in  the  woods  and  which 
Air.  Ramer’s  industry  converted  into  the  good  farm 
which  it  is  today.  He  died  there  in  the  midst  of  his 
labors,  when  he  was  beginning  to  realize  their  fruit- 
age, on  May  30,  1916.  He  was  active  in  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  Church,  as  is  Mrs.  Ramer,  and  in 
politics  was  a democrat. 

There  were  five  children:  William  A.,  who  mar- 
ried Dorothy  Steinbarger ; John  W.,  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools  and  unmarried;  Amelia  M„ 
who  completed  her  work  in  the  local  schools  and 
is  the  wife  of  Harry  Wiard;  Laura  L.,  a common 
school  graduate,  wife  of  Ira  M.  Keim,  who  served 
with  the  American  forces  in  France,  and  is  now 
at  home;  and  Carl  F.,  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools.  There  are  also  the  following  grandchil- 
dren: Lawrence  E.,  Florence  M.,  Mildred  M.,  John 
C.,  and  Dona  Belle. 

Joshua  J.  Metz  is  spending  the  evening  of  life  at 
his  comfortable  rural  homestead  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship. The  energies  of  his  manhood’s  prime  were 
well  bestowed,  had  ample  fruitage,  and  gained  him 
not  only  sufficient  of  this  world’s  goods  but  the 
esteem  and  good  will  of  the  community  where  he 
has  lived  so  many  years.  Mr.  Aletz  is  an  honored 
veteran  of  the  great  Civil  war. 

He  was  born  at  Baden,  Germany,  June  25,  1846. 
His  father,  Christopher  Metz,  was  also  born  in 
Baden,  Germany.  He  married  in  February,  1842, 
Eva  Katherine  Gretchman.  She  was  born  in  Baden 
April  2,  1822,  daughter  of  Carl  and  Marguerite 
Gretchman.  Christopher  Metz  brought  his  family 
to  America  in  1854.  They  were  103  days  on  the 
ocean.  One  of  their  sons  died  in  Germany,  they 
buried  a daughter  at  sea,  and  another  daughter  was 
buried  in  New  York.  When  they  embarked  on  the 
ship  they  carried  with  them  supplies  of  clothing  and 
other  goods,  but  all  these  possessions  were  lost  in 
New  York.  The  family  went  on  to  Ohio  and  about 
1862  came  to  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County, 
where  with  the  exception  of  two  .years  Christopher 
Metz  spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  children  be- 
sides those  above  mentioned  were : Catherine,  who 

was  born  in  Germany;  Joshua;  J.  H. ; William; 
Martha,  and  Nathan. 

Joshua  Aletz  was  only  nine  years  old  when 
brought  to  this  country,  and  he  acquired  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Steuben  County,  in 
Otsego  and  York  townships.  In  the  time  when  all 
the  young  men  of  the  country  were  aroused  to  a 
sense  of  patriotic  duty,  Joshua  Metz  showed  un- 
usual patriotism  and  when  not  yet  seventeen  years  of 
age,  on  Christmas  evening  of  1863,  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Ninth  In- 
diana Infantry.  He  saw  nearly  two  years  of  active 
service,  and  received  his  honorable  discharge  at 
Charlotte,  North  Carolina,  August  29,  1865.  He 
took  part  in  some  of  the  hardest  fighting  which 
broke  the  back  of  the  Confederacy,  including  the 
battles  of  Resaca,  Buzzard  Roost,  Fort  Fisher,  Five 
Forks,  Goldsboro  and  numerous  skirmishes. 

When  the  war  was  over  he  returned  to  Otsego 
Township  and  in  September,  1866,  married  Sarah 


302 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Hantz,  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Mary  (Garman) 
Hantz. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Metz  farmed  a year  in 
Scott  Township,  was  then  in  Otsego  Township  un- 
til 1872,  and  from  there  moved  to  Richland  Town- 
ship for  a year,  lived  in  DeKalb  County  two  years, 
and  since  then  has  spent  his  energies  on  one  farm 
in  Otsego  Township,  in  section  13.  He  owns  120 
acres  and  its  improvements  and  buildings  represent 
his  individual  labors  and  investments. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Metz  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  They  have  been  married  over  a half 
a century,  and  while  they  had  struggles  and  priva- 
tions at  the  beginning  they  have  ease  and  comforts 
at  life’s  decline.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  John  I.,  David  E.,  and  Lillian.  John  mar- 
ried Lora  Avery,  who  died  in  1917,  leaving  two 
children,  Dorothy  M.  and  Dawson.  John  Metz 
married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Hattie  Ferrel. 
David  Metz  married  Lura  Anspaugh,  and  has  two 
children,  Pauline  L.  and  Sarah  L. 

Arthur  B.  Cookerly.  Of  all  the  positions  of 
trust  and  responsibility  in  LaGrange  County  none 
is  more  important  to  the  welfare  of  the  present 
and  future  generations  than  that  of  superintendent 
of  the  public  schools.  The  present  incumbent  of 
that  office  is  Arthur  B.  Cookerly,  a man  of  high 
ideals  in  an  educational  way,  of  long  training  and 
thorough  experience,  and  has  been  identified  with 
practical  school  work  as  a teacher  and  administrator 
since  early  manhood. 

He  was  born  at  South  Milford,  Indiana,  April 
3,  1884,  a son  of  J.  C.  and  Emma  (Smith)  Cooker- 
ly, the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  J.  C.  Cookerly  came  with 
his  parents  to  Jay  County,  Indiana,  where  he  grew 
to  maturity,  acquired  the  trade  of  mechanic  and  for 
a number  of  years  worked  at  Kendallville.  Later 
he  moved  to  Orland  in  Steuben  County,  had  a 
blacksmith  shop  there,  and  later  at  South  Milford, 
where  he  is  now  living  retired.  He  and  his  wife 
have  nine  children,  A.  H.,  Arthur  B.,  Zura,  Mary 
A.,  Vennie,  Archie,  William,  Edith  and  Richard. 
Archie  and  William  Cookerly  were  both  soldiers 
in  the  World  war,  and  William  was  with  the  Ex- 
peditionary Forces  in  France. 

Arthur  B.  Cookerly  spent  most  of  his  early  life 
in  South  Milford,  and  attended  the  public  schools 
there,  graduating  from  high  school  in  1904.  He 
has  always  been  a student  as  well  as  a worker  in 
the  practical  lines  of  his  profession  and  attended 
the  State  Normal  School  two  terms,  was  for  two 
years  in  Indiana  University,  and  two  terms  at  the 
University  of  Wisconsin.  He  taught  his  first  school 
in  1904,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  year  his 
service  in  the  profession  was  continuous  until  1917. 
He  served  as  principal  of  the  Stroh  School  three 
years  and  assistant  principal  of  the  South  Milford 
schools  four  years.  Since  1917  he  has  been  county 
superintendent  of  schools. 

June  17,  1912,  he  married  Zella  Parks,  daughter 
of  H.  R.  and  Minnie  (Fites)  Parks.  Mrs.  Cookerly 
was  born  at  Montpelier,  Ohio,  September  24,  1893, 
and  during  her  early  girlhood  lived  with  her  parents 
in  Chicago  for  eight  years.  She  received  most  of 
her  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Ashley  and 
Stroh,  Indiana.  She  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  LaGrange.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cookerly  are  active  in  fraternal  affairs.  He  is  past 
grand  and  past  chief  patriarch  of  South  Milford 
Lodge  No.  619,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows, 
and  South  Milford  Encampment  No.  238,  and  has  sat 
in  the  Grand  Lodge.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  South  Milford  Lodge  of  Rebekahs  No. 
416.  He  is  affiliated  with  LaGrange  Lodge  No.  144, 


Knights  of  Pythias,  with  Philo  Lodge  No.  672,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which  he  is  past  master, 
with  LaGrange  Chapter  No.  102,  Royal  Arch  Masons, 
and  with  Kendallville  Council  No.  50,  Royal  and 
Select  Masters.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members 
of  the  Eastern  Star  Chapter  at  LaGrange  and  Mrs. 
Cookerly  is  secretary.  In  politics  his  affiliations  are 
democratic. 

Abram  F.  Summey,  whose  home  is  on  a farm  in 
Van  Buren  Township,  has  during  his  long  and 
active  life  had  a part  in  the  clearing  and  developing 
of  five  farms  in  LaGrange  County. 

Mr.  Summey  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
September  26,  1858,  a son  of  John  and  Lucinda 
(Plumb)  Summey.  His  parents  came  from  Wayne 
County  to  LaGrange  County  in  1866,  settling  on 
eighty  acres  in  Newbury  Township.  Their  first 
home  was  an  old  shack  of  a log  house.  The  father 
cleared  the  land  and  improved  it,  and  spent  the  rest 
of  his  career  as  a farmer.  He  was  drowned  in 
Shipshewana  Lake  January  22,  1897,  when  fifty-six 
years  of  age.  His  wife  died  in  1898,  aged  fifty-seven. 
He  was  a republican  and  liberal  in  his  religious 
views.  Abram  F.  Summey  was  the  second  born 
and  is  the  only  one  living  of  six  children,  the  others 
being  Silas,  John,  Sarah,  John  and  Lillie. 

Abram  F.  Summey  from  the  age  of  eight  years 
grew  up  on  the  homestead  in  Newbury  Township, 
attended  public  schools,  and  for  several  years  farmed 
his  father’s  place  on  the  shares.  He  also  spent  a 
year  farming  in  Missouri.  On  returning  to  LaGrange 
County  he  bought  forty  acres  included  in  his  present 
place  in  Van  Buren  Township,  and  has  cleared  and 
improved  it  with  good  buildings.  Mr.  Summey  is  a 
republican. 

In  1881  he  married  Hannah  J.  Arnold,  who  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in  1861.  Her  parents, 
Mathias  and  Amy  Arnold,  spent  all  their  lives  in 
that  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Summey  had  eight 
children : Anthony  F.,  who  married  Elma  Zuber ; 

Eugene,  who  married  Cora  Lautenschlager ; Ada, 
wife  of  Mel  Hawkins;  Warren,  who  married  Irene 
Bodish ; Hazel,  wife  of  Jay  Mast;  Wilma,  wife  of 
Percy  Moser ; and  Macey  and  Arnold,  both  deceased. 

C.  W.  Dally,  manager  of  the  Fremont  Lumber 
Company,  is  a good  and  substantial  business  man 
and  has  devoted  a large  part  of  his  active  business 
life  to  farming  and  public  affairs  in  Steuben  County. 
He  served  six  years  as  a county  commissioner. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben 
County  September  1,  1867,  a son  of  Robert  V.  3nd 
Helen  Jane  (Morley)  Dally.  Robert  V.  Dally,  who 
was  born  in  Guernsey  County,  Ohio,  January  28, 
1824,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Eleanor  Dally,  came  with 
his  parents  to  Richland  Township  in  1846.  Robert 
Dally  gave  a service  of  great  usefulness  in  this 
community  for  thirty-six  years  as  a carpenter.  All 
that  time  he  owned  a farm,  and  managed  to  keep 
its  improvements  up,  and  finally  on  leaving  his  trade 
devoted  all  his  time  to  agriculture.  He  owned  100 
acres.  He  died  in  October,  1905.  He  was  an  active 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Robert  V.  Dally  married  Helen  Jane  Morley,  who 
was  born  in  Ontario  County,  New  York,  June  16, 
1829,  and  died  September  5,  1903.  She  was  a daugh- 
ter of  Ebenezer  and  Celinda  Morley,  the  former 
born  in  Connecticut  April  26,  1792,  and  the  latter 
in  Vermont  in  1797.  Ebenezer  Morley  came  with 
his  family  to  Steuben  County  in  1842,  and  only  five 
other  families  were  living  at  that  time  in  Richland 
Township.  He  settled  in  section  21  and  was  a 
basket  maker  and  farmer,  and  died  there  in  1864. 
Robert  V.  Dally  and  wife  had  five  children:  An- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


303 


nette  Celinda,  who  married  A.  Barren ; Mary,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Orson  Parrett;  Jessie,  wife  of 
Theron  Gordon ; Morton  R.,  who  married  Della 
Ingle;  and  C.  W.  Dally. 

C.  W.  Dally  attended  public  school  in  Richland 
Township  and  in  early  manhood  became  identified 
with  farming  in  his  home  township.  In  1906  he 
moved  to  York  Township,  and  actively  prosecuted 
his  interests  as  a farmer  there  until  1917.  He  still 
owns  a good  farm  of  eighty-five  acres  in  that  town- 
ship. After  a few  months  of  residence  at  Angola 
Mr.  Dally  moved  to  Fremont,  and  for  the  past  two 
years  has  given  his  time  to  the  management  of  the 
Fremont  Lumber  Company.  His  service  as  county 
commissioner  was  from  1911  to  1918.  Mr.  Dally  is 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  1896  he  married 
Dora  B.  Duell,  daughter  of  Byron  and  Mary  Duell. 
Four  children  were  born  to  their  marriage : Charles 
E.,  who  married  Bessie  Hall  and  has  one  son,  Olan ; 
Bernice,  born  in  1899  and  died  in  1908;  Frank  W. ; 
and  Herman  R. 

Paul  E.  Sigler.  There  are  many  reasons  why 
the  people  of  LaGrange  County  have  been  willing 
to  entrust  their  public  affairs  to  the  management 
of  Paul  E.  Sigler,  who  is  now  county  commissioner 
representing  the  southern  district  of  that  county. 
Mr.  Sigler  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County  all  his 
life,  is  a practical  farmer,  and  in  all  the  relations 
of  a busy  life  has  proved  true  and  deserving  of 
confidence  and  trust.  He  was  born  in  section  2 of 
Clear  Spring  Township  August  22,  1861,  a son  of 
William  and  Lydia  (Hime)  Sigler.  His  father  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Maryland,  October  20, 
1820,  and  died  June  20,  1902,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two.  His  wife  was  born  March  5,  1823,  in  Penn- 
sylvania, and  died  in  1903.  They  were  married  in 
Ohio  December  29,  1841,  and  on  October  2,  1852, 
came  to  LaGrange  County.  William  Sigler  at  that 
time  was  poor  in  purse  but  had  great  ambition  and 
enterprise,  and  in  the  course  of  years  acquired  316 
acres  of  land.  While  exceedingly  busy,  he  was  al- 
ways a liberal  supporter  of  the  church  and  did 
much  to  help  out  his  neighbors  and  those  in  misfor- 
tune. He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  politically  he  was  a republican  and 
served  as  one  of  the  early  constables  of  Clear 
Spring  Township.  William  Sigler  and  wife  had 
eleven  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Amanda,  widow  of  Lewis  Moore;  Samuel  L.,  of 
LaGrange  County ; Matilda,  wife  of  Emanuel 
Shelly;  Solomon  F.,  of  Sturgis,  Michigan;  Amelia, 
wife  of  Allen  Shoup;  and  Paul  E. 

Paul  E.  Sigler  grew  up  on  the  old  home  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools.  May  22,  1881,  he  mar- 
ried Jennie  Todd.  She  was  born  in  Lima  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  March  1,  1862,  and  acquired 
a good  education  and  was  a successful  teacher  be- 
fore her  marriage.  She  is  a daughter  of  Milton 
Todd,  an  early  resident  of  Indiana.  He  married  D. 
E.  Rowan. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sigler  settled  on  the  old  Sigler 
farm,  which  he  rented  until  after  his  mother’s 
death,  and  then  bought  thirty-five  acres  of  the  land, 
and  now  has  seventy-five  acres.  Besides  farming 
he  has  been  much  occupied  with  public  affairs.  He 
served  as  assessor  of  Clear  Spring  Township  six 
years,  and  for  two  years  held  the  office  of  county 
drainage  commissioner,  resigning  that  to  accept  ap- 
pointment as  county  commissioner.  He  is  an  offi- 
cial member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  and 
has  been  Sunday  school  superintendent. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sigler  have  three  children:  Wil- 

liam C.,  who  married  Ora  Updike;  H.  Ort,  a grad- 


uate of  the  LaGrange  High  School,  formerly  a 
teacher  and  now  a farmer  in  Bloomfield  Township, 
and  who  married  Alta  E.  Seybert ; and  Lulu  M.,  un- 
married and  living  at  home. 

Jonathan  Farver.  The  business  community  of 
Shipshewana  has  one  of  its  oldest  and  most  force- 
ful figures  in  Jonathan  Farver,  veteran  lumberman 
and  lumber  manufacturer,  active  head  of  the  Farver 
Lumber  Company. 

. Mr.  Farver,  who  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County 
since  early  childhood,  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  June  6,  1857.  He  is  a son  of  Abraham 
and  Harriet  (Snyder)  Farver  and  a grandson  of 
John  Farver,  who  was  born  in  New  Jersey  of 
French  parentage.  John  spent  most  of  his  life  as 
a farmer  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio.  His  children 
were  named  John,  George,  Jacob,  Abraham,  Wil- 
liam, Jonathan,  Solomon  and  Barbara.  Abraham 
Farver  became  a millwright  by  trade.  His  wife, 
Harriet  Snyder,  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, a daughter  of  Daniel  Snyder.  In  1863 
the  Farver  family  moved  from  Holmes  County  to 
Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  acquir- 
ing a farm  about  four  miles  south  of  Shipshewana. 
While  living  in  that  locality  Abraham  Farver  spent 
part  of  his  time  as  a cabinet  maker,  but  in  the 
main  operated  his  farming  interests  and  lived  on 
his  farm  until  his  death  in  1892,  at  the  age  of  sixty- 
six.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1873.  In  religion  he 
was  a Presbyterian,  while  his  wife  was  of  the  Men- 
nonite  faith.  They  have  six  children,  named  Eliza- 
beth, Jonathan,  William,  Emma,  Barbara  and  Moses. 

Jonathan  Farver,  who  was  six  years  old  when 
brought  to  LaGrange  County,  attended  the  district 
schools  of  Newbury  Township  and  in  early  life  fol- 
lowed in  the  same  line  as  his  father,  learning  the 
cabinet  making  trade.  Mr.  Farver  spent  about 
twenty-seven  years  as  a building  contractor.  He 
became  associated  with  his  brother  William  in  1889 
in  the  sawmill  and  lumber  business  in  Shipshewana. 
Thus  that  industry  has  been  established  there  under 
the  Farver  name  for  thirty  years.  William  Farver 
dissolved  the  partnership  by  death  in  1906,  and  until 
1915  Mr.  Farver  continued  the  business  alone.  In 
the  latter  year  the  Farver  Lumber  Company  was 
incorporated  with  Mr.  Farver  as  president.  His 
firm  still  operates  a saw  mill,  manufacturing  hard- 
wood lumber  for  both  the  wholesale  and  retail 
trades.  In  the  yards  at  Shipshewana  they  handle 
all  kinds  of  building  material,  cement  and  coal. 

In  1882  Mr.  Farver  married  Catherine  Weaver,  a 
daughter  of  David  and  Catherine  Weaver  and  a 
sister  of  V.  D.  Weaver,  cashier  of  the  National  Bank 
of  LaGrange.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Farver  have  five  chil- 
dren: Laura,  wife  of  Samuel  P.  Curtis;  Belva, 

wife  of  James  Beecher;  Stewart,  who  died  at  the 
age  of  six  years;  Cuba,  wife  of  Fred  Lampman; 
and  Irene.  The  daughter  Irene,  who  completed  her 
junior  year  in  high  school  in  1919,  has  in  all  her 
school  experience  not  a single  case  of  tardiness  nor 
absence  recorded  against  her  score.  Mr.  Farver  is 
an  active  member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Ship- 
shewana. 

Christian  K.  Parsell.  A number  of  the  pro- 
gressive agriculturalists  of  Northeastern  Indiana  are 
specializing  on  certain  lines  of  activity,  experiments 
proving  to  them  that  their  farms  are  adapted  for 
certain  purposes,  and  if  they  desire  to  achieve  the 
best  results  it  is  better  that  they  utilize  all  the  possi- 
bilities. _ One  farmer  will  devote  himself  to  the 
production  of  dairy  products,  another  prefers  to 
grow_  varied  grain  crops,  while  still  another  special- 
izes in  breeding  live  stock.  With  the  great  demand 


304 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


for  wool  has  come  large  profits  in  raising  sheep, 
and  the  farmers  of  this  section  of  the  state  are 
turning  toward  this  branch  of  agriculture  with 
profitable  results.  One  of  the  men  who  is  well 
known  as  a sheep  breeder  is  Christian  K.  Parsell 
of  Steuben  Township,  Steuben  County. 

Christian  K.  Parsell  was  born  in  Salem  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  Indiana,  February  7,  1865,  a 
son  of  Wickliff  W.  and  Elizabeth  (Klink)  Parsell, 
the  former  of  whom  was  born  at  Millburn,  New 
Jersey.  About  1863,  Wickliff  W.  Parsell  came  from 
New  Jersey  to  Steuben  County,  and  spent  some  time 
with  his  brother,  William  Parsell,  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship. He  was  then  married  to  Elizabeth  Klink.  a 
daughter  of  Christian  and  Mary  Klink,  and  bought 
160  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  Township,  on  which 
he  and  his  wife  located  in  the  spring  of  1865,  re- 
siding upon  it  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  Their 
children  were  as  follows:  C.  K.,  whose  name  heads 

this  review  j Blanche,  who  married  W.  A.  Ferrier; 
and  Bertha,  who  married  a Mr.  Meisner. 

Christian  K.  Parsell  was  born  in  Salem  Township 
and  attended  the  schools  of  Steuben  Township  and 
those  of  Angola.  After  attaining  his  majority  he  be- 
gan farming  on  rented  land  in  Steuben  Township, 
but  in  1890  he  inherited  seventy  acres  of  land  in  the 
same  township,  and  bought  nine  more,  making 
eighty  acres.  On  this  tract  he  has  since  lived,  carry- 
ing on  general  farming  and  stock  raising  and  spe- 
cializing in  the  breeding  of  Oxford  sheep,  having 
been  engaged  in  the  latter  line  for  the  past  twenty 
years,  increasing  his  flocks  to  meet  the  demands 
of  a rising  market. 

On  December  1,  1887,  Mr.  Parsell  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Ollie  M.  Gonser,  a daughter  of  Daniel 
and  Catherine  Gonser.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parsell  have 
four  children,  namely:  Daniel  Ward,  Charles  C.  and 
Grace  E.,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  the  third  child, 
Warren,  who  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen  years. 
The  family  are  very  well  and  favorably  known 
throughout  Steuben  County,  and  Mr.  Parsell  is 
recognized  as  an  authority  on  sheep  breeding,  and 
his  advice  is  often  sought  by  those  who  wish  to  fol- 
low his  example.  He  is  a friend  of  the  public 
schools,  good  roads  and  other  improvements,  realiz- 
ing that  this  is  an  age  of  progress  and  that  any- 
thing calculated  to  advance  the  community  raises 
the  value  of  property,  and  offers  more  inducements 
to  the  rising  generation  to  remain  at  home  instead 
of  going  into  the  neighboring  cities. 

Frank  Chase  Wade,  M.  D.  One  of  the  busiest 
firms  of  physicians  and  surgeons  in  Northeast  In- 
diana is  that  of  Doctors  Wade  and  Wade  at  Howe. 
They  handle  the  practice  for  the  Howe  Military 
School  and  also  a large  general  practice.  Both  are 
capable,  talented  young  physicians,  and  men  of  the 
best  qualifications  for  their  chosen  profession. 

The  older,  Dr.  Frank  Chase  Wade,  was  born  at 
Mongo,  Indiana,  July  27,  1877,  and  is  a son  of 
Alfred  A.  and  Emily  Eleva  (Chase)  Wade.  A 
sketch  of  the  career  of  his  father  is  given  on  other 
pages  of  this  publication.  Doctor  Wade  was  eight 
years  old  when  his  parents  moved  from  Mongo  to 
Howe,  where  he  attended  the  public  schools  and 
graduated  from  the  Howe  Military  School  in  1894. 
He  completed  his  under  graduate  medical  training 
at  Detroit  College  of  Medicine  in  1900,  and  since 
then  has  taken  post-graduate  courses  in  New  York 
City  and  at  Harvard  University  in  Boston.  He 
began  active  practice  in  1900  at  Howe  and  since 
1909  his  brother,  Alfred  A.  Wade,  Jr.,  has  been 
associated  with  him.  Doctor  Wade  is  a member 
of  the  County,  State  and  American  Medical  asso- 
ciations. 

He  is  a prominent  Mason,  being  affiliated  with 


the  Lodge  at  Howe,  LaGrange  Chapter,  Royal  Arch 
Masons,  Council  No.  50,  Royal  and  Select  Masters, 
at  Kendallville,  and  with  the  Scottish  Rite  bodies 
and  Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  also  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  Church. 

October  24,  1900,  Doctor  Wade  married  Miss 
Minnie  M.  Schaeffer,  daughter  of  James  W.  Schaef- 
fer of  Howe.  She  died  January  26,  1910,  leaving 
one  daughter,  Rachel  Elleva,  who  was  born  Decem- 
ber 20,  1903.  On  August  14,  1912,  Doctor  Wade 
married  Miss  Ruth  M.  Nelson,  daughter  of  Myron 
Nelson,  of  Clear  Spring  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  Doctor  and  Mrs.  Wade  have  two  daughters, 
Mary  Ann,  born  June  17,  1913,  and  Ella  Jane,  born 
January  14,  1916. 

Thad  K.  Miller,  one  of  the  prominent  citizens 
of  Steuben  County,  where  he  has  lived  for  over  half 
a century,  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  August 
2,  1847,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Katharine  (Kain) 
Miller,  the  former  a native  of  Maryland  and  the 
latter  of  Ohio.  His  mother  died  in  Seneca  County 
in  1853.  Flis  father  came  to  Steuben  County  during 
Civil  war  times,  and  followed  the  trade  of  mill- 
wright. He  died  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
nine. 

Thad  K.  Miller  grew  up  in  Seneca  County,  had  a 
good  education  in  public  schools  and  academy,  and 
in  1862,  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  enlisted  in  Company 
A of  the  Sixty-First  Ohio  Infantry,  and  he  saw  some 
very  hard  service  until  June  10,  1865.  He  was  at 
Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Missionary  Ridge,  the 
Atlanta  campaign  and  the  march  to  the  sea.  Mr. 
Miller  came  to  Steuben  County  June  1,  1865,  and 
has  been  a resident  of  the  county  ever  since.  He 
located  in  Jackson  Township  and  acquired  a farm 
there.  For  many  years  his  chief  work  was  as  a 
marine  engineer,  and  for  several  years  he  had  his 
headquarters  at  Detroit.  In  1895  he  was  elected 
county  recorder  of  Steuben  County,  and  filled  that 
office  with  admirable  efficiency  for  four  years.  He 
then  took  up  the  practice  of  law  and  has  had  many 
cases  before  the  Department  of  Interior  and  the 
Treasury  at  Washington.  He  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Chris- 
tian Church  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge,  Council 
and  Commandery  of  the  Masonic  Order  and  is 
prominent  in  the  different  branches  of  Masonry. 

April  18,  1869,  he  married  Ellen  M.  Stout,  of 
Steuben  County.  Her  father,  Hervey  B.  Stout,  came 
to  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  in  1836.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Miller  had  four  children.  Frank  H.,  a railroad 
engineer  living  at  Montpelier,  Ohio,  married  Artie 
M.  Davis  and  has  six  children:  Harold  E.,  a first 

lieutenant  of  infantry;  Ralph,  of  Company  A,  One 
Hundred  and  Twelfth  Supply  Train,  now  in  France; 
Lois,  John,  Sarah  and  Thad  K.,  Jr.  Belle  S.  Miller 
is  the  wife  of  William  Mabie,  a farmer  of  Steuben 
County,  and  has  a son  Thad  K.,  Jr.  Harry  W.  is 
a merchant  in  South  Dakota  and  married  Ida  Day. 
Katherine  is  the  wife  of  A.  G.  Weldin,  of  Cold- 
water,  Michigan,  and  their  children  are  Ellen  R., 
Marjorie  D.  and  Leander  M. 

G.  Rtley  Powers.  From  the  time  the  Powers 
family  landed  in  the  woods  of  York  Township, 
Steuben  County,  in  1837,  much  of  the  history,  much 
of  the  development  and  many  of  the  most  im- 
portant influences  that  have  shaped  and  moulded 
that  community  have  had  this  family  as  their  de- 
termining factor.  In  their  case  the  term.  “old 
family”  also  means  a race  of  strong  people,  indus- 
trious, capable,  upholders  of  religion  and  education 
and  valuable  elements  in  the  county  and  state. 

The  ancestry  of  the  Powers  family  goes  back  to 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


305 


Ireland,  where  Arad  Powers  married  Lydia  Bruce, 
a native  of  Scotland.  Coming  to  America  before 
the  Revolutionary  war,  they  settled  in  Massachusetts. 
Their  son  Oliver  Powers  was  born  in  Massachu- 
setts and  married  Lydia  Winn.  Oliver  Powers  was 
a Revolutionary  soldier.  After  the  winning  of 
independence  he  moved  to  Oneida  County,  New 
York,  and  afterward  to  Ontario  County. 

losiah  Powers,  son  of  Oliver,  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1772,  and  married  in  1799  Hannah 
Church.  After  their  marriage  they  moved  to 
Oneida  County,  New  York,  and  in  1805  to  Ontario 
County,  where  Josiah  died  in  1808.  His  sons,  most 
of  whom  became  connected  with  Northeast  Indiana, 
were:  Stephen,  born  in  1800;  Winn,  born  in  1801; 

Clark,  born  in  1803;  Josiah,  born  in  1806;  and  Cal- 
vin, born  in  1808. 

Winn  Powers  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  New 
York,  in  December,  1801.  He  acquired  a good 
education  and  taught  school  for  a time.  In  1825 
he  married  Betsy  Reeves,  who  was  born  in  New 
Jersey  in  May,  1801.  After  their  marriage  the 
young  couple  moved  to  Allegany  County,  New  York, 
and  settled  on  a wild  farm.  About  1836  they  con- 
cluded it  was  their  duty  to  provide  homes  for  their 
children,  and  they  therefore  sold  their  possessions 
in  New  York  and  started  for  Indiana,  where  the 
brothers  Clark  and  Calvin  Powers  had  entered  land 
in  the  spring  of  the  preceding  year.  The  Powers 
family  were  really  the  first  settlers  of  York  Town- 
ship. Winn  Powers  started  from  Allegany  County, 
New  York,  in  May,  1837,  with  a two  ox  team,  and 
drove  all  the  way  to  York  Township.  From  Fre- 
mont to  Angola  this  was  the  first  team  to  get 
through  the  woods.  Winn  Powers  had  to  cut  much 
of  the  brush  and  trees  in  the  way.  He  took  up 
eighty  acres  of  heavily  timbered  land,  and  started  out 
a poor  man.  They  lived  in  a log  cabin,  and  their 
lot  was  one  of  heavy  labor,  the  endurance  of  many 
hardships,  but  in  the  course  of  time  he  had  his  chil- 
dren well  established  and  Winn  Powers  had  200 
broad  acres  to  account  for  his  own  industry.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  for  about 
thirty  years,  was  an  active  democrat,  and  he  and 
his  brothers  did  much  to  promote  religious  worship 
and  education,  providing  for  the  Powers  Church 
and  the  Powers  Cemetery  and  also  for  the  school 
known  as  the  Powers  School  House.  Winn  Powers 
died  June  24,  1883,  and  his  wife  on  April  14,  1873. 
Their  children  were:  Myron,  born  in  1826;  Hannah, 
born  in  1828;  Edwin,  born  in  1831;  Calvin,  born  in 
1834;  Mowry,  born  in  1836;  Ann  Eliza,  born  in 
1839;  and  George  Riley. 

George  Riley  Powers,  whose  life  record  makes 
him  a man  of  prominence  in  York  Township,  where 
he  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  half  a century  as 
a farmer,  was  born  on  the  old  Powers  farm  in 
section  29  of  that  township  July  27,  1842.  He  at- 
tended the  Powers  School  House  as  a boy,  worked 
on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  started 
for  himself  on  the  place  where  he  is  still  living, 
and  which  has  been  the  center  of  his  work  and 
associations  for  fifty-five  years.  All  the  improve- 
ments on  that  good  farm  have  been  erected  by  him. 

September  3,  1864,  he  married  Lydia  A.  Hemry, 
daughter  of  Abraham  and  Mary  Ann  Hemry.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Powers  own  ninety-one  acres  in  sections 
29  and  30  of  York  Township. 

Mrs.  Powers’  father  was  born  in  Ohio,  a son  of 
Isaac  Hemry.  Abraham  Hemry  was  a farmer  in 
Crawford  County,  Ohio,  and  about  i860  came  to 
York  Township  in  Steuben  County  and  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  there.  He  owned  eighty  acres  of 
land.  The  maiden  name  of  his  wife  was  Mary  Ann 
Vol.  II— 20 


McLaskey.  They  had  the  following  children  : John ; 
Margaret,  wife  of  James  Foster;  Nancy  J.,  wife 
of  John  Stance;  Lydia,  wife  of  G.  R.  Powers;  Re- 
becca, who  married  Alexander  Hanselman ; George 
E. ; Delia,  wife  of  Haden  Franks;  Andrew  J. ; and 
Eva,  wife  of  Douglas  Gamber.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  Mr.  Hemry  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Hanselman,  and  had  a daughter,  Mary  E.,  who 
married  Minard  Headley. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Powers  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  known  as  Powers 
Church.  He  served  one  term  as  trustee  of  York 
Township  • and  has  interested  himself  in  every 
worthy  community  improvement.  He  and  his  wife 
have  two  children.  Emry  married  Della  Lash  and 
has  a son  Wayne.  Luella  married  Henry  Van  Pelt 
and  has  two  children,  Lena  and  Forest. 

Wesley  C.  Strang.  In  addition  to  the  material 
success  which  has  awarded  his  efforts  as  a LaGrange 
County  farmer,  there  is  special  interest  in  the  career 
of  Wesley  C.  Strang,  whose  home  is  two  and  a half 
miles  east  of  Topeka,  in  the  fact  that  practically  all 
his  life,  constituting  three  score  years  and  ten,  has 
been  spent  in  the  one  environment.  Here  he  grew 
up  when  the  woods  were  tall,  and  has  witnessed  a 
remarkable  transformation  and  evolution,  has 
played  his  own  part  worthily,  and  still  enjoys  many 
of  the  associations  which  were  familiar  to  him  as 
a boy. 

He  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  now  owns 
August  23,  1846,  a son  of  John  L.  and  Margaret 
(McQuiston)  Strang.  His  father  was  a native  of 
New  York  City  and  his  mother  of  Virginia.  They 
grew  up  in  Indiana,  were  married  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  then  settled  on  the  land  which  is  now 
in  the  home  farm  of  their  son  Wesley.  They  were 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  John 
Strang  was  a republican  in  politics.  Of  the  five 
children  three  are  still  living:  Mary  A.,  wife  of 

B.  A.  Jones;  George  E.,  of  Michigan;  and  Wes- 
ley C. 

Wesley  C.  Strang  attended  the  common  schools 
of  the  ’50s  and  early  ’60s,  and  the  only  time  he  was 
ever  away  from  home  for  any  important  interval 
was  a six  weeks’  trip  to  the  far  west  during  his 
early  manhood.  In  1872  he  married  Mary  V. 
Tritipo,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  October  22,  1841. 
Mr.  Strang  is  owner  of  a well  proportioned  farm 
of.  200  acres  in  section  33  of  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship. He  is  a republican  and  has  served  as  town- 
ship supervisor. 

He  and  his  wife  had  four  children:  Jesse  R„  a 

graduate  of  the  common  schools,  who  married  Edna 
Sutton  and  lives  at  Indianapolis ; Ethel  is  the  wife 
of  Willis  O.  Sesoline,  of  South  Bend ; Porter  E. 
married  Lulu  Bowman,  of  Topeka;  and  John  L.  is 
a high  school  graduate  and  was  with  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces  in  France.  He  has  returned 
from  the  overseas  service  and  is  now  in  the  regular 
army  as  a first  lieutenant. 

Lewis  A.  Hendry.  One  of  the  most  conspicuous 
names  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  northwestern 
corner  of  Steuben  County  is  that  of  Hendry.  The 
family  have  an  honorable  place  throughout  the  rec- 
ords of  the  county  for  over  eight  years. 

Lewis  A.  Hendry,  now  living  at  Angola,  is  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  men  who  have  been  most 
closely  identified  with  the  growth  and  development 
of  that  city.  He  was  born  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio, 
November  18,  1835,  son  of  George  and  Thankful 
(Hotchkiss)  Hendry,  the  former  a native  of  New 
York  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  It  was  in  the  spring 
of  1836  that  the  Hendry  family  came  to  Steuben 


306 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


County  and  located  2}/2  miles  south  of  Orland,  close 
to  Jackson  Prairie.  They  made  the  journey  from 
Lorain  County,  Ohio,  with  wagons  and  ox  teams. 
George  Hendry  had  already  selected  120  acres  of 
Government  land  and  had  built  a log  house  pre- 
paratory to  the  shelter  of  his  family.  By  trade 
he  was  a blacksmith  and  for  many  years  he  kept 
his  shop  on  his  farm.  Later  he  lived  in  York  Town- 
ship, but  finally  moved  to  Angola,  where  he  died  in 
1898,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  His  widow  survived 
until  1907,  and  was  ninety-four  when  she  died.  They 
had  six  children : Marsden,  Marcia,  Lewis  A.,  El- 

mina  and  Elzina,  twins,  and  William. 

Lewis  A.  Hendry  was  only  a few  weeks  old  when 
the  family  came  to  this  country.  He  attended  the 
district  schools  near  his  father’s  home,  and  later 
was  a student  in  Oberlin  College,  located  in  the 
same  county  where  he  was  born.  He  began  life  as  a 
farmer  and  for  many  years  did  an  extensive  busi- 
ness as  a dealer  in  live  stock.  He  also  extended  his 
enterprise  to  general  merchandising,  and  became 
widely  known  as  a grain  and  wool  buyer.  In  some 
years  his  dealings  in  wool  reached  a high  total  of 
$100,000.  About  fifteen  years  ago  he  gave  up  the 
dry  goods  business,  and  has  since  exerted  his  means 
and  influence  for  the  material  upbuilding  and  im- 
provement of  Angola.  He  has  probably  given  that 
city  as  many  substantial  improvements  as  any  other 
individual.  He  built  several  substantial  blocks  and 
is  owner  of  the  Hendry  Block,  which  covers  about 
an  acre  and  a half  of  ground  and  includes  the 
Hotel  Hendry.  He  was  also  one  of  the  men  most 
prominent  in  financing  the  Tri-State  College.  He 
has  been  a lifelong  republican  but  never  an  aspirant 
for  any  office. 

During  the  Civil  war  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Jackson,  of  Steuben  County.  The  only  child  of 
that  union,  Belle,  married  Doctor  Lewis  and  her 
daughter,  Bessie,  is  the  wife  of  Mr.  Lowe,  and  they 
have  four  children.  After  the  death  of  his  first 
wife  Mr.  Hendry  married  Chloe  Moss.  By  this  mar- 
riage there  were  three  children.  The  oldest  is  Ada, 
wife  of  Frank  Beil.  The  second  is  George,  a resi- 
dent of  Angola,  who  married  Zella  Brown.  Of  their 
four  children  their  son  George  Jr.,  saw  active  serv- 
ice in  France  during  the  war.  The  third  of  the 
family  is  Gladney  A.,  referred  to  in  following 
sketch. 

Gladney  Arthur  Hendry,  son  of  Lewis  A.  Hen- 
dry, whose  career  is  given  above,  has  for  a number 
of  years  been  one  of  the  leading  business  men  of 
Angola. 

He  was  born  in  that*  town  July  11,  1874,  and  was 
well  educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  high  school 
and  the  Tri-State  College.  For  several  years  he 
managed  the  Hotel  Hendry  for  his  father  and  for 
about  eight  years  was  also  a practical  farmer.  In 
1909  he  engaged  in  the  building  material  business 
and  has  built  up  a large  trade  and  developed  facili- 
ties adequate  for  a wide  and  comprehensive  service 
in  that  line. 

Mr.  Hendry  is  a republican  in  politics  and  is 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of 
Elks.  In  1899  he  married  Miss  Stella  Allen,  of 
Windfall,  Indiana.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
five  children : Pauline  and  Genevieve,  who  died 

April  27  and  April  28,  1917,  respectively,  both  of 
diphtheria ; Helen,  Luella  and  Sarah  Virginia. 

George  E.  Shanower.  While  practically  all  his 
life  has  been  spent  in  Northeast  Indiana,  George 
E.  Shanower  has  had  experience  as  a farmer  in 
Noble  as  well  as  LaGrange  County.  He  owns  a 
good  farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  the  latter 


county,  and  is  one  of  that  community’s  most  highly 
respected  and  valued  citizens. 

He  was  born  in  Noble  County  September  30, 
1867,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Susan  (Hartz)  Shan- 
ower. His  parents  were  both  born  in  Ohio,  his 
father  in  1841  and  his  mother  in  1847.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  George  Shanower,  was  an  early  set- 
tler in  Johnson  Township,  LaGrange  County,  locat- 
ing on  eighty  acres  a mile  south  of  Adams  Lake. 
He  sold  that  property  and  moved  to  Noble  County 
and  finally  retired  to  Wolcottville,  where  he  died 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six  and  his  wife  at  seventy-two. 
Their  children  were  Fannie,  Samuel,  Mary  Ann, 
deceased,  Jacob,  Clinton,  Newton,  Amos,  Harriet, 
and  George,  deceased. 

Samuel  Shanower  came  to  Northeast  Indiana 
when  he  was  a boy,  had  a public  school  education, 
and  served  in  the  44th  Indiana  Infantry  as  a Union 
soldier  until  the  close  of  the  war.  After  the  war 
he  rented  a farm  in  Milford  Township,  later  was 
in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County,  where  he 
bought  a hundred  twenty  acres,  and  from  there 
came  to  Johnson  Township  in  LaGrange  County 
and  owned  a farm  of  a hundred  fourteen  acres  and 
later  a place  of  sixty-two  acres.  Recently  he  sold 
out  his  landed  possessions  and  is  now  living  re- 
tired at  Wolcottville.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  a republican  in 
politics.  His  wife,  Susan  Hartz,  is  a daughter  of 
Samuel  Hartz,  who  was  an  early  settler  in  Johnson 
Township  and  later  moved  to  Michigan,  ten  miles 
north  of  Toledo,  where  he  spent  his  last  days.  In 
the  Hartz  family  were  five  children,  named  Jacob, 
Amanda,  Samuel,  Fannie  and  Susan.  Samuel 
Shanower  and  wife  have  three  children : George 

E. ; Jennie,  wife  of  Ira  Brill;  and  Loren. 

George  E.  Shanower  was  educated  in  Noble 
County  and  when  about  twenty-one  years  of  age 
came  to  LaGrange  County.  He  lived  in  Johnson 
Township  until  about  1905,  when  he  bought  his 
present  farm  of  eighty-eight  acres  in  Bloomfield 
Township.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

On  January  26,  1893,  Mr.  Shanower  married 
Miss  Lottie  Price.  She  was  born  in  LaGrange 
County,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Henry  and  Mary  Ann 
Price,  early  settlers  of  the  county  who  came  here 
from  Pennsylvania  in  the  spring  of  1865.  Her 
father  practiced  medicine  at  Brighton  and  later 
at  Woodruff.  Doctor  Price  and  his  wife  are  both 
deceased,  the  doctor  dying  in  1894  and  Mrs.  Price 
in  1906. 

Moses  J.  Miller.  The  name  of  Moses  J.  Miller 
is  connected  with  some  of  the  best  farming  that 
has  been  done  in  Newbury  Township,  and  he  is  held 
up  as  an  example  of  the  rising  generation  of  what 
a good  man  and  a desirable  citizen  should  be.  He 
was  born  in  his  present  township,  April  29,  1844,  a 
son  of  John  and  Margaret  (Sutter)  Miller,  who 
made  the  long  trip  overland  to  Indiana  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  wagons  in  1842,  and  upon  their  arrival 
in  LaGrange  County  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
in  Newbury  Township  for  $230.00.  The  father 
worked  hard  at  clearing  off  the  land  until  his  death 
in  1861,  when  he  was  forty-nine  years  old.  His 
widow  survived  his  death  until  1873,  when  she  died 
at  the  age  of  fifty-nine.  In  religious  faith  they 
belonged  to  the  Amish  Society.  Their  children  were 
as  follows:  Joseph,  who  died  November  28,  1918, 

aged  seventy-five  years ; Moses  J.,  whose  name  heads 
this  review;  John,  who  died  at  Shipshewana,  De- 
cember 14,  1918,  aged  seventy-two  years ; and 

Barbara,  who  died  at  the  as?e  of.  three  years. 

Moses  J.  Miller  was  reared  in  his  native  town- 
ship, and  after  he  had  attended  the  public  schools 
he  became  a student  of  the  institute  at  Ontario, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


307 


Indiana.  For  nine  terms  he  was  engaged  in  teaching 
school,  and  then  in  1875  bought  160  acres  of  land 
in  Van  Buren  Township,  adding  to  it  until  he  had 
345  acres. 

During  his  residence  in  Van  Buren  Township, 
he  was  engaged  in  the  public  affairs  of  his  town- 
ship, being  elected  township  assessor  in  1884,  and 
served  one  year  satisfactorily  and  to  the  approval 
of  his  constituents,  and  as  executor  of  wills,  admin- 
istrator of  decedents’  estates,  he  administered  and 
settled  many  estates,  always  to  the  satisfaction  and 
approval  of  the  parties  connected  therewith.  In 
1903  he  bought  another  farm  of  eighty  acres  at 
Pashan  in  Newbury  Township,  and  moved  thereon 
and  conducted  it  for  six  years,  owning  in  all  now 
425  acres.  During  these  six  years  he  sold  the  farms 
in  Van  Buren  Township  and  in  1909  bought  the 
Brookside  Farm  of  102  acres  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship, which  is  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in 
the  township,  and  moved  on  it.  He  erected  a 
tenant  house,  retired,  and  rented  the  farm,  which  is 
devoted  to  general  farming  and  stockraising. 
Politically  he  has  given  his  support  and  vote  to  the 
candidates  of  the  republican  party.  Both  he  and 
his  wife  are  Mennonites. 

On  April  9,  1865,  Mr.  Miller  was  married  to 
Elizabeth  Miller,  born  in  Cambria  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, in  1848,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and  Nancy 
(Yoder)  Miller,  who  came  to  LaGrange  County  in 
1855,  and  settled  west  of  Emma  in  Eden  Township. 
Later  they  moved  to  Missouri,  where  he  died  about 
1870,  and  she  returned  to  her  old  home  and  there 
died. 

Mr.  Miller  dates  his  ancestry  in  this  country  back 
to  his  great-grandfather,  John  Miller,  who  lived  in 
Berks  County,  Pennsylvania,  as  early  as  1757,  later 
moving  to  Somerset  County,  that  state.  His  son, 
Joseph  Miller,  was  born  in  that  latter  county,  and 
was  the  father  of  John  Miller,  the  father  of  Moses 
J.  Miller.  At  the  time  the  great-grandfather,  John 
Miller,  was  still  living  in  Berks  County,  occurred  the 
terrible  massacre  of  the  Hostetter  family  by  the 
Indians  in  that  region.  One  of  the  descendants  of 
the  latter  family  was  married  to  Moses  P.  Miller, 
and  they  lived  in  Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County. 

The  children  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
been  as  follows : Nancy,  who  died  at  the  age  of 

eleven  years ; Martha,  who  is  the  wife  of  Henry 
Elliott,  has  the  following  children,  Florence,  Fern, 
Bruce,  Brice,  Claude  and  Katie;  Mary,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Edward  Mishler,  of  Van  Buren  Township, 
has  the  following  children,  Bertha,  Ida,  Howard, 
Harley,  Fern  and  Mildred;  Frank,  who  married 
Esther  Taylor,  has  two  children,  Kelso  and  Taylor; 
Katie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Monroe  Hostetter,  and 
their  children  are  as  follows:  Joy,  Guy,  Margaret 
and  Claude ; Minnie,  who  is  the  wife  of  Levi  Hooley, 
and  their  children  are  Amos,  Nancy,  Titus,  Rachael, 
Reva  and  Vada;  and  Loretta,  who  is  the  wife  of 
Levi  Berkey,  has  the  following  children,  Cletus, 
Perry,  Harley  and  Opal,  living,  Ray  having  died. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Berkey  rent  the  homestead  from  Mr. 
Miller. 

The  grandchildren  of  Mr.  Miller  who  are  married 
are  as  follows : Florence  Elliott,  who  married 

Leonard  Hess,  has  the  following  children,  Lucile, 
Mark,  Paul  and  William ; Bruce  Elliott,  who  first 
married  Wanona  Michael,  had  two  children,  Lester 
and  Chester,  twins,  and  afterward  he  was  married 
to  Alva  Jessup,  and  their  child  is  named  Herman ; 
Brice  Elliott,  who  married  Rosy  Yoder,  a daughter 
of  Tobias  V.  Yoder,  and  their  children  are  George, 
Arthur  and  Henry,  and  Brice  died  in  1918;  Fern 
Elliott,  who  married  Ira  Shideler,  and  their  children 
are  Frank  and  Harry;  Claude  Elliott,  who  married 
Irene  Holderman,  had  one  child,  Robert. 


As  will  be  seen  by  the  above,  Mr.  Miller  is  con- 
nected with  nearly  all  of  the  leading  families  of 
the  county,  and  he  and  his  stand  very  high  in  public 
esteem. 

John  W.  Stienbarger.  One  of  the  prosperous 
general  farmers  and  stockraisers  of  Steuben  County 
is  John  W.  Stienbarger  of  Scott  Township,  who 
was  born  in  Elkhart  Township,  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, April  1,  1855,  a son  of  Charles  G.  and 
grandson  of  Joseph  Stienbarger.  The  great-grand- 
father was  Frederick  Stienbarger,  who  was  born 
in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  but  the  family  origi- 
nated in  Prussia,  Germany.  Joseph  Stienbaiger  was 
born  near  Culpeper,  Virginia,  but  later  moved  to 
Ohio,  where  he  was  married  to  Mary  Cracraft,  born 
in  Shelby  County,  Ohio.  The  Stienbarger  family 
were  millers  and  distillers,  and  when  Joseph  Stien- 
barger came  to  Cooperville,  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
he  built  a saw  and  grist  mill,  and  was  engaged  in 
operating  it  until  his  death.  Some  of  the  material 
in  this  mill  was  hauled  by  team  from  Adrian, 
Michigan.  As  his  mill  was  the  only  one  in  the 
neighborhood,  at  some  seasons  of  the  year  the 
farmers  would  so  crowd  the  capacity  that  it  was 
kept  running  day  and  night,  and  those  desiring  their 
grain  ground  would  have  to  wait  two  days  for  their 
turn.  These  farmers  came  from  a distance  of 
twenty  miles,  carrying  their  grain  on  their  horses 
in  f>-ont  of  them  as  they  rode  over  the  dirt  'high- 
ways. There  were  four  sons  and  two  daughters 
in  his  family  who  grew  to  maturity. 

Charles  G.  Stienbarger  was  a farmer  of  Elkhart 
Township,  Noble  County,  where  he  spent  his  entire 
life.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden  name  of  Sarah 
Lininger,  and  she  was  born  in  Star  County,  Ohio, 
a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Catherine  (Weir)  Linin- 
ger. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stienbarger  had  the  following 
children  born  to  them:  John  W.,  George,  Joseph 

LI  ard  Sarah.  The  first  Mrs.  Stienbarger  died, 
and  Mr.  Stienbarger  later  was  married  to  Rebecca 
Lamp,  his  children  by  his  second  marriage  _ being 
as  follows : Ansel,  who  died  in  infancy,  David  M., 
Mary,  Charles  and  Fred.  All  his  mature  years 
Charles  G.  Stienbarger  was  a consistent  member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church. 

John  W.  Stienbarger  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township,  and  for  some  years  after 
he  reached  his  majority  he  worked  for  different 
farmers,  thus  gaining  a practical  and  first  hand 
knowledge  of  farming.  On  April  ix,  1880,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Manda  J.  Zimmerman,  a 
daughter  of  Noah  and  Fannie  Zimmerman.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Stienbarger  became  the  parents  of  two 
children,  Charles  H.,  who  married  Zella  Teagarden, 
and  Millard,  who  married  Alta  Ettinger.  In  1894 
Mr.  Stienbarger  moved  on  his  present  farm,  which 
was  formerly  owned  by  Mrs.  Stienbarger’s  parents, 
and  which  comprises  eighty  acres  of  very  valuable 
land.  Mr.  Stienbarger  has  made  a success  of  his 
farming  and  is  held  in  high  esteem  by  his  neigh- 
bors, who  appreciate  his  good  qualities  as  a man 
and  a citizen. 

Henry  J.  Hostetler,  who  has  lived  in  LaGrange 
County  fifty-five  years,  has  found  his  time  fully 
occupied  since  early  manhood  in  the  vocation  of 
farming  and  in  the  performance  of  his  varied  re- 
lationships with  the  community,  both  as  a public 
official  and  as  a private  citizen.  He  is  a farmer 
with  home  located  two.  miles  east  of  Topeka. 

Mr.  Hostetler  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio, 
June  18,  1863,  a son  of  Moses  J.  and  Elizabeth 
(Maust)  Hostetler.  His  parents  were  both  natives 
of  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  The  father  was 


308 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


born  June  9,  1812,  and  the  mother  May  1,  1822. 
They  were  married  January  7,  1838.  The  father 
died  April  1 7,  1894,  and  the  mother  on  August  9, 
1889.  They  were  hard  working,  industrious,  God- 
fearing and  worthy  people,  were  parents  of  a large 
family  of  thirteen  children,  were  active  in  the  old 
Amish  Church  and  the  father  was  a democrat  in 
politics.  The  names  of  their  children,  with  dates 
of  birth,  are  as  follows:  John  M.,  born  April  16, 

1839:  Samuel  J.,  February  19,  1841;  Elias  M.,  Octo- 
ber 3,  1842;  Moses  M.,  March  21,  1844;  Eve,  March 
18,  1846;  Paul  J.,  November  25,  1847;  Elizabeth, 
November  26,  1849;  Polly,  February  2,  1852;  Jacob 
J.,  August  12,  1854;  David,  July  10,  1856;  Andrew, 
August  18,  1858;  Uriah,  March  6,  1861;  and  Henry 
J.,  June  18,  1863.  Six  of  these  are  still  living. 

Henry  J.  Hostetler,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
was  about  a year  old  when  his  parents  came  to  In- 
diana in  1864  and  located  in  Eden  Township  of  La- 
Grange  County.  He  grew  up  there,  with  an  educa- 
tion in  the  common  schools,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six  moved  to  Clear  Spring  Township,  where 
he  has  since  had  his  home.  He  owns  eighty  acres 
of  land,  thriftily  and  productively  cultivated,  and 
is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of 
Topeka,  and  is  a stockholder  in  the  Sycamore  Lit- 
erary Society  at  Topeka.  As  a voter  he  has  always 
been  affiliated  with  the  republican  party  and  gave  a 
very  competent  administration  of  the  office  of  trus- 
tee of  Clear  Spring  Township  from  1900  to  1904. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church. 

June  1,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Ida  May  Roderick. 
Their  four  children  were:  Velma  B.,  born  March 

18,  1888,  now  the  wife  of  Dale  Stroman ; Lora  V., 
born  August  10,  1891,  wife  of  Kenneth  Leming; 
Bessie,  born  July  6,  1893,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen ; and  Willie  PI.,  born  December  7,  1898, 
married  Lucile  Cline. 

Latta  F.  Hershf.y,  whose  people  came  to  Steuben 
County  seventy 'years  ago,  has  been  an  active  farmer 
forty  years,  and  was  called  from  the  routine  duties 
of  his  crops  and  fields  to  the  office  and  responsi- 
bilities of  sheriff  of  Steuben  County.  He  served 
capably  two  terms,  and  has  since  remained  in  Angola 
as  deputy  sheriff,  though  still  owning  and  supervis- 
ing the  work  of  his  farm. 

Mr.  Hershey  was  born  in  Fremont  Township  of 
Steuben  County  April  29,  1858,  son  of  George  R. 
and  Joanna  (Freligh)  Hershey,  his  paternal  grand- 
parents being  George  and  Nancy  (Holsinger) 
Hershey  and  his  maternal  grandfather  John  Fre- 
ligh. George  R.  Hershey  was  born  in  Ontario 
County,  New  York,  January  25,  1811,  and  his  wife 
was  a native  of  the  same  state.  He  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools,  was  married  in  New  York 
State,  and  in  1849  brought  his  family  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  establishing  his  home  on  a farm 
in  Fremont  Township.  He  was  a mason  by  trade 
and  followed  that  in  connection  with  farming,  and 
by  his  industry  made  ample  provision  for  his  fam- 
ily. He  lived  in  Steuben  County  the  rest  of  his 
life  with  the  exception  of  one  year.  He  and  his 
wife  had  a large  family  of  children,  named  Mary, 
Nancy,  Susan,  Moses  B.,  Martha,  George,  Joan, 
Eugene,  Marshall  and  Latta  F. 

Latta  F.  Hershey  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Jamestown  Township.  He  was 
only  a young  man  when  he  began  farming,  and  in 
1879  he  established  a home  of  his  own  by  his  mar- 
riage to  Rosetta  Richardson.  She  was  born  March 
17,  1862,  a daughter  of  Lewis  and  Frances  (Hutch- 
ens) Richardson.  Mr.  Hershey  took  his  bride  to 
his  farm  in  Jamestown  Township,  and  then  followed 
an  uninterrupted  career  of  diligent  work  and  good 


management  until  January,  1913.  At  that  date  he 
removed  to  Angola  to  take  up  his  duties  as  sheriff, 
an  office  to  which  he  was  elected  in  1912.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1914,  and  gave  all  his  time  to  the  man- 
agement of  his  office  until  January,  1917,  since  which 
date  he  has  remained  as  deputy  of  the  office.  Mr. 
Hershey  owns  a good  farm  of  320  acres,  cleared 
part  of  the  land  and  all  the  substantial  buildings 
represent  his  personal  investment  and  supervision. 

Mr.  Hershey  lost  his  wife  by  death  on  February 
14,  1898.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  sons,  Ross, 
born  January  17,  1882,  and  Lewis  B.,  born  September 
12,  1893.  Lewi's  has  made  a splendid  record  as  a 
soldier,  going  overseas  as  adjutant  with  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-Seventh  Field  Artillery.  He 
ranks  as  a captain,  and  in  the  spring  of  1919  was 
at  Brest,  France. 

Mr.  Hershey  is  affiliated  with  the  Chapter,  Coun- 
cil and  Commandery  of  Masonry  and  is  a member 
of  the  lodge  and  encampment  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Ira  Ford,  supervising  editor  for  LaGrange  County 
in  the  compilation  of  this  publication,  h‘as  been  in 
close  touch  with  people  and  events  in  that  county 
for  at  least  half  a century  and  has  lived  there  since 
he  was  about  eight  years  old. 

Mr.  Ford  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  New  York, 
October  13,  1848,  and  came  with  his  parents  from 
that  county  to  LaGrange  County  in  April,  1856.  His 
father  and  mother  were  Jared  and  Rebecca  Ford, 
and  all  of  their  seven  children  grew  to  manhood 
and  womanhood,  Ira  being  the  youngest,  the  only 
one  now  living. 

Mr.  Ira  Ford  was  educated  at  LaGrange,  and 
beginning  when  he  was  twenty  years  of  age  taught 
school  in  that  county.  His  teaching  continued  from 
1868  until  1881.  After  that  he  applied  his  efforts 
to  farming  in  Clearspring  Township,  and  he  made 
his  farming  enterprise  notable  over  the  county  for 
his  breeding  of  fine  sheep  and  hogs,  and  later  he 
became  a specialist  in  the  breeding  of  fine  poultry. 

For  four  and  a half  years  Mr.  Ford  was  cashier 
of  the  Ellison  Bank  at  Topeka,  Indiana.  He  served 
as  trustee  of  Clearspring  Township  from  1882  to 
1884.  He  is  president  of  the  Old  Settlers  Asso- 
ciation of  LaGrange  County,  is  a stanch  republican 
in  politics,  is  affiliated  with  Haw  Patch  Lodge  No. 
760  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Topeka  and  is  an  elder  in 
the  Presbyterian  Church  at  LaGrange. 

On  February  6,  1873,  he  married  Julia  A.  Peck, 
daughter  of  Hawley  and  Harriett  Peck.  Her  father 
came  with  his  family  to  LaGrange  County  in  1846 
from  Wayne  County,  New  York,  making  the  jour- 
ney by  wagons  and  settling  in  Clearspring  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Ford  was  one  of  twelve  children,  four 
of  whom  are  still  living. 

Charles  A.  Yotter  was  born  in  Iowa  and  came 
to  Steuben  County  to  attend  the  Tri-State  Normal 
at  Angola.  After  finishing  his  education  there  he 
studied  law  in  a local  office,  and  during  the  past 
quarter  of  a century  has  become  one  of  the  most 
prominent  members  of  the  bar  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Lee  County,  Iowa,  January  16, 
1864,  and  lived  in  that  state  until  after  reaching 
manhood.  He  is  a son  of  Jacob  and  Anna  Marie 
(Carstens)  Yotter.  The  father  was  an  architect 
and  practical  mason  in  Southeastern  Iowa.  He 
died  on  the  12th  of  February,  1911,  at  Fort  Madison, 
Iowa,  and  the  mother  died  at  the  same  place  in 
1901.  Charles  A.  Yotter  received  his  early  education 
in  Denmark  Academy  and  the  Iowa  Wesleyan 
University  at  Mount  Pleasant.  He  came  to  Angola 
in  1887.  graduated  from  the  Tri-State  Normal 
College  in  1890,  and  began  the  study  of  law  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


309 


office  of  Best  & Bratton.  He  was  with  them  two 
years,  and  in  1893  was  made  a partner  of  the  firm, 
and  has  been  steadily  engaged  in  practice  ever  since. 
Mr.  Yotter  is  a democrat  and  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  he  and  his  family  are 
communicants  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  October,  1897,  he  married  Gussie  B.  Best,  a 
daughter  of  John  G.  Best  and  a niece  of  Judge  D. 
R.  Best.  Mrs.  Yotter  died  in  1900,  leaving  one 
child,  Karolyn,  who  died  December  20,  1909,  at  the 
age  of  ten  years.  In  1902  Mr.  Yotter  married  Rena 
Sears,  daughter  of  Charles  E.  and  Maggie  (Veasey) 
Sears,  of  LaGrange  County.  They  are  the  parents 
of  four  children : Anna  Marie,  born  December  13, 

1906;  George  Albert,  born  July  13,  1909;  Edward 
Sears,  born  May  12,  1914;  and  Ruth,  born  July 

13.  1916. 

Harvey  Wilson.  The  increased  demand  for 
foodstuffs,  with  the  consequent  betterment  of  mar- 
keting facilities  and  advance  in  prices,  have  led  a 
number  of  essentially  representative  men  to  return 
to  the  farm  and  devote  themselves  to  agricultural 
pursuits.  That  this  move  was  a patriotic  one  goes 
without  saying,  but  the  success  which  is  attending 
these  experienced  farmers  shows  that  it  was  one  of 
good  judgment  as  well.  One  of  these  men  is 
Harvey  Wilson,  whose  family  has  been  connected 
with  the  cultivation  of  the  land  of  Steuben  County 
for  many  years.  He  is  now  living  on  the  home- 
stead of  his  father  in  Otsego  Township,  where  he 
owns  a finely  cultivated  and  well  improved  farm. 

Harvey  Wilson  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
March  27,  1858,  a son  of  Alexander  Griffin  and 
Ann  Jane  (Maxwell)  Wilson,  he  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  15,  1829,  and  she  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  November  10,  1828.  They  were  married  in 
1850,  and  in  the  fall  of  i860  they  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  locating  on  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township  entered  from  the  Government  by  Joshua 
Hunt.  After  the  death  of  the  mother  in  1906  the 
father  retired,  but  he  is  still  living.  They  had  nine 
children  born  to  them,  namely:  Wesley,  Olive 

Curtis,  Samuel  James,  Harvey,  Minerva  Jane,  Mar- 
cella, Alexander,  Franklin  and  Leander. 

The  boyhood  and  youth  of  Harvey  Wilson  were 
spent  on  the  home  farm,  and  he  acquired  a knowl- 
edge of  the  fundamentals  of  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools.  His  first  business  experience  was 
gained  in  the  mercantile  field,  in  which  he  remained 
for  three  years,  operating  in  Troy  Township,  De- 
Kalb  County,  Indiana.  He  then  conducted  a wagon 
route  from  Hamilton  to  the  outlying  rural  district 
for  three  years  in  the  interests  of  Hagerty  and 
Swaidner.  Mr.  Wilson  then  engaged  with  Byers 
brothers  and  Wesley  Davis  in  the  poultry,  butter  and 
egg  business  at  Angola,  but  left  it  in  1914  to  buy 
his  present  farm,  which  is  a portion  of  the  one  his 
father  purchased  upon  coming  to  Steuben  County. 
He  erected  a new  barn  in  1917,  making  it  conform 
to  sanitary  regulations  and  sufficiently  commodious 
for  all  purposes  for  which  it  is  used,  and  remodeled 
the  house,  making  it  modern  and  very  comfortable. 
Here  he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing, and  as  he  thoroughly  understands  all  the  details 
of  his  work  is  making  money.  Politically,  he  is  a 
strong  republican.  He  belongs  to  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  holds  his 
membership  and  benefits  by  his  generous  donations. 

In  1881  Mr.  Wilson  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Phebe  Elizabeth  Baker,  who  died  in  November,  1901, 
leaving  two  children,  Jacob  Griffin,  who  married 
Eunice  Skelton,  and  they  have  a son,  Rosco,  and 
Jessie,  who  married  Curtis  Casebere,  of  Edgerton, 
Ohio,  and  has  four  children,  Earl,  Wannita,  Aletha 


and  Ruth.  In  1907  Mr.  Wilson  was  married  to  Mat- 
tie  Goudy,  a daughter  of  William  and  Mary  E. 
(Dirrim)  Goudy,  pioneers  of  Steuben  County.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Goudy  lived  at  Orland,  Indiana,  but  sub- 
sequently went  to  Nebraska.  Coming  back  to  In- 
diana, they  lived  for  a time  in  DeKalb  County,  but 
later  bought  land  in  Richland  Township,  Steuben 
County,  and  still  later  moved  to  Otsego  Township, 
settling  near  Cold  Lake,  where  he  died  in  February, 
1904,  Mrs.  Goudy  surviving  him  and  is  still  living 
on  the  farm.  William  Goudy  was  a son  of  Samuel 
Goudy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goudy  had  the  following 
family:  William,  who  died  in  infancy,  Fletcher, 

Frank,  Mattie,  Charles,  Robert,  Fannie,  Timothy 
and  Crissie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilson  have  one  son, 
Raymond,  who  was  born  April  28,  1914.  The  Wil- 
son and  Goudy  families  are  among  the  old  estab- 
lished ones  in  this  part  of  Indiana,  and  their  mem- 
bers stand  very  well  wherever  they  are  found.  The 
majority  of  them  are  interested  along  agricultural 
lines,  are  owners  of  property  and  in  every  way  sub- 
stantial and  influential  citizens,  who  hold  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  their  fellow  citizens.  It  is  such 
people  as  these  which  make  the  United  States  what 
it  is,  and  enable  it  in  times  of  stress  to  measure  up 
to  the  highest  standards  of  manhood. 

Alvin  A.  Goodwin  has  heavy  responsibilities  in  a 
business  way,  being  manager  of  the  Goodwin  Lum- 
ber Company,  one  of  the  chief  firms  engaged  in  hard- 
wood lumber  manufacture  in  Northern  Indiana  and 
Southern  Michigan.  Mr.  Goodwin  for  many  years 
has  been  engaged  ,jn  the  lumber  business  either  as  a 
retailer  or  manufacturer,  and  is  a member  of  one  of 
the  old  and  prominent  families  of  Northeastern  In- 
diana. 

He  was  born  at  the  Town  of  Waterloo  in  DeKalb 
County  September  8,  1872,  son  of  Leander  S.  and 
Rebecca  (Hively)  Goodwin.  His  grandfather,  Sam- 
uel Goodwin,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  October, 
1816,  son  of  David  and  Catherine  (Zimmerman) 
Goodwin.  In  1822  the  Goodwin  family  moved  to 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  later  to  Ashland  County, 
where  David  Goodwin  died,  and  Samuel  Goodwin 
grew  up  in  Ashland  County  and  in  1843  married 
Elizabeth  Good.  From  that  section  of  Ohio  in 
1854  they  moved  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and 
settled  on  a farm  near  Waterloo  in  Union  Town- 
ship. Samuel  Goodwin  cleared  away  the  woods 
and  made  a choice  farm  of  115  acres  and  accumu- 
lated a good  property  which  kept  his  age  free  from 
care  and  labor.  His  wife  died  in  1865.  Two  of 
his  brothers,  David  and  Daniel,  also  came  to  De- 
Kalb County,  and  as  they  had  adjoining  land  the 
three  families  constituted  almost  a community.  By 
his  first  marriage  Samuel  Goodwin  had  five  chil- 
dren: Mary  E.,  who  died  in  1918;  Leander  S.;  Jo- 
seph W.,  of  Fremont,  Indiana;  Lucy,  who  married 
Stephen  George ; and  Alice,  who  became  the  wife 
of  William  Atwood.  Samuel  Goodwin  married  for 
his  second  wife  Mary  Brubaker,  a widow,  and  they 
had  three  children,  Ina,  Frank  and  William. 

Leander  S.  Goodwin  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  August  18,  1846,  and  was  about  eight  years 
old  when  the  family  moved  to  DeKalb  County.  He 
grew  up  on  a farm  there,  acquired  a public  school 
education,  and  in  addition,  to  farming  he  sold  agri- 
cultural implements  and  was  also  a dealer  in  timber 
lands.  He  was  a republican,  and  during  the  session 
of  1895  served  as  postmaster  of  the  House  of  Rep- 
resentatives in  the  Indiana  Legislature.  He  died  in 
1898,  and  his  wife,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1847, 
died  in  1884.  Both  were  active  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  Leander  Goodwin  and  his 
first  wife  had  five  children : Etta ; Ella,  ticket  agent 


310 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


at  Waterloo ; Alvin  A. ; Elizabeth,  who  died  in  1876 ; 
and  Samuel  L.  Leander  Goodwin  married  for  his 
second  wife  Jennie  Lawhead,  and  they  were  the  par- 
ents of  three  children,  Martha,  Jay  and  William. 
Both  Jay  and  William  have  been  soldiers  in  the 
great  war.  Jay  is  now  with  the  army  in  France. 
William  has  been  assigned  to  duty  on  the  military 
police  in  New  York  City. 

Alvin  A.  Goodwin  grew  up  in  DeKalb  County,  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  and  in  1891,  at  the  age  of 
nineteen,  went  to  Pleasant  Lake  in  Steuben  County 
and  entered  the  service  of  his  uncle,  Joseph  W. 
Goodwin,  in  the  saw  milling  business.  In  1900 
Mr.  Goodwin  bought  a local  lumber  and  coal 
yard,  and  continued  that  business  for  twelve  years, 
building  it  up  to  large  proportions  and  selling  out 
at  a figure  which  represented  a comfortable  com- 
petency. For  many  years  he  had  been  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  lumber,  and,  as  above  noted,  is 
manager  of  the  Goodwin  Lumber  Company,  which 
has  a number  of  mills  in  Southern  Michigan  and 
Northern  Indiana.  In  1918  this  corporation  fur- 
nished about  $75,000  worth  of  lumber  for  govern- 
ment purposes.  Mr.  Goodwin  is  also  the  owner  of 
the  Standard  Body  Company,  of  White  Pigeon, 
Michigan,  which  company  builds  cabs  and  bodies  for 
automobile  trucks,  and  their  product  is  sold  through- 
out the  central  states,  mostly  from  their  distribut- 
ing branch  in  Detroit.  Their  slogan — “From  Tree 
to  Truck”  is  well  known  in  the  motor  truck  world 
and  the  factory  is  always  away  behind  in  filling 
orders  because  of  its  being  impossible  for  the  pro- 
duction to  keep  pace  with  the  increasing  business. 
The  product  of  this  factory  is  seen  throughout  the 
country,  on  the  busy  streets  of  all  the  large  cities 
and  on  country  roads. 

While  so  much  of  his  time  has  been  taken  up  with 
practical  business  affairs  Mr.  Goodwin  is  known  to 
a great  many  people  not  in  a business  way  but  as 
an  author.  His  poetry  has  attracted  much  atten- 
tion, and  has  been  published  in  some  of  the  lead- 
ing magazines,  also  in  the  columns  of  the  Fort 
Wayne  daily  papers.  Some  of  his  selected  poems 
have  been  published  in  book  form.  Mr.  Goodwin 
is  affiliated  with  Pleasant  Lake  Lodge  No.  593,  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  with  the  Order  of  Gleaners, 
and  with  the  United  Commercial  Travelers  of  Fort 
Wayne.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

In  1895  Mr.  Goodwin  married  Miss  Lena  Bigler 
of  Pleasant  Lake.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwin  have  two 
children : Van,  whose  individual  sketch  follows ; 

and  Verne,  born  June  29,  1902,  still  in  high  school. 

Politically  Mr.  Goodwin  is  a republican,  but  has 
been  too  busy  to  concern  himself  with  the  responsi- 
bilities of  public  office,  though  he  is  an  active  worker 
for  his  party  and  served  on  the  Credentials  Com- 
mittee at  the  State  Convention  in  1916. 

Van  Bigler  Goodwin.  In  vegetation  the  flower 
is  often  esteemed  more  than  the  fruit.  Childhood 
and  youth  are  the  flower  of  human  growth,  and 
their  perfect  symmetry  and  beauty,  when  their  time 
of  fruitage  in  experience  and  achievement  is  denied, 
frequently  represent  the  greatest  ultimate  good 
within  the  compass  of  mortal  vision. 

It  was  the  brevity  of  his  years,  and  not  any  im- 
perfection involved!  in  youth  itself,  that  lent  a 
tragic  aspect  to  the  death  of  Van  Bigler  Goodwin, 
son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alvin  A.  Goodwin  of  Pleasant 
Lake,  which  occurred  on  October  12,  1918,  as  a 
result  of  influenza  in  the  terrible  epidemic  which 
swept  the  country. 

Although  but  twenty  years  of  age — he  was  born 
September  6,  1898 — he  was  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  men  of  Northeastern  Indiana  and  a promis- 


ing young  life  went  out  because  of  the  ravages  of 
the  disease. 

He  first  became  widely  known  as  one  of  the  best 
basket  ball  players  in  the  country,  his  skillful  and 
at  the  same  time  clean  playing  winning  him  friends 
by  the  thousands,  and  this,  added  to  a remarkable 
irresistible  personality,  made  him  one  of  the  best 
liked  young  men  of  the  several  counties  of  North- 
eastern Indiana. 

At  the  conclusion  of  both  the  1917  and  1918 
basket  ball  tournaments  at  Kendallville,  at  which 
place  some  eighty  players  had  been  in  action,  he 
was  selected  as  one  of  the  two  “forwards”  on  an 
“All-Star”  team,  the  selection  being  made  by  the 
referees  who  knew  none  of  the  players  of  the 
tournament. 

Many  fans  mourn  his  death,  for  he  made  hun- 
dreds of  friends  in  surrounding  towns  who  never 
failed  to  get  an  inspiration  from  his  smile  which 
he  always  carried  even  in  the  heat  of  the  game,  and 
it  is  conceded  by  all  who  knew  him  that  he  was  one 
of  the  factors  in  making  basket  ball  a popular  game 
in  this  part  of  the  state. 

A remarkable  circumstance  is,  that  his  friends 
were  not  confined  to  those  of  his  own  age,  but  busi- 
ness and  professional  men  of  all  ages,  and  those 
much  younger  than  he,  were  among  his  best  friends 
and  he  will  always  live  in  the  hearts  of  those  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  meet  him. 

“Van,  you’re  gone  but  not  forgotten, 

By  the  world  you  left  behind; 

From  old  age  back  to  the  cradle, 

By  every  class  of  human  kind.” 

Ledger  D.  McKibben.  It  is  a fortunate  and  truly 
American  community  that  reflects  the  progressive 
spirit  of  such  citizens  as  Ledger  D.  McKibben.  Mr. 
McKibben  is  a member  of  an  old  family  of  La- 
Grange  County  and  is  living  on  the  farm  near  Val- 
entine, where  he  was  born  February  18,  1881. 

His  parents  were  James  S.  and  Lissa  A.  (Van- 
kirk)  McKibben,  the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and 
the  latter  of  Bloomfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  They  were  married  in  this  county  and 
lived  on  the  farm  until  the  spring  of  1905,  at  which 
time  they  moved  to  the  City  of  LaGrange  and  are 
now  living  retired.  Both  were  charter  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church  at  Valentine,  and  the  father 
served  it  many  years  as  a trustee.  Formerly  a re- 
publican, he  is  now  an  equally  ardent  prohibitionist. 
James  S.  McKibben  and  wife  had  two  sons:  Orley 
R.,  a farmer  in  Bloomfield  Township ; and  Ledger  D. 

Ledger  D.  McKibben  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
and  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School  with 
the  class  of  1900.  Before  getting  married  and  set- 
tling down  to  the  serious  occupation  of  farming  he 
taught  district  schools  for  three  years.  June  15, 
1904,  he  married  Alice  E.  Scott.  She  was  born  at 
Ontario,  Indiana,  and  her  father,  J.  G.  Scott,  is 
prominently  known  as  a former  county  treasurer  of 
LaGrange  County.  Mrs.  McKibben  is  a graduate  of 
the  Howe  High  School  with  the  class  of  1899.  To 
their  marriage  were  born  four  children : J.  Scott, 

a graduate  of  the  common  schools  in  1919 ; Lucile 
Iona,  Francis  E.  and  Carol  E.  The  family  are 
active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
at  Valentine.  Mr.  McKibben  teaches  a class  of 
boys  and  young  men  in  the  Sunday  school  and  Mrs. 
McKibben  is  a teacher  of  the  young  ladies’  class. 
Out  of  his  Sunday  school  class  there  were  eleven 
young  men  who  went  into  the  service  in  the  World’s 
war,  five  going  overseas  to  France,  and  two  wounded 
in  action.  Politically  Mr.  McKibben  is  a prohibi- 
tionist. His  farming  activities  are  conducted  on  a 
model  place  of*  ninety-seven  acres,  and  besides  look- 
ing after  his  farm  he  handles  the  local  agency  for 
the  Overland  automobile. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


311 


Samuel  E.  Weaver,  who  is  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  is  secretary  of  the  Shipshewana  Ship- 
pers’ Association,  has  proved  the  truth  of  the  con- 
tention that  whoever  is  willing  has  a place  of  useful- 
ness and  honor  in  his  community. 

He  was  born  at  Nappanee,  Indiana,  February  26, 
1880.  His  father,  Emanuel  Weaver,  was  born  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  in  1849,  grew  to  manhood  in 
Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  and  moved  his  family  to 
LaGrange  County  in  1890.  In  1876  he  married  Mag- 
dalena Yoder,  who  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  in 
1854.  They  are  now  retired  and  have  a home  with 
their  son  Samuel.  Of  their  seven  children  whom 
they  reared  five  have  college  degrees. 

Samuel  E.  Weaver  attended  primary  school  in  Elk- 
hart and  LaGrange  counties,  graduated  from  the 
common  schools  in  1894,  from  the  Newbury  Town- 
ship High  School  in  1899,  being  a member  of  the  first 
class  of  the  commissioned  school,  and  after  finishing 
high  school  did  teaching,  being  connected  with  the 
schools  of  Newbury  Township  from  1899  until  1908. 
In  1911  he  graduated  from  Goshen  College,  and  from 
1912  to  1917  was  superintendent  of  the  Newbury 
Township  High  School.  He  was  only  thirteen  years 
of  age  when  he  took  his  place  as  a farm  hand  dur- 
ing the  summer  months  at  wages  insignificant  com- 
pared with  modern  salaries  even  on  a farm.  He 
never  missed  a summer  of  work  on  the  farm  until 
1909  when  he  was  in  college.  It  is  within  the  strict 
limits  of  truth  to  say  that  Mr.  Weaver  began  his 
career  absolutely  without  capital.  By  a singular  com- 
pensation of  energies,  thrift  and  good  business  abil- 
ity he  is  now  proprietor  of  an  eighty-acre  farm 
nearly  paid  for,  keeps  pure  bred  stock,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  one  of  the  successful  ex- 
ponents of  alfalfa  growing  in  his  locality. 

During  the  war  Mr.  Weaver  was  a solicitor  for  the 
Bed  Cross  and  Y.  M.  C.  A.  funds,  and  as  a notary 
public  he  worked  almost  night  and  day  filling  out  the 
boys’  questionnaires.  He  has  held  a commission  as 
notary  public  since  January  22,  1918.  He  also  gives 
much  of  his  time  to  his  duties  as  an  official  of  the 
Shippers’  Association  at  Shipshewana.  Mr.  Weaver 
has  been  an  active  member  of  the  Mennonite  Church 
since  1899  and  in  1904  was  ordained  to  the  min- 
istry and  was  a preacher  in  his  home  locality  until 
1916,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  ill  health  and 
lack  of  support. 

In  1902  he  married  Miss  Fanny  Stahly,  who  died 
a year  later  after  giving  birth  to  son,  Stahly  Weaver. 
In  1904  he  married  Laura  Johns,  a daughter  of 
Jacob  Johns  and  member  of  the  Johns  family  after 
whom  Johnstown,  Pennsylvania,  was  named.  They 
have  two  children:  Rachel  Weaver  and  Eunice 
Weaver. 

Lafayette  Burkett  has  deserved  well  of  his  fel- 
low men  by  reason  of  the  four  years  he  spent  in 
the  Union  army  during  the  Civil  war,  by  over  fifty 
years  of  residence  accompanied  by  hard  work  and 
productive  effort  in  Steuben  County,  and  through 
all  the  responsibilities  and  duties  of  life  he  has 
proved  faithful. 

Mr.  Burkett,  who  lives  in  Angola,  retired,  was 
born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  December  25,  1841, 
son  of  Peter  and  Sarah  (Burkett)  Burkett.  His. 
father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother 
in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio.  The  great-grandfather, 
John  Burkett,  was  a native  of  Switzerland  and 
came  to  the  American  colonies  in  time  to  serve  in 
the  war  of  independence  as  a member  of  Wash- 
ington’s army.  He  afterward  removed  to  Ohio, 
and  died  in  Sandusky  County  at  the  advanced  age 
of  ninety-nine  years,  eleven  months  and  twelve 


days.  His  son  William  Burkett  was  a soldier  in 
the  War  of  1812.  Thus  the  record  of  the  Burkett 
family  is  almost  unsurpassed  for  American  patriot- 
ism and  military  service.  Peter  Burkett,  father  of 
Lafayette,  spent  his  life  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  died  when  his  son  Lafayette  was  a small 
child.  The  latter’s  mother  married  again  and  had 
nine  children.  Lafayette  Burkett  at  the  age  of 
fifteen  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  He  was 
then  dependent  upon  his  own  resources  and  worked 
by  the  month  or  by  the  day.  In  August,  1861,  he 
enlisted  in  Company  B of  McClellan’s  Dragoons, 
and  served  eighteen  and  a half  months  with  that 
organization.  At  Harrison  Landing  he  was  taken 
ill  with  typhus  fever,  and  received  an  honorable 
discharge.  He  soon  re-enlisted  this  time  in  Com- 
pany K of  the  Seventh  Indiana  Cavalry,  and  was 
with  that  command  two  and  a half  years.  His 
total  service  in  the  Union  army  was  four  years 
lacking  six  days.  While  in  a campaign  in  Mis- 
sissippi between  Okalona  and  Pontotoc  he  was 
wounded  and  received  a furlough. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Burkett  returned  to  Steuben 
County  and  resumed  work  by  the  day.  Finally  he 
invested  his  modest  capital  in  twenty  acres  of  land, 
and  sold  that  and  acquired  sixty-three  acres  in 
Scott  Township.  He  lived  on  that  farm  for  thirty- 
three  years,  and  laid  the  bulk  of  his  prosperity  while 
there.  On  November  12,  1917,  he  came  to  Angola, 
and  has  since  sold  his  farm  and  owns  a good  home 
on  Broad  Street. 

Mr.  Burkett  has  always  been  a steadfast  repub- 
lican in  politics,  is  a member  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  affiliated 
with  the  Christian  Church. 

_ On  June  7,  1863,  while  he  was  a soldier,  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  Zimmerman.  She  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania September  30,  1841,  a daughter  of  Godfrey 
and  Sarah  (Cramer)  Zimmerman.  In  1852  they 
identified  themselves  with  the  community  of  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  settling  in  Scott  Township.  They 
were  farmers  there  and  Mrs.  Burkett’s  mother  died 
August  6,  1871,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  and  her 
father  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy.  There  were 
seven  children  in  the  Zimmerman  family,  the  three 
now  living  being  Mrs.  Burkett,  Jane  and  Mary. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burkett  have  had  the  satisfaction  of 
seeing  children  grow  up  around  them,  and  they  also 
have  a number  of  grandchildren.  Their  oldest  child, 
Ada,  is  the  wife  of  Clark  Ellis  and  has  two  children, 
Ford  and  Welma.  Welma  is  the  wife  of  Earl  Berry 
and  has  a daughter,  Martha,  and  they  live  in  Phila- 
delphia, where  Earl  Berry  is  an  engineer.  William 
Lafayette  Burkett  lives  in  Angola  and  .is  married. 
Ethel  first  married  William  Zimmer  and  for  her 
second  husband  Samuel  Ramsey,  and  her  only  child, 
Sarah  Elizabeth  Ramsey,  was  two  and  a half  years 
old  when  Ethel  died,  the  daughter  being  now  tender- 
ly cared  for  in  the  home  of  her  grandparents,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Burkett.  Maud  Bell  is  the  wife  of  J.  C. 
Gilbert.  Daisy,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-five, 
was.  a very  talented  young  woman,  a proficient 
musician,  a great  worker  in  the  Christian  Church 
and  a teacher  in  the  high  school  at  Angola.  Her 
sisters  Maud  and  Ella  also  taught  school. 

Boyd  M.  Davis  is  owner  of  a drug  business  at 
Ashley  which  his  father  conducted  for  a number  of 
years,  and  is  a graduate  pharmacist  from  the  North- 
western University  of  Chicago. 

He  was  born  at  Ossian  in  Wells  County,  Indiana, 
March  22,  1885,  a son  of  Andrew  B.  and  Bertha  A. 
(Hayward)  Davis.  His  father  was  born  on  a farm 
near  Ossian  in  1855  and  for  about  thirty-six  years 
was  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  The  mother  is 
still  living  at  Ashley.  Both  were  members  of  the 


312 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Methodist  Church,  and  the  father  was  a Knight  of 
Pythias  and  Mason  and  was  the  first  chancellor  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Ossian. 

Politically  he  was  a republican  and  held  the  office 
of  postmaster  eight  years.  There  are  five  living 
children : Dessie,  a graduate  of  the  Ossian  High 

School,  wife  of  Thomas  Sharp,  of  Flint,  Michigan ; 
Boyd  M. ; Hope,  a graduate  of  the  Ashley  High 
School ; Orville,  who  graduated  from  the  Hudson 
High  School ; and  Everett,  attending  high  school 
at  Ashley. 

Boyd  M.  Davis  received  his  education  in  the 
grammar  and  high  schools  at  Ossian  and  later 
entered  the  pharmacy  department  of  Northwestern 
University.  He  had  eight  years  of  practical  experi- 
ence with  the  H.  B.  McCord  drug  store  at  Auburn, 
Indiana.  He  bought  his  father’s  business  at  Ashley 
in  1915,  and  he  also  owns  the  business  block  and  a 
home  in  Ashley  and  is  an  active  member  of  the 
Cooperative  Association. 

He  married  Elta  R.  Ritter,  of  Hudson,  Indiana,  a 
graduate  of  the  high  school  of  that  town.  They 
have  two  children,  Winford  and  Marjorie.  Mr. 
Davis  is  affiliated  with  Ashley  Lodge  No.  394, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  the  present  keeper  of 
records  and  seals  of  the  lodge.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  Lodge  No.  614,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  Hudson  Chapter  No.  152,  Royal  Arch 
Masons. 

William  Marcus  Gallutia.  One  of  the  men  who 
is  successfully  engaged  in  farming  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty is  William  Marcus  Gallutia,  a son  of  David  and 
Mary  (Fox)  Gallutia  and  grandson  of  Joseph  and 
Lucy  Gallutia  and  George  and  Emeline  (Gordon) 
Fox.  Joseph  Gallutia  was  a farmer  of  Ohio,  where 
he  and  his  wife  both  died.  They  had  the  follow- 
ing children : David,  who  was  the  father  of  Wil- 

liam Marcus,  and  Milo,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
thirty-three  years  in  Steuben  County,  was  living 
with  his  brother  David.  George  Fox  was  born  in 
June,  i8t6  and  his  wife  was  born  in  April,  1815. 
They  came  to  Steuben  County  many  years  ago,  buy- 
ing 120  acres  of  land  which  they  cleared,  and  on 
which  he  died  in  1902,  his  wife  passing  away  in 
November,  1886.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Mary;  Malissa,  who  is  the  wife  of  Joseph  Hatha- 
way; and  Amy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Christopher 
Baker. 

David  Gallutia  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio, 
in  1840,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  1843.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio  in  i860,  and  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  in  the  fall  of  1865,  buying  forty 
acres  of  woodland  in  York  Township.  For  a time 
they  lived  in  a log  cabin,  but  later  replaced  it  with 
a frame  house.  After  ten  years  on  this  farm  they 
sold  and  bought  eighty  acres,  also  in  York  Town- 
ship, where  he  died  in  1890,  his  widow  surviving  him 
until  May  13,  1916,  when  she  too  passed  away.  He 
was  a democrat,  and  prominent  in  local  matters. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  but  she  later  joined  the  Christian 
Church.  They  had  the  following  children : William 
Marcus,  who  was  the  eldest ; Emma,  who  is  de- 
ceased ; Charles ; George ; and  Elnora,  who  lives 
with  her  eldest  brother  and  keeps  house  for  him. 

William  Marcus. Gallutia  was  reared  and  educated 
in  York  Township,  and  has  always  been  a farmer. 
In  1900  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Richland 
Township,  and  has  operated  it  ever  since,  being  a 
general  farmer  and  stockraiser.  He  has  always 
voted  the  republican  ticket  and  takes  an  intelligent 
interest  in  the  affairs  of  his  community,  but  has  not 
sought  political  honors.  For  many  years  he  has 
been  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  Mr.  Gal- 


lutia has  never  married.  As  Tie  has  devoted  all  of 
his  attention  to  farming,  he  understands  it  thorough- 
ly and  has  been  very  successful  with  his  work  and 
is  accounted  one  of  the  most  representative  agricul- 
turalists of  his  township. 

James  North.  Among  the  substantial  agricultural 
element  of  LaGrange  County  perhaps  none  of  those 
now  enjoy  so  much  prosperity  or  had  more  interest- 
ing variety  of  experience  and  early  struggles  than 
James  North,  who  is  still  occupying  his  farm  at 
Woodruff. 

He  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  February 
28,  1851,  a son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Baker) 
North.  His  parents  were  reared  and  married  and 
spent  their  lives  in  Lincolnshire.  His  father  was  a 
musician  and  shoemaker,  and  it  is  said  that  he  made 
some  of  Queen  Victoria’s  shoes.  James  North  was 
only  eighteen  months  old  when  his  mother  died,  and 
six  years  later  his  father  died.  Opportunities  to  get 
an  education  by  formal  schooling  were  denied  him, 
and  as  an  office  boy  he  had  to  work  his  own  way 
and  make  a living  as  best  he  could.  Frequently  he 
was  paid  only  3 cents  a day  for  what  his  strength 
permitted  him  to  do.  He  managed  to  get  some  edu- 
cation in  the  meantime,  and  in  1875  he  left  England 
and  came  to  the  United  States,  landing  in  New  York 
City.  Later  he  came  to  Indiana,  to  the  farm  of 
William  Baker,  a relative,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1876  was  employed  by  Weible  Foster,  working  for 
him  until  he  was  able  to  buy  a tract  of  land  and 
clear  it  up  and  make  a farm. 

In  1878  Mr.  North  married  Naomi  Baker.  She 
was  born  and  reared  in  LaGrange  County.  They 
then  settled  on  their  farm  and  for  many  years  Mr. 
North  kept  his  affairs  growing  and  prospering  until 
he  had  sufficient  for  his  own  needs.  He  still  owns 
160  acres,  and  has  had  other  land  which  he  has 
sold  to  his  sons.  He  and  his  wife  have  seven  chil- 
dren : Sarah,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools, 
wife  of  Charles  Seigler;  Blanche,  wife  of  Ernest 
Sperrow;  Nellie,  unmarried;  William,  a farmer  in 
LaGrange  County;  George,  a farmer  in  Johnson 
Township;  Lizzie,  wife  of  John  Milbon ; and  Rus- 
sell, unmarried.  The  family  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  Mr.  North  is  a republican.  At 
one  time  he  was  rather  extensively  engaged  in 
breeding  registered  sheep. 

Henry  E.  Kratz.  For  a period  of  nearly  thirty- 
five  years  Henry  E.  Kratz  has  been  the  old  and  re- 
liable druggist  of  Angola,  and  during  that  time  has 
not  only  kept  his  business  growing  but  progressively 
adapted  to  the  needs  and  conveniences  of  the  com- 
munity. His  record  is  a most  successful  one  and  is 
the  more  conspicuous  because  of  the  fact  that  he 
started  life  with  no  capital  beyond  his  own  ex- 
perience, energy  and  determination. 

Mr.  Kratz  was  born  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  Oc- 
tober 20,  1857,  son  of  Henry  and  Barbara  (Deichle) 
Kratz.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Germany. 
His  father,  who  was  born  in  1824,  came  when  a 
young  man  to  America  and  settled  in  Lorain  County, 
Ohio.  He  married  there.  His  wife’s  father,  John 
Deichle,  settled  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  in  1854,  his 
wife  having  died  near  Stuttgart,  Germany.  Barbara 
Deichle  was  born  in  Germany  in  1831.  After  about 
six  years  in  Lorain  County  Henry  Kratz  moved  his 
home  to  Henry  County,  Ohio,  and  was  one  of  the 
leading  farmers  in  that  rich  district  until  his  death 
in  August,  1908.  His  wife  died  May  15,  1896.  Henry 
Kratz  was  one  of  the  very  first  men  in  his  section 
of  Ohio  to  become  affiliated  with  the  republican 
party,  and  remained  a stanch  adherent  the  rest  of 
his  life.  He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the 
Evangelical  Church.  There  were  eight  children : 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


313 


Mary,  deceased;  Henry;  Margaret,  deceased;  Wil- 
liam; Katie;  John,  of  Angola;  Sarah  Jane,  deceased; 
and  Barbara,  who  died  in  February,  1917. 

Henry  E.  Kratz  spent  his  early  life  on  the  home 
farm  in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  attended  the  public 
schools  there,  and  in  1878  went  to  work  at  Napoleon, 
the  county  seat,  to  learn  the  drug  business.  The 
first  year  he  worked  for  experience  only,  receiving 
no  salary.  The  second  year  he  was  paid  $50.00  and 
the  third  year  $100.00.  He  remained  at  Napoleon 
seven  years,  and  on  October  5,  1885,  opened  his 
business  career  at  Angola  as  a druggist.  He  has 
been  in  that  business  longer  than  any  other  man  and 
has  developed  the  largest  and  finest  store  of  its 
kind  in  Steuben  County.  He  also  owns  a half  in- 
terest in  the  building  occupied  by  the  store  and  owns 
the  old  Dr.  Morris  farm  of  120  acres  near  Angola. 

Mr.  Kratz  is  a republican,  has  served  as  a member 
of  the  Angola  School  Board,  and  is  a member  of 
the  Methodist  Church.  He  married  in  Henry 
County,  Ohio,  Miss  Catherine  Wise.  They  have 
two  sons,  one  of  whom  is  a successful  druggist  and 
the  other  a practical  farmer.  The  older,  Melvin, 
graduated  from  the  Angola  High  School,  attended 
the  Tri-State  College  and  later  graduated  from  the 
Pharmacy  School  of  the  University  of  Michigan. 
He  is  now  the  competent  manager  of  his  father’s 
business.  He  married  Elsie  Zabst  and  has  one 
child,  Catherine  Laura.  The  second,  Harold  Frank- 
lin, is  also  a graduate  of  high  school  and  is  now  a 
farmer  in  Scott  Township.  He  married  Vangia 
Pillrod,  daughter  of  Charles  Pillrod,  now  a resident 
of  Toledo,  Ohio.  Harold  F.  Kratz  and  wife  have 
three  children,  Louise,  Virginia  and  Henry  Franklin, 
the  latter  born  January  28,  1919. 

George  W.  Miller  is  easily  identified  among  the 
popular  citizens  of  Stafford  Township,  not  only  by 
reason  of  his  official  prominence  as  township  as- 
sessor but  as  proprietor  of  the  Pine  Hill  Farm,  a 
farm  with  a character  of  its  own  both  in  the  mat- 
ter of  improvements  and  productiveness.  This  farm 
contains  a hundred  forty-four  acres  and  has  been 
the  home  of  Mr.  Miller  for  over  twenty  years.  All 
his  farming  methods  are  progressive  and  up  to  date, 
and  the  Pine  Hill  Farm  is  widely  known  as  the 
home  of  some  fine  registered  Shropshire  sheep. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 
December  19,  1871,  a son  of  Henry  and  Mary 
(Prettiger)  Miller,  the  former  a native  of  Penn- 
sylvania and  the  latter  of  Defiance  County,  Ohio. 
After  his  marriage  his  father  settled  on  a farm 
in  Defiance  County  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life 
there.  The  mother  is  still  living  and  an  active  mem- 
ber of  the  Christian  Church.  The  father  was  a 
democrat  and  served  about  six  years  as  trustee  of 
Milford  Township  in  Defiance  County.  Beginning 
life  comparatively  poor,  he  at  one  time  owned  four 
hundred  acres  of  good  land.  Of  seven  children  six 
are  still  living:  Carrie,  wife  of  Frank  M.  Light; 

Flora,  wife  of  J.  W.  Suffel ; Frank  H.  of  Defiance 
County;  George  W. ; Mary  C„  wife  of  Paul  B. 
Hootman;  and  Lewis,  of  Defiance  County. 

George  W.  Miller  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Milford  Township  of  Defiance  County  and  acquired 
his  education  in  the  public  schools.  January  22, 
1896,  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  he  married  Minda 
P.  Hootman.  She  was  born  in  Defiance  County - 
April  9,  1877,  and  had  a common  school  education. 

Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller 
moved  to  their  present  farm  in  the  eastern  part  of 
DeKalb  County.  They  have  one  son,  Donald  E., 
who  was  born  July  22,  1898.  He  is  a graduate  of 
the  Butler  High  School,  attended  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege at  Angola  and  was  a teacher  for  one  year. 


Mr.  Mdler  and  family  are  members  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  West  Milford,  Ohio,  and  he  is  affiliated 
with  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners  and  is  a demo- 
crat in  politics.  As  a democrat  he  was  elected 
township  assessor  of  Stafford  November  5,  1918 
He  is  also  a stockholder  in  the  Hicksville  ’ Grain 
Company  at  Hicksville,  Ohio. 

John  Craig.  This  is  the  name  of  one  of  the 
earliest  settlers  of  LaGrange  County  in  the  country 
around  Howe.  He  came  here  more  than  eighty 
years  ago  and  was  then  a man  in  middle  age.  He 
passed  away  long  since,  and  of  his  family  of  chil- 
dren, many  of  whom  were  identified  with  the  farming 
community  around  Howe,  only  one  is  now  surviving 
his  daughter  Mary,  Mrs.  Fleming,  who  is  living 
in  Howe. 

John  Craig  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  December 
23,  1784,  was  educated  there,  and  on  April  29,  1819, 
married  Jane  Derr.  She  was  also  a native  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  lived  on  a Pennsylvania  farm 
until  they  came  West.  In  the  fall  of  1835,  with 
their  children,  they  started  for  the  West,  their  goods 
being  packed  in  two  covered  wagons,  while  a covered 
buggy  was  the  comfortable  vehicle  in  which  Mrs. 
Craig  and  some  of  her  smaller  children  rode.  The 
children  consisted  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters. 
James,  Esther,  Joseph,  and  the  next  younger  Wil- 
liam had  died  in  infancy,  Serena,  Frederick,  Robert 
and  Mary. 

_ When  the  family  got  to  the  “Black  Marsh’’  in 
Northwestern  Ohio  they  found  the  roads  impassable, 
stayed  there  through  the  winter  and  the  following 
spring  put  in  a crop.  The  next  fall  they  resumed 
their  journey  in  the  same  wagon,  and  after  some 
days  of  slow  travel  reached  the  Lima  community 
now  called  Howe.  John  Craig  soon  bought  forty 
acres  of  timber  land  near  LaGrange,  but  never 
settled  on  it  because  it  was  inconvenient  to  schools. 
He  rented  farms  in  Lima  Township  for  several 
years  and  then  bought  a place  three  miles  northwest 
of  Howe  containing  eighty  acres.  Out  of  the 
products  of  his  labor  he  increased  his  farm  to 
several  hundred  acres  in  extent,  and  improved  it 
with  a.  fine  house,  which  is  still  standing  there.  He 
and  his  wife  lived  out  their  lives  in  that  home. 
They  were  active  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and 
John  Craig  was  a noted  Bible  student  and  reared 
his  family  in  strict  obedience  to  the  tenets  of  his 
faith. 

Of  his  children  James  never  married  and  spent 
all  his  life  on  the  old  farm.  Joseph  had  a good 
farm  near  Howe.  Frederick  was  likewise  identified 
with  that  agricultural  community.  Robert  lived  out 
his  life  as  a farmer^  in  Lima  Township.  Esther 
became  the  wife  of  William  Smith,  a pioneer  citizen 
of  Howe.  Serena  was  the  wife  of  John  Smith,  one 
of  the  best  known  citizens  of  Lima  Township  and 
an  associate  editor  of  this  publication. 

Mary  Craig,  the  only  one  of  the  children  now 
living,  was  born  November  9,  1834,  and  was  carried 
in  her  mother’s  arms  during  the  long  journey  from 
Pennsjdvania  west.  On  November  9,  1871,  she  be- 
came the  wife  of  William  Fleming,  now  deceased. 
Mr.  Fleming  had  a son  by  a former  marriage,  Oran 
A„  now  superintendent  of  the  LaGrange  city 
schools.  Mrs.  Fleming  before  her  marriage  adopted 
Lucinda  Switzer  at  the  age  of  ten  years,  reared  her, 
and  this  foster  daughter  is  now  Mrs.  Frank  Cook, 
of  Lima  Township.  After  the  marriage  of  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Fleming  they  lived  on  his  farm  a mile  away 
from  her  home,  and  later  retired  to  Howe.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fleming  were  active  members  of  the 
Baptist  Church  at  Howe.  Mr.  Fleming  was  a son 
of  Abbott  and  Margaret  Fleming,  the  former  a 


314 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


pioneer  Baptist  minister  of  LaGrange  County. 
William  Fleming  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
spent  most  of  his  life. 

Though  Mrs.  Fleming  is  eighty-five  years  of  age, 
she  does  all  her  own  housework,  from  choice,  not 
from  necessity,  and  the  neatness  and  system  with 
which  she  keeps  her  home  might  well  be  a model 
for  emulation  for  younger  housekeepers.  She  is 
also  well  known  in  her  community  for  her  kindness 
and  cheerfulness,  and  she  has  many  interesting 
reminiscences  drawn  from  her  memory  of  events 
in  the  Howe  community  for  fourscore  years. 

William  McKinley.  In  the  years  to  come  his- 
torians in  writing  of  the  period  of  the  great  war 
will  not  confine  all  their  attention  to  military  tactics, 
but  will  give  due  credit  to  the  important  part  played 
by  those  who  through  their  industry  and  experience 
made  possible  the  control  of  the  warring  nations  by 
furnishing  a sufficient  amount  of  food.  It  is  now 
generally  recognized  that  hunger  foments  more  dis- 
content and  consequent  uprising  than  any  other 
cause,  and  if  a people  are  well  fed  they  are  generally 
found  to  be  contented  and  willing  to  let  existing 
conditions  continue.  The  farmers  of  the  United 
States  have  nobly  risen  to  meet  the  demand  of  the 
world  for  foodstuffs,  and  Indiana  occupies  a fore- 
most place  among  the  states  in  agricultural  suprem- 
acy. This  enviable  place  has  been  gained  entirely 
through  the  efforts  of  its  farmers,  and  of  them 
Steuben  County  has  furnished  its  full  quota,  one  of 
them  being  William  McKinley,  of  Scott  Township. 

William  McKinley  was  born  in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  October  io,  1856,  a son  of  William  McKinley, 
and  grandson  of  Samuel  McKinley,  the  latter  being 
a native  of  Ireland.  The  elder  William  McKinley 
was  born  in  Juniata  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  he 
was  a second  cousin  of  President  William  McKin- 
ley. When  he  was  still  a boy  his  parents  moved  to 
Ohio,  and  there  he  was  reared.  In  the  fall  of  1862 
he  moved  to  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  and  remained  there  until  1887,  when  he 
became  a resident  of  Butler  Township,  DeKalb 
County,  and  there  he  died  in  1896.  He  was  first 
married  to  Mary  Shinniman,  and  they  had  three 
children,  Bell,  Benjamin  and  Adam.  After  the  death 
of  his  first  wife  he  was  married  to  Sarah  Romine, 
born  in  Johnson  Township,  LaGrange  County,  In- 
diana, and  they  became  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Ross,  James,  Samuel  (who  was  drowned 

at  the  age  of  twelve  years),  Frank,  William,  Steve, 
Almindo  and  Almeda,  twins,  Jane,  Louise  and  Alex- 
ander. 

William  McKinley,  whose  name  heads  this  review, 
was  reared  in  Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County, 
where  he  attended  the  public  schools,  and  having 
learned  the  principles  of  farming  from  his  father  he 
started  in  that  line  of  endeavor  after  attaining  his 
majority,  first  in  Jackson  Township,  but  in  1881, 
moving  to  Butler  Township  in  the  same  county,  he 
remained  there  until  1889,  at  which  time  he  went  to 
Union  Township,  DeKalb  County.  After  eight  years 
in  the  latter  township  he  moved  to  his  father’s  old 
farm,  and  took  care  of  his  mother  until  her  death 
two  years  later.  He  then  bought  a farm  in  Jackson 
Township,  DeKalb  County,  on  which  he  lived  for 
seventeen  years,  leaving  it  in  1917  and  selling  the 
farm  to  buy  one  in  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben 
County.  In  February,  1919,  he  sold  at  a profit  his 
property  in  Pleasant  Township,  and  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  of  eighty-one  acres  in  section  18,  Scott 
Township,  where  he  is  now  doing  general  farming 
and  stock  raising. 

In  1888  Mr.  McKinley  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Etta  Swank,  a daughter  of  George  and 


Minerva  (Woodring)  Swank,  farming  people  of 
Jackson  Township,  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  Mrs. 
McKinley  was  one  in  a family  as  follows : Anna, 
Etta,  William,  Ella,  Myrtle,  John  and  Maude.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  McKinley  became  the  parents  of  children 
as  follows:  Thomas  Franklin,  who  is  deceased; 

and  Milo,  who  married  Clara  Beebe,  and  has  one 
son,  Robert  J.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKinley  are  very 
well  and  favorably  known  in  the  several  communi- 
ties in  which  they  have  lived,  and  although  newly 
come  to  Scott  Township,  they  have  already  estab- 
lished themselves  in  the  confidence  of  their  neigh- 
bors. The  success  which  has  accompanied  Mr.  Mc- 
Kinley in  his  former  efforts  promises  equal  pros- 
perity in  his  new  locality,  and  he  is  planning  some 
very  desirable  improvements  on  his  property,  which 
will  add  to  its  value  and  perhaps  furnish  new  ideas 
to  his  associates  in  the  agricultural  line.  While  his 
private  affairs  have  hitherto  absorbed  all  his  time 
so  that  he  has  had  no  opportunity  to  enter  public 
life,  Mr.  McKinley  is  to  good  a citizen  not  to  be  in- 
terested in  local  matters  and  to  give  the  best  element 
his  heartj'  support  in  every  particular. 

James  F.  Atwood.  The  career  of  James  F.  At- 
wood reflects  practical  and  useful  ideals,  and  its 
range  of  activities  has  included  the  promotion  of 
agriculture  and  the  best  interests  of  the  community 
in  politics  and  education.  Mr.  Atwood  belongs  to 
a prominent  old  family  of  LaGrange  County,  and 
has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  Johnson 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  New  York  State  December  17,  1846, 
a son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Sarah  J.  (Kaple)  Atwood. 
His  father  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1815  and  his 
mother  in  Massachusetts  in  1813.  They  were  married 
in  New  York  State,  and  in  1853  came  to  Indiana  and 
settled  on  the  shore  of  a little  lake  which  for  many 
years  has  been  known  as  Atwood  Lake.  Andrew 
Atwood  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  there.  He  was 
one  of  the  prominent  members  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  Church.  He  was  also  a republican,  and 
a man  of  substantial  influence  in  public  affairs  as 
well  as  prosperous  in  business.  He  served  nine 
years  as  county  commissioner  of  LaGrange  County. 
Four  years  of  this  time  was  during  the  Civil  war, 
when  the  county  commissioners  had  many  unusual 
responsibilities.  Andrew  Atwood  and  wife  had  five 
children : Isabel,  who  never  married ; Harriett,  who 

died  at  the  age  of  seventy ; Bernard,  who  died  when 
eighteen  months  old;  James  F. ; and  Jennie,  widow 
of  John  Schermerhorn. 

James  F.  Atwood  attended  district  school  of  a 
a primitive  kind,  and  from  early  manhood  to  the 
present  has  been  a farmer.  He  married  for  his 
first  wife  Clarissa  Dallas.  They  had  two  children, 
Clarence  F.  and  Grace  L.  The  latter  was  well  edu- 
cated in  the  public  schools  and  by  private  tutors  and 
is  the  wife  of  William  Bower.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  Mr.  Atwood  married  Ida  Dallas.  She 
is  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church.  In  politics  Mr. 
Atwood  is  a democrat.  He  owns  323  acres  of  land 
and  has  earned  an  enviable  prosperity  sufficient  for 
all  his  future  needs. 

His  son,  Clarence  Atwood,  who  lives  on  the  old 
farm  on  the  bank  of  Atwood  Lake,  was  born  there 
and  was  well  educated,  graduating  from  the  Wol- 
cottville  High  School  in  1905.  Since  then  he  has 
been  busily  engaged  in  farming.  February  14,  1914, 
he  married  Louise  Kitchen,  daughter  of  S.  M.  and 
Anna  (Rowe)  Kitchen.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Clear  Spring  Township  and  her  mother  in  the  same 
locality.  S.  M.  Kitchen  was  a son  of  John  and 
Mary  (Butler)  Kitchen,  the  former  a native  of 
Canada  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  were  pioneers 
of  LaGrange  County.  S.  M.  Kitchen  and  wife  were 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


315 


married  in  August,  1890,  and  are  the  parents  of 
eleven  children. 

• Mrs.  Louise  Atwood  was  educated  at  Topeka, 
Indiana,  graduated  from  the  high  school  at  Goshen, 
and  was  a successful  teacher  for  four  years.  Clar- 
ence Atwood  is  affiliated  with  Ionic  Lodge  No.  380, 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star.  Politically  he  is 
a republican.  Clarence  Atwood  handles  a large 
farm  of  297  acres,  and  in  live  stock  gives  special 
attention  to  Duroc  hogs.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  stockholders  in  the  Wildman  State  Bank  at 
W olcottville. 

Clyde  C.  Carlin.  Through  a period  of  three- 
quarters  of  a century  Steuben  County  has  been  able 
to  appreciate  the  services  of  the  Carlin  family,  at 
first  as  pioneer  farmers  and  homemakers,  later  as 
influential  figures  in  educational  and  other  phases 
of  professional  and  public  affairs.  Of  those  still 
living  in  the  county  there  are  Robert  V.  Carlin,  who 
for  many  years  was  superintendent  of  education  in 
the  county,  and  his  son  Clyde  C.,  long  one  of  the 
prominent  members  of  the  bar  in  Angola. 

The  family  was  founded  here  by  Robert  Carlin, 
who  was  born  in  one  of  the  eastern  states  in  1806. 
He  married  Sarah  Perkey,  whose  birth  occurred  in 
1811.  They  were  early  settlers  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  and  from  there  came  to  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  in  1840  and  located  in  the  woods  of  Rich- 
land Township.  They  made  a home  there  and  Sarah 
Carlin  died  in  1865  and  her  husband  in  1868.  Of  a 
family  of  thirteen  children  twelve  reached  mature 
years. 

Robert  V.  Carlin  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  February  26,  1834,  and  was  six  years  old  when 
brought  to  Steuben  County,  where  he  was  reared 
and  educated.  After  the  limited  advantages  ac- 
corded by  the  district  schools  of  Richland  Town- 
ship he  entered  at  the  age  of  eighteen  Mount  Union 
College  at  Alliance,  Ohio,  where  he  came  under  the 
instruction  of  the  noted  Professor  Holbrook,  after- 
ward founder  of  the  National  Normal  University 
at  Lebanon,  Ohio.  Robert  V.  Carlin  graduated  from 
Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan  in  1866,  and  during 
the  next  four  years  was  principal  of  the  Angola 
High  School.  In  1870  he  was  elected  county  re- 
corder, and  filled  that  office  with  characteristic 
efficiency  for  eight  years.  He  then  resumed  teach- 
ing, and  in  1883  was  elected  county  superintendent 
of  schools  and  filled  that  office  continuously  for 
fourteen  years.  His  is  one  of  the  longest  records 
in  the  educational  annals  of  Steuben  County.  For 
the  past  twenty  years  he  has  lived  retired.  He  is  a 
republican,  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  and  his  wife  both  active 
members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

March  31,  1868,  Robert  V.  Carlin  married  Miss 
Maria  Kinney.  She  was  born  November  18,  1831, 
daughter  of  Joseph  J.  and  Emily  (Hitchcock)  Kin- 
ney, natives  of  Vermont,  who  moved  to  Ohio  in 
1830  and  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  1851. 
Joseph  Kinney  died  in  1853  and  his  wife  in  1879. 
Robert  V.  Carlin  and  wife  had  two  children,  Emily 
dying  in  infancy  and  Mrs.  Carlin  died  April  8,  1916. 

Clyde  C.  Carlin  was  born  at  Angola,  July  28,  1870, 
and  had  a liberal  education  as  the  foundation  for  his 
professional  career.  He  attended  the  Angola  High 
School,  graduated  in  1888  from  the  Tri-State  Nor- 
mal College  at  Angola,  and  in  1892  received  his 
diploma  from  his  father’s  alma  mater,  Hillsdale 
College.  He  was  associated  with  E.  O.  Rose  in 
founding  the  Angola  Magnet  in  1893,  and  was  con- 
nected with  that  paper  about  a year.  He  then  dili- 
gently pursued  the  study  of  law  with  William  M. 


Brown,  and  in  1898  formed  a partnership  with  his 
preceptor,  and  for  twenty  years  has  been  one  of  the 
busy  lawyers  of  Steuben  County.  Mr.  Carlin  is  a 
republican,  is  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  and 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  has 
been  one  of  the  influential  men  in  his  community. 
October  1,  1911,  he  married  Gertrude  Hauver,  of 
Angola,  daughter  of  Henry  Hauver,  a former 
county  sheriff. 

Charles  W.  Brown.  A lawyer  by  training  but 
a farmer  by  inheritance  and  choice,  Charles  W. 
Brown  has  made  for  himself  a distinctive  place  in 
the  community  of  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  He  has  prospered  in  his  business  affairs 
and  has  so  arranged  his  private  matters  as  to  have 
time  not  only  for  civic  duties  but  the  pleasures  and 
pursuits  of  literature. 

He  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  April  19, 
1868,  oldest  child  of  Warren  and  Falona  (Baxter) 
Brown,  both  of  whom  are  living.  He  attended 
country  district  school  at  intervals  from  the  age  of 
four  until  sixteen.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  took 
a business  course  at  Angola  in  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege, and  subsequently  pursued  the  study  of  law  in 
Huntingdon,  Tennessee,  under  the  direction  of 
Tames  H.  Land.  He  was  admitted  to  the  Carroll 
County  bar  May  6,  1899.  Still  later  he  studied 
the  Indiana  statutes  and  reports  for  several  months 
at  Marion  under  the  supervision  of  G.  A.  Henry. 
Convinced  that  he  had  more  ingenuity  in  other 
directions  than  in  the  field  of  law,  he  never  engaged 
in  it  as  a profession,  although  he  served  as  justice 
of  the  peace  in  Springfield  Township  for  ten  years, 
from  1905  until  1915,  and  since  1915  has  held  a 
commission  as  notary  public. 

He  grew  to  manhood  in  the  vicinity  of  his  birth- 
place and  has  lived  in  that  community  the  greater 
part  of  his  life.  He  became  acquainted  with  the 
duties  of  his  father’s  farm,  and  though  he  appre- 
ciated the  never  ending  drudgery  he  was  also  at- 
tracted by  the  other  advantages  of  the  country, 
especially  the  free  open  air  and  the  wide  out  of 
doors,  the  wholesome  exercise  and  the  abundant 
opportunity  for  a well  balanced  and  useful  existence. 
In  1905  he  took  up  his  residence  on  the  place  of 
ninety  acres  known  as  the  “Valley  Farm,”  and  that 
has  since  been  his  home.  For  five  years  he  farmed 
this  place  and  since  then  has  rented  the  land  for 
the  most  part  and  has  occupied  his  time  in  the 
broader  problems  of  farm  management  and  in 
literary  pursuits.  During  his  mature  years  he  has 
been  a diligent  student,  and  takes  delight  in  his 
library  of  six  hundred  volumes  on  a variety  of  sub- 
j ects. 

Mr.  Brown  has  never  joined  any  church  organi- 
zation. His  religious  views  are  between  those  of 
the  Unitarian  faith  and  the  Freethinker.  Politically 
he  is  inclined  to  acceptance  of  the  socialist  doc- 
trines. In  1901  he  joined  the  association  known  as 
the  Improved  Order  of  Red  Men,  Suwanee  Tribe 
No.  311  of  Stroh,  and  continued  his  membership 
until  the  Tribe  disbanded  in  1917.  In  1918  he  con- 
nected with  the  Masonic  fraternity,  Philo  Lodge 
No.  672,  at  Stroh.  He  has  also  been  a member 
since  1912  of  the  Mississippi  Valley  Historical  As- 
sociation, the  Indiana  Historical  Society,  and  since 
1913  of  the  Michigan  Pioneer  and  Historical  So- 
ciety. 

As  to  his  ancestral  record  and  immediate  family 
Mr.  Brown  furnishes  an  account  which  is  a matter 
of  interesting  record  to  the  people  of  LaGrange 
County  and  can  best  be  told  in  his  own  words : 

My  most  remote  ancestor  of  whom  there  is  record 
was  one  John  Brown  who  came  to  America  from 
England  in  1624  with  the  John  Robinson  Company, 


316 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


landing  in  Massachusetts  Bay  or  Plymouth  Har- 
bor. He  was  one  of  three  brothers  who  early  came 
to  America,  one  of  them  crossing  on  the  Mayflower 
and  being  one  of  the  original  band  of  Pilgrims.  My 
Brown  ancestors  for  several  generations  dwelt  in 
Killingly,  Windham  County,  Connecticut.  In  the 
meantime  they  married  into  Irish  families  and  sub- 
sequently emigrated  to  more  western  states. 

Another  branch,  the  Olneys,  were  early  members 
of  the  Roger  Williams  Colony  in  Rhode  Island,  in 
which  state  many  of  their  descendants  still  live. 

Of  my  maternal  ancestors,  the  Smith  family  came 
from  England  to  America  in  1638  and  settled  in 
New  London  County,  Connecticut,  which  county  is 
the  home  of  many  of  their  descendants  to  this 
time.  The  Caulkins  family  somewhat  later  settled 
in  Connecticut  in  New  London  County.  Of  the 
Baxter  family  three  brothers  came  from  Scotland 
to  America  some  two  hundred  years  ago,  my  direct 
ancestor  by  that  name  living  for  a considerable 
time  at  Long  Meadow,  Connecticut,  from  which 
place  they  eventually  drifted  westward. 

Not  less  than  five  of  my  forefathers  were  soldiers 
in  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  One  grandfather, 
Hosea  H.  Baxter,  was  a volunteer  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  His  father,  Benjamin  F.,  was  a graduate 
of  Harvard  University  and  served  in  the  War  of 
1812. 

My  grandfather,  Russell  Brown,  in  company  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Orsemus  Jakeway,  and  their 
families  migrated  from  Cayuga  County,  New  York, 
to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  settling  in  Spring- 
field  Township  in  June,  1836.  They  went  by  way 
of  the  Erie  Canal  to  Buffalo,  thence  across  Lake 
Erie  to  Toledo.  They  were  ten  days  making  the 
trip  from  Toledo  to  LaGrange  County  owing  to 
difficult  traveling  through  the  far  famed  Black 
Swamp.  He  invested  in  considerable  land,  which 
cost  him  for  the  most  part  only  one  dollar  and  a 
quarter  per  acre.  Here  in  Springfield  Township 
three  of  his  sons  grew  to  manhood,  and  aside  from 
his  farm  labors  he  taught  school  several  winters 
and  served  as  township  trustee.  He  was  unusually 
proficient  in  mathematics  and  assisted  in  surveying 
lines  for  numerous  highways  in  LaGrange  and 
Steuben  counties  during  the  early  years.  He  moved 
to  Orland  in  1855,  where  he  lived  until  his  death 
in  September,  1888. 

My  father,  Warren  Brown,  is  a native  of  Cayuga 
County,  New  York,  where  he  was  born  February 
6,  1833.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Springfield 
Township  when  little  more  than  three  years  old, 
and  here  he  has  resided  continuously  except  three 
years  in  the  Village  of  Orland  during  the  late  ’50s. 
He  and  his  three  brothers  were  among  the  pioneer 
boys  of  Northeast  Indiana — a generation  now  few 
and  scattered.  Although  suffering  frequent  attacks 
of  illness  in  his  earlier  years  he  has  been  noted 
through  life  for  his  untiring  industry.  His  occu- 
pation through  life  has  been  general  farming.  Of 
his  brothers  only  one,  Hon.  William  M.  Brown, 
of  Angola,  survives. 

On  Thanksgiving  day,  December  7,  1865,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Falona  S.  Baxter,  of 
Norwalk,  Ohio.  They  are  the  parents  of  two  sons 
and  a daughter,  Charles  W.,  Homer  H.  and  Mrs. 
Laura  E.  Talmage. 

In  December,  1916,  Warren  Brown  suffered  an 
injury  by  a horse,  resulting  in  a broken  hip,  thus 
making  him  a confirmed  cripple,  his  only  means 
of  getting  around  being  a wheel-chair.  Otherwise 
his  health  is  fair  for  a man  in  his  eighty-seventh 
year. 

My  mother,  Falona  S.  Brown,  was  the  sixth  in 
her  father’s  family  of  thirteen  children,  and  the 
youngest  of  three  born  to  Hosea  H.  and  Frances 


(Caulkins)  Baxter.  She  was  born  at  Vermilion, 
Erie  County,  Ohio,  June  18,  1841.  When  scarcely 
past  her  infancy  her  parents  moved  to  South  Mil- 
ford, Indiana,  at  which  place  she  was  left  mother- 
less when  two  and  a half  years  old.  She  lived  in 
her  father’s  family  to  the  age  of  ten,  when  she 
went  to  live  with  an  aunt  in  Norwalk,  Ohio.  She 
lived  in  Norwalk  until  the  age  of  twenty-three, 
when,  in  December,  1863,  she  came  to  Orland  to 
visit  some  uncles  and  cousins  and  in  the  month 
following,  while  staying  with  a sister  in  LaGrange 
County,  she  became  acquainted  with  Warren  Brown, 
to  whom  she  was  afterwards  married.  She  was 
by  trade  a dressmaker,  but  worked  as  a domestic 
in  the  family  of  Russell  Brown  during  the  years 
1864-65.  Since  1866  her  home  has  been  in  La- 
Grange County. 

Her  father,  Hosea  H.  Baxter,  was  one  of  the 
LaGrange  County  pioneers.  He  ran  several  thresh- 
ing crews  or  outfits  in  LaGrange  and  Noble  coun- 
ties during  the  season  of  1837.  Some  time  during 
1841  he  moved  from  Erie  County,  Ohio,  to  South 
Milford,  Indiana,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business,  conducting  a general  store.  Some  time 
later  he  went  in  partnership  with  Ed  Wright,  a 
glove  maker,  and  they  carried  on  the  manufacture 
of  potash  in  connection  with  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness both  at  South  Milford  and  Mt.  Pisgah, 
Mr.  Wright  having  charge  of  the  Mt.  Pisgah 
branch.  Mr.  Baxter  left  South  Milford  for  Mich- 
igan early  in  1849,  while  Wright  removed  to  De- 
Kalb  County  and  established  a third  store  at  what 
is  now  Woodruff,  at  that  time  Wright’s  Corners. 

Homer  H.  Brown  has  been  a factor  in  several 
farming  communities  in  Northeast  Indiana  for  over 
a quarter  of  a century  and  now  occupies  the  old 
Brown  homestead  in  Springfield  Township.  He  was 
born  in  that  township  March  29,  1871,  and  is  a 
son  of  Warren  Brown.  In  the  Brown  family  line 
he,  his  father,  grandfather  and  great-grandfather 
were  all  second  sons.  The  interesting  story  of  his 
ancestry  and  family  connections  in  Northeast  In- 
diana and  elsewhere  is  told  on  other  pages. 

He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools,  and 
lived  at  home  until  his  marriage  to  Nancy  Louvina 
Parker  August  9,  1898.  He  then  moved  to  a piece 
of  land  he  had  previously  purchased,  known  as  the 
Prentiss  Mill  property,  and  not  long  afterward 
moved  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  his  brother 
Charles.  In  1903,  having  sold  the  Prentiss  property, 
he  moved  to  his  father’s  homestead  and  remained 
there  three  years.  He  next  went  to  what  is  known 
as  the  old  Hamilton  farm  in  Steuben  County,  own- 
ing that  place  four  years.  He  sold  the  property 
in  1908,  and  since  then  for  eleven  years  has  made 
his  borne  on  the  Brown  homestead. 

Mr.  Brown  is  the  father  of  three  children. 
Philena  M.  and  Dorothy  C.,  are  the  daughters.  The 
only  son,  Warren  D.,  died  March  1,  1916.  He  was 
a young  man  of  unusual  promise  and  his  death 
was  an  overwhelming  blow  to  his  father,  whose  in- 
terest and  affections  centered  in  the  youth.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Brown  is  a republican,  having  cast  his- 
first  presidential  vote  for  Benjamin  Harrison  in 
1892. 

Joseph  L.  Swihart  came  to  LaGrange  County 
when  a boy  of  eleven  years,  and  since  early  manhood 
has  been  identified  with  the  agricultural  activities  of 
the  county.  For  over  forty  years  he  has  lived  in  the 
Brighton  community  of  Greenfield  Township,  and 
in  that  time  a large  acreage  has  come  under  his 
ownership  and  has  been  developed  as  one  of  the 
most  productive  farms  in  that  locality. 

He  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  March 


LEAN  HER  T.  CRAIN  FAMILY 
Three  Generations  Represented 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


317 


7,  1849.  The  record  of  his  grandfather,  father  and 
other  members  of  the  Svvihart  family  is  given  more 
in  detail  on  other  pages  of  this  publication.  Joseph 
L.  Swihart  was  eighteen  months  old  when  his  par- 
ents settled  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  and  ten  years 
later  they  moved  to  LaPorte  County,  thence  to  St. 
Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and  in  i860  came  to 
LaGrange  County.  Mr.  Swihart  finished  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Greenfield  Township, 
and  on  starting  for  himself  farmed  two  years  south 
of  Brighton.  He  moved  to  his  present  home  west 
of  Brighton  about  1878.  Mr.  Swihart  owns  200 
acres  in  Greenfield  Township  and  fifty  acres  in 
Bloomfield,  and  has  increased  the  value  and  attrac- 
tiveness of  his  farm  by  the  addition  of  a number 
of  substantial  buildings.  In  1872  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Horner,  a native  of  Ohio,  daughter  of  Eli 
Horner,  who  came  to  Greenfield  Township  in  1866. 
To  their  marriage  were  born  five  children:  Ora  is 
the  wife  of  Christian  Wolf,  manager  of  an  elevator 
at  North  Liberty,  Indiana ; Rolland  is  a farmer  in 
Greenfield  Township;  Jason  is  with  his  father  on 
the  farm ; Alma  is  the  wife  of  Roy  McDonald,  a 
Greenfield  Township  farmer;  and  Bertha,  the 
youngest,  is  Mrs.  Albert  Merrifield,  living  in  Illinois. 

Leander  T.  Crain.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
find  any  more  representative  a class  of  American 
citizens  than  those  now  engaged  in  operating  the 
fertile  farm  lands  of  Steuben  County.  Many  of 
these  agriculturists  not  only  have  been  engaged  in 
farming  all  of  their  lives,  but  have  inherited  their 
love  of  the  soil  from  father  and  grandfather,  their 
work  in  this  line  extending  back  over  many  gener- 
ations. Such  men,  who  live  close  to  nature,  have 
deep  in  their  hearts  a patriotism,  a love  for  their 
country,  which  is  not  often  equalled,  and  never  ex- 
ceeded by  those  residing  in  the  more  congested  sec- 
tions. One  of  these  good  citizens  of  Steuben  County 
is  Leander  T.  Crain,  owner  of  a fine  farm  in  sec- 
tion 26,  Steuben  Township,  where  he  has  lived  since 
1901. 

Leander  T.  Crain  was  born  in  Franklin  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  May  29,  1845,  a son  of 
Ervin  J.  Crain  and  grandson  of  Charles  Crain. 
Charles  Crain  was  born  in  Vermont  and  his  wife, 
Fidelia  (Case)  Crain,  was  also  a native  of  that 
state.  They  came  west  to  Painsville,  Ohio,  at  an 
early  day,  and  in  1836  moved  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana,  locating  in  Franklin  Township.  There 
Charles  Crain  spent  the  remainder  of  his  life  with 
the  exception  of  the  last  two  years,  during  which 
period  he  was  retired  from  farming  and  a resi- 
dent of  Hamilton,  Indiana.  He  and  his  wife  had 
the  following  children:  Ervin  J.,  Leander  T.,  Ozro, 
Charles,  Ann,  Fidelia,  Jackson  and  Martha.  After 
the  death  of  his  first  wife  Charles  Crain  was  mar- 
ried to  Eliza  Severns,  and  they  had  children  as  fol- 
lows : Ezra,  Oscar,  Harvey,  Samuel,  Elvina  and 
Joseph. 

Ervin  J.  Crain  was  born  at  Middleberry,  Vermont, 
in  January,  1813,  and  his  wife,  Nancy  (Gaylord) 
Crain,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1812.  He  spent 
the  greater  part  of  his  mature  life  in  Franklin 
Township,  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  where  he  was 
engaged  in  farming.  His  death  occurred  in  Octo- 
ber, 1874,  as  the  result  of  an  attack  of  a vicious 
bull.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : 
Melissa,  Fidelia,  Leander  T.,  Horace  J.,  Luther  and 
Ervin. 

Leander  T.  Crain  grew  up  in  his  native  township 
and  attended  its  schools.  Just  as  he  was  merging 
from  boyhood,  when  only  seventeen  years  old,  he 
enlisted,  November  14,  1863,  for  service  during  the 
Civil  war  in  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 


ninth  Infantry.  He  received  his  honorable  discharge 
August  23,  1865,  having  continued  with  the  same 
regiment  and  company  during  his  period  of  serv- 
ice. Mr.  Crain  took  part  in  some  of  the  most  hotly 
contested  engagements  of  the  war,  among  them  be- 
ing those  of  Resaca,  New  Hope  Church,  Kensaw 
Mountain,  Lost  Mountain,  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro, 
all  in  Georgia,  and  Johnsonville,  Columbia  River  and 
Franklin,  Tennessee,  and  was  at  both  battles  of 
Nashville,  Tennessee.  The  regiment  then  went  to 
Washington.  During  the  winter  of  1864-5  he  took 
part  in  the  memorable  campaign  through  North  Caro- 
lina, being  at  the  engagements  of  Fort  Anderson, 
Fort  Fisher  and  Goldsboro,  and  was  never  wounded 
during  all  of  his  service. 

Returning  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  after  his 
discharge,  Mr.  Crain  spent  three  years  farming  in 
Franklin  Township,  and  then  in  1868  went  to  Mon- 
tana, where  he  remained  until  1876,  during  which 
period  he  spent  two  years  gold  mining  and  four 
years  ranching.  He  then  returned  to  Franklin 
Township  and  for  thirty  years  was  actively  engaged 
in  farming,  becoming  one  of  the  best  known  men 
in  that  section.  In  1901  Mr.  Crain  bought  his  pres- 
ent farm  and  became  one  of  the  honored  residents 
of  Steuben  Township  and  county.  One  of  the  pleas- 
ant recollections  of  his  life  in  Montana  is  a trip  he 
made  to  the  National  Park. 

Mr.  Crain  has  been  twice  married,  first  on  March 
3,  1876,  when  he  was  united  with  Mary  A.  Fee,  a 
daughter  of  John  Fee  and  Mary  A.  (Houlton)  Fee, 
and  she  died  in  1889,  having  borne  him  the  follow- 
ing children : Charles  K.,  who  died  at  the  age  of 

fourteen  months ; Ervin  J. ; Mary,  who  married 
Grover  C.  Brown;  and  Elsie  A.,  who  married  Ar- 
thur Fisher.  In  1892  Mr.  Crain  was  married  to 
Miss  Martha  George,  a daughter  of  James  Carter 
George,  and  she  died  January  6,  1896. 

Ervin  J.  Crain,  the  eldest  living  child  of  Mr.  Crain, 
was  at  one  time  captain  of  Company  B,  Third  In- 
diana Infantry,  and  was  put  on  the  retired  list  in 
1916. 

Leander  T.  Crain  relives  his  military  experiences 
among  his  old  comrades  of  the  local  post  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  while  he  maintains 
social  relations  with  them  as  well.  He  belongs  with 
the  Odd  Fellows.  For  some  time  past  Mr.  Crain 
has  not  taken  any  active  part  in  the  farm  work,  al- 
though he  is  interested  in  it  and  everything  per- 
taining to  agriculture,  to  which  he  has  devoted  his 
efforts  during  a long  and  honorable  life.  While  not 
one  of  the  old  residents  of  Steuben  County,  he  has 
resided  here  long  enough  to  become  imbued  with 
its  spirit  and  takes  an  active  and  intelligent  inter- 
est in  those  movements  calculated  to  bring  about 
reforms,  develop  good  roads  and  keep  the  young 
people  on  the  farms.  He  is  a firm  believer  in  the 
future  of  this  locality,  and  as  he  is  a native  of  the 
state  naturally  feels  that  Indiana  is  hard  to  beat  in 
any  way.  The  incarnation  of  probity  and  kindness 
of  heart,  his  friends  have  in  him  a tower  of  strength 
in  times  of  trouble.  Both  as  a soldier  and  private 
citizen  he  has  proven  his  worth  as  a man,  and  it 
may  be  truly  said  of  him  that  he  was  always  from 
boyhood  sincere  and  unselfish,  patriotic  and  cour- 
ageous, and  had  the  great  war  come  a few  years 
sooner  his  country  would  have  been  offered  his 
services  as  a soldier,  and  his  government  did  have 
them  as  an  individual  in  the  local  work  of  conser- 
vation and  various  drives.  Such  men  as  he  helped 
to  make  our  country  what  it  is  today,  preserving 
the  Union  from  destruction,  and  they  raised  up  sons 
and  daughters  to  carry  on  the  good  work  and  pass 
the  torch  of  truth  and  understanding  to  their  de- 
scendants in  turn.  No  wonder  this  country  has  never 


318 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


been  beaten  when  it  is  backed  by  such  men  as  Lean- 
der  T.  Crain  and  the  men  who  with  him  wear  the 
uniform  of  the  “old  soldier.” 

William  S.  Covell.  The  late  William  S.  Covell 
was  during  his  lifetime  one  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers of  Steuben  County,  as  well  as  one  of  its  most 
representative  men,  and  when  he  died  he  left  behind 
him  a valuable  farm  in  Scott  Township,  on  which 
his  family  still  reside,  his  son  Guy  attending  to  its 
management.  William  S.  Covell  was  born  in  Pleas- 
ant Township,  Steuben  County,  May  16,  1850,  and  he 
died  March  22,  1909.  He  was  a son  of  Lyman  G. 
Covell  and  a grandson  of  William  Covell,  the  latter 
having  been  born  at  Danbury,  Connecticut,  June  13, 
1768.  He  was  married  June  3,  1791,  to  Jerusha 
Hollis,  born  June  1,  1775,  at  Lanesboro,  Massa- 
chusetts. In  1816  they  moved  to  Oneida  County, 
New  York,  where  she  died  August  19,  1834,  he  sur- 
viving her  until  July  15,  1850,  when  he  passed  away 
at  Macon,  Lenawee  County,  Michigan,  while  on  a 
visit  to  his  children. 

Lyman  G.  Covell  was  born  at  Vienna,  Oneida 
County,  New  York,  August  25,  1810,  and  after  the 
death  of  his  mother  he  was  taken  into  the  family  of 
Doctor  Chatfield,  with  whom  he  remained  for  three 
years,  leaving  these  friends  then  to  go  to  Albany, 
New  York,  where  for  a year  or  so  he  was  con- 
nected with  a mercantile  establishment.  On  May  13, 
1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Maria  Hollis 
in  Huron  County,  Ohio.  She  was  born  at  Charlotte, 
Chittenden  County,  Vermont,  September  24,  1815, 
a daughter  of  Lyman  and  Betsy  (Palmer)  Hollis, 
who  moved  to  Huron  County,  Ohio,  in  1835,  living 
there  until  they  were  claimed  by  death.  On  October 
10  of  the  year  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Covell  came  to 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  and  located  in  section  1, 
Pleasant  Township,  where  he  developed  a farm  and 
lived  for  eighteen  years,  leaving  it  in  February,  1859, 
to  move  to  Scott  Township,  in  section  15,  where  he 
owned  eighty  acres  of  choice  farm  land.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Covell  became  the  parents  of  the  following 
children:  Elizabeth,  Jerusha  E.,  William  S.,  Janette, 
Abyram  and  James  L.,  the  last  three  children  dying 
when  very  young.  Members  of  the  Disciples 
Church,  they  were  pillars  of  their  congregation  for 
many  years.  They  were  kind  and  charitable  to  those 
who  needed  assistance,  and  their  benefactions  were 
many  and  varied.  Mr.  Covell  was  interested  along 
many  lines,  and  in  addition  to  his  agricultural  ac- 
tivities he  was  a school  teacher  during  his  younger 
years  and  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade.  His  fellow 
citizens  elected  him  trustee  of  Pleasant  Township, 
and  he  served  as  a justice  of  the  peace  for  seventeen 
years. 

William  S.  Covell  was  reared  in  the  atmosphere 
of  a religious  home  and  early  learned  the  distinc- 
tions between  right  and  wrong.  He  was  sent  to  the 
neighborhood  school,  and  later  to  that  of  Angola, 
and  acquired  sufficient  training  to  engage  in  school 
teaching  for  ten  years  in  Scott  Township,  during 
six  of  which  he  was  in  charge  of  the  Jones  school. 
Leaving  the  educational  field,  Mr.  Covell  com- 
menced to  put  to  practical  use  the  lessons  his  father 
had  taught  him  relative  to  farming,  and  moved  to 
the  old  homestead  of  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Scott 
Township.  Here  he  made  many  improvements, 
erecting  some  of  the  buildings  and  remodeling  others 
so  that  the  premises  are  in  prime  condition. 

On  October  10,  1875,  Mr.  Covell  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Maria  A.  Crawford,  born  in  Scott 
Township,  March  31,  1855,  a daughter  of  Edward 
and  Mary  E.  (Hutchins)  Crawford.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Covell  became  the  parents  of  the  following  children : 


Guy;  Fred,  who  married  Ida  Foster  and  has  the 
following  children,  Royal,  Iver,  Harry,  and  Margie; 
Cary  E.,  who  married  Ella  Deller,  has  two  children, 
Lucille  and  Wendell;  Pliney,  who  died  in  childhood; 
Jesse,  who  is  mentioned  below;  and  Elsie,  who  is 
the  youngest.  Jesse  Covell  entered  the  military 
service  of  his  country  on  June  18,  1908,  in  Company 
B,  Third  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  promoted  to 
corporal  in  1910  and  to  be  sergeant  in  1911.  In  1913 
he  received  his  commission  as  second  lieutenant,  and 
later  in  that  same  year  was  made  first  lieutenant. 
When  he  received  his  commission  as  captain  in  1916 
he  was  the  youngest  officer  of  that  rank  in  his  regi- 
ment. Since  September,  1917,  Captain  Covell  has 
been  stationed  at  Camp  Shelby.  William  S.  Covell 
was  a Mason.  He  served  for  four  years  as  town- 
ship trustee  and  for  four  years  as  a justice  of  the 
peace.  A man  of  high  principles,  he  lived  up  to 
what  he  believed  to  be  right,  and  never  allowed  him- 
self to  be  swerved  from  these  ideals. 

Isaac  C.  Schrock.  Though  he  is  now  accounted 
one  of  the  largest  farmers  and  land  owners  of  Eden 
Township,  Isaac  C.  Schrock  at  the  time  of  his  mar- 
riage had  little  to  begin  on,  rented  for  a time,  went 
in  debt  for  land,  and  paid  out  after  a number  of 
years  of  self  denial  and  sacrifice.  The  Schrock  farm 
is  two  miles  west  and  three  miles  north  of  Topeka. 

Mr.  Schrock  was  born  in  Elkhart  County,  In- 
diana, March  4,  1862,  a son  of  Cornelius  and  Mag- 
dalena (Borntrager)  Schrock.  His  parents  were 
both  born  in  Pennsylvania,  his  father  coming  to 
Indiana  at  the  age  of  twelve  and  his  mother  at 
eight  years.  The  Schrock  family  settled  in  Elkhart 
County  and  the  Borntragers  in  LaGrange  County. 
After  their  marriage  the  parents  lived  in  Elkhart 
County  several  years  and  in  1865  moved  to  La- 
Grange  County,  where  the  father  died.  The  mother 
is  still  living.  The  Schrocks  are  members  of  the 
Amish  Mennonite  faith.  Cornelius  Schrock  and 
wife  had  thirteen  children,  and  the  eight  still  living 
are:  Peter,  of  Fulton  County,  Ohio;  Cyrus,  of 

Reno  County,  Kansas ; Joseph,  of  Holmes  County, 
Ohio ; Anna  A.,  wife  of  J.  V.  Yoder,  of  LaGrange 
County;  Isaac  C. ; Henry,  of  Texas;  Christ,  of  Elk- 
hart County ; and  Amos,  who  lives  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  LaGrange  County. 

Isaac  C.  Schrock  grew  up  on  a farm  in  LaGrange 
County  and  attended  district  schools  in  winter  and 
worked  on  the  farm  during  the  summer.  He  worked 
out  at  monthly  wages  for  one  year,  and  on  February 
18,  1883,  married  Anna  Chistner.  She  was  born 
in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  but  was  brought  to  In- 
diana when  an  infant. 

For  two  years  after  his  marriage  Mr.  Schrock 
was  a renter  and  then  went  in  debt  for  120  acres  of 
land,  being  able  to  pay  only  about  $600  down.  Mrs. 
Schrock  inherited  about  $2,000,  but  with  that  excep- 
tion they  have  worked  out  their  destiny  along,  and 
are  now  proprietors  of  370  acres,  a high  class  farm 
and  one  well  known  for  its  Percheron  horses  and 
other  good  grades  of  livestock. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schrock  have  a large  family  of 
twelve  children,  named : Cornelius,  Eli,  Amos,  Susie, 
Levi,  Mary,  John,  Andrew,  Lydia,  Amanda,  Ammon 
and  Fannie.  Seven  of  these  are  married.  They  are 
all  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church  and  Mr. 
Schrock  is  a democrat. 

George  W.  DeLancey.  The  citizens  of  Steuben 
County  have  twice  called  George  W.  DeLancey  to 
the  honors  and  responsibilities  of  the  office  of 
sheriff.  Mr.  DeLancey  is  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  the  county,  and  has  long  enjoyed  a high 
standing  and  success  as  a farmer  and  stockman. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


319 


He  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  September 
IQ,  1855,  but  has  lived  in  Northeast  Indiana  since 
early  boyhood.  His  parents  were  George  W.  and 
Sarah  (Corzier)  DeLancey.  His  father  was  born  in 
Richland  County  in  1824  and  his  mother  in  the 
same  section  of  Ohio  in  1825.  They  married  there, 
and  after  three  years  of  residence  in  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  moved  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
in  1868.  They  settled  on  a farm  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship two  miles  west  of  Angola,  and  the  father  lived 
out  his  industrious  life  in  that  locality,  where  he 
died  in  1880.  The  mother  passed  away  in  1897.  The 
father  was  a republican  and  the  mother  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  their  family  were 
eleven  children,  three  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  The 
others  were  named  Mary,  Rebecca,  Jane,  Harriet, 
John,  George  W.,  Charles  and  Naomi.  The  only 
ones  now  living  are  Charles  and  George  W. 

George  W.  DeLancey  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
brought  to  Steuben  County,  and  he  grew  to  man- 
hood on  the  old  home  farm  which  he  now  owns. 
He  was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and  for  over 
forty  years  has  followed  farming  as  his  chief  busi- 
ness. His  home  farm  comprises  138  acres  and  is 
well  adapted  for  the  general  crops  and  stock. 

Mr.  DeLancey  has  been  one  of  the  sterling  re- 
publicans of  Steuben  County,  and  was  elected  on 
that  ticket  to  the  office  of  sheriff  in  1915,  taking 
up  the  duties  of  office  January  1,  1916.  He  was  re- 
elected in  1918.  The  sheriff  is  affiliated  with  Pleas- 
ant Lake  Lodge  of  Masons,  Angola  Chapter,  Royal 
Arch  Masons,  and  is  also  a member  of  Angola 
Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  He  and  his  family  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

December  15,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  A. 
Landis,  of  Steuben  Township,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Sarah  (Apple)  _ Landis.  Her  father  came  from 
Wood  County,  Ohio,  to  Steuben  County  in  1865. 
Mr.  DeLancey's  parents  are  both  now  deceased.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  DeLancey  have  two  children  and  seven 
grandchildren.  The  son,  Walter,  after  leaving 
school  took  up  farming  and  now  owns  a place  in 
Pleasant  Township,  about  two  miles  from  Angola. 
He  married  Laura  Cline,  and  their  four  children 
are  Floyd,  Martha,  Marland  and  Wando.  The 
daughter,  Verle,  is  a graduate  of  the  Angola  High 
School  and  is  the  wife  of  Paul  Horn.  Their  chil- 
dren are  Stephen,  Bessie  and  Lillian. 

James  W.  Schaeffer  began  to  take  a part  in  the 
agricultural  activities  of  LaGrange  County  in  1872, 
and  out  of  the  generous  prosperity  he  builded 
through  his  years  of  consecutive  work  and  good 
judgment  he  has  been  able  to  live  retired  and  enjoy 
the  comfort  which  his  declining  years  deserve.  He 
is  a resident  of  Howe. 

Mr.  Schaeffer  was  born  in  Center  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  17,  1848,  a son  of  Daniel  and 
Plarriet  C.  (Hock)  Schaeffer,  also  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  a grandson  of  Peter  Schaeffer,  who 
spent  all  his  life  in  the  Keystone  state.  James  W. 
Schaeffer  was  fifteen  years  old  when  he  and  his 
parents  started  west  to  find  a home  in  Michigan, 
and  on  November  25,  1863,  reached  White  Pigeon. 
His  parents  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  Michigan,  where  his  father  farmed 
for  a number  of  years  and  later  retired  to  Sturgis. 
They  had  a family  of  eight  children,  James  W.; 
Peter,  deceased,  Albert,  Edwin  H„  deceased,  Daniel 
B.,  deceased,  David  O.,  John  C.,  deceased,  and 
George  W. 

James  W.  Schaeffer  had  some  advantages  in 
school  _ in  Pennsylvania  and  also  attended  school 
at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan.  He  was  still  a young 
man  when  he  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  the 
spring  of  1872,  and  in  1882  he  bought  sixty-eight 


acres  in  Lima  Township,  which  became  the  nucleus 
of  the  farm  of  two  hundred  seventy-nine  acres 
which  he  now  owns  and  which  represents  in  im- 
provements and  facilities  one  of  the  best  farms  in 
that  locality.  Since  1900  he  has  lived  retired  at 
Howe.  Mr.  Schaeffer  was  reared  in  the  faith  of 
the  German  Reformed  Church,  of  which  his  parents 
were  active  members.  September  20,  1871,  he  mar- 
ried Susan  S.  Sheaffer,  whose  name,  it  will  be 
noted,  is  spelled  somewhat  differently  to  his.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of  George  Sheaffer, 
who  became  a well  known  citizen  of  LaGrange 
County.  Mrs.  Schaeffer  died  August  19,  1895,  the 
mother  of  six  children:  Hattie  R.,  Mertie  B., 

Bertha,  Minnie  M.,  Clarence  and  Mabel.  Of  these 
Mertie  and  Minnie  are  now  deceased.  In  1897  Mr. 
Schaeffer  married  Miss  Hattie  J.  Smeltzly,  a sister 
of  F.  G.  Smeltzly,  of  LaGrange  County.  To  this 
marriage  were  born  three  children,  James  W.,  Clif- 
ford- D.  and  Ernest  V.,  all  living. 

Albert  Haskins,  an  honored  veteran  of  the  Civil 
war,  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  a century  ago,  and  most  of  his  active 
life  has  been  spent  in  that  county,  where  he  is 
widely  known  as  a financier  and  public  official. 

Mr.  Haskins  was  born  in  Springfield  Township 
August  14,  1843,  a son  of  Willis  and  Jane  (Jackson) 
Haskins.  His  parents  were  natives  of  New  York, 
were  married  in  that  state,  and  at  once  came  to 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in  1838.  They  made  the 
journey  from  New  York  to  Indiana  by  wagon  and 
team.  Willis  Haskins  entered  Government  land, 
and  was  a resident  of  Springfield  Township  until 
his  death.  On  his  land  he  put  up  the  first  buildings 
and  cleared  the  first  fields.  He  and  his  wife  had  a 
family  of  eight  children : Elizabeth,  deceased  wife 

of  Alanson  Harger;  Franklin,  deceased;  Charles; 
George,  deceased;  Albert;  Mary  Jane,  who  died  as 
the  wife  of  John  Sawyer ; Edith  and  Willis,  both 
deceased. 

Albert  Haskins  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Springfield  Township.  As  a boy  he  began 
working  out  at  monthly  wages,  and  before  he  was 
of  age  he  moved  to  the  vicinity  of  Elgin,  Illinois. 
While  there  he  enlisted  on  May  14,  1863,  in  Com- 
pany K of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-First  Illinois 
Infantry,  and  was  in  service  until  the  close  of  the 
war  nearly  two  years  later. 

Thirty-five  years  ago  Mr.  Haskins  engaged  in  the 
private  loan  business,  and  has  continued  that  service 
to  the  community  of  Springfield  Township  ever 
since.  His  offices  are  at  Mongo,  where  in  1913  he 
and  others  were  associated  in  the  organizatoin  of 
the  Mongo  State  Bank.  The  first  year  he  served 
as  vice  president  and  since  has  been  president  of  the 
bank.  Mr.  Haskins  for  thirty-four  years  has  been 
a justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  the  expiration  of  his 
present  term  he  will  have  spent  forty  years  in  that 
office.  He  has  done  much  to  adjust  community 
difficulties,  and  few  of  his  decisions  have  been 
appealed  or  reversed  by  higher  tribunals. 

October  19,  1879,  Judge  Haskins  married  Miss 
Amie  Huss.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of 
Elijah  Huss,  who  came  to  LaGrange  County  when 
his  daughter  Amie  was  three  or  four  years  old. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haskins  have  three  children : Garfield 
and  Herman,  twins,  the  former  a farmer  in  Green- 
field Township,  and  the  latter  a lawyer  at  LaGrange; 
and  Louis,  a farmer  in  Springfield  Township. 

H.  H.  PiNCHON,  a native  of  Northeast  Indiana, 
has  given  his  mature  life  to  the  saw  milling  and  lum- 
ber business.  He  was  head  sawyer  in  the  Goodwin 
mills  at  Fremont  for  a number  of  years,  afterward 
operated  independently  in  the  woods  of  Michigan, 


320 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  is  now  proprietor  of  a prosperous  and  growing 
concern  in  the  manufacture  of  lumber  at  Fremont. 

Mr.  Pinchon  was  born  at  Wawaka  in  Noble  Coun- 
ty, March  7,  1871,  son  of  Anthony  and  Mary  Ann 
(Beckmann)  Pinchon.  His  mother  was  born  at 
Philadelphia,  a daughter  of  Charles  and  Wilmina 
Deckmann.  Her  father  died  near  Hudson  in  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana.  He  was  a shoemaker  by  trade. 
Charles  Deckman  and  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: John,  Jacob,  Conrad,  Adam,  Henry,  William, 
Lena,  Wilmina,  Mary  and  Caroline.  Two  of  the 
sons,  Adam  and  William,  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil 
war. 

Mr.  Pinchon’s  paternal  grandparents  were  John 
and  Susannah  Pinchon,  the  former  a farmer  near 
Wawaka  in  Noble  County.  Their  children  were: 
John,  Harvey,  Anthony,  Frank  and  Cassie.  The  son 
John  died  in  childhood. 

Anthony  Pinchon,  who  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  in  early  life  distinguished  himself  as 
a very  skillful  axman.  It  is  said  that  he  cleared  up 
over  200  acres  of  heavy  timber,  and  would  take  con- 
tracts to  clear  off  a tract  of  land  at  $1.25  an  acre. 
He  was  a very  useful  man  to  have  in  a community, 
being  skilled  in  mechanical  occupations,  was  a grain 
thresher  and  a wagon  maker  and  wagon  repairer. 
He  built  wagons  by  hand,  making  them  with 
thorough  workmanship  from  tongue  to  endgate.  He 
spent  many  years  at  threshing  and  wagon  making 
and  died  in  1884.  His  first  wife  was  Lydia  Lower, 
and  of  their  children  who  survived  infancy  their 
names  were  Frank,  Jefferson  and  Susanna.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Mary  Ann  Deckmann  who 
died  April  22,  1919,  and  H.  H.  Pinchon  is  a son  of 
that  marriage. 

He  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  public 
schools  of  Noble  County,  and  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen went  to  work  as  head  sawyer  in  a lumber 
plant.  For  eleven  years  he  was  employed  in  that 
capacity  by  J.  W.  Goodwin  at  Fremont,  and  he  then 
bought  a small  sawmill  and  operated  about  two 
years  near  Moserville,  Michigan.  He  then  bought 
ninety  acres  of  timber  and  used  his  mill  to  work  it 
up  into  lumber.  In  January,  1909,  he  returned  to 
Indiana  and  bought  the  mill  at  Fremont,  and  has 
supplied  a large  part  of  the  local  hardwood  lumber 
to  this  locality. 

In  1895  Mr.  Pinchon  married  Ella  DeHuff,  daugh- 
ter of  Simon  and  Mary  DeHuff.  They  have  four 
children : Zona,  Inez,  Clarence  and  Wava.  The 

family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Thomas  Fields.  A worthy  representative  of  the 
clear-headed  and  progressive  business  men  and 
farmers  of  LaGrange  County,  Thomas  Fields  has 
lived  a life  of  satisfying  experiences  and  accom- 
plishments and  is  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
residents  of  the  Woodruff  section,  where  he  still 
lives  on  his  farm. 

He  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  September  15,  1862,  a son  of  Robert  and 
Sarah  (Taylor)  Fields.  His  parents  were  both  na- 
tives of  Lincolnshire,  England,  and  came  from  there 
to  the  United  States  when  young  and  unmarried 
and  were  wedded  in  LaGrange  County,  after  which 
they  settled  on  a farm  there.  Thomas  Fields  was 
only  two  years  old  when  his  mother  died,  and  he 
then  went  to  live  and  grew  up  in  the  home  of 
Joseph  Taylor,  his  uncle,  who  owned  the  farm 
which  Thomas  Fields  has  since  acquired.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  at  limited  intervals,  and 
was  with  his  uncle  up  to  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
He  then  rented  the  Taylor  farm  and  worked  it 
until  he  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  Woodruff.  He  was  a merchant  at  that  vil- 


lage for  four  years  and  for  eight,  including  that 
time,  was  postmaster. 

March  12,  1885,  Mr.  Fields  married  Anna  Young, 
who  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  April  18,  1865. 
Mr.  Fields  and  his  wife  both  attended  the  same 
schools.  For  thirty  years  they  have  lived  on  their 
present  farm,  where  they  own  136  acres,  and  forty 
acres  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble  County.  Mr. 
Fields  has  been  quite  active  in  republican  politics, 
and  his  name  is  associated  with  a competent  service 
as  township  trustee  of  Johnson  Township  for  six 
years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fields  have  a family  of  interesting 
children : Charles,  who  is  a high  school  graduate 

and  a graduate  of  the  law  department  of  Valparaiso 
University,  is  a fruit  grower  at  Hood  River,  Ore- 
gon ; Maude  is  the  wife  of  Clyde  Keck,  of  Clay 
Township,  LaGrange  County;  Mary  graduated  from 
the  common  schools  and  married  Bert  Bowser  and 
lives  in  Noble  County;  Elgie  is  a high  school  grad- 
uate and  wife  of  Harvey  Grossman;  Willie,  a high 
school  graduate,  is  still  at  home  and  is  secretary- 
treasurer  of  the  Farmers’  Shippers’  Association  at 
Wolcottville ; Raymond  is  in  the  medical  department 
of  the  army  at  Fort  Sheridan,  Ilinois;  and  Clara, 
the  youngest,  has  completed  the  common  school 
course  and  is  at  home. 

D.  Carl  Ransburg,  a former  trustee  of  Steuben 
Township,  has  had  a business  career  as  a merchant 
that  has  been  distinguished  by  long  and  uninter- 
rupted service  in  practically  one  store  and  one  firm. 
As  a boy  he  started  clerking  for  the  veteran  mer- 
chant of  Pleasant  Lake,  Frank  H.  Chadwick,  even- 
tually won  a partnership,  and  for  over  a quarter  of 
a century  has  been  a member  of  the  firm  Chadwick 
& Ransburg,  who  do  the  greater  bulk  of  the  general 
merchandise  business  in  and  around  Pleasant  Lake. 

Mr.  Ransburg  was  born  at  Tiffin  in  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  March  16,  1862.  His  father,  John  T.  Rans- 
burg, was  born  near  Frederick,  Maryland,  March 
15,  1835,  and  married  Elizabeth  Zimmerman,  who 
was  born  near  Tiffin,  Ohio,  in  1838.  In  1864,  when 
Carl  Ransburg  was  two  years  old,  the  family  re- 
moved to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  settled  on  a farm 
in  Salem  Township.  John  Ransburg  was  a man 
of  mechanical  skill  and  of  great  industry,  and  in 
connection  with  farming  operated  a saw  mill.  In 
1870  he  moved  to  Pleasant  Lake,  and  there  became 
established  as  an  important  factor  in  business  af- 
fairs, operating  a lumber  yard,  also  a general  mer- 
chandise store,  and  selling  drugs.  After  1875  he 
sold  out  the  merchandise  and  drug  business  and  gave 
all  his  attention  to  the  operation  of  his  lumber  mill. 
He  also  operated  a threshing  outfit,  and  through 
this  varied  enterprise  became  one  of  the  best  known 
men  in  his  section  of  the  county.  More  than  that 
he  was  a helpful  factor  in  promoting  religious  and 
spiritual  life.  He  had  a splendid  voice,  and  gave 
that  talent  to  evangelistic  work,  and  was  usually 
present  at  any  important  religious  gathering  in  his 
section  of  the  county.  He  was  the  leader  in  estab- 
lishing the  United  Brethren  Church  at  Pleasant 
Lake.  This  well  known  and  esteemed  citizen  died  in 
1907  and  his  wife  in  1905.  They  had  a large  family 
of  children,  a brief  record  of  whom  is  as  follows : 
Effie,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  months ; Harper 
G.,  an  executive  official  connected  with  the  Adams 
Express  Company;  D.  Carl,  third  in  age;  Ella  B., 
wife  of  Cyrus  Robertson ; Claudia  May,  wife  of 
John  W.  McCrum ; Frank  L.,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Adams  Express  Company  at  San  Francisco; 
Nellie  G.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-nine,  the 
wife  of  C.  L.  Bunting;  Mark  R.,  a traveling  sales- 
man ; Grace  E„  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years ; 
Paul ; and  Gertrude  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Gilbert. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


321 


H.  G.  Ransburg  entered  the  employ  of  the  Adams 
Express  Company  at  Indianapolis,  was  messenger, 
cashier  and  onhand  clerk,  later  was  traveling  auditor, 
having  a special  agency  at  principal  points  and  was 
then  made  superintendent  of  the  Chesapeake  Divi- 
sion, with  headquarters  at  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania. 
He  has  been  associated  with  the  company  for  thirty- 
seven  years. 

D.  Carl  Ransburg  received  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Pleasant  Lake.  In  1877,  when  fif- 
teen years  old,  he  became  a clerk  and  general  utility 
man  in  the  store  of  Mr.  Chadwick.  He  grew  with 
the  business  in  ability  and  efficiency,  and  in  1890 
was  admitted  to  the  firm,  which  then  became  Chad- 
wick, Ransburg  & Company.  Mr.  Ransburg  has 
therefore  devoted  the  best  years  of  his  life  to  the 
building  up  and  management  of  this  well  known 
concern.  However,  he  made  a splendid  record  dur- 
ing the  six  years  he  served  as  trustee  of  Steuben 
Township,  from  1908  to  1914.  He  is  a member  of 
the  United  Brethren  Church. 

March  15,  1885,  he  married  Elizabeth  H.  Brown, 
daughter  of  George  A.  and  Ursula  (Stocker) 
Brown.  To  their  marriage  were  born  three  chil- 
dren : Don  R.,  Harold  B.  and  J.  Raymond.  The  last 
named  was  born  in  1896  and  died  in  1900.  Don  R. 
Ransburg  was  for  seven  years  a telegraph  operator 
with  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  and  is 
now  engaged  in  the  advertising  business.  He  mar- 
ried Florence  Dickey  and  has  one  child,  Don  Byron. 

James  J.  Mishler.  Many  of  the  excellent 
farmers  and  upright  citizens  of  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  came  to  this  section  from  Pennsylvania, 
the  majority  being  intelligent  and  well  educated. 
An.  example  may  be  cited  in  James  J.  Mishler,  who 
is  one  of  Newbury  Township’s  most  highly  re- 
spected and  substantial  citizens.  For  thirty-seven 
years  Mr.  Mishler  has  been  a deacon  in  the  Men- 
nonite  Church. 

James  J.  Mishler  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
November  21,  1855.  He  attended  the  public  schools 
and  also  a normal  school,  where  he  prepared  to  be 
a teacher,  and  afterward  alternated  working  on  a 
farm  and  teaching  school  until  1877,  when  he  came 
to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  a section  to  which 
other  members  of  the  family  also  came.  In  1879 
he  bought  a farm  on  Seminary  Road,  five  miles 
west  of  LaGrange,  in  Clay  Township,  eighty  acres 
of  good  land,  and  lived  there  for  five  years  and 
then  took  advantage  of  a fair  offer  and  sold.  He 
then  bought  eighty  acres  on  the  Banbaga  Road, 
on  which  he  also  lived  for  five  years  and  sold.  In 
1889  he  came  to  Newbury  Township  and  bought 
the  first  seventy  acres  of  "his  present  farm,  adding 
tracts  from  time  to  time  until  he  now  owns  128 
acres.  This  land  is  all  in  fine  condition,  and  the 
remodeled  buildings  are  adequate  to  the  necessities 
of  a modern  farm  business.  He  carries  on  general 
farming  and  raises  stock. 

In  1879  Mr.  Mishler  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Lydia  Yoder,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
a daughter  of  Jacob  Yoder,  who  was  a pioneer 
settler  in  Clay  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mishler 
had  the  following  children : Albert,  Mabel,  Oliver, 

William,  Lizzie,  Amanda,  James  and  Ola.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  December  3,  1896. 
On  February  28,  1899,  Mr.  Mishler  was  married  to 
Miss  Amanda  Miller,  a daughter  of  John  Miller, 
Jr.,  of  Newbury.  He  died  in  1894,  aged  sixty  years. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mishler  have  four  children,  namely: 
Ira,  Claud,  Nona  and  Lucy.  All  of  Mr.  Mishler’s 
first  family  of  children  now  living  have  married 
and  had  children,  as  follows : Albert  married  Inez 

Wampole.  They  have  two  children,  Elden  and 
Maxine,  and  they  live  at  Tillamook,  Oregon.  Oliver 

Vo],  11—21 


married  Pearl  Yoder,  and  they  have  one  child, 
Frances.  He  is  in  the  lumber  business  at  Ship- 
shewana.  William  married  Mary  Gittens,  and  they 
live  at  Woodburn,  Oregon,  where  he  is  prominent 
in  school  affairs,  an  educator  there  for  nine  years 
and  for  two  years  superintendent  of  the  high  school. 
Lizzie  is  the  wife  of  Jerry  C.  Troyer,  of  Newbury 
Township,  and  they  have  four  children:  Inez, 

Dorothy,  Francis  and  Esther.  Amanda  is  the  wife 
of  Joseph  E.  Nelson,  rural  mail  carrier,  and  they 
live  west  of  Shipshewana.  James  married  Verna 
Miller,  of  Llolmes  County,  Ohio,  and  they  live  in 
Newbury  Township  and  have  one  child,  Mary  Ruth. 
Ola  is  the  wife  of  Ira  E.  Yoder,  a farmer  in  New- 
bury Township,  and  they  have  one  child,  Catherine. 
Mr.  Mishler  has  great  reason  to  be  proud  of  so 
fine  a body  of  descendants. 

Daniel  M.  Plank,  now  living  in  comfortable 
retirement  in  Brighton,  has  been  a farmer,  thresher- 
man,  carpenter  and  an  industrious  worker  in  every 
duty  assigned  him,  and  has  earned  the  respect  and 
confidence  of  his  fellow  citizens. 

He  was  born  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  August 
18,  1863,  a son  of  Christian  J.  and  Mary  (Mosier) 
Plank,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  His  grandparents, 
Christian  and  Elizabeth  Plank,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  spent  the  last  ten  or  fifteen  years 
of  their  lives  with  their  son  Christian  in  LaGrange 
County.  Grandfather  Plank  was  a flour  miller  by 
trade.  Mary  Mosier  was  the  daughter  of  a Swiss 
emigrant,  the  Hosiers  being  early  farmers  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana.  Christian  J.  Plank  was  educated 
in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  moved  to  Elkhart  County, 
Indiana,  about  1862,  and  after  farming  there  some 
three  years  moved  to  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  in  1866.  After  the  death  of  his  wife  there 
he  left  the  farm  a year  or  two  before  his  death. 
He  improved  a farm  of  193  acres.  He  was  a charter 
member  of  the  Farmers  Rescue  Insurance  Company 
and  served  many  years  on  its  board  of  finance. 
He  and  his  first  wife  had  children  named  Amos  F., 
Katherine,  Rebecca  E.;  Susan,  Mary  A.,  Daniel  M., 
Samuel,  Lydia,  Elizabeth  and  Alice.  Christian  J. 
Plank  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Fannie 
(Morrell)  Plank,  a widow  with  three  children, 
named  Elida,  Jeptha  and  David,  and  to  her  second 
marriage  was  born  one  son,  Harvey  Plank. 

Daniel  M.  Plank  received  his  education  in  country 
schools  and  at  Howe,  and  as  a youth  manifested 
special  mechanical  genius,  which  led  him  to  take  up 
the  threshing  business.  He  operated  threshing  out- 
fits altogether  for  twenty-one  years  and  had  prac- 
tically all  the  various  types  of  grain  threshing 
machinery  of  that  period.  He  was  also  a farmer, 
the  first  five  years  living  on  his  own  place  near 
Cedar  Lake  and  then  for  five  years  on  his  father’s 
farm.  He  moved  to  Brighton  in  1900,  and  for 
several  years  followed  the  business  of  threshing 
and  the  trade  of  carpenter.  For  four  years  he  made 
his  home  at  LaGrange,  and  during  that  time  was  a 
motorman  on  the  St.  Joseph  Valley  line.  Since 
returning  to  Brighton  he  has  built  a comfortable 
home,  enjoying  life  somewhat  at  leisure. 

Mr.  Plank  married  on  October  2,  1890,  Miss  Etta 
Steirnagle,  a native  of  LaGrange  County  and  a 
daughter  of  John  Steirnagle.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Bertha,  now  Mrs.  Floyd  Bolley,  of  Brighton. 

Charles  Young.  Steuben  County  has  some  of 
the  most  substantial  farmers  of  Northeastern  In- 
diana, who  take  a pride  in  the  fact  that  they  are 
descended  from  the  pioneers  of  this  part  of  the  state 
and  that  members  of  their  family  assisted  in  de- 
veloping the  country.  One  of  those  who  belong  to 
this  class  is  Charles  Young,  of  Pleasant  Township. 


322 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


He  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township,  Steuben  County, 
March  3,  1852,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Nancy  (Failing) 
Young,  and  grandson  of  Andrew  Young  and  Thomas 
Failing.  Andrew  Young  was  born  in  New  York, 
but  moved  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  1835,  lo- 
cating in  Pleasant  Township,  where  he  bought 
eighty  acres  of  land,  and  on  it  lived  out  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Edward,  Laton,  George,  Jacob 

and  Daniel.  Thomas  Failing  arrived  in  Steuben 
County  a year  later  than  Andrew  Young,  and  he 
located  land  in  Jamestown  and  Scott  townships,  and 
in  1837  brought  his  family  to  his  new  home,  they 
living  in  Jamestown  Township.  He  was  a native  of 
Montgomery  County,  New  York,  where  he  was  born 
March  20,  1796,  and  he  died  in  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, November  18,  1883.  On  December  8,  1818,  he 
was  married  to  Catherine  Klock,  and  they  had  the 
following  children : Ann,  Elizabeth,  Nancy,  Adam 

and  Marietta.  Mrs.  Failing  died  October  24,  1879. 
They  became  wealthy  after  locating  in  Steuben 
County,  and  were  very  highly  respected. 

Jacob  Young  was  born  in  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  in  1822,  and  his  wife,  Nancy  Failing,  was  born 
in  the  same  county  in  1827.  After  attending  the 
schools  of  his  native  county  he  assisted  his  father, 
and  later  began  clearing  off  land  of  his  own.  In 
1849  he  went  with  other  gold  seekers  to  California, 
and  remained  in  the  West  for  eighteen  months,  but 
did  not  live  many  years  after  his  return  home,  as 
he  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three  years.  His  widow 
survived  him  many  years,  dying  in  1909,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  years.  They  had  three  children, 
namely : Ella,  who  married  William  Simms  ; 

Charles;  and  Albert,  who  is  now  deceased. 

Charles  Young  grew  up  like  any  normal  farmer’s 
son,  being  taught  to  be  useful  on  the  farm  and  sent 
to  the  public  school  of  Pleasant  Township.  After 
attaining  his  majority  he  moved  to  his  present  farm 
and  now  owns  160  acres  in  Pleasant  Township,  four 
and  one-half  miles  directly  north  of  Angola  and  160 
acres  across  the  road  in  Jamestown  Township.  Here 
he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 

In  1890  Mr.  Young  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Viola  Carmoney,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Abigail 
(Gochemaur)  Carmoney.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Young  had 
three  children:  Vera,  Charles  and  Wayne.  Vera, 

married  Ford  Champion,  and  they  have  four  chil- 
dren, Cleyon,  Reno,  Clair  and  a baby  daughter.  Mrs 
Young  died  in  1912,  deeply  mourned  by  all  who  had 
the  privilege  of  her  acquaintance,  for  she  was  a 
lovely  character,  who  made  friends  everywhere. 
Mr  Young  served  Pleasant  Township  as  supervisor, 
and  safeguarded  its  interests  efficiently  and  con- 
scientiously. He  is  a man  of  means  and  deserves  an 
important  place  in  the  history  of  his  community. 

Henry  Eshelman  after  more  than  forty-five  years 
of  steady  management  and  work  as  a farmer  is 
living  on  his  attractive  and  valuable  place  2J4  miles 
northeast  of  Wolcottville  in  LaGrange  County. 
Years  have  brought  him  ample  prosperity  for  all 
his  needs,  and  he  has  utilized  many  opportunities  to 
help  his  community  and  participate  in  movements 
that  reflect  the  best  ideals  and  spirit  of  progress. 

Mr.  Eshelman  was  born  in  section  23  of  Johnson 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  April  23,  1851,  a son 
of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Erford)  Eshelman.  His  father, 
a native  of  Pennsylvania,  went  to  Ohio  when  a 
young  man  and  after  his  marriage  lived  there  eight 
or  nine  years.  He  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  in 
the  fall  of  1850  and  settled  in  section  23  of  Johnson 
Township,  living  there  many  years  and  then  moving 
to  the  farm  where  his  son  Henry  resides.  He  died 
there  He  was  a very  active  member  of  the  Evan- 


gelical Church  and  was  affiliated  with  the  repub- 
lican party,  and  always  willing  to  do  his  share  in 
any  community  undertaking.  He  became  the  father 
of  eleven  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  still 
living,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Joseph  Royer;  Henry; 
and  John  F.,  of  LaGrange  County. 

Henry  Eshelman  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  section 
23,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in 
Iowa  has  always  lived  in  LaGrange  County.  His 
education  was  supplied  by  the  district  schools.  He 
went  to  Iowa  at  the  age  of  twenty-one,  and  on  re- 
turning to  this  state  bought  eighty  acres  included 
in  his  present  farm,  and  subsequently  bought  twenty 
acres  more.  On  February  17,  1875,  he  married 
Odella  Sigley.  She  was  born  in  Whitley  County, 
Indiana,  but  lived  in  LaGrange  County  from  the 
time  she  was  six  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Eshelman,  who 
died  January  28,  1917,  was  the  mother  of  seven 
children,  two  of  whom  are  living.  Adrian,  who  is 
a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  had  one 
year  in  high  school,  lives  in  Johnson  Township. 
Edith  M.  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and 
spent  two  years  in  high  school,  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  Conservatory  of  Music  at  Fort  Wayne.  She 
is  now  the  wife  of  Harry  E.  Lower,  of  Toledo, 
Ohio.  Mr.  Eshelman  has  five  grandchildren. 

He  has  long  been  identified  with  the  Evangelical 
Church  and  in  politics  is  a republican.  With  great 
capability  he  filled  the  office  of  trustee  of  Johnson 
Township  one  term.  He  has  served  as  treasurer 
and  is  now  a director  of  the  Farmers  Telephone 
Company. 

Franklin  Cary.  It  is  no  small  distinction  that 
Franklin  Cary  has  lived  to  witness  the  growth  and 
development  of  Angola  for  a period  of  over  seventy 
years,  but  he  has  never  been  merely  a witness  of 
action  and  progress  and  has  participated  personally 
in  the  work  of  the  community  and  even  today,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-seven,  is  seen  on  the  streets  and 
in  daily  attendance  upon  his  business  affairs. 

Mr.  Cary  was  born  at  Bucyrus,  Crawford  County, 
Ohio,  August  29,  1832,  son  of  Abel  and  Sarah  Cary. 
His  mother  died  in  Bucyrus  and  the  father  came  to 
Steuben  County  and  settled  at  Angola  in  1840.  He 
was  one  of  the  first  merchants  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  By  his  first 
wife  he  had  four  children : Marcie,  who  is  now 

ninety-three  years  of  age ; Bartley  K.,  deceased ; 
Franklin;  and  Nancy,  deceased. 

Franklin  Cary  came  to  Angola  in  1845,  when  thir- 
teen years  old,  and  except  for  several  years  spent 
in  California  has  been  a continuous  resident.  He 
made  three  trips  to  California,  going  both  by  the 
overland  and  by  the  water  route.  His  half  brother, 
William  Carey,  also  went  to  California,  and  returned 
by  way  of  Cape  Horn.  Franklin  Cary  early  learned 
the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  he  followed  that  occu- 
pation industriously  for  a period  of  half  a century. 
For  some  years  he  was  also  in  the  well  drilling  busi- 
ness, and  for  the  past  twenty  years  has  been  a hard- 
ware merchant  at  Angola.  He  is  owner  of  a wooden 
block  known  as  the  Cary  Block,  and  has  consider- 
able other  local  property.  He  here  has  made  a success 
financially,  stands  high  in  the  esteem  of  the  people 
of  the  county,  and  has  well  earned  all  the  respect 
he  enjoys.  Mr.  Cary  is  a republican  in  politics,  and 
is  deeply  interested  in  Masonry.  He  has  been  affil- 
iated with  that  order  fifty-eight  years  and  is  now 
the  oldest  and  the  only  surviving  charter  member 
of  Angola  Lodge.  He  takes  much  pride  in  the  fact 
that  both  his  son,  Charles,  and  his  grandson,  Carl, 
are  also  Masons. 

In  1857  Mr.  Cary  married  Miss  Alvina  Mariman. 
Mrs.  Cary  died  about  twenty  years  ago.^  after  they 
had  been  companions  together  on  life’s  highway 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


323 


forty  years.  The  only  son  and  child  is  Charles  Cary 
of  Angola.  Mr.  Cary  has  four  grandchildren  and 
a number  of  great-grandchildren.  Charles  Cary 
married  Cinda  Gordon.  Their  four  children  are : 
Etta,  Nellie,  Leta  and  Carl.  Etta  is  the  wife  of  C. 
J.  McIntyre  and  is  the  mother  of  five  children, 
Donna  Marie,  Morris,  Elizabeth,  Charles  and  Mary. 
Nellie  is  unmarried  and  is  a teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Gary,  Indiana.  Leta  is  the  widow  of 
Cash  Freeland.  Carl  Cary,  the  only  grandson  of 
Franklin  Cary,  was  in  the  army  for  six  months  as 
a motor  mechanic  in  the  field  artillery.  He  married 
Irene  Salsbury  of  Orland,  and  has  one  son,  Gordon. 

William  Miller  for  a third  of  a century  has 
lived  and  farmed  on  one  place  in  Lima  Township. 
He  has  enjoyed  the  esteem  of  that  community  for 
his  industry  as  a farmer,  his  public  spirit  as  a citi- 
zen, and  several  times  has  been  honored  with  pub- 
lic responsibility. 

He  was  born  in  Ontario  County,  New  York, 
September  8,  1845,  a son  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Hutchison)  Miller,  the  former  a native  of  On- 
tario County,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  England. 
The  paternal  grandparents,  Thomas  and  Sarah 
(Ripper)  Miller,  spent  their  lives  as  New  York 
State  farmers.  The  maternal  grandparents  came 
from  England,  settled  in  New  York  State,  and  at 
a very  early  date  moved  to  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana, 
and  the  maternal  grandfather  died  at  Huntertown 
in  that  vicinity.  James  Miller  was  born  and  edu- 
cated in  New  York,  and  during  the  ’50s  came 
to  LaGrange  County  with  his  family.  On  coming 
west  he  had  traveled  up  Lake  Erie  by  boat.  He 
bought  a farm  in  Lima  Township  soon  after  his 
arrival  and  made  some  improvements  there,  but 
later  moved  to  English  Prairie,  where  he  acquired 
three  hundred  sixteen  acres,  clearing  off  much  of 
the  land  and  making  many  improvements  to  increase 
its  value  and  productiveness.  He  built  a barn  on 
this  farm  and  lived  there  until  his  death.  At  one 
time  he  served  as  trustee  of  Greenfield  Township, 
and  was  an  active  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  and  his  wife  had  six  children,  Wil- 
liam, Charles,  James,  Clara  Jane,  Mary  Elizabeth 
and  George.  All  are  living  except  Clara  Jane. 

William  Miller  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  on 
English  Prairie,  attended  the  district  schools,  and 
lived  on  the  home  place  until  he  was  twenty-seven 
years  of  age.  His  farming  activities  have  always 
been  productive  in  the  northern  part  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  about  1886  he  moved  to  his  present 
place,  a little  east  of  Howe,  where  he  has  ninety- 
nine  well  cultivated  acres.  He  has  improved  and 
added  to  the  house,  and  has  all  the  comforts  that 
go  with  modern  high  class  farms. 

Mr.  Miller  has  served  as  assessor  of  Greenfield 
Township.  In  1879  he  married  Miss  Mary  Burn- 
side, a native  of  LaGrange  County  and  a daughter 
of  Alexander  Burnside.  Their  only  child  is  Lil- 
lian, widow  of  Sidney  Ganiard,  a former  state 
senator. 

Elisah  Keefer  has  been  a business  man  at  Mongo 
over  forty  years.  Everyone  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, and  in  fact  most  people  of  LaGrange  County, 
know  or  know  of  him  in  his  character  as  a reliable 
merchant  and  good  citizen.  For  thirty-three  years 
he  presided  over  the  local  postoffice  as  postmaster, 
and  in  that  time  he  was  delegated  with  the  responsi- 
bility of  establishing  the  first  free  delivery  service 
out  of  Mongo,  and  he  held  the  office  through  the 
Cleveland  administrations  and  until  the  first  elec- 
tion of  Wilson  to  the  presidency. 

Mr.  Keefer  came  to  Indiana  when  he  was  about 


twenty-two  years  of  age.  He  was  born  in  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  March  30,  1852,  a son  of 
Peter  and  Caroline  (Baer)  Keefer.  His  parents 
were  also  natives  of  Somerset  County,  where  his 
father  spent  all  his  life.  Peter  Keefer  was  a Union 
soldier,  serving  in  Company  K of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Seventy-First  Pennsylvania  Infantry  until  he 
was  discharged  by  reason  of  sickness.  From  the 
exposure  and  hardships  of  his  service  he  died  in 
August,  1865.  He  was  the  father  of  eight  children, 
the  oldest,  Simon,  dying  in  infancy.  Several  of 
these  children  still  live  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, including  the  second,  Diana,  who  is  Mrs. 
Theodore  Engle.  Elisah  is  third  in  age.  Sarah 
Ellen  died  in  1875  as  Mrs.  Zenas  Holliday.  Herman 
is  still  in  Somerset  County,  Elizabeth  died  unmarried 
in  1876,  and  Alice  died  in  1863.  Aden,  the  youngest, 
lost  his  life  by  being  accidentally  shot  while  hunting. 
He  was  living  in  Pennsylvania. 

Elisah  Keefer  acquired  a good  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  also  the  Myers- 
dale  Normal.  For  one  term  he  taught  in  his  native 
county  and  then  worked  on  farms  there  until  1874. 
On  coming  to  Indiana  he  entered  the  employ  of  Mr. 
Peter  Garlets,  three  miles  east  of  Mongo.  He  was 
on  the  Garlets  farm  until  1882,  when  he  moved  to 
Mongo  and  bought  a half  interest  in  a drug  store 
with  Joseph  Fair.  That  store  occupied  the  same 
building  and  at  the  same  location  as  the  present 
Gay  meat  market.  After  a partnership  of  one  year 
Mr.  Keefer  retired  and  has  since  engaged  in  the 
general  merchandise  business  and  has  never  had  a 
partnership  for  forty  years,  though  his  son  is  now 
actively  associated  with  him  in  the  business.  On 
becoming  a general  merchant  Mr.  Keefer  moved  to 
a frame  building  then  on  the  site  of  the  present 
Mongo  hardware  store,  and  in  1886  came  to  his 
present  location  on  the  corner.  He  has  prospered 
in  business  affairs,  built  a modern  home  in  Mongo 
in  1919,  and  also  owns  sixty  acres  of  farm  land  in 
Greenfield  Township.  He  • is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Mongo. 

In  1875  Mr.  Keefer  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Gar- 
lets. She  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  a 
daughter  of  Peter  Garlets.  Of  the  Garlets  family 
nothing  further  need  be  said  here,  since  complete 
representation  of  the  honored  family  is  made  on 
other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keefer  had  three  chil- 
dren, Clinton  and  Grace  both  dying  in  infancy,  and 
Alpharus  M.,  who  is  with  his  father  in  the  store. 

John  B.  Allman.  The  present  generation  of  peo- 
ple in  Steuben  County  need  no  introduction  to  the 
personality  and  career  of  John  B.  Allman.  He  is 
widely  known  as  a former  Circuit  Court  clerk  of 
the  county,  spent  over  thirty  years  as  a practical 
farmer,  and  in  every  relationship  has  measured  up 
to  the  qualifications  of  a real  man  and  a public- 
spirited  citizen. 

Mr.  Allman  was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 
November  23,  1856.  Several  generations  of  his  fam- 
ily have  been  identified  with  the  westward  march  of 
civilization.  His  great-grandfather,  Ebenezer  All- 
man,  moved  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1810  and  was 
one  of  the  first  to  develop  that  section  of  the  Ohio 
wilderness.  His  grandfather,  James  Allman,  who 
was  born  in  Washington  County  in  Southwestern 
Pennsylvania  in  1806,  grew  up  in  Stark  County,  mar- 
ried in  1829  Margaret  Anspaugh,  and  in  1842  moved 
to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  where  he  in  turn  became 
a pioneer.  James  Allman  died  in  1846,  survived 
many  years  by  his  widow,  who  was  born  in  1810. 
James  Allman  and  wife  had  seven  children,  Barna- 
bas, Haman  C.,  John,  Jacob,  Catherine,  Magdeline 


324 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  Agnes.  The  sons  made  worthy  records  as  sol- 
diers in  the  Civil  war,  and  Haman  died  of  wounds 
received  in  battle. 

Barnabas  Allman,  father  of  John  B.,  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  March  20,  1833,  was  nine  years 
old  when  he  went  to  Williams  County,  and  in  1856 
he  married  Ellen  Barcalow.  She  was  born  in  Bucks 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1833,  a daughter  of  John 
and  Martha  Barcalow.  In  April,  1864,  Barnabas 
Allman  moved  to  Steuben  County,  settling  in  section 
5 of  Richland  Township,  and  became  a prosperous 
farmer  and  land  owner  in  that  county.  He  began 
on  a rented  farm  half  a mile  south  of  Metz,  and 
at  the  time  of  his  death  owned  xoo  acres.  He  was  a 
carpenter  by  trade  and  he  filled  the  office  of  justice 
of  the  peace  for  about  twenty  years  in  Richland 
Township.  He  and  his  wife  were  active  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  in  politics  he  yvas  a 
republican.  Barnabas  Allman  died  December  26, 
1888,  and  his  widow  in  1902.  Their  children  were 
John  B.;  Edith  M.,  wife  of  Ford  Norris,  living  at 
Toledo,  Ohio;  Haman  C. ; Martha  J.,  now  deceased, 
whose  first  husband  was  Clarence  Gilbert  and  whose 
second  husband  was  Clair  Wisner;  James;  and  Mar- 
garet, who  married  B.  Goodale. 

John  B.  Allman  from  the  age  of  eight  years  at- 
tended district  schools  in  Richland  Township,  and 
had  his  full  share  of  work  in  the  fields  as  a boy. 
December  17,  1881,  he  married  Evelyn  Barron, 

daughter  of  Elmus  L.  and  Roxanna  Barron.  Her 
father  was  born  in  1823  and  came  to  Indiana  with 
his  parents,  Fayette  and  Arvilla  Barron,  at  an  early 
date.  For  many  years  Elmus  Barron  made  his 
residence  at  Metz,  was  a farmer,  a gunsmith  by 
trade,  and  was  a noted  hunter  in  the  early  days. 
It  is  said  that  he  had  over  500  deer  to  his  credit  as 
a marksman.  His  wife’s  parents  moved  to  Steuben 
County  in  1843. 

The  spring  following  his  marriage  Mr.  Allman  be- 
gan farming  a mile  and  a half  south  of  Metz,  and 
he  was  in  that  one  locality  giving  diligent  attention 
to  his  business  as  an  agriculturist  until  October, 

1907.  At  that  date  he  sold  his  farm  and  moved  to 
Angola,  and  served  for  four  years,  from  January  1, 

1908,  to  January  I,  1912,  as  clerk  of  the  Circuit 
Court.  On  leaving  office  he  returned  to  Metz,  and 
in  March,  1917,  bought  and  moved  to  his  present 
farm,  where  he  owns  100  acres  of  well  improved 
land  with  good  buildings  in  section  8 of  Richland 
Township. 

Prior  to  his  service  as  Clerk  of  Circuit  Court  Mr. 
Allman  was  for  about  five  years  trustee  of  Richland 
Township,  and  has  justified  every  public  honor  be- 
stowed upon  him.  He  and  his  wife  are  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church  at  Metz. 

They  have  had  four  children.  Elsie  M.  is  the  wife 
of  W.  P.  Faulhaver,  a farmer  in  Williams  County, 
Ohio.  Roxie  E.  is  a graduate  of  the  Angola  Tri- 
State  College  in  the  business  department,  took  part 
of  her  literary  course  there,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
T.  P.  Charles  and  the  mother  of  two  children.  Flora 
E.  and  John  B.  Heyman  B.  also  graduated  from  the 
•Angola  Tri-State  College,  took  further  work  in  the 
Indiana  State  University  and  Purdue  University, 
and  married  Ethel  Chard.  They  have  a daughter, 
Martha  E.  The  youngest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Allman  was  Carl,  who  died  young. 

Roy  B.  Ford  has  built  up  an  extensive  business 
as  a general  merchant  at  Stroh,  has  been  interested 
in  a number  of  business  and  civic  affairs  in  that 
community,  and  is  a former  postmaster  of  the  vil- 
lage. 

Mr.  Ford  was  born  in  Ingham  County,  Michigan, 
September  3,  1874,  a son  of  Oscar  D.  and  Frances 


C.  (Eaton)  Ford.  His  father  was  a native  of 
Chautauqua  County,  New  York,  but  spent  his  boy- 
hood at  Albion,  Michigan,  where  he  attended  the 
common  schools.  He  was  married  in  Ingham 
County,  Michigan,  where  his  wife  was  born,  and 
later  he  worked  his  way  through  Rush  Medical  Col- 
lege of  Chicago,  graduating  in  1895.  For  a number 
of  years  he  practiced  medicine  at  Leslie,  Michigan, 
and  in  1888  moved  to  South  Milford,  Indiana,  where 
he  had  professional  and  business  interests  until  he 
died.  Dr.  Ford  was  a charter  member  of  the  Ma- 
sonic Lodge  and  its  first  master,  and  is  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  in  politics  a 
republican.  Of  his  four  children  two  are  living, 
Dorman  E.,  an  employe  of  the  Rock  Island  Rail- 
road, and  Roy  B. 

Roy  B.  Ford  first  attended  school  at  Leslie,  Mich- 
igan, and  is  a graduate  of  the  South  Milford  School. 
After  leaving  school  he  became  associated  with  his 
father  in  business  at  South  Milford,  and  when  his 
father  died  he  took  over  the  store  and  conducted 
it  until  1900,  when  he  moved  his  business  to  Stroh, 
and  is  now  proprietor  of  a mercantile  service  that 
covers  a large  part  of  LaGrange  County.  He  is 
also  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of 
Stroh,  and  for  eight  years  was  postmaster,  the 
postoffice  being  kept  in  his  store. 

August  24,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Geiser  of 
LaGrange  County.  She  is  a graduate  of  the  Wol- 
cottville  High  School  and  for  several  years  before 
her  marriage  was  a teacher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ford 
have  two  children,  Rudyard  G.,  a student  in  the 
Morgan  Park  Military  Academy  at  Chicago,  and 
Marjorie  F.,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools.  Mr. 
Ford  is  a charter  member  of  Philo  Lodge  No.  672, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Council  and  Chapter  at  Kendallville. 
Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Wtlliam  E.  Heckenlively,  a prominent  lawyer 
of  the  Steuben  County  bar,  was  born  in  that  county 
December  6,  1861,  son  of  Henry  and  Mary  A. 
(Kirk)  Heckenlively,  the  former  a native  of  Colum- 
biana County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  January  20. 
1841,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Delaware 
County,  Ohio,  December  2,  1840  Henry  Hecken- 
lively went  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  about  1850 
with  his  parents,  George  and  Elizabeth  Hecken- 
lively. The  grandfather  was  a farmer  and  broom 
corn  raiser  and  manufacturer  of  brooms.  Henry 
Heckenlively  became  a farmer  and  veterinary  sur- 
geon and  in  1907  removed  to  Colorado,  where  he  is 
still  living.  The  mother  died  in  York  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1898.  There  were  four  children, 
William  E. ; Bell  and  Emma,  both  deceased;  and 
Curtis  G.,  of  Gary,  Indiana. 

William  E.  Heckenlively  grew  up  on  the  home 
farm  in  York  Township,  acquired  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  the  Angola  High  School, 
and  graduated  in  1890  from  Hillsdale  College  in 
Michigan.  In  the  meantime  for  a number  of  years 
he  had  been  teaching  school,  beginning  in  1877, 
when  he  was  only  seventeen  years  old.  He  taught 
in  the  country  districts  of  Steuben  County,  later 
went  West  and  was  principal  of  high  schools  in 
Wyoming  and  Utah  for  several  years,  and  at  one 
time  was  superintendent  of  the  Pleasant  Lake  High 
School  in  Steuben  County. 

He  began  the  study  of  law  in  1889,  in  the  office 
of  Best  & Bratton,  at  Angola,  Indiana,  and  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  in  1895.  He  practiced  alone  until 
1911,  and  since  then  has  been  a member  of  the  firm 
of  Bratton  & Heckenlively.  He  carries  on  a very 
successful  business  and  he  also  owns  a ranch  of 
480  acres  in  Colorado.  He  served  three  years  as 
prosecuting  attorney,  is  a republican,  member  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


325 


Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Blue 
Lodge,  Chapter,  Council  and  Knight  Templar  of 
Masonry  and  the  Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at  Fort 
Wayne.  He  and  his  family  consisting  of  his  wife, 
son  and  daughter,  are  all  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional Church. 

November  27,  1900,  he  married  Mary  E.  Main, 
of  Wood  County,  Ohio.  Their  older  child,  Joan, 
born  December  2,  1902,  is  a junior  in  the  Angola 
High  School.  Harold  M.,  born  March  26,  1905,. 
finished  his  first  year  in  high  school  in  1919. 

Ira  Royal  Appleman,  who  for  years  has  been 
connected  with  the  agricultural  industry  of  Spring- 
field  Township,  LaGrange  County,  is  a member  of 
an  old  and  prominent  American  family  long  set- 
tled in  Indiana.  Two  of  Mr.  Appleman’s  sons  were 
officers  in  the  World  war. 

He  was  born  on  the  Appleman  homestead  in 
Springfield  Township  June  22,  i860,  a son  of  John 
H.  and  Sarah  J.  (Doe)  Appleman.  John  H.  Apple- 
man  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania, 
August  10,  1815,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Jane  (Harris) 
Appleman.  Jacob  Appleman  was  a tailor  by  trade 
and  was  the  father  of  eight  sons  and  five  daughters. 
When  John  H.  was  a small  boy  his  father  moved 
to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  where  Jacob  died  soon 
afterward.  About  1827  John  H.  and  his  mother 
went  to  Richland  County,  Ohio,  'and  he  lived  with 
an  uncle,  William  Pool,  until  he  .was  twenty-one 
years  of  age.  On  September  20,  1836,  John  H. 
Appleman  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Doe,  who  was 
born  at  Stillwater,  New  York,  May  20,  1818,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Anna  (Hilton)  Doe,  the 
former  a native  of  Bangor,  Maine,  and  the  latter 
of  New  York.  John  H.  Appleman  by  his  wife 
Mary  had  six  children,  two  of  whom  reached  ma- 
ture years,  Squire  H.  and  John  Wesley.  Squire 
married  Viola  Ryan,  a daughter  of  Robert  Ryan, 
a pioneer  of  LaGrange  County,  and  he  and  his  wife 
now  live  at  Angola.  John  W.  married  Lottie  Gil- 
bert and  now  lives  at  LaGrange.  October  11,  1849, 
Mrs.  Mary  Appleman  died,  and  on  January  7,  1851, 
John  H.  Appleman  married  Sarah  J.  Doe,  a half- 
sister  of  his  first  wife  and  daughter  of  William 
and  Elizabeth  (Amsbaugh)  Doe.  John  H.  Apple- 
man  by  his  second  marriage  also  had  six  children : 
William  E.,  a resident  of  Michigan ; Albert  G., 
deceased;  Ira  Royal;  Charles  M.,  deceased;  Julia 
E.,  a resident  of  LaGrange ; and  Elmer  S.,  who 
lives  in  Honolulu. 

John  H.  Appleman  came  to  Springfield  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  in  1840.  All  the  money 
he  had,  sixty  dollars,  he  paid  on  a tract  of  eighty 
acres  of  wild  land.  By  persistent  energy  he  made 
a good  farm,  and  in  the  height  of  his  prosperity 
owned  seven  hundred  acres.  In  1875  he  moved  to 
Clay  Township,  a mile  south  of  LaGrange,  where 
he  had  a complete,  well  improved  farm  of  ninety 
acres  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1897.  He 
was  a republican,  a prominent  member  of  the  regu- 
lators of  LaGrange  County,  and  is  well  remem- 
bered for  his  good  citizenship  as  well  as  his  busi- 
ness enterprise. 

Ira  Royal  Appleman  grew  up  on  his  father’s  home- 
stead and  had  a public  school  education.  At  the 
age  of  sixteen  he  moved  to  Clay  Township,  near 
LaGrange,  and  while  living  on  his  father’s  farm 
there  attended  high  school,  taking  the  full  four 
years’  course.  On  October  21,  1886,  he  married 
Miss  Jennie  L.  Oliver. 

Mrs.  Appleman  was  born  at  Paw  Paw,  Michigan, 
December  1,  1865,  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary 
Jane  (Cone)  Oliver,  the  former  a native  of  Can- 
ada and  the  latter  of  Fort  Oswego,  New  York,  on 
the  banks  of  Lake  Ontario.  Mary  Jane  Cone  was 


born  October  23,  1845,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Lovina  (Baen)  Cone,  the  former  a native  of  Os- 
wego County,  New  York,  and  the  latter  of  Ver- 
mont. John  Cone  after  his  marriage  settled  in 
Oswego  and  died  there  in  1864.  His  widow  after- 
ward removed  to  Paw  Paw,  Michigan,  and  finally 
came  to  LaGrange,  where  she  died  in  September, 
1889,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  The  Cone  children 
were  Alpheus,  Carlton,  Edwin,  Chester,  Charles 
Oscar,  Edgar,  Frances  Eugenia,  Mary  Jane, 
Lucretta  Charlotte,  and  Sarah.  All  the  sons  of 
the  family  were  soldiers  in  the  Civil  war. 

Robert  Oliver,  father  of  Mrs.  Appleman,  when 
a young  man  went  to  Michigan  and  was  married 
February  22,  1863.  He  died  in  Michigan  leaving 
two  children,  Jennie  Lovina  and  Charles,  who  died 
in  infancy.  December  23,  1880,  his  widow,  Mrs. 
Oliver,  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Bowen  Dangler, 
a native  of  Ohio.  His  brother  was  inventor  of 
the  gasoline  stove,  known  as  the  Dangler  stove. 
The  Danglers  moved  to  Goshen,  Indiana,  two  years 
later  to  LaGrange,  where  they  resided  ten  years, 
and  then  returned  to  Goshen,  where  Mr.  Dangler 
died  in  1916,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  Mrs.  Ap- 
pleman was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  attended 
the  LaGrange  High  School,  also  the  Normal  School 
at  LaGrange,  and  was  a teacher  for  several  terms 
before  her  marriage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appleman  with  the  exception  of 
four  years  in  Clay  Township,  where  he  worked 
his  father’s  farm,  have  spent  all  their  married  lives 
on  their  place  of  eighty  acres  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship. This  is  a good  farm,  and  Mr.  Appleman  has 
always  raised  much  good  stock.  He  is  a repub- 
lican, and  he  and  his  wife  are  Methodists,  though 
she  was  reared  in  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

The  oldest  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appleman  is 
Ira  Royal,  Jr.,  born  December  30,  1887.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Springfield  Township  schools,  in- 
cluding the  township  high  school,  is  a graduate  of 
the  LaGrange  High  School  and  the  Tri-State  Col- 
lege at  Angola,  received  the  degree  B.  A.,  and  has 
a prominent  record  as  an  educator.  He  was  for- 
merly principal  of  the  high  schools  at  Colesburg 
and  Bridgewater,  Iowa,  also  at  Mount  Ayr,  In- 
diana, was  principal  at  Kadoka,  South  Dakota,  and 
finally  superintendent  of  schools  at  White,  South 
Dakota.  On  June  26,  1918,  he  enlisted  and  sailed 
for  France,  spending  about  three  months  in  the 
University  of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  for  special  train- 
ing. He  was  a member  of  Company  C of  the  309th 
Engineer  Corps,  84th  Division.  He  received  his 
honorable  discharge  August  19,  1919.  He  was  for 
three  years  a member  of  the  State  Militia. 

Oliver  Kenneth  Appleman,  the  second  son,  was 
born  March  24,  1890,  attended  public  schools,  the 
Springfield  Township  High  School,  and  is  a grad- 
uate of  the  LaGrange  High  School.  In  1915  he 
received  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Pedagogy  from 
the  Tri-State  College,  and  is  also  an  educator  by 
training  and  profession.  He  was  principal  at  Metz, 
Indiana,  of  the  Orland  High  School,  and  in  the 
meantime  had  become  a member  of  the  Indiana 
National  Guard.  From  June  to  December,  1916, 
he  was  with  the  National  Guard  forces  on  the  Mexi- 
can border.  August  5,  1917,  he  began  training,  was 
sent  to  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  later  to  Camp 
Shelby  at  Hattiesburg,  Mississippi,  and  from  Camp 
Mills,  New  York,  was  sent  overseas  in  October, 
1918.  He  landed  at  Liverpool,  and  soon  afterward 
embarked  for  France.  He  returned  to  the  United 
States  in  December,  1918.  He  was  commissioned 
second  lieutenant  and  later  promoted  to  first 
lieutenant,  and  after  his  honorable  discharge  he 
re-enlisted  in  January,  1919,  at  Fort  Benjamin  Har- 
rison and  was  sent  to  Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky,  and 


326 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


given  special  training  in  the  School  of  Fire.  He 
has  since  been  assigned  special  duty  in  the  army 
to  establish  at  the  Federal  prison,  Leavenworth, 
Kansas,  a school  for  men  who  can  neither  read 
nor  write. 

John  Harold,  the  third  of  Mr.  Appleman’s  sons, 
was  born  April  8,  1894,  was  a graduate  of  the 
Springfield  Township  High  School,  and  of  the 
Goshen  High  School  in  1914.  He  died  January  25, 
1916,  just  at  the  entrance  to  a promising  manhood. 

Henry  Keith  Appleman  was  born  August  10, 
1897,  and  since  completing  the  work  of  the  eighth 
grade  schools  in  his  native  township  has  pursued 
farming  and  is  now  renting  his  father’s  place. 
Jennie  Irene,  the  only  daughter  of  the  family,  was 
born  August  12,  1904,  and  is  now  in  the  first  year 
of  the  Springfield  Township  High  School. 

Mr.  Appleman  has  always  taken  a prominent  part 
in  local  politics.  For  about  twenty  years  he  has 
been  a member  of  the  Election  Board  and  also 
served  as  township  committeeman.  For  nearly 
fourteen  years  he  has  been  a director  of  the  Farm- 
ers Rescue  Insurance  Company  of  LaGrange  County. 

Walter  Fair.  Representing  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  LaGrange  County,  Walter  Fair 
spends  his  busy  days  as  a farmer  in  Greenfield 
Township,  and  for  thirty  years  was  known  over  a 
large  part  of  the  county  as  the  owner  and  operator 
of  a threshing  outfit,  which  he  ran  every  season.. 

Mr.  Fair  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio, 
January  11,  i860,  but  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County 
since  early  boyhood.  His  parents  were  Noah  and 
Jane  Ellen  (Group)  Fair,  the  former  a native  of 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter  of 
Ohio.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  Christopher 
and  Rachel  Fair,  who  moved  from  Pennsylvania 
to  Ohio  in  early  days.  Christopher  died  in  Ohio 
and  his  widow  afterward  came  to  LaGrange  County 
and  lived  in  Greenfield  Township,  and  died  at  the 
home  of  her  son  Noah  west  of  Mongo.  Noah  Fair 
and  family  came  to  Indiana  in  1866,  buying  ninety 
acres  in  Bloomfield  Township,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  in  1914,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two.  His 
wife  passed  away  in  1876,  at  the  early  age  of 
thirty-seven.  Their  nine  children  included  Walter, 
Truman,  Emma,  Catherine,  Annie  and  Lottie  and 
three  others  that  died  young,  George,  Deliah  and 
Sarah. 

Walter  Fair  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  Bloom- 
field Township  and  had  a public  school  education. 
He  was  in  the  threshing  business  for  thirty  years, 
up  to  1913.  In  that  period  he  operated  all  the 
different  types  of  threshing  machines,  including  the 
old  horse  power  outfit  down  to  the  modern  sepa- 
rator with  wind  stacker  and  almost  completely 
automatic.  During  those  years  he  and  his  brother 
Truman  also  owned  in  partnership  a farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Bloomfield  Township.  He  still  has  that 
property,  but  for  twenty-nine  years  has  lived  in 
Greenfield  Township  and  rented  the  Allen  Green 
farm  of  sixty  acres.  Mr.  Fair  is  a democrat  in 
politics. 

November  24,  1889,  he  married  Margaret  Funk. 
She  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  Funk,  who  came  to  Indiana 
in  1865  from  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  and  settled 
in  Clay  Township.  Mrs.  Fair’s  parents  are  deceased. 
To  their  marriage  were  born  six  children,  named 
Carl,  Grace,  Ross,  Hazel,  Basil  and  Lissie.  The 
son  Carl  was  in  the  draft  for  the  World  war  and 
went  to  Camp  Taylor  at  Louisville  March  29,  1918. 
Later  he  was  taken  ill  and  after  six  months  in 
the  hospital  was  sent  home  in  November,  1918. 


David  W.  Aldrich.  A citizen  whose  influence  for 
good  has  been  proved  on  numberless  occasions,  a 
prosperous  and  high  grade  farmer,  David  W.  Al- 
drich has  played  a useful  and  valuable  part  in  the 
citizenship  of  Richland  Township  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty. While  he  has  lived  in  that  county  the  greater 
part  of  his  life,  Mr.  Aldrich  represents  the  pioneer 
family  of  Aldrich  in  DeKalb  County.  The  very  first 
settler  in  Troy  Township  of  that  county  was  an 
Aldrich,  and  David  W.  Aldrich  is  descended  from 
one  of  the  family  who  came  very  shortly  afterward. 

The  Aldrichs  were  sturdy  New  Englanders. 
Simeon  Aldrich,  grandfather  of  David  W.,  was  a 
native  of  Vermont  and  married  in  that  state  Emile 
McClure,  also  a native  there.  Following  their 
marriage  they  penetrated  the  western  wilderness  as 
far  as  Medina  County,  Ohio,  and  a few  years  later, 
in  1836,  joined  the  pioneer  Aldrich  settlement  in 
Troy  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  Simeon  Aldrich 
had  the  real  spirit  of  the  pioneer,  and  after  many 
years  of  quiet  routine  in  Indiana  he  joined  the  Cali- 
fornia Argonauts  of  1849,  making  the  trip  overland 
and  afterward  going  West  again,  taking  in  Idaho  in 
his  tour.  Simeon  Aldrich  and  wife  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Emily,  John  Henry,  Timothy,  Simeon, 
Jr.,  Abigail,  Lucy  Ann,  Lucinda  and  Jonas. 

John  Henry  Aldrich  was  born  in  Medina  County, 
Ohio,  in  1834  and  died  in  1908.  He  married  Olive 
Wright,  a native  of  New  York  State,  daughter  of 
Alexander  and  Orpha  (Cook)  Wright.  John  Henry 
Aldrich  was  an  infant  when  brought  to  DeKalb 
County.  He  began  farming  as  a youth  in  Troy 
Township,  and  in  1868  traded  his  farm  there  for  one 
in  Richland  Township  of  Steuben  County,  in  section 
30.  He  owned  327  acres  in  Richland  Township  and 
also  had  120  acres  in  Otsego  Township.  In  1883  he 
removed  to  Butler  and  engaged  in  the  buying  and 
shipping  of  livestock  for  about  ten  years,  after 
which  he  returned  to  his  Richland  Township  farm, 
and  the  last  two  years  of  his  life  he  lived  in  Hamil- 
ton. He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church  at 
Hamilton.  His  four  children  were:  David  W. ; 

Simeon  F.,  who  married  Louise  Hicks  and  is  now 
deceased ; Charles  E.,  who  married  Etta  Dirrim ; and 
Hiram  H.,  who  married  Bonnie  Snook. 

David  W.  Aldrich,  who  was  born  in  Troy  Town- 
ship of-  DeKalb  County,  November  27,  1859,  was 
reared  and  educated  in  Steuben  County  in  Otsego 
and  Richland  townships,  and  as  a young  man  en- 
tered upon  the  business  of  farming  at  the  place 
where  he  now  resides.  In  1883  he  married  Harriet 
Hanes,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Mary  Hanes. 
After  a year,  in  1884,  Mr.  Aldrich  bought  forty 
acres  in  Otsego  Township,  and  that  was  his  home 
for  fifteen  years.  During  that  time  he  added  thirty- 
five  acres  to  his  farm.  In  1900  he  returned  to  the 
old  homestead  in  section  30  of  Richland  Township. 
This  farm  is  located  in  ihe  center  of  the  old  Jack- 
man  settlement,  which  was  the  first  permanent  set- 
tlement in  Richland  Township.  Mr.  Aldrich  owns 
1741/2  acres  in  sections  30  and  31,  his  home  being  in 
the  former  section.  He  built  a commodious  house, 
in  which  he  and  his  family  reside,  and  rebuilt  the 
barn. 

Not  all  his  time  has  been  given  to  farming.  As  a 
young  man  he  taught  seven  terms  of  school,  has 
served  one  term  as  township  assessor,  served  four 
years  as  trustee  of  Richmond  Township,  and  at  the 
present  time  is  a justice  of  the  peace.  He  and  four 
of  his  sons  are  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Aldrich  are : Harry, 
a physician  at  Fairmont,  Indiana,  who  married  Cora 
Dally;  Fred  H.,  who  married  Mary  Shaefer  and  has 
three  children,  named  John  Wayne,  Robert  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


327 


Harry;  Mary,  wife  of  Irvin  Kiess  and  mother  of 
twin  daughters,  Irene  and  Ilene;  Simeon  F.,  who 
married  Margaret  Rose  and  has  a son,  Wayne 
Erwin;  Dean  D.,  who  served  in  Battery  B of  the 
One  Hundred  and  Thirty-Seventh  Field  Artillery 
during  the  World  War;  Olive  L.,  a teacher  in  the 
Hamilton  High  School ; Wilmet,  a teacher  in  the 
home  school  in  Richland  Township;  and  Howard,  a 
student  in  the  Hamilton  High  School. 

Clyde  Perkins.  A great  deal  of  business  enter- 
prise has  been  supplied  by  members  of  the  Perkins 
family  in  Milford  Township.  The  present  genera- 
tion is  represented  by  four  Perkins  brothers,  own- 
ers of  the  Stroh  Grain  Company  at  Stroh,  and  indi- 
vidually successful  farmers.  One  of  them  is  Clyde 
Perkins,  whose  home  is  in  section  23  of  Milford 
Township. 

On  this  farm  he  was  born  July  24,  1876,  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Emma  (Mains)  Perkins.  His  father 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  August  24,  1838,  a son 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Phelps)  Perkins.  Jacob  Per- 
kins came  to  LaGrange  County  about  1830,  settling 
in  Milford  township,  and  was  the  third  permanent 
resident  of  that  locality.  He  entered  land  from  the 
Government,  and  in  a clearing  in  the  midst  of  the 
woods  built  his  double  log  house.  He  was  killed  in 
the  Wert  sawmill.  He  was  a whig  and  republican. 
Samuel  Perkins  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  and 
after  his  marriage  located  in  Wayne  Township  of 
Noble  County,  but  six  years  later  traded  his  property 
there  for  the  farm  now  owned  by  his  son  Clyde. 
He  was  a republican,  and  his  wife  was  a member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  They  had  five  sons,  Jada 
D.,  a well  known  farmer  and  business  man  of  La- 
Grange  County;  Miles  E.,  who  died  when  two  years 
of  age;  Samuel  M.,  a farmer  a mile  west  of  Stroh; 
Clyde;  and  Roy,  who  is  cashier  of  the  Bank  of 
Stroh. 

Clyde  Perkins  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
finished  his  education  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege at  Angola.  April  5,  1905,  he  married  Grace 
Skelly.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  County  and  is  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools.  They  have  four 
children,  Dorothy,  Donald,  Mildred  and  Ralph.  Mr. 
Perkins  is  a republican.  For  eight  and  a half  terms 
he  taught  school  in  Milford  Township,  and  since 
then  has  been  applying  his  efforts  successfully  to 
farming  and  stockraising.  He  is  a breeder  of  regis- 
tered Percheron  horses,  having  about  seventeen  head 
of  horses,  with  a stallion  sired  by  Carnot.  He  also 
handles  Shorthorn  cattle,  his  herd  being  headed  by 
Gloster  Lad,  a pure  Scotch  bull.  Mr.  Perkins  is 
also  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of 
Stroh. 

Charles  Frederick  Sunthimer.  The  enthralling 
story  of  hardihood  and  resourcefulness  in  the  finding 
and  maintaining  of  a home  on  the  American  fron- 
tiers is  now  largely  of  the  past,  but  the  pioneering 
spirit  lives  yet  and  is  exercised  in  other  directions. 
It  requires  something  of  this  spirit  for  a young  man 
of  today  to  push  his  business  bark  into  the  com- 
mercial sea,  and  it  demands  a large  amount  of  fore- 
sight and  good  judgment  to  guide  its  course.  One 
of  the  younger  business  men  of  Shipshewana,  who 
is  successfully  dealing  with  the  many  problems  a 
large  mercantile  trade  offers,  is  Charles  Frederick 
Sunthimer,  who  is  sole  proprietor  of  a business. 

Charles  Frederick  Sunthimer  was  born  in  New- 
bury Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  April 
14,  1896,  and  is  a son  of  Joseph  E.  and  Ida  M. 
(Stutzman)  Sunthimer.  Joseph  E.  Sunthimer  was 
born  in  Newbury  Township,  November  8,  1864,  a 
son  of  Frederick  and  Rachel  (Miller)  Sunthimer. 
Frederick  Sunthimer  lost  his  mother  when  very 


young  and  his  father,  Adam  Sunthimer,  died  in 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  supposedly  a victim  of  a 
murderer.  Frederick  was  adopted  by  a family  that 
brought  him  to  LaGrange  County  and  reared  him. 
He  was  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits  all  his  life 
in  Newbury  Township,  where  he  married  and  where 
he  died  April  14,  1900.  He  was  the  father  of  six 
children,  namely:  Mary,  Joseph  E.,  Rachel,  An- 

drew, Amanda  and  Edward. 

Joseph  E.  Sunthimer  grew  to  manhood  in  New- 
bury Township,  attended  the  public  schools  and 
later  the  normal  school  at  LaGrange,  after  which 
he  taught  school  for  about  five  years  and  was  very 
well  thought  of  in  that  vocation,  making  friends 
who  later  became  steady  patrons  when,  in  1891,  he 
established  himself  in  the  mercantile  business  at 
Shipshewana,  after  two  years  in  the  village  of  Pashan 
in  Newbury  Township.  He  was  a man  of  sterling 
integrity  and  fine  business  capacity.  He  suffered 
twice  by  fire,  losing  stock  and  buildings,  after  which 
he  put  up  the  present  substantial  store  structure.  He 
owned  at  the  time  of  death,  October  12,  1916,  a store 
at  Topeka,  Indiana,  and  one  at  Milford,  and  also  a 
farm  in  the  county.  He  was  a republican  in  his 
political  views,  as  his  father  had  been  late  in  life, 
hut  neither  of  them  ever  were  willing  to  accept  any 
political  honors. 

On  July  13,  1884,  Joseph  E.  Sunthimer  was  mar- 
ried to  Ida  M.  Stutzman,  who  was  born  in  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  December  20,  1866,  a daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Elizabeth  (Kauffman)  Stutzman,  both 
of  whom  were  born  in  1841,  he  in  Elkhart,  Indiana, 
and  she  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  The  paternal 
grandparents  of  Mrs.  Sunthimer,  Michael  Stutz- 
man and  wife,  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Elk- 
hart and  died  there.  The  following  children  were 
born  to  Joseph  E.  Sunthimer  and  his  wife,  Elva  B., 
who  attended  the  high  school  at  Shipshewana,  is 
the  wife  of  Dr.  Walter  Samuel,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio, 
and  they  have  two  children,  James  and  Paul ; Edith 
M.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school,  is  the  wife 
of  Thomas  Staley,  living  in  New  Mexico,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Rachel  and  Dorothy:  Ira,  who 
is  a high  school  graduate,  married  Mabel  Frederick, 
and  they  have  one  child,  Barbara  Elizabeth ; Clara, 
who  was  graduated  from  the  Shipshewana  High 
School,  is  the  wife  of  Carson  Wise ; Maud,  who  is 
also  a high  school  graduate,  is  the  wife  of  Roy 
Kauffman ; Alta,  also  a high  school  graduate,  who  is 
the  wife  of  Samuel  Hoover,  and  they  have  one 
daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth ; Marie,  who  was  grad- 
uated from  the  Shipshewana  High  School,  is  asso- 
ciated with  Charles  Frederick,  next  older  than  her- 
self, and  their  mother  in  the  ownership  of  the  store ; 
Rachel,  who  is  the  wife  of  Dallas  Rogers,  is  also  a 
high  school  graduate;  and  Joseph,  Josephine  and 
Leroy,  all  at  home.  This  is  an  intellectual  family, 
almost  all  of  them  being  college  or  university  grad- 
uates, some  of  them  being  teachers,  and  gifted  with 
social  talents  as  well. 

Charles  Frederick  Sunthimer  was  graduated  from 
the  Shipshewana  High  School  in  1914  and  taught 
one  term  of  school.  After  his  father’s  death  he  took 
charge  of  the  business  and  continued  until  he  en- 
tered military  service  in  the  World  war,  March  29, 
1918.  He  was  sent  to  Camp  Taylor,  Kentucky,  for 
training,  was  promoted  to  corporal  and  later  trans- 
ferred to  the  regimental  band  and  served  as  a musi- 
cian until  his  honorable  discharge  December  6,  1918, 
when  he  returned  home  and  resumed  the  duties  of 
civil  life. 

On  May  9,  1919,  Mr.  Sunthimer  was  united  in 
marriage  to  Miss  Florence  Weaver,  who  was  born  at 
Goshen,  Indiana,  July  6,  1899,  and  is  a daughter  of 
Jesse  and  Margaret  Weaver,  highly  esteemed  resi- 
dents of  Goshen.  Mr.  Sunthimer  was  reared  in  the 


328 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Methodist  Church,  and  his  paternal  grandmother 
was  a daughter  of  Rev.  Joseph  Miller,  who  was  a 
minister  in  the  Amish  Church. 

John  L.  Minch  has  for  many  years  been  a mem- 
ber of  the  business  and  agricultural  community 
around  Howe.  For  a number  of  years  he  was  in 
the  windmill  business,  both  selling  and  installing 
windmills.  He  now  owns  and  occupies  a farm  in 
Lima  Township,  and  has  the  management  and  direc- 
tion of  a large  acreage  devoted  to  general  farming 
and  live  stock. 

Mr.  Minch  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio, 
April  8,  1864,  a son  of  Lewis  and  Catherine 
(Rephan)  Minch,  his  father  a native  of  Germany 
and  his  mother  born  either  in  Pennsylvania  or  Ohio. 
The  paternal  grandparents  spent  all  their  lives  in 
Germany.  The  maternal  grandparents  lived  and  died 
in  Ohio.  Lewis  Minch  in  addition  to  serving  an 
apprenticeship  at  the  tanner’s  trade  in  Germany 
acquired  a good  education  in  academic  lines  and 
music.  In  i860  he  came  to  this  country  and  fol- 
lowed his  trade  in  Ohio,  afterwards  moved  to  Wis- 
consin and  owned  a tannery  at  Spring  Green  in 
Sauk  County,  but  subsequently  returned  to  Ohio, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  died  at  Lisbon  in  that 
state. 

John  L.  Minch  was  the  only  child  of  his  parents. 
He  attended  country  schools  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
also  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  and  for  six  years 
he  was  in  the  employ  of  other  men  in  installing 
windmills  around  the  Village  of  Howe.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  business  for  himself  at  Howe,  but 
in  1910  came  to  his  present  farm  near  that  village, 
where  he  owns  forty  acres  and  operates  300  acres. 

In  1887  he  married  Miss  Dora  Cook,  a native 
of  Ohio  and  a daughter  of  Milton  Cook.  They 
have  a family  of  six  children,  all  of  whom  are 
giving  good  accounts  of  themselves.  Elsie  is  Mrs. 
Corwin  Dickerson,  of  Ionia,  Michigan;  Ethel  is 
a graduate  of  a business  college  at  South  Bend 
and  the  wife  of  Walter  Haybarger  at  Howe;  Earl 
is  a teacher  at  Decatur,  Indiana;  Eason  lives  at 
home ; Emanda  is  a graduate  of  the  Elkhart  Busi- 
ness College  and  is  connected  with  the  creamery 
at  LaGrange ; Electa  is  an  employe  of  the  post- 
office  at  Howe.  All  of  these  children  are  graduates 
of  the  Llowe  High  School.  Earl  also  took  a course 
in  the  Kalamazoo  Business  College.  The  family 
are  Presbyterians,  and  Mr.  Minch  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe. 

Robert  Chard,  a well  known  resident  of  Steuben 
County,  now  living  at  Angola,  was  born  in  Otsego 
Township  March  23,  1851. 

He  is  a son  of  Thomas  and  Nancy  (Robinson) 
Chard,  the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter 
of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  early  settlers  in  Steu- 
ben County,  their  first  home  being  on  eighty  acres 
in  Otsego  Township.  Thomas  Chard  died  in  1873 
and  his  wife  in  1892.  He  was  a democrat,  and 
they  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Their 
children  were  Robert,  Mary,  Nancy,  William  and 
Ella. 

Robert  Chard  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Otsego  Township  and  after  the  death  of  his  father 
took  charge  of  its  management.  Later  he  bought  120 
acres  in  the  same  Township,  sold  that  and  bought 
200  acres  in  Scott  Township,  where  his  son  Emmet 
now  lives,  and  after  many  years'  of  productive  effort 
he  retired  in  1909  and  owns  one  of  the  beautiful 
homes  of  Angola.  He  is  a republican  and  served  in 
the  office  of  trustee  of  Scott  Township.  He  and 
his  wife  are  Methodists. 

In  1879  he  married  Dorcas  Thompson.  She  was 


born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  June  11,  1857,  a 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Eliza  (Young)  Thompson. 
Her  parents  settled  in  Scott  Township  April  16, 
1870,  their  first  home  being  eighty  acres,  and  later 
they  bought  a farm  in  Otsego  Township.  They  sold 
that  and  returned  to  Scott  Township  and  acquired 
eighty  acres  near  the  first  place  of  their  settlement. 
Mrs.  Chard’s  father  died  in  1881.  There  were  five 
children  in  the  Thompson  family,  named  Margaret, 
H.  Franklin,  John,  Dorcas  and  Thomas  Benton. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Chard  had  four  children : 
Leo  Clarence,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eleven  months ; 
Emmet  B.,  on  the  homestead  farm ; Carl  C.,  who 
died  when  two  years  old ; and  Ethel,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Lleyman  B.  Allman  and  has  a daughter,  Martha 
Ellen.' 

Otto  H.  Swantusch,  M.  D.,  who  in  a brief  time 
has  acquired  a large  following  as  a physician  and 
surgeon  at  Angola,  has  accepted  all  the  opportunities 
afforded  the  progressive  young  doctor  to  make  the 
most  of  his  profession  and  his  service  to  the  world. 
He  has  had  a varied  experience  in  different  locali- 
ties and  came  to  Angola  well  qualified  for  mature 
and  skillful  work. 

He  was  born  at  Mankato,  Minnesota,  December 
5,  1883,  a son  of  Fred  and  Augusta  (Henning) 
Swantusch.  His  father  was  born  in  Germany  and 
his  mother  in  Alsace-Lorraine.  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Germany,  and  on  coming  to  America  located 
in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1872  and  in  1880  went  to 
Minnesota.  In  1890  the  family  located  at  Garrett, 
Indiana,  where  Fred  Swantusch  lived  until  his  death 
in  1917.  His  wife  died  there  in  1897.  Though  many 
of  his  years  were  given  to  farming,  he  was  a cab- 
inet maker  by  trade  and  for  many  -years  was  em- 
ployed in  that  capacity  in  the  shops  of  the  Balti- 
more & Ohio  Railroad,  and  the  last  two  years  of 
his  life  he  was  a pensioner  of  the  Railroad  Com- 
pany. He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church.  He  and  his  wife  had 
twelve  children,  Doctor  Swantusch  being  the  young- 
est. The  others  still  living  are:  Frank,  of  Butler, 

Indiana,  an  electrician ; Henry,  a machinist  and 
electrician  at  Three  Rivers,  Michigan ; Emma,  of 
Richmond,  Indiana;  Lena,  wife  of  Rev.  Otto 
Schumm,  of  Brownstown,  Indiana.  There  is  also 
a half  brother,  Fred  Brandt,  living  at  Cleveland, 
Ohio. 

Doctor  Swantusch  received  his  early  education  in 
rhe  public  schools  of  Minnesota,  graduated  from  the 
high  school  at  Garrett,  Indiana,  and  took  his  medi- 
cal course  in  the  Fort  Wayne  College  of  Medicine, 
the  medical  department  of  Indiana  University.  He 
graduated  in  1905,  and  had  an  interneship  in  the 
St.  Joseph  Hospital  at  Fort  Wayne,  and  locum  ten- 
ens  at  Ravenna,  Michigan.  He  practiced  at  Metz  in 
Steuben  County  four  years,  and  then  for  three 
months  was  in  partnership  with  Doctor  Shoemaker 
at  Butler,  Indiana.  Returning  to  Metz  at  the  end 
of  that  time,  Doctor  Swantusch  enlisted  June  26, 
1917,  in  the  Medical  Reserve  Corps  of  the  National 
Army,  receiving  a commission  as  first  lieutenant. 
He  was  on  duty  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison  until 
receiving  his  honorable  discharge  May  1,  1918.  Doc- 
tor Swantusch  took  up  his  duties  as  a regular  prac- 
titioner at  Angola  on  November  26,  1917.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County,  State,  and  Northern  Tri- 
State  societies  and  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion, is  a republican,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Elks, 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  Masons.  He  was  reared  in  the 
faith  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

August  3,  1905,  Doctor  Swantusch  married  Miss 
Mabel  Berry,  of  Fort  Wayne. 


9%  $ 

i 


' ( 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


329 


Willard  C.  Dewire,  though  a native  of  Kansas, 
has  been  identified  with  the  farming  interests  of 
Richland  Township  in  Steuben  County  since  a young 
man,  and  in  association  with  his  son  carries  on  a 
very  extensive  and  prosperous  business  in  feeding 
and  shipping  livestock.  Mr.  Dewire  makes  his  home 
at  Edon,  Ohio,  his  son  living  on  the  farm,  and  to- 
gether they  co-operate  in  a business  that  has  grown 
up  year  by  year  under  the  constant  supervision  of 
Mr.  Dewire. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Kansas,  June  5, 
1869,  son  of  Monterville  D.  and  Lizzie  (Harris)  De- 
wire. His  parents  were  both  born  in  Washington 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Monterville  was  only  nine 
years  old  when  his  father  died.  Lizzie  Harris  was 
well  educated  and  was  an  instructor  in  a girls’ 
seminary  at  California,  Pennsylvania.  Monterville 
Dewire  before  going  into  the  army  spelled  his  name 
Dwyer.  On  the  army  rolls  it  was  written  Dewire 
and  the  family  has  continued  that  orthography  ever 
since.  Monterville  Dewire  was  a member  of  Com- 
pany A of  the  One  Hundred  and  Tenth  Pennsyl- 
vania Infantry,  and  was  with  every  engagement  of 
his  regiment  and  was  in  the  war  three  years  and 
seven  months.  Later  he  moved  to  Missouri,  spent 
one  years  in  that  state,  and  for  sixteen  years  lived 
as  a farmer  in  Allen  County,  Kansas.  On  returning 
East  he  located  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  living  at 
Edon  four  years.  In  1886  he  bought  a 160-acre  farm 
in  section  29  of  Richland  Township,  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, added  twenty  acres  to  that,  but  about  1911  re- 
turned to  Edon,  where  he  is  still  living.  His  wife 
died  in  1901.  They  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren : Milton,  a physician  and  a graduate  of  Rush 

Medical  College  of  Chicago,  now  practicing  at 
Sharon,  Wisconsin ; Willard  C. ; Elgy,  a farmer  in 
Williams  County,  Ohio ; Lula,  wife  of  Harvey  Om- 
stead,  of  Otsego  Township,  Steuben  County;  and 
Lela,  wife  of  Leo  Morley. 

Willard  C.  Dewire  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  schools  of  Allen  County,  Kansas,  and  was  about 
seventeen  years  old  when  his  father  located  in  Steu- 
ben County.  Soon  afterward  he  began  farming  in 
Richland  Township,  and  in  1895  bought  seventy 
acres  included  in  his  present  landed  possessions.  He 
increased  his  holdings  until  he  has  180  acres  in  sec- 
tions 32  and  33,  while  he  and.  his  son  Montie  own 
another  farm  of  173  acres.  They  use  this  land  for 
general  farming  purposes,  and  pasture  and  feed  a 
large  amount  of  livestock  every  year.  The  son  took 
first  premium  on  a carload  of  fat  lambs  at  the  Buf- 
falo Fat  Stock  Show,  and  their  long  experience  and 
study  enable  them  to  make  the  most  out  of  any 
given  condition  affecting  the  growing  and  fattening 
of  stock  for  the  market.  Their  building  improve- 
ments on  the  farm  are  of  the  very  best. 

In  1913  Mr.  Dewire  moved  to  Edon,  leaving  his 
son  on  the  farm.  Mr.  Dewire  married  Myrtie  Robi- 
nett,  daughter  of  Thomas  Robinett,  and  member  of 
a well-known  family  of  Steuben  County,  elsewhere 
noted.  Their  only  child  is  their  son  Montie,  who 
married  Ethel  Ingram  and  has  two  children,  Myra 
and  Marie.  Mr.  Dewire  is  affiliated  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  being  a charter  member  of  Edon 
Lodge  No.  644.  His  son  has  a technical  as  well  as 
practical  training  for  his  business  as  a farmer  and 
stock  feeder,  having  taken  two  short  courses  in 
agriculture  and  stock  husbandry  at  the  Wisconsin 
State  University  and  one  short  course  at  Purdue 
University. 

Charles  E.  Hartzler  is  proprietor  of  the  Pine 
View  Dairy  Farm  in  Eden  Township,  located  a half 
mile  west  of  Topeka.  He  is  a practical  dairyman, 
thorough  and  efficient  in  the  management  of  his 


herd  of  choice  cattle  and  an  all  around  good  busi- 
ness man. 

Mr.  Hartzler  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  July  9,  1870,  a son  of  D.  W. 
and  Anna  (Greenawalt)  Hartzler,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Indiana  and 
then  located  on  a farm  in  Eden  Township,  where 
they  lived  until  advanced  years  and  spent  their  last 
days  in  Topeka.  They  were  members  of  the  Menno- 
nite  Church,  and  D.  W.  Hartzler  was  active  head 
of  the  Sunday  school  for  many  years.  He  died 
in  January,  1918,  having  survived  his  wife  only  a 
few  weeks.  She  passed  away  December  26,  1917. 
They  had  seven  children : Elizabeth,  unmarried ; 

Ephraim  E.,  and  William  W.,  both  of  Clear  Spring 
Township;  Celestia  B.,  unmarried;  Charles  E. ; 
Alice  I.,  widow  of  N.  M.  Lantz ; and  E.  Blanche, 
wife  of  Charles  Miller. 

Charles  E.  Hartzler  lived  at  home  and  attended 
the  district  schools  to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  The 
Pine  View  Dairy  Farm,  of  which  he  is  proprietor, 
comprises  eighty-four  acres  of  good  land,  and  he 
also  has'  other  business  relations.  He  is  LaGrange 
County  agent  for  the  Hinman  Milking  Machine,  is 
a director  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Topeka 
and  is  director  for  Eden  Township  of  the  Farmers 
Mutual  Insurance  Company  of  LaGrange  County. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite 
Church. 

In  1897  he  married  Salina  Hartzler,  a native  of 
Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  they  are  the  parents 
of  three  children : Lillian,  who  is  a graduate  of 

the  Topeka  High  School  and  of  Goshen  College, 
normal  department,  and  has  taught  for  one  year ; 
Lucile,  a graduate  of  high  school  and  of  the  Fort 
Wayne  Business  College;  and  Lois. 

John  William  Lawrence.  An  old  and  honored 
family  of  DeKalb  County  bears  the  name  of  Law- 
rence, and  for  many  years  it  has  belonged  to  Rich- 
land Township,  in  the  development  of  which  it  has 
borne  a useful  part.  A representative  member  of 
this  old  family  is  John  William  Lawrence,  who  was 
born  on  the  old  Lawrence  homestead  in  Richland 
Township,  September  13,  1856. 

The  earliest  American  record  of  this  branch  of 
the  Lawrence  family  leads  back  to  John  R.  Law- 
rence, of  English  extraction,  who  lived  in  the  vil- 
lage, now  the  city,  of  Germantown,  Pennsylvania. 
Six  of  his  sixteen  children,  George,  David,  John, 
Emily,  Hannah  and  Mary,  came  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana.  They  found  bere  the  Symonds  family, 
who  had  previously  lived  in  New  York  and  Ohio, 
and  had  been  the  seventh  family  to  locate  in  Au- 
burn, a hamlet  then  so  small  that  Perry  Symonds 
is  said  to  have  asked  its  location  when  standing  in 
its  midst.  David  Lawrence,  of  the  above  family, 
married  Mary  C.  Symonds,  a daughter  of  James 
and  Mary  (Camp)  Symonds,  November  30,  1848, 
and  two  days  later  they  settled  on  the  old  homestead 
farm  in  Richland  Township.  Their  first  round  log 
house  has  disappeared,  but  the  second  and  third 
houses  built  by  David  Lawrence  are  standing  today. 
Mr.  Lawrence  acquired  the  wild  land  by  contracting 
to  work  one  year  for  it,  but  the  prevailing  ague  that 
caused  much  sickness  in  malarial  districts  in  those 
early  days  attacked  him  and  he  was  obliged  to  work 
six  months  longer  in  order  to  complete  his  contract. 
He  helped  build  the  first  and  only  water-power  saw- 
mill at  Auburn,  on  Cedar  Creek,  and  helped  cut  out 
the  road  from  Auburn  to  the  northwest.  He  utilized 
the  strength  of  oxen  in  farming  and  hauled  his  sur- 
plus farm  products  to  Fort  Wayne.  Three  children 
were  born  to  David  Lawrence  and  his  wife,  namely: 
one  who  died  in  infancy;  John  William;  and  Emily 


330 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


E.,  who  is  the  wife  of  J.  S.  Graham.  Mary  Edna 
Graham,  married  John  L.  Harding,  and  they  are 
the  tenants  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  The  Hard- 
ing children  are : Ralph  G.,  Roy  L.,  Mark  E.  and 

Philip  W.  Ralph  G.  married  Pearl  Roland,  and 
they  have  two  children,  Edna  Eunice  and  Roland  G., 
these  two  children  being  in  the  fifth  generation. 
Roy  L.  Harding,  who  was  one  of  the  members  of 
the  early  medical  units  to  go  to  France  in  the  World 
war,  has  given  a good  account  of  himself.  Mark 
Harding  married  Irene  Parker,  also  of  an  old 
DeKalb  County  family.  William  L.  Graham  mar- 
ried Vesta  Texter,  and  their  children  are  William, 
Robert,  Kenneth  and  John.  They  had  a son,  Rich- 
ard, who  met  an  accidental  death.  Maud  Graham 
is  the  wife  of  Junius  R.  Latson,  and  they  have  two 
children:  Wilma  and  Margaret.  Mary  Charlotte 

Graham  is  the  wife  of  Fred  Krichbaum,  and  they 
have  three  children : Dorothy,  Elizabeth  and  Mary 

Fredericka. 

On  December  17,  1885,  John  William  Lawrence 
was  united  in  marriage  to  Alfaretta  Sheffer,  who 
was  born  October  28,  1866,  in  Jackson  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  one  of  a family  of  seven  children 
born  to  John  and  Martha  (McClellan)  Sheffer,  the 
others  being:  Emma  A.;  James  W.,  who  married 
Cora  Chaney,  has  two  children,  Heber  W.  and 
Martha  Naomi ; Mary  Monellie,  who  is  the  wife 
of  J.  W.  Garnette,  and  they  have  four  children, 
Allie,  Lloyd,  Lucile  and  Kathleen ; Nye  C.,  who 
married  Irma  Huff ; and  Milton  and  Curtis,  who  died 
in  childhood.  The  Sheffer  family  is  of  German 
descent  and  had  lived  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
before  coming  to  Indiana.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence 
have  no  children  of  their  own  but  Miss  Bernice 
Harding  stands  in  that  relation  to  them  in  affection. 
They  have  always  lived  in  the  brick  veneer  frame 
house  built  by  the  father  of  Mr.  Lawrence  in  1884. 
It  is  equipped  with  modern  conveniences  of  every 
kind  and  is  not  only  a home  of  comfort  but  one  of 
beauty  also. 

The  mother  of  Mr.  Lawrence  was  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
Auburn  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  have  their 
membership  there.  Mr.  Lawrence  is  not  active  in 
politics  but  formerly  his  father  was  elected  a trustee 
of  the  township  on  the  republican  ticket.  While 
they  have  never  desired  to  change  their  place  of 
residence,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  have  recognized 
the  fact  that  there  are  many  other  parts  of  the 
country  worth  seeing  and  together  they  have  trav- 
eled quite  extensively  as  sightseers.  The  family 
military  record  is  one  worth  preserving  in  connec- 
tion with  other  family  history.  The  Lawrences 
were  represented  in  the  Revolutionary  war  as  well 
as  the  War  of  1812,  and  in  the  Civil  war  these  uncles 
of  Mr.  Lawrence  took  part:  John  Lawrence  and 

John,  Rudolph,  James,  Albertus  and  Charles  Sy- 
monds.  The  uncles  of  Mrs.  Lawrence  who  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war  were  William  Sheffer  and 
John,  Harvey  and  Alexander  McClellan.  In  the 
World  war  the  name  of  Roy  L.  Harding  appears  as 
one  of  its  heroes.  For  a peaceful,  law-abiding 
family  from  generation  to  generation  this  is  a suffi- 
cient record  of  loyalty  and  patriotism. 

Price  Brothers  is  the  business  title  of  two  very 
enterprising  farmers  and  land  owners  of  LaGrange 
County,  Harry  W.  and  Fred  E.  Price.  They  have 
been  associated  in  farming  and  related  business 
enterprises  for  a quarter  of  a century,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  have  been  regarded  as  the  most 
extensive  sheep  feeders  and  raisers  in  the  entire 
county. 

Their  parents  were  Arthur  M.  and  Emily  (Weir) 
Price.  Arthur  M.  Price  was  born  in  Preble  County, 


Ohio,  in  1839,  son  of  Francis  M.  Price.  Francis 
Price  came  from  Ohio  about  1844  and  entered  land 
north  of  LaGrange,  eventually  acquiring  about  five 
hundred  acres.  He  and  his  wife  lived  in  this  county 
until  their  death.  Arthur  M.  Price  was  a small 
child  when  brought  to  LaGrange  County,  grew  up 
and  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools 
and  in  the  LaGrange  County  Institute  at  Ontario, 
and  for  several  years  farmed  the  old  homestead. 
In  1867  he  went  out  to  Missouri  and  bought  a sec- 
tion of  prairie  land,  which  he  broke  and  cultivated 
for  nearly  ten  years.  In  1876  he  went  to  Michigan 
and  rented  a farm  for  one  year,  and  then  returned 
to  LaGrange  County,  where  he  continued  as  a 
renter  until  1882.  In  1892  he  bought  the  farm  of 
John  G.  Wade,  consisting  of  eighty  acres,  and  be- 
fore his  death  two  years  later  had  about  two  hun- 
dred acres  under  his  ownership.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  until  1906.  He  was  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

Harry  W.  and  Fred  E.  Price  were  the  only  chil- 
dren of  their  parents.  Harry  W.  was  born  in  Mor- 
gan County,  Missouri,  November  6,  1869,  began  his 
education  in  the  public  schools  in  that  state  and 
in  1876  went  to  Michigan  with  his  parents  and 
since  1877  has  lived  in  LaGrange  County.  He  and 
his  brother  Fred  inherited  the  old  homestead  of 
two  hundred  acres  and  their  operations  have  justi- 
fied increased  purchases  until  they  now  have  in 
joint  ownership  eight  hundred  forty-six  acres. 
Since  1894  they  have  been  sheep  feeders,  and  their 
operations  in  that  line  are  conducted  on  a large 
scale.  Mr.  Harry  Price  is  a republican  and  for 
two  years  was  a county  drainage  commissioner.  In 
1896  he  married  Miss  Grace  Case,  who  was  born 
in  Milford  Township,  a daughter  of  Billings  B.  and 
Eliza  (Myers)  Case.  Mrs.  Price  died  in  1904,  the 
mother  of  three  children,  Arthur,  Henry  M.  and 
Grace,  the  last  two  twins. 

Fred  Price,  junior  member  of  the  firm,  was  born 
in  Morgan  County,  Missouri,  July  20,  1871,  and 
is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School.  For 
two  years  he  taught  school  and  since  then  has 
been  in  business  with  his  brother.  He  is  a repub- 
lican and  is  a director  of  the  LaGrange  State  Bank 
and  a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  LaGrange. 

Hamilton  Garlets.  . The  Garlets  family  has  fig- 
ured conspicuously  in  the  history  of  several  localities 
in  Northeast  Indiana.  One  of  the  family,  Hamilton 
Garlets,  is  a successful  farmer  and  land  owner  in 
Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

He  has  lived  in  this  county  for  over  forty  years. 
He  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania, 
November  21,  1857,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah 
(Miller)  Garlets,  also  natives  of  Somerset  County. 
Hamilton’s  mother  died  when  he  was  about  three 
years  of  age.  Her  parents  were  Peter  D.  and 
Maria  (Harding)  Miller,  and  her  grandfather  was 
David  Miller,  all  of  whom  were  Somerset  County 
farmers. 

Jacob  Garlets  came  to  LaGrange  County  about 
1868  and  located  on  the  farm  where  Charles  Garlets 
now  lives  in  Greenfield  Township.  After  moving  to 
this  county  he  married  for  his  second  wife  Miss 
Lucy  Bennett,  of  Springfield,  Ohio.  She  died  in 
1905,  and  while  he  owned  farm  lands  he  spent  most 
of  his  career  as  a carpenter.  He  had  three  children 
by  his  first  wife,  Jesse,  Hamilton  and  Ananias,  and 
one  by  his  second  marriage,  Bessie  Elizabeth. 

Hamilton  Garlets  remained  in  Pennsylvania  until 
he  was  about  nineteen  years  of  age,  receiving  his 
education  in  Somerset  County.  He  came  to 
LaGrange  County  in  1876,  and  has  since  been  busily 
engaged  in  farming.  He  has  lived  on  his  present 
place  of  forty  acres  in  Springfield  Township  a num- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


331 


ber  of  years,  and  also  owns  forty  acres  of  timber 
lands  in  another  locality  and  eight  and  a half  acres 
near  Mongo. 

Mr.  Garlets  had  two  sons  and  two  sons-in-law 
who  were  American  soldiers  during  the  World  war. 
He  married  Miss  Emma  Fair,  a daughter  of  Noah 
Fair,  on  April  8,  1881.  Six  children  were  born  to 
them.  Clayton,  at  home;  Dessie,  wife  of  Frank  M. 
Engle;  Clyde;  Harry;  Herbert  A.;  and  Eva,  wife 
of  Alvin  Weiss.  The  son  Harry  was  with  the 
Forty-Seventh  Infantry  in  the  Fourth  Division,  and 
took  part  in  three  major  offensives  in  France,  the 
Enmar,  Soisson  and  Meuse-Argonne  drives.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  first  drive.  After  the  signing 
of  the  armistice  he  became  a student  in  the  great 
American  army  university  at  Beaume,  France.  The 
son  Clyde  also  saw  overseas  service  with  the 
Seventieth  Coast  Artillery.  Mr.  Garlets’  son-in-law, 
Frank  Engle,  was  with  the  Field  Artillery  Replace- 
ment Band,  detached  from  the  Second  Division. 

Charles  E.  Baker.  One  of  the  prosperous  farm- 
ers of  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  was  born  on  the 
farm  he  now  owns  and  occupies  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship, May  6,  1865.  His  parents,  John  and  Catherine 
(Sanxter)  Baker,  were  early  settlers  of  Steuben 
County.  John  Baker  was  born  in  Loudoun  County, 
Virginia,  January  21,  1831,  his  wife  was  born  in 
England,  March  3,  1844.  In  1850  John  Baker  came 
to  Steuben  County  with  his  parents,  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Shriver)  Baker,  who  bought  160  acres  of 
land  in  section  25,  Otsego  Township.  Later  they 
added  to  their  holdings  until  they  had  640  acres, 
which  they  divided  among  their  seven  children  prior 
to  their  death.  Samuel  Baker  passed  away  April  11, 
1884,  aged  eighty- three  years,  having  been  born  in 
Franklin.  County,  Pennsylvania,  June  11,  1801,  and 
his  wife  died  in  1887. 

John  Baker  lived  in  Pennsylvania  and  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  prior  to  coming  to  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  and  there  he  attended  school.  In  early  life 
he  was  a teacher  in  Otsego  and  Richland  townships, 
but  later  on  settled  on  the  eighty  acres  of  land  given 
him  by  his  father,  adding  to  it  forty  acres  of  section 
23  of  that  township.  He  built  a house  on  the  north 
forty  acres  in  1887,  and  on  December  25th  of  that 
year  moved  into  it,  and  there  he  died  March  4,  1905, 
his  widow  surviving  him  until  April  23,  1907.  In 
politics  he  was  a democrat.  He  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  was  recording  steward  for  many  years  and 
also  a member  of  the  Official  Board  of  the  church, 
taking  an  active  part  in  all  of  its  good  work.  He 
and  his  wife  had  the  following  children : Charles 

E.,  Mary  P.  and  Cora  Rebecca.  Prior  to  his  mar- 
riage with  Catherine  Sanxter,  John  Baker  was  mar- 
ried, March  4,  1855,  to  Salinda  E.  Keyes,  a sister  of 
William  H.  Keyes,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this 
work,  and  by  his  first  marriage  he  had  the  follow- 
ing children : Samuel  E.,  who  died  in  infancy ; 

Sarah  E.,  who  married  G.  W.  Goudy,  and  is  de- 
ceased ; and  W.  H.,  who  died  in  infancy.  The  first 
Mrs.  Baker  died  June  11,  1863. 

Charles  E.  Baker  grew  up  in  a happy  home,  and 
was  early  taught  the  dignity  of  labor  and  the  use- 
fulness of  the  life  of  a farmer.  He  went  to  the 
rural  schools  and  took  a three  years’  course  at  the 
Angola  High  School,  and  then  for  the  subsequent 
four  years  followed  in  his  father’s  footsteps  and 
was  an  educator.  He  then  assumed  charge  of  the 
homestead,  replacing  the  old  residence  in  19x0  with 
the  present  modern  and  convenient  one,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  hav- 
ing had  a very  gratifying  success  in  his  work.  In 
politics  a democrat,  he  has  been  very  active  in  local 


affairs.  When  he  was  twenty-one  years  old  he  was 
made  a member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  at  Metz,  In- 
diana, that  being  in  1886,  and  later  he  connected 
himself  with  Hamilton  Lodge  No.  648,  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  he  is  now  the  only 
living  charter  member,  serving  it  for  the  past  six 
years  as  financial  secretary.  He  also  belongs  to 
Otsego  Lodge  No.  701,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  Hamilton,  and  Hamilton  Lodge  No.  228, 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

On  April  11,  1888,  Mr.  Baker  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Emma  A.  Chard,  born  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship, September  8,  1864,  a daughter  of  Charles  and 
Anna  (Dotts)  Chard,  he  born  in  Otsego  Township, 
March  26,  1838,  and  she  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
March  16,  1842.  Charles  Chard  was  a son  of  Levi 
and  Lydia  (Harriman)  Chard,  farming  people  of 
Otsego  Township,  he  born  Maj^  7,  1814,  a son  of 
W.  and  Susan  Chard,  natives  of  England.  W.  Chard 
died  at  Sandusky,  Ohio,  in  1823,  and  his  wife  passed 
away  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  at  the  residence  of 
Mrs.  Betsy  Shaeffer,  at  a later  date.  Levi  Chard 
was  reared  in  Ohio,  where  he  was  married,  and  in 
the  fall  of  1837  came  to  Jackson  Township,  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  living  on  land  now  occupied  by  J. 
Croy,  but  later  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Otsego 
Township.  Still  later  he  went  to  Illinois,  but 
returned  to  Otsego  Township,  and  he  died  at  the 
home  of  his  son,  Enoch  Chard,  of  Angola, 
who  now  lives  in  Michigan.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Baker  became  the  parents  of  two  children : 
Virgil  C.  and  Ora  L.  Virgil  C.  Baker  was  born 
August  2,  1891,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Otsego  Township.  He  was  married  to  Artie  Beard, 
a daughter  of  Henry  and  Ida  (Norigan)  Beard,  of 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  they  have  three  chil- 
dren, Mildred,  Keith  and  Ruth.  Ora  L.  Baker  was 
born  October  11, 1897,  and  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Otsego  Township,  the  Hamilton  High  School, 
from  which  he  was  graduated,  and  the  Tri-State 
Normal  School  of  Angola,  and  is  now  engaged  in 
farming.  He  married  Aldah  Fee,  a daughter  of 
Frank  and  Setta  (Gilbert)  Fee,  a sketch  of  whom 
appears  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  O.  L. 
Baker  have  one  child,  Florabel.  Virgil  C.  and  Ora 
L.  Baker  are  members  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  of  Hamilton. 

John  F.  Musser,  who  is  now  living  in  comfort- 
able retirement  on  his  village  farm  at  Metz,  has 
well  earned  the  material  position  he  enjoys  and  also 
the  homage  and  respect  of  his  country  and  com- 
munity. He  was  member  of  a family  that  con- 
tributed in  a remarkable  manner  to  the  Union  cause 
during  the  Civil  war.  He  and  three  of  his  brothers 
were  soldiers  and  two  of  them  gave  up  their  lives 
in  the  struggle. 

Mr.  Musser  was  born  in  Cumberland  County, 
Pennsylvania,  November  9,  1840,  a son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  (Lepord)  Musser.  His  parents  moved 
to  Steuben  County  in  1853,  and  settled  on  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  Richland  Township.  Their  first 
home  was  a log  cabin,  and  Henry  Musser  had  made 
some  progress  with  clearing  up  the  land  and  mak- 
ing a farm  before  he  died  in  i860.  He  lost  his 
wife  in  1858.  Of  their  five  sons  all  but  the  youngest, 
David,  who  is  still  living  in  York  Township,  served 
as  Union  soldiers.  The  oldest-  was  William,  who 
enlisted  in  Company  H of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Twenty-Ninth  Indiana  Infantry  in  1863,  and  was  in 
service  until  the  close.  The  second  in  the  family  is 
John  F.  Edwin  enlisted  in  1861  in  Company  A of 
the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  died  at 
Henderson,  Kentucky,  in  1862.  Samuel  enlisted 
in  Company  A of  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 


332 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Ninth  Indiana  in  1863,  and  died  a few  weeks  later 
at  Chattanooga.  The  father  of  these  children  was 
a vigorous  republican  and  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. 

John  F.  Musser  was  thirteen  years  old  when  his 
parents  came  to  Steuben  County,  and  he  finished 
his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  Richland 
Township.  He  was  the  second  of  the  four  brothers 
to  get  into  active  service  during  the  war.  Novem- 
ber 15,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Company  B of  the  One 
Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was  with  the 
Union  armies  until  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The 
last  important  event  in  the  service  was  the  Grand 
Review  at  Washington  on  May  22,  1865.  Alto- 
gether he  was  in  twenty-seven  battles,  including 
Vicksburg,  Jackson,  Chattanooga,  Missionary  Ridge, 
the  continuous  fighting  of  100  days  in  the  advance 
from  Chattanooga  to  Atlanta  constituting  the  At- 
lanta campaign,  and  afterward  in  Sherman’s  march 
to  the  sea  and  through  the  Carolinas.  He  was 
wounded  at  Missionary  Ridge.  After  his  discharge 
in  June,  1865,  Mr.  Musser  returned  to  Steuben 
County  and  took  up  the  trade  of  mason,  which  he 
followed  actively  for  thirty-five  years.  He  has 
lived  on  his  place  at  Metz  since  1870.  He  has  seven- 
teen acres  adjoining  the  village,  improved  with  a 
good  home,  and  there  is  enough  land  to  afford  him 
a comfortable  living. 

Mr.  Musser  has  always  been  a stalwart  repub- 
lican and  is  a liberal  in  religious  views.  For  twenty- 
one  years  he  was  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  still  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Metz  and  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Pythian  Sisters.  In  1880  he  was  elected 
a justice  of  the  peace,  and  filled  that  office  four 
years,  and  for  four  years  was  township  assessor 
of  York  Township. 

On  September  28,  1869,  Mr.  Musser  married  Miss 
Harriet  Snyder.  She  was  born  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  September  2,  1845,  a daughter  of  Henry  and 
Elizabeth  (Snyder)  Snyder.  Her  parents  were 
natives  of  Schuylkill,  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to 
Steuben  County  about  1858,  settling  in  Richland 
Township.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  her  father  broke 
the  ground  and  put  in  a crop  of  wheat,  and  the 
family  lived  in  a log  house  until  a better  dwelling 
could  be  provided.  Henry  Snyder  died  in  1867,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-two,  and  his  widow  survived  until 
1899,  to  the  age  of  eighty-two.  In  the  Snyder  family 
were  the  following  children:  Joel,  who  was  a Civil 

war  veteran  and  is  now  deceased ; Louisa ; Henry, 
also  a Union  soldier;  Harriet;  Emanuel;  Mary; 
Sarah,  deceased;  John;  George  Washington,  de- 
ceased ; and  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Musser  are  the  parents  of  three 
children,  Cora  Ellen,  Lee  Henry,  mentioned  on  other 
pages,  and  Ray  Hubert.  The  daughter,  born  Sep- 
tember 2,  1871,  is  the  wife  of  John  Tyson,  a railroad 
engineer  living  at  Detroit.  Ray  Hubert,  who  was 
born  June  17,  1883,  married  Lola  Fireoved,  who  was 
born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  September  3,  1885, 
a daughter  of  William  and  Louisa  (Rerish)  Fire- 
oved. Ray  H.  Musser  and  wife  had  one  child,  Carl, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Fred  Miller  owns  and  looks  after  a good  farm  in 
Jackson  Township  of  DeKalb  County.  Farming  is 
an  occupation  of  his  later  years.  He  always  had  a 
fondness  for  country  life,  but  during  the  greater 
part  of  his  active  career  followed  a mechanical 
trade.  His  home  is  in  section  36  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Miller  was  born  at  Kendallville,  Indiana, 
November  7,  1866,  a son  of  John  and  Minnie  (Keihl) 
Miller.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Germany,  were 


married  in  that  country,  and  on  coming  to  the 
United  States  made  their  first  destination  Chicago. 
Not  long  afterward  they  left  that  city  and  walked 
all  the  way  to  Kendallville.  They  lived  there  the 
rest  of  their  days.  The  father  was  a drayman  for 
many  years. 

Fred  Miller  was  seven  years  old  when  his  father 
died  and  after  that  he  lived  with  his  mother  and 
had  little  opportunity  to  attend  school.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  began  learning  the  boilermaker’s 
trade,  and  for  many  years  was  in  the  railroad  shops 
at  Garrett,  and  worked  steadily  at  his  trade  for 
thirty  years.  In  1912  he  invested  his  savings  and 
earnings  in  his  farm  in  Jackson  Township,  and  has 
lived  there  and  enjoyed  a contented  life  and  con- 
siderable prosperity  since  the  fall  of  1912.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  he  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Reformed  Church. 

May  24,  1888,  Mr.  Miller  married  Ella  Steffen. 
She  was  born  in  Keyser  Township,  near  Garrett, 
June  5,  1867,  and  her  parents  were  also  natives  of 
Germany.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have  six  living  chil- 
dren : Louis,  who  was  in  the  army  with  the  Ex- 

peditionary Forces  in  France;  John,  a boilermaker 
living  in  Garrett;  Charles,  who  also  was  in  the 
army;  Frank;  Fred  E.  and  Elzena. 

Pliny  E.  Hudson  owns  one  of  the  fine  farms  in 
Lima  Township,  LaGrange  County,  and  is  a citi- 
zen who  has  made  the  interests  of  his  community 
his  own,  and  his.  neighbors  and  friends  all  over 
LaGrange  County  respect  him  for  his  ability,  his 
good  judgment  and  his  thorough  public  spirit. 

His  family  connections  have  proved  themselves 
examples  of  the  very  best  American  traditions,  not 
only  in  peace  but  in  war.  Mr.  Hudson  was  born 
at  East  Palmyra,  New  York,  January  31,  1852,  a 
son  of  Isaac  and  Sarah  Ann  (Ailing)  Hudson,  who 
were  also  natives  of  New  York  State.  His  pater- 
nal great-grandfather  was  John  Hudson.  John 
Hudson  and  a brother-in-law  were  Continental  sol- 
diers in  the  struggle  for  independence,  spent  the 
winter  of  desolation  and  hardship  at  Valley  Forge, 
and  were  afterward  made  prisoners  by  the  village. 
After  they  were  liberated  John  Hudson  died  while 
on  his  way  home.  The  paternal  grandparents  of 
Pliny  E.  Hudson  were  Colonel  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Emmons)  Hudson,  also  natives  of  New  York 
State.  Colonel  Samuel  Hudson  served  with  that 
rank  and.  title  as  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  He 
was  also  at  one  time  sheriff  of  Columbia  County, 
New  York.  His  wife’s  grandfather  was  Woodruff 
Emmons,  whose  father  came  to  America  about 
1718.  A member  of  the  Emmons  family  was  Caro- 
las  Emmons,  who  served,  in  the  Revolutionary  army 
with  the  rank  of  major  general. 

Isaac  Hudson,  father  of  Pliny,  was  appointed 
quartermaster  lieutenant  in  the  39th  Regiment  of 
New  York  Militia.  His  brother  Pliny  E.,  for  whom 
the  LaGrange  County  citizen  was  named,  had  held 
the  office  of  quartermaster  lieutenant  in  the  same 
regiment  in  1840,  his  brother  Isaac  being  then 
quartermaster  sergeant.  Pliny  E.  Hudson,  the 
elder,  received  his  commission  from  William  H. 
Seward,  then  governor  of  New  York  and  after- 
ward secretary  of  war  under  Lincoln.  Mr.  Hud- 
son of  LaGrange  County  has  the  original  commis- 
sions granted  to  his  uncle  and  his  father. 

Another  uncle  of  Mr.  Hudson,  Samuel  Hudson, 
came  to  LaGrange  County  about  1845  and  acquired 
and  developed  a fine  farm  of  two  hundred  forty 
acres  in  Lima  Township.  He  sold  that  property  in 
1876.  From  1852  to  1858  he  was  county  commis- 
sioner and  served  one  term  as  a member  of  the 
State  Legislature,  being  elected  in  i860. 

Isaac  Hudson  arrived  in  LaGrange  County  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


333 


settled  on  the  farm  a little  east  of  Howe  in  Lima 
Township,  where  his  son  Pliny  now  lives,  on  May 
I5>  1853.  He  bought  this  land  from  Mr.  West, 
paying  twenty  dollars  an  acre,  the  price  including 
both  stock  and  tools.  He  bought  two  hundred 
acres,  but  did  not  long  enjoy  or  use  the  property, 
since  death  overtook  him  nine  months  later,  on 
March  4,  1854.  His  widow  survived  him  over  sixty 
years,  passing  away  November  15,  1915-  She  was 
the  mother  of  three  children,  the  youngest,  Isaac, 
dying  at  the  age  of  seventeen.  Pliny  E.  was  the 
second,  and  his  sister,  Sarah  J.,  became  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Scott,  who  at  one  time  was  county  treas- 
urer of  LaGrange  County. 

Pliny  E.  Hudson  was  only  an  infant  when 
brought  to  LaGrange  County.  He  has  always  lived 
on  ttie  old  homestead  and  he  finished 'his  education 
«n  the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario.  He  now 
owns  two  hundred  eighty  acres,  has  remodeled  the 
buildings,  and  in  every  sense  has  kept  up  with  the 
march  of  improvements  in  agriculture.  He  helped 
organize  the  Home  Elevator  Company  and  has 
since  been  a member  of  its  board  of  directors.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  local  cemetery 
association  and  is  a life  director.  A fact  of  local 
history  that  should  be  mentioned  is  that  the  com- 
mittee which  organized  the  LaGrange  Collegiate 
Institute  at  Ontario  met  on  the  farm,  now  owned 
by  Pliny  E.  Hudson.  Mr.  Hudson  served  seven 
years  and  seven  months  as  township  trustee  of 
Lima,  and  for  six  years  was  a member  of  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners.  He  was  one  of 
the  founders  and  a member  of  the  building  com- 
mittee of  the  Lima  Creamery,  and  was  one  of  its 
directors  for  several  years. 

December  26,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Gertrude 
Walker,  who  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of  La- 
Grange County,  but  she  and  her  husband"  were 
reared  on  adjoining  farms  in  Lima  Township.  She 
is  a daughter  of  William  H.  Walker.  They  have 
two  children,  Anna  A.  and  William  W.  Anna  is 
the  wife  of  Frank  Rice  and  has  a son,  William  K. 
William  W.  Hudson  served  with  the  rank  of  cap- 
tain in  the  309th  Ammunition  Train  with  the  84th 
Division  in  France,  and  is  now  working  for  the 
American  Agricultural  Chemical  Company. 

William  H.  Walker,  father  of  Mrs.  Hudson,  was 
born  at  Logan  in  Hocking  County,  Ohio,  August 
2,  1827,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  (Harman) 
Walker,  both  natives  of  Yorkshire,  England.  They 
were  married  after  coming  to  Ohio,  and  moved 
from  Ohio  to  Elkhart  County,  Indiana,  in  1835  and 
four  years  later  settled  in  Eden  Township  of.  La- 
Grange County,  where  they  made  their  home  until 
moving  to  Lima  Township  in  1862.  Thomas 
Walker  was  a blacksmith  before  coming  to  Indiana. 
William  H.  Walker  was  one  of  a family  of  nine 
children.  After  his  father’s  death  he  took  charge 
of  the  home  farm,  but  in  1862  moved  to  Lima  Town- 
ship. He  married  Miss  Sarah  S.  Coldren  on  June 
1,  1851.  Sarah  Coldren  is  an  historic  personage 
in  LaGrange  County,  being  distinguished  as  the 
first  white  girl  born  there.  Her  birth  occurred 
in  Lima  Township  May  4,  1832.  Her  parents  were 
Nehemiah  and  Sibel  (Newton)  Coldren.  Her 
father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania,  grew  up  in 
Delaware  County,  Ohio,  and  came  to  LaGrange 
County  as  early  as  1828,  when  all  that  country  was’ 
a wilderness.  In  1830,  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan, 
he  was  married,  and  after  that  he  made  his  home 
in  Lima  Township  until  1833,  when  he  moved  to 
Eden  Township.  Nehemiah  Coldren  is  remembered 
as  the  first  sheriff  of  LaGrange  County,  and  he 
held  the  office  of  county  commissioner  six  years. 
William  H.  Walker  owned  and  developed  a farm 
•of  two  hundred  ten  acres.  He  was  a republican  in 


politics.  He  and  his  wife  had  seven  children,  named 
Augusta  S.,  Gertrude  L.,  Charles  J.,  William  C., 
Edward,  Florence  and  Willie. 

Harvey  C.  Plank.  The  early  practical  experience 
and  training  of  Mr.  Plank  as  a farmer  undoubtedly 
helped  his  qualifications  for  dealing  in  agricultural 
implements.  He  is  also  a general  merchant  at 
Brighton  in  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
a community  in  which  he  has  spent  practically  ali 
his  life.  He  has  helped  forward  many  local  enter- 
prises, and  the  confidence  he  enjoys  from  his  fellow 
citizens  is  well  indicated  by  the  fact  that  he  is  the 
present  township  trustee. 

He  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  May  30, 
1874,  a son  of  Christian  J.  and  Fannie  (Morrell)’ 
Plank,  both  natives  of  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  His 
paternal  grandparents  were  Christian  and  Elizabeth 
(Kurtz)  Plank,  who  were  born  in  Mifflin  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  1872  came  to  Indiana  and  spent 
their  last  days  in  Greenfield  Township.  Christian 
J.  Plank  was  born  September  13,  1833,  and  on  Janu- 
ary 3,  1856,  married  for  his  first  wife  in  Adams 
County,  Indiana,  Miss  Catherine  Musser.  She  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  daughter  of  Abraham 
and  Catherine  Musser,  natives  of  Germany,  who 
spent  their  last  days  in  Adams  County,  Indiana. 
Christian  J.  Plank  moved  to  Greenfield  Township 
in  November,  1859,  later  spent  one  year  in  Michigan, 
and  for  four  years  was  a farmer  and  operator  of  a 
threshing  outfit  in  Elkhart  County,  Indiana.  He 
finally  returned  to  Greenfield  Township,  and  owned 
and  developed  a farm  of  155  acres  on  Pretty  Prairie. 
He  and  his  first  wife  had  nine  children,  Amos  F., 
Catherine  A.,  Rebecca  E.,  Susan,  Mary  A.,  Daniel, 
Samuel,  Lydia  A.  and  Elizabeth.  Christian  J.  Plank 
married  Fannie  Morrell  in  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
February  2,  1873.  She  was  born  in  Fairfield  County, 
Ohio,  and  her  parents,  David  and  Catherine  Morrell, 
were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  her  father  died 
in  Noble  County,  Indiana. 

Harvey  C.  Plank  was  the  only  child  of  his  father’s 
second  marriage.  He  had  a public  school  education, 
attended  Normal  School  at  Smithville,  Ohio,  and 
in  early  manhood  spent  four  years  operating  his 
father’s  farm  in  Greenfield  Township.  About  1900 
he  engaged  in  the  farm  implement  business  at 
Brighton,  and  gave  his  entire  attention  to  this  enter- 
prise until  November  1,  1918.  At  that  date  he 
bought  out  the  general  store  of  Grubaugh  & Gilham 
at  Brighton,  and  since  then  has  managed  both 
enterprises  with  a high  degree  of  profit  and  genuine 
service  to  his  patronage. 

Mr.  Plank  also  helped  organize  in  1900  the  Pretty 
Prairie  Telephone  Company,  was  for  a number  of 
years  its  president  and  secretary,  and  is  still  a 
director.  He  served  as  township  assessor  four 
years,  and  has  been  in  the  office  of  township  trustee 
since  January  1,  1919.  He  has  interested  himself  in 
political  affairs,  was  identified  with  the  progressive 
movement  in  the  republican  party  and  is  now  a 
regular  republican.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Brethren 
Church,  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe  and  the 
Gleaners  at  Brighton. 

In  1897  Mr.  Plank  married  Miss  Clara  Hogmire, 
of  Bloomfield  in  LaGrange  County,  daughter  of 
Samuel  Hogmire.  They  have  one  daughter,  Fannie 
Belle. 

Isaac  Luce.  One  of  the  best  farms  in  York 
Township  in  Steuben  County  has  been  continuously 
under  the  ownership  and  management  of  one  family 
for  half  a century.  Its  present  proprietor,  Isaac 
Luce,  was  brought  to  that  environment  when  a boy, 
and  has  achieved  his  success  and  dignity  in  life  in 
that  one  locality.  He  was  born  in  Columbiana 


334 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


County,  Ohio,  June  6,  1858,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Liza 
Ann  (Fasdic)  Luce.  His  father  was  born  in  Canada 
in  1800,  lived  in  Ohio  for  some  years  and  in  1868 
came  to  sections  12  and  13  of  York  Township.  He 
took  the  land  largely  in  a primitive  condition,  cleared 
away  the  timber  and  brush,  and  made  his  home  there 
until  his  death  in  1866. 

Isaac  Luce  from  the  age  of  ten  years  attended  the 
public  schools  of  York  Township  and  when  a young 
man  went  to  work  under  his  father.  In  1882  he 
married  Aurie  Housman,  daughter  of  Jonas  Hous- 
man.  He  brought  his  bride  to  the  old  homestead 
and  has  operated  it  continuously  now  for  over 
thirty-five  years.  The  farm  comprises  120  acres, 
devoted  to  general  farming  and  the  raising  of  good 
livestock. 

Mr.  Luce’s  first  wife  died  in  1900,  the  mother  of 
one  daughter,  Blanche,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 
Commercial  College  at  Jackson,  Michigan.  He  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife,  Clara  Bratton,  daughter  of 
Richard  Bratton.  She  died  February  19,  1918,  leav- 
ing one  daughter,  Mary  Bell.  Mr.  Luce  and  his 
two  daughters  live  together  on  the  old  farm. 

Otho  D.  Easterday.  Throughout  his  career  in 
Green  Township  of  Noble  County  Otho  D.  Easter- 
day has  exhibited  those  qualities  which  entitle  him 
to  the  respect  and  confidence  of  his  fellowmen,  and 
therefore  while  he  has  prospered  in  a material  way 
he  has  also  gained  that  friendship  and  regard  which 
are  indubitable  assets  of  life.  His  home  is  a well 
improved  farm  in  section  6 of  Greene  Township. 

Mr.  Easterday  was  born  in  Albion  Township  of 
Noble  County,  May  4,  1856.  His  parents  were 
George  W.  and  Nancy  E.  (Smith)  Easterday.  His 
father  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  March  29, 
1828,  and  died  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  March  28, 
1911,  when  eighty-three  years  of  age.  The  mother 
was  born  July  25,  1828,  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio, 
and  died  in  Noble  County,  May  10,  1894,  having 
also  reached  advanced  years.  They  were  married  in 
Morrow  County  September  28,  1851,  and  in  August 
of  the  following  year  they  came  to  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  making  the  way  by  pioneer  conveyances  and 
an  ox  team.  George  Easterday  had  already  bought 
eighty  acres  in  Albion  Township,  and  he  lived  there 
about  ten  years.  In  1862  he  moved  to  Greene  Town- 
ship, and  spent  his  last  days  on  the  old  farm.  He 
and  his  wife  joined  the  Lutheran  Church  soon  after 
coming  to  Noble  County,  and  for  many  years  he 
served  the  church  as  a deacon.  He  was  a republican 
in  politics.  Of  the  eight  children  two  died  young 
and  five  sons  are  still  living:  Otho  D.;  William  D., 

of  Greene  Township;  Jeremiah  M.,  of  North  Man- 
chester, Indiana;  Adair  M.,  of  Beech  Grove,  In- 
diana; and  Drury,  of  Eaton,  Ohio.  A daughter, 
Edna  E.,  was  born  November  13,  i860,  and  died  un- 
married March  15,  1917. 

Otho  D.  Easterday  was  six  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Greene  Township,  and  as  he  grew 
to  manhood  he  attended  the  district  schools  and 
acquired  those  habits  of  industry  which  have  proved 
invaluable  to  him  in  his  life  career.  On  August  26, 
1877,  having  attained  the  age  of  twenty-one,  he 
married  Miss  Flora  Frank,  of  Albion  Township. 
She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  April  23, 
1857,  and  was  ten  years  old  when  her  parents  came 
to  Noble  Township  and  settled  on  the  same  farm 
where  Otho  D.  Easterday  was  born.  After  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easterday  lived  on  the  home 
farm  for  a year  and  subsequently  moved  to  their 
present  home,  where  Mr.  Easterday  owns  forty  acres 
and  also  thirteen  acres  in  Jefferson  Township.  He 
has  always  been  a good  business  man  and  his  ju9g- 
ment  was  availed  to  settle  his  father’s  estate  and 
also  the  estates  of  his  father-in-law. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Easterday  had  the  following  family 
of  children : Luella  G.,  born  August  12,  1878,  was 

educated  in  the  high  school  and  is  now  a resident 
of  Fort  Wayne;  Clarence  P.,  born  January  31,  1881, 
died  in  infancy;  Orlen  G.,  born  February  4,  1883; 
two  children  that  died  unnamed ; Ralph,  born  Octo- 
ber 20,  1889,  is  now  the  practical  manager  of  his 
father's  farm ; Claude  M.,  born  May  23,  1892,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  lives  at  Fort 
Wayne;  George  S.,  born  November  25,  1895;  Fannie 
E.,  born  March  7,  1898,  a graduate  of  high  school 
is  a teacher  in  Greene  Township;  and  Wilma  A., 
born  June  20,  1900,  a graduate  of  the  common 
schools.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Evangeli- 
cal Church  and  Mr.  Easterday  has  been  one  of  the 
deacons  in  his  church  for  twenty  years,  and  always 
active  in  its  affairs.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Modern 
Woodmen  of  America  and  is  a republican.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Township  Advisory  Board. 

John  Koontz.  One  of  the  many  energetic  and 
actively  progressive  men  engaged  in  cultivating  the 
rich  and  fertile  soil  of  Noble  County,  John  Koontz 
is  one  of  the  older  living  native  sons  of  the  county 
and  has  lived  here  and  witnessed  the  development 
of  the  surrounding  country  for  nearly  three-quarters 
of  a century.  He  still  lives  on  his  farm  three  miles 
west  of  Avilla  in  Allen  Township. 

Mr.  Koontz  was  born  in  Jefferson  Township  of 
Noble  County,  September  17,  1842,  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Stoudenour)  Koontz,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania, 
where  they  grew  up  and  married.  They  first  settled 
in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  two  years  later  moved  to 
Noble  County  and  settled  in  Jefferson  Township  on 
September  9,  1842,  just  a few  days  before  the  birth 
of  their  son  John.  Jacob  Koontz  was  a blacksmith 
by  trade,  and  had  a shop  which  he  conducted  in  con- 
nection with  his  farming  interests.  Their  farm 
consisted  of  no  acres.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
active  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  in 
politics  he  voted  as  a democrat.  He  and  his  wife 
had  six  children,  two  of  whom  are  still  living,  Sarah 
and  John.  Sarah  was  born  in  1851  and  is  unmar- 
ried. 

John  Koontz  as  a boy  attended  the  local  district 
schools  and  later  learned  the  carpenter’s  trade, 
which  he  followed  for  ten  years.  He  married  Mar- 
garet A.  Smith,  also  a native  of  Jefferson  Town- 
ship. 

After  their  marriage  they  lived  on  Mrs.'  Koontz’ 
mother’s  farm  for  some  years.  Later  he  traded  his 
property  for  his  present  place  of  160  acres  in  Allen 
Township.  Mr.  Koontz  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Avilla,  and  is  a democrat  and  has  taken 
an  active  part  in  his  community.  Besides  general 
farming  for  years  he  has  been  a breeder  of  Short- 
horn cattle. 

His  only  son,  Frank  R.  Koontz,  was  born  August 
22,  1880,  in  Jefferson  Township,  and  at  the  age  of 
five  years  came  to  the  present  home  of  his  parents. 
He  attended  the  district  schools  and  worked  on  his 
father’s  farm  until  he  took  its  active  management. 

September  4,  1900,  he  married  Mabel  Fisher,  who' 
was  born  in  Allen  Township  and  was  educated  in 
the  district  schools.  Her  parents  were  Moses  D. 
and  Elnore  (Moree)  Fisher,  the  former  a native  of 
Coshocton  County  and  the  latter  of  Richland  County, 
Ohio.  Moses  Fisher  came  to  Noble  County  at  the 
age  of  seven,  and  his  wife  was  also  a child  when 
her  parents  located  there.  They  were  married  in 
Noble  County  and  Moses  Fisher  died  in  1913.  His 
widow  is  still  living.  Of  their  nine  children  eight 
are  alive:  Eva,  wife  of  Wilmer  Walters;  William 

B.,  of  Avilla ; Edith  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Brum- 
baugh; Mable  and  May,  twins,  the  latter  the  wife 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


335 


of  Frank  Weaver;  Maude  B.,  wife  of  Ervin  Brum- 
baugh; Frank  L.,  of  Allen  Township;  and  Bessie, 
wife  of  Carl  Huffman. 

Frank  Koontz  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He  is  a 
skillful  musician,  having  made  a thorough  study  of 
music  and  particularly  of  the  violin,  and  has  won 
a reputation  as  a teacher. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  Koontz  have  one  son,  Nor- 
man J.,  born  November  12,  1902,  now  in  the 

third  year  of  the  high  school  at  Avilla. 

Steven  Thompson  Cooper-  is  one  of  the  oldest 
business  men  of  Howe.  Nearly  fifty  years  ago  he 
bought  a stock  of  merchandise  in  the  old  village 
of  Lima;  and  has  ever  since  busied  himself  with 
the  management  and  expansion  of  his  business  and 
the  task  of  affording  a completely  adequate  mer- 
chandise service  to  the  community. 

Mr.  Cooper  has  had  a varied  and  interesting 
career  of  experience,  and  before  coming  to  La- 
Grange  County  had  fought  as  a soldier  in  the  Civil 
war  and  had  been  a cotton  planter  in  the  South. 
He  was  born  at  Chester,  Morris  County,  New  Jer- 
sey, May  2,  1843,  a son  of  David  and  Sarah  R. 
(Dayton)  Cooper,  both  natives  of  Morris  County. 
His  great-grandfather,  Henry  Cooper,  Sr.,  was  in 
the  commissary  department  of  the  Continental  army 
during  the  Revolutionary  war.  In  the  maternal 
line  Mr.  Cooper  is  indirectly  descended  from 
Colonel  Elias  Dayton,  who  was  on  General  Wash- 
ington’s staff,  and  for  his  services  in  the  Revolu- 
tion received  a grant  of  land  in  Ohio  where  the 
City  of  Dayton  now  stands,  named  in  his  honor. 
David  Cooper  was  born  in  1799.  In  1856  he  came 
west  to  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
but  remained  there  only  two  months,  and  then 
went  to  Ogle  County,  Illinois,  where  he  became 
a farmer.  His  wife,  Sarah  Dayton,  had  died  in 
New  Jersey,  and  when  he  came  west  he  was  ac- 
companied by  his  second  wife,  Sabina  Everitt. 
David  Cooper  was  always  interested  in  politics,  first 
as  a whig  and  later  as  a stanch  republican.  While 
in  New  Jersey  he  was  twice  elected  a member  of 
the  Legislature.  It  is  recalled  that  during  one 
severe  winter  he  hauled  wood  on  a bob  sled  from 
his  farm  in  New  Jersey  to  New  York  City,  a dis- 
tance of  thirty-five  miles,  crossing  the  Hudson 
River  on  the  ice  during  the  winter  of  the  great  fire 
in  New  York.  He  had  first  come  west  in  1835,  in 
company  with  Colonel  Aaron  Thompson  and  George 
Thompson,  making  the  journey  as  far  west  as  Ann 
Arbor,  Michigan,  on  horseback  and  returning  to 
New  Jersey  in  the  same  way.  David  Cooper  was 
always  a farmer.  He  and  his  first  wife  had  seven 
children,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  who  became  the  wife  of 
Robert  Thompson,  Henry,  Steven,  William,  Aaron 
and  Sarah.  Of  these  only  Mary  and  Steven  are 
now  living.  There  was  one  daughter,  Martha,  by 
his  second  marriage. 

Steven  Thompson  Cooper  was  about  thirteen 
years  old  when  he  made  his  first  acquaintance  with 
LaGrange  County,  and  while  there  he  worked  on 
the  John  Van  de  Venter  farm.  He  then  joined 
his  father  in  Illinois,  and  received  most  of  his 
education  in  the  schools  of  that  state.  At  Rochelle, 
Illinois,  August  10,  1862,  he  enlisted  for  service  in 
the  Civil  war,  at  first  with  Company  H of  the 
92nd  Illinois  Infantry,  but  later  the  regiment  was 
assigned  to  the  mounted  infantry.  His  service  was 
for  a period  of  three  years,  until  August  11,  1865. 
During  Sherman’s  march  to  the  sea,  on  December 
7,  1864,  near  Waynesboro,  Georgia,  he  was  cap- 
tured, and  was  held  in  one  of  the  most  notorious 
prison  camps  of  the  South,  at  Florence,  South 
Carolina.  During  the  severe  winter  weather  he 
and  his  comrades  had  to  dig  holes  in  the  ground 


for  shelter.  On  March  5,  1865,  he  was  exchanged 
at  Richmond,  and  before  getting  back  to  the  ranks 
the  war  was  over.  Following  the  war  he  spent  a 
short  time  in  Mississippi  and  Arkansas,  where  he 
was  associated  with  Col.  Joseph  R.  Webster  of 
LaGrange  County  and  J.  Railsback  in  cotton  plant- 
ing. Colonel  Webster,  it  may  be  recalled,  was  a 
captain  in  the  88th  Indiana  Infantry  and  later  be- 
came lieutenant  colonel  of  the  44th  Regiment  of 
colored  troops  during  the  Civil  war.  After  the 
war  he  became  a successful  attorney  and  at  one 
time  was  attorney  general  for  Nebraska. 

The  years  1868-69  Mr.  Cooper  spent  in  Illinois, 
where  his  chief  employment  was  breaking  virgin 
prairie  sod  with  four  yoke  of  oxen.  On  May  1, 
1870,  he  bought  out  the  business  at  Howe  and  be- 
gan his  long  service  as  a local  merchant.  At  first 
his  stock  of  goods  comprised  drugs  and  groceries, 
and  he  now  handles  drugs,  groceries  and  seeds. 
It  has  always  been  an  individual  business  and  has 
always  been  conducted  in  the  same  building.  Mr. 
Cooper  also  helped  organize  and  has  since  been 
president  of  the  Northern  Indiana  Sand  & Gravel 
Company  at  Wolcottville.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  of  the  LaGrange  G.  A.  R. 

In  January,  1876,  he  married  Miss  Mary  C.  Wil- 
liams, now  deceased.  She  was  a daughter  of  S. 
P.  Williams,  of  Howe.  To  their  marriage  were 
born  three  children : Isabell,  Emily  D.  and  Marion. 

Emily  is  deceased. 

Charles  E.  Greenawalt  has  made  for  himself  an 
influential  place  in  the  community  of  Springfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  is  a prosperous  farmer, 
a minister  of  the  Gospel,  and  otherwise  well  known 
and  well  liked  by  his  friends  and  neighbors. 

He  was  born  near  Topeka,  LaGrange  County, 
January  28,  1880,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Catherine 
(Plank)  Greenawalt.  Several  members  of  this 
family  have  been  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  pub- 
lication. Mr.  Greenawalt  was  five  years  old  when 
his  parents  moved  to  Springfield  Township,  and  as 
a boy  there  he  attended  public  schools  and  the 
Mongo  High  School.  He  also  was  a student  in  the 
Tri-State  College  at  Angola  and  for  seven  years 
was  a teacher,  four  years  in  the  common  schools 
and  three  years  as  principal  of  the  Springfield  Town- 
ship High  School.  From  teaching  he  engaged  in 
farming,  and  for  several  years  rented  the  land  he 
now  owns  from  his  wife’s  father.  Later  he  bought 
forty  acres  of  this  place,  and  as  his  wife  inherited 
forty  acres,  and  he  now  has  a well  proportioned 
farm  of  eighty  acres,  yielding  a good  living  for 
himself  and  family.  Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a republican 
and  is  a member  of  the  Advisory  Board  of  Spring- 
field  Township.  He  is  a stockholder  in  the  Mongo 
State  Bank. 

Both  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
Church  of  God  and  he  is  an  ordained  minister  of 
that  denomination.  On  April  19,  1903,  he  married 
Miss  Cora  Eatinger.  She  was  born  in  Milford 
Township  January  29,  1879,  a daughter  of  George 
W.  and  Sarah  (Forst)  Eatinger,  both  natives  of 
Ohio  and  both  born  in  the  year  1849.  Her  father 
was  a native  of  Holmes  County  and  was  a small 
child  when  his  parents  came  to  LaGrange  County, 
where  he  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  Johnson  Town- 
ship. George  Eatinger  bought  his  first  land  in 
Milford  Township,  and  out  of  his  enterprise  as  a 
farmer  accumulated  more  than  300  acres.  He  is 
now  living  retired  at  Decatur,  Michigan,  his  wife 
having  died  in  1913.  He  is  a republican,  and  with 
his  wife  was  an  active  member  of  the  Church  of 
God.  They  had  four  children : Mrs.  Cora  Greena- 

walt, Charles,  Jacob  and  Maggie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenawalt  have  a family  of  five 


336 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


children,  named : Cletus  Dale,  Lawrence  J.,  Agnes 
Ruth,  Roger  Norris  and  Gertrude  Lucile. 

Eugene  S.  Aldrich.  There  is  no  finer  character 
in  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  than  Eugene  S.  Aid- 
rich,  who  in  every  walk  of  life  has  proven  his  worth 
and  gained  an  enviable  reputation  as  a man  of  in- 
tegrity and  sincerity.  He  was  born  at  Warsaw, 
Wyoming  County,  New  York,  in  1842,  a son  of  Col. 
Simeon  C.  Aldrich,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Steu- 
ben County.  Colonel  Aldrich  was  born  at  Rocking- 
ham, Vermont,  October  14,  1816,  and  came  to  Steu- 
ben County,  in  1844.  A tailor  by  trade,  he  opened 
a shop  at  Angola,  but  soon  after  the  discovery  of 
gold  in  California  he  crossed  the  plains  to  that 
state  and  was  gone  from  home  for  two  years.  Upon 
his  return  to  Angola  he  embarked  in  a mercantile 
business  and  conducted  it  and  served  as  sheriff  of 
Steuben  County  for  one  term.  Returning  from  a 
second  trip  to  California,  Colonel  Aldrich  found  his 
state  in  an  unheaval  of  patriotism  over  the  outbreak 
of  the  Civil  war,  and  he,  with  Captain  Parks  of 
Auburn,  DeKalb  County,  were  instrumental  in  rais- 
ing Company  K of  the  Forty-fourth  Indiana  In- 
fantry, of  which  he  was  elected  first  lieutenant. 
Soon  afterward  he  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of 
captain,  and  in  November,  1862,  he  was  made  lieu- 
tenant colonel,  commanding  the  regiment  at  the  bat- 
tle of  Chickamauga,  where  he  distinguished  him- 
self for  his  courage  and  efficiency.  After  this  en- 
gagement he  was  made  provost  marshal  of  Chat- 
tanooga, holding  that  position  until  the  regiment  re- 
enlisted, \yhen  he  accompanied  the  veterans  home. 
He  returned  with  them  to  Chattanooga  and  con- 
tinued in  command  until  August,  1863,  when  he  was 
granted  a leave  of  absence  on  account  of  ill  health. 
A few  days  after  reaching  home  he  was  suddenly 
taken  worse  and  died  August  14,  1863.  He  was 
commissioned  colonel  July  27th,  but  owing  to  the 
reduced  number  of  the  regiment  was  not  mustered  in 
as  such. 

Colonel  Aldrich  was  twice  married,  first  on  De- 
cember 23,  1838,  when  he  was  united  to  Polly  A. 
Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Livingston  County,  New 
York,  September  16,  1816,  died  January  29,  1852, 
leaving  three  children,  Eugene  S.,  Helen  Y.  and 
Addison  Umphrey.  A daughter,  Emma  L.,  died  in 
infancy.  Helen  Y.  was  married  to  Charles  Tyler 
and  died  January  10,  1879.  Addison  died  Novem- 
ber 12,  1863.  On  June  23,  1852,  Colonel  Aldrich 
was  married  to  Melissa  Knapp,  and  their  children 
were  as  follows:  Nellie,  who  lives  at  Toledo,  Ohio; 
Lulu,  who  is  the  wife  of  William  Feizel,  of  Hills- 
dale, Michigan;  and  Charles  C.,  who  is  in  Mexico. 
The  second  Mrs.  Aldrich  spent  her  last  years  at 
Hillsdale,  Michigan,  where  she  died. 

Eugene  S.  Aldrich,  like  his  father,  was  a soldier 
during  the  war  between  the  states,  enlisting  in  Com- 
pany K,  Forty-fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  his  father’s 
regiment,  and  served  for  three  years.  Although  he 
enlisted  as  a private,  upon  the  organization  he  was 
made  third  deputy  sergeant,  receiving  his  promo- 
tion to  the  rank  of  second  lieutenant  November  27, 
1862,  and  to  that  of  first  lieutenant  April  17,  1863. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Corinth, 
Missionary  Ridge  and  many  others  of  less  impor- 
tance. With  the  exception  of  three  years  spent  in 
Ohio  Mr.  Aldrich  has  made  Pleasant  Lake  his  home 
since  his  return  from  the  war. 

The  first  wife  of  Mr.  Aldrich,  Lucy  Knapp,  a 
daughter  of  Lansing  Knapp,  died  April  14,  1869, 
leaving  one  son,  Simeon  A.,  who  died  October  25, 
1871.  Subsequently  Mr.  Aldrich  was  married  to 


Addie  C.  Carver,  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
in  1841.  They  had  one  daughter,  Josie,  born  June 
17,  1872,  who  was  married  in  1896  to  Arthur  Miller, 
a son  of  Hampton  Miller.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Miller  have 
one  son,  Eugene  H.,  who  was  born  May  4,  1903. 
Mr.  Aldrich  owns  a valuable  farm  of  100  acres  on 
the  south  side  of  Pleasant  Lake,  which  is  now  op- 
erated by  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  Miller.  During  his 
active  years  Mr.  Aldrich  was  prominent  in  agricul- 
tural circles,  and  devoted  himself  to  improving  his 
farm  and  educating  his  daughter.  His  life  has  been 
one  of  probity  and  usefulness  and  his  friends  have 
always  found  his  a strong  hand  and  heart  on  which 
to  lean  in  times  of  trouble.  Sympathetic  and  gen- 
erous, few  have  ever  appealed  to  him  in  vain,  but 
he  has  preferred  to  assist  a man  in  helping  himself 
than  to  merely  donate  money,  believing  that  the 
former  method  inculcates  self  respect,  while  the 
latter  in  many  instances  only  encourages  shiftless- 
ness. Public  life  has  never  made  a strong  appeal 
to  him,  but  he  has  given  his  support  to  men  and 
principles  which  in  his  judgment  will  work  out  for 
the  betterment  of  the  majority  and  aid  in  the  de- 
velopment of  his  county  and  state. 

Frank  K.  Fee.  The  first  white  family  to  make 
permanent  settlement  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County  was  headed  by  John  Fee.  His  son,  the 
late  Frank  K.  Fee,  spent  his  life  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  that  township,  and  was  a man  of  energy 
corresponding  to  that  of  his  pioneer  father,  and  left 
a large  and  valuable  farm  to  his  wife  and  children. 

John  Fee  was  born  in  Southern  Ohio,  October  13, 
1810,  a son  of  William  Fee.  When  he  was  nineteen 
years  old  John  Fee  went  with  the  rest  of  the  family 
to  Williams  County,  Ohio.  In  that  county  on  April 
0,  1833,  John  Fee  married  Mary  Ann  Houlton.  She 
was  born  near  Chillicothe,  Highland  County,  Ohio, 
May  4,  1 8 1 1 , a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rebecca 
(Kilgore)  Houlton.  Samuel  Houlton  was  born  May 
12,  1764,  and  his  wife  on  August  22,  1772.  Mrs. 
John  Fee’s  father  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers 
at  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  and  her  brothers,  Samuel  and 
John  Houlton,  were  conspicuous  in  the  pioneer  life 
of  Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  Northeast  Indiana. 
The  Houlton  brothers  are  recorded  in  history  as  the 
first  settlers  of  DeKalb  County. 

John  Fee  and  wife  moved  to  Otsego  Township  of 
Steuben  County  in  1833,  and  located  120  acres  in 
section  32.  John  Fee  possessed  a superabundant 
energy  and  vitality,  and  was  completely  at  home  in 
the  frontier  district,  having  room  to  do  all  the  work 
that  his  ambition  impelled  him  to.  His  homestead 
farm  in  Otsego  Township  comprised  420  acres  in 
one  body,  but  at  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned 
2,600  acres.  He  spent  his  last  days  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship, where  he  .died  April  2,  1873.  His  widow  sur- 
vived until  January  6,  1887.  John  Fee  built  as  his 
first  home  a log  cabin,  and  as  his  own  land  was 
covered  with  heavy  timber  he  cultivated  his  first 
crops  on  a rented  tract  on  Jackson  Prairie.  He  was 
a republican  in  politics.  He  donated  the  ground 
for  one  of  the  early  Methodist  churches,  the  site 
now  being  owned  by  the  United  Brethren  denomina- 
tion. He  also  gave  ground  for  a cemetery.  He  and 
his  wife  had  nine  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  Those  to  grow  up  were : Calvin ; Clarinda, 
wife  of  A.  L.  Nickols ; Margaret,  wife  of  A.  J.  Car- 
penter, of  DeKalb  County;  John;  Ann,  wife  of  L.  T. 
Crain  ; William  ; and  Frank. 

Frank  K.  Fee  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Otsego  Township,  July  6,  1854.  He  acquired  a good 
education  in  the  public  schools  and  eventually  sue- 


. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


337 


ceeded  to  the  ownership  of  the  old  homestead  and 
its  420  acres  gave  him  ample  scope  in  which  to  carry 
out  his  varied  projects  of  farming  and  stock  raising. 
He  was  never  in  politics,  contenting  himself  to  vote 
the  republican  ticket. 

July  24,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Setta  Gilbert.  She 
was  born  in  Otsego  Township  October  3,  1856,  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Martha  (Forder)  Gilbert. 
Her  father  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania, 
August  2,  1825,  a son  of  John  and  Mary  Gilbert,  and 
grew  up  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  in  the  fall  of 
1851  came  to  Steuben  County  and  bought  160  acres 
in  the  woods  of  Otsego  Township.  He  built  a small 
log  cabin,  which  was  the  first  home  of  the  Gilbert 
family  in  Steuben  County,  and  later,  as  his  means 
increased,  erected  a large  residence  and  many  fine 
buildings.  He  married  in  1850,  Martha  Ann  Forder, 
who  died  in  1859.  She  was  the  mother  of  three 
children:  Alonzo,  of  Otsego  Township;  Mrs.  Setta 
Fee ; and  Flora,  who  died  March  16,  1913,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-five.  Joseph  Gilbert  married  for  his 
second  wife  Emily  Case.  She  died  in  1884,  and  her 
three  children  are  still  living,  named  Alton,  Victor 
and  Verna.  Joseph  Gilbert  died  March  4,  1904. 

Mrs.  Fee  is  the  mother  of  six  sons  and  three 
daughters,  and  has  a large  number  of  grandchildren 
about  her.  Her  oldest  child,  Myrta,  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  and  the  Tri-State  Normal,  was 
a teacher  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Jay  Learned,  of 
Hamilton,  Indiana,  and  has  two  children,  named 
Oliver  and  Gertrude.  Shirley  Dale  Fee  is  a well- 
known  business  man  of  Metz,  elsewhere  noted  in  this 
publication.  Flora  was  educated  in  the  high  school 
at  Hamilton  and  lives  at  home  with  her  mother. 
John  had  a high  school  education  and  is  a traveling 
salesman  out  of  Dayton,  Ohio.  By  his  marriage  to 
Jennie  Dirrim  he  has  two  children,  Wayne  and 
Cleland.  Asa  graduated  from  the  Hamilton  High 
School,  was  a farmer,  and  died  October  28,  1914. 
By  his  marriage  to  Inez  Mortorff  he  had  three  chil- 
dren, Emmet,  deceased,  Paul  and  Ned.  Clarence, 
"Who  attended-  the  common  and  high  schools,  married 
Blanche  Mortorff,  a sister  of  his  brother  Asa’s  wife, 
and  had  three  sons,  Wier,  Clifford  and  Donald. 
Earl,  who  also  had  the  advantages  of  the  Hamilton 
High  School,  is  a farmer,  married  Hazel  Ireland, 
and  has  two  children,  Mary  Louise  and  Margaret 
Ellen.  Lloyd,  who  completed  his  education  in  the 
high  school  at  Hamilton,  is  a farmer  on  the  old 
homestead  and  breeder  of  purebred  Hereford  cattle 
and  Percheron  horses.  Aldah  completed  her  educa- 
tion in  the  high  school  at*Hamilton  and  married  Ora 
Baker,  and  they  live  on  part  of  the  Fee  homestead. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  one  daughter,  Florabel. 

Amos  Adams  was  for  many  years  a successful 
farmer  in  York  Township  of  Steuben  County,  and 
head  of  a family  which  has  played  a worthy  part  in 
the  development  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Though  his 
own  life  was  comparatively  brief,  he  achieved  suc- 
cess and  esteem  and  left  an  honored  name. 

. He  was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  July  12, 
1853,  a son  of  Rulif  Fisher  and  Ruth  (Piper) 
Adams.  His  parents  were  married  in  Delaware 
County  and  in  1863  moved  to  Steuben  County,  set- 
tling in  York  Township,  on  the  land  where  Amos 
Adams  spent  most  of  his  life.  They  owned  150 
acres,  and  much  of  it  was  cleared  during  the  life- 
time of  the  senior  Adams,  who  died  there  in  Sep- 
tember, 1879,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  His  widow 
survived  until  1901,  to  the  age  of  seventy-one.  They 
had  three  children,  Amos,  Sarah  Ellen  and  W. 
Henry. 

Amos  Adams  was  ten  years  old  when  brought  to 
Steuben  County,  and  he  grew  up  on  the  farm  and 

Vol,  11—2  2 


finished  his  education  in  the  local  schools.  In  early 
manhood  he  acquired  sixty-five  acres  of  the  old 
place,  and  at  one  time  had  108  acres,  constituting  a 
farm  of  many  excellent  improvements.  In  the  midst 
of  his  work  and  success  there  he  died  in  1910,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven. 

In  1878  he  married  Amanda  Vanscoit,  who  was 
born  near  Findlay  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio,  Feb- 
ruary 13,  1855,  a daughter  of  Samuel  H.  and  Sarah 
(Houck)  Vanscoit.  Her  father  was  a native  of 
Ohio  and  her  mother  of  Maryland,  and  they  moved 
to  Steuben  County  in  1865  and  settled  on  120  acres  in 
York  Township.  Later  they  sold  this  land  and  went 
east  to  Virginia,  but  after  ten  years  returned  to 
Indiana  and  spent  their  last  years  in  York  Township, 
where  her  father  died  in  January,  1901,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven,  and  her  mother  in  1907,  aged  eighty- 
two.  In  the  Vanscoit  family  were  the  following 
children:  Joanna,  deceased,  Amanda,  Charlotte, 

John,  Kittie  C.,  Ella  and  Stella. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adams  were  the  parents  of  five 
children : Perry,  born  April  5,  1879,  died  at  the  age 

of  four  years  and  six  days ; Ruth,  born  January  20, 
1882,  died  October  16,  1882;  James,  who  was  born 
February  22,  1884,  had  a public  school  education, 
lived  for  three  years  in  Ohio,  and  is  now  working 
for  his  mother  the  home  farm  in  York  Township.  He 
is  unmarried  and  a democrat  in  politics.  Arza,  born 
June  1,  1886,  had  a public  school  education  and  died 
in  York  Township,  November  9,  1915.  He  married 
Hulda  Weiss,  and  she  survived  him  with  three  chil- 
dren, Ruth,  Russell  and  Paul.  Ralph,  born  February 
5,  1889,  married  Lisle  Richardson,  of  Scott  Town- 
ship, and  has  two  children,  Herman  and  Loueze. 

In  1912  Mrs.  Adams  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  An- 
drew S.  Campbell.  He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
November  19,  1852,  and  is  a carpenter  by  trade,  a 
business  he  followed  for  many  years.  In  1864  he 
went  to  Scioto  County,  Ohio,  and  for  many  years 
lived  in  the  west,  having  varied  experiences  in  the 
Black  Hills  country  in  and  around  Denver  and 
Phoenix,  Arizona,  and  was  also  at  New  Orleans.  He 
married  for  his  first  wife  Phoebe  S.  Foster  and  had 
four  children,  all  now  deceased,  their  names  being 
Albert,  Della,  Hurley  and  William.  The  mother 
of  these  died  in  1884  and’  Mr.  Campbell  for  his 
second  wife  married  Matilda  Lunsford.  Their  six 
children  were  Walter,  Vahn,  Harry,  Bertha,  Stella 
and  Elsie,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  Walter. 

Monte  L.  Green  has  been  an  important  figure  in 
the  financial  life  of  DeKalb  County  for  a number  of 
years,  and  is  president  of  the  Garrett  Savings,  Loan 
& Trust  Company,  Garrett,  Indiana. 

His  early  life  was  spent  in  a number  of  different 
localities.  He  was  born  in  Missouri,  January  26, 
1870,  son  of  Jesse  H.  and  Louisa  D.  (Beach)  Green. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Indiana,  the  father  born 
at  Moore’s  Hill  and  the  mother  in  Henry  County, 
near  Lewisville.  After  their  marriage  they  lived 
in  Spencer,  Owen  County,  Indiana,  and  at  various 
other  localities,  moving  to  Kenton  County,  Ken- 
tucky, opposite  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  in  1890.  Jesse 
Green  was  for  over  thirty  years  a postal  clerk  in 
the  United  States  Rural  Mail  Service  on  various 
lines  and  finally  on  the  Cincinnati  Southern  Railroad. 
When  retiring  from  active  service  he  lived  in 
Bellevue,  Campbell  County,  Kentucky,  opposite  Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio,  where  he  is  still  living  past  eighty-one 
years  of  age.  The  mother  died  there  April  23,  1903. 
Of  their  two  children,  Glenn  Arden  and  Monte  Lee, 
the  latter  is  the  only  one  now  living.  Jesse  H. 
Green  is  an  honored  member  of  the  Grand  Army  of 
the  Republic  by  virtue  of  his  service  in  the  Civil 
war.  April  15,  i86t,  he  enlisted  in  the  navy  at  New 
York  City,  and  after  leaving  that  branch  of  the 


338 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


service  he  enlisted  in  the  Twenty-Fifth  Indiana 
Battery  of  Light  Artillery,  and  was  with  his  com- 
mand until  the  close  of  the  war. 

Monte  L.  Green  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools,  is  a graduate  of  the  Indianapolis 
High  School,  and  had  a complete  business  course  in 
the  Cincinnati  Business  College.  For  about  twenty 
years  he  was  engaged  in  the  carriage  business  and 
other  similar  lines  of  activity  and  in  1907  moved  to 
Auburn,  where  he  was  associated  with  W.  H.  Mc- 
Intire.  Later  he  bought  stock  in  the  Auburn  Sav- 
ings, Loan  & Trust  Company,  and  was  its  vice 
president  until  early  in  1913. 

Mr.  Green,  with  associates,  organized  the  Savings, 
Loan  & Trust  Company  of  Garrett  in  1908.  This 
institution,  formerly  capitalized  at  $25,000  and  now 
$40,000,  has  been  one  of  the  bulwarks  of  DeKalb 
County  finance  for  the  past  ten  years.  Mr.  Green 
is  an  able  financier,  and  his  entire  business  and  civic 
record  has  been  admirable.  He  served  as  president 
of  the  Commercial  Club  while  at  Auburn,  has  been 
much  interested  in  the  welfare  of  local  schools  in 
various  communities,  having  been  president  of  the 
School  Board  in  Ludlow,  Kentucky,  is  past  master 
of  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  a member  of  the  Royal 
Arch  Chapter,  Council  and  Commandery,  also  the 
thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Masons,  and  the 
Mystic  Shrine  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  and  his  wife  are 
both  active  in  the  Presbyterian  Church.  Mr.  Green 
has  been  elder  in  the  church  for  years  and  promi- 
nent in  the  Fort  Wayne  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Green  married  for  his  first  wife  Josephine 
Pohlman,  who  died  January  11,  1906,  the  mother 
of  two  sons,  Arden  D.  and  Lyman  Dale.  For  his 
present  wife  Mr.  Green  married  Helen  Samme 
Ralston.  They  have  one  daughter,  Alzein  Louise. 
Mrs.  Green  was  born  at  Auburn,  a daughter  of  A. 
J.  and  Hadessa  (George)  Ralston.  Her  mother  is 
still  living.  A.  J.  Ralston,  who  died  January  12, 
1919,  was  widely  known  in  DeKalb  County,  having 
served  as  deputy  sheriff  and  deputy  treasurer  of  the 
county  and  in  various  other  public  offices.  Mrs. 
Green  is  a graduate  of  the  Auburn  High  School  and 
has  been  identified  with  clubs  and  civic  work  for 
years.  During  the  war  she  was  county  chairman  of 
all  the  loan  drives,  food  conservation  and  the 
woman  member  of  the  Council  of  Defense.  She 
was  one  of  the  leaders  among  the  women  of  DeKalb 
County  in  auxiliary  war  activities. 

Daniel  Ely,  one  of  the  well  circumstanced  farm- 
ers of  Bloomfield  Township,  has  always  regarded  it 
as  his  peculiar  good  fortune  that  his  lot  was  early 
cast  in  LaGrange  County.  He  came  here  when 
about  eleven  years  of  age  and  had  already  been 
making  his  own  way  in  the  world  for  a year  or  so. 
He  accompanied  a party  of  eight  other  persons,  and 
has  a vivid  memory  of  the  trip,  which  began  at 
Ashland,  Ohio.  The  first  stage  of  the  journey  was 
Mansfield,  a distance  of  twelve  miles.  The  trav- 
elers had  horses  and  wagons,  but  on  account  of  the 
deep  mud  they  did  not  arrive  at  Mansfield  until  an 
entire  day  had  been  consumed.  At  Mansfield  the 
wagons,  horses  and  goods  were  put  in  a railroad 
car  and  all  shipped  to  Fort  Wayne.  Thence  they 
came  to  Mongo  by  way  of  the  old  Plank  Road, 
then  a toll  road.  Among  the  other  members  of 
the  party  recalled  by  Mr.  Ely  were  Pet  Long  and 
George  Price. 

Mr.  Ely  was  born  in  Crawford  Township  of 
Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  March  30,  1851.  His  par- 
ents, Frederick  and  Barbara  (Switzer)  Ely,  were 
both  natives  of  Germany,  and  his  grandparents  on 
both  sides  spent  all  their  lives  in  the  Fatherland. 
Frederick  Ely  had  been  married  and  had  lost  one 
wife  in  Germany:  By  that  union  he  had  a daughter, 


Margaret.  Later  he  married  Barbara  Switzer,  and 
in  1835  he  and  his  wife  and  his  first  child,  Margaret, 
came  to  America,  landing  in  Baltimore.  With  a 
one-horse  wagon  he  made  the  journey  across  the 
mountains  to  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  settling  in 
the  midst  of  the  woods.  It  was  necessary  to  cut  a 
road  three  miles  from  the  main  highway  to  get  into 
his  land.  He  acquired  eighty  acres  there,  cleared 
some  of  it  and  had  considerable  progress  toward 
improvement  when  death  overtook  him  when  he 
was  still  comparatively  young.  His  wife  also  died 
in  Ohio,  and  they  are  buried  in  a cemetery  at  New 
Bedford.  Both  were  members  of  the  Lutheran 
Church.  Their  children  were  Frederick,  Lewis,  John, 
Leah,  Rachel,  Henry,  George,  Michael,  Mary  and 
Daniel.  The  only  ones  now  living  are  Leah,  Henry 
and  Daniel. 

Daniel  Ely,  owing  to  the  fact  that  he  had  to  get 
out  and  work  and  make  his  own  way  from  the  age 
of  nine,  had  limited  opportunities  to  gain  an  educa- 
tion, though  he  attended  schools  some  both  in  Ohio 
and  in  Indiana.  He  came  to  LaGrange  County  in 
1862,  and  at  first  worked  for  his  board,  later  was 
paid  nominal  wages,  and  he  began  his  independent 
career  as  a farm  renter.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he 
bought  sixty  acres  in  Bloomfield  Township,  and  on 
that  land  he  has  lived  now  for  forty  years  with 
the  exception  of  twt>  years  when  he  was  in  the 
meat  business  at  Lima  or  Howe.  When  he  acquired 
the  land  only  about  twenty-five  acres  had  been 
cleared,  and  he  has  since  cleared  twenty-five  acres 
more,  and  now  has  a farm  of  a hundred  acres,  well 
adapted  for  general  farming  purposes.  The  improve- 
ments when  he  bought  the  land  consisted  of  only  a 
few  poor  buildings,  and  he  now  has  ample  buildings 
and  all  facilities  for  his  work  and  for  comfortable 
living.  He  has  also  taken  an  interested  part  in  local 
affairs  and  has  served  as  township  supervisor. 

In  June,  1876,  Mr.  Ely  married  Miss  Rebecca 
McKinzie.  She  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, a daughter  of  Jesse  and  Leah  (Hoffmyer) 
McKinzie.  Her  mother  was  a native  of  Maryland 
and  her  father  of  Pennsylvania.  He'r  father  died 
at  Springfield,  Illinois,  while  en  route  to  the  West. 
Her  mother  afterward  went  to  Canada,  and  in  1865 
came  to  LaGrange  County  and  subsequently  became 
the  wife  of  Levi  Dague.  They  moved  to  Michigan, 
but  eventually  returned  to  LaGrange  County,  where 
Mr.  Dague  died  in  1909,  while  Mrs.  Ely’s  mother 
passed  away  in  1914,  at  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ely. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ely  have  the  following  children : 
Charles  S.,  at  home  on  t?he  old  farm ; Lula,  Mrs. 
Lyle  Shank,  of  Angola,  where  her  husband  is  now 
in  his  second  term  as  county  superintendent  of 
schools  of  Steuben  County;  William  H.,  at  home, 
and  Laura  Edna,  a teacher,  also  at  home.  Mr.  Ely 
and  his  sons  own  about  440  acres  of  land. 

Joseph  T.  McElroy  for  many  years  has  been  one 
of  the  leading  farmers  and  enterprising  citizens  of 
Clear  Lake  Township  in  Steuben  County.  He  is  the 
son  of  an  old  soldier  and  the  family  have  lived  here 
for  over  a half  a century. 

Mr.  McElroy  was  born  at  New  London,  Huron 
County,  Ohio,  February  g,  i860,  a son  of  Robert  and 
Alzina  (Bro6ks)  McElroy.  His  mother  was  a native 
of  Huron  County  and  a daughter  of  Minchell  Brooks, 
who  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Clear  Lake 
Township,  locating  on  the  land  where  Joseph 
McElroy  lives  today.  Alzina  was  one  of  a family 
of  eleven  children. 

Robert  McElroy  was  born  in  Canada  East  March 
13,  1833,  a son  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann  (Hamilton) 
McElroy,  natives  of  Ireland.  Robert  McElroy  at 
the  age  of  thirteen  was  left  an  orphan  and  had  to 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


339 


make  his  own  way  in  the  world.  In  1859  he  married 
Alzina  Brooks  in  Huron  County,  Ohio.  In  1862  he 
left  his  family  to  go  into  the  army,  serving  with 
the  Twelfth  Ohio  Battery.  He  was  in  many  of 
the  great  battles  of  the  war,  including  Fredericks- 
burg, Chattanooga,  Lookout  Mountain,  Missionary 
Ridge  and  Resaca.  His  term  of  service  lacked  only 
a few  days  of  being  three  years.  He  was  twice 
wounded  and  injured  while  in  the  army.  For  many 
years  he  was  a member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post 
at  Fremont,  and  a stanch  republican  in  politics. 

While  he  was  in  the  army  Minchell  Brooks  came 
to  Clear  Lake  Township  of  Steuben  County,  accorrf- 
panied  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  McElroy,  and  her 
children.  Robert  McElroy  rejoined  his  family  here, 
and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in  section  33,  where 
he  owned  a large  farm  of  195  acres.  He  and  his 
wife  had  ten  children:  Joseph,  Jane,  Flora,  Bessie, 
Catherine,  Eliza,  Hattie,  Minchell,  Ulysses  and  John. 

Joseph  T.  McElroy  was  about  three  years  old 
when  brought  to  Steuben  County,  and  he  acquired 
his  education  in  the  township  schools  of  Clear  Lake 
and  York.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
working  on  the  farm  until  twenty-four,  and  at  that 
time  was  married  and  then  joined  farming  with 
work  at  the  masonry  trade.  Mr.  McElroy  owns  a 
farm  of  120  acres,  and  during  his  ownership  he  has 
set  up  all  the  buildings  and  most  of  the  fences,  and 
has  greatly  increased  its  value  and  productiveness. 
Mr.  McElroy  married  Ida  Sunday.  They  have  three 
children : Ralph,  Rush  and  Louisa. 

Guy  E.  Miller.  One  of  the  prosperous  young 
farmers  of  Steuben  County,  whose  family  is  one  of 
the  old  established  ones  in  Northeastern  Indiana,  is 
Guy  E.  Miller,  whose  grandfather  was  numbered 
among  the  pioneers  of  this  locality.  Guy  E.  Miller 
was  born  on  his  present  farm  in  Pleasant  Township, 
December  13,  1880,  a son  of  Marquis  and  Imogene 
(Yager)  Miller,  and  grandson  of  Oliver  Miller. 

Oliver  Miller  was  a cabinet  maker  by  trade,  and 
he  also  owned  and  operated  a water  power  mill  at 
Gage  Lake.  During  those  early  days  the  cabinet 
makers  were  depended  upon  for  coffins  in  which  to 
bury  the  dead  of  the  settlements,  and  Oliver  made 
many  of  them.  In  those  times  the  coffins  were  made 
of  hard  woods,  and  some  of  them  were  beautifully 
carved,  for  it  was  not  until  a later  date  that  the 
present  kind  of  caskets  were  put  into  general  use. 
Oliver  Miller  lived  at  Gage  Lake  until  his  death, 
having  settled  there  upon  his  arrival  in  Steuben 
County.  He  married  a Miss  Kemp,  and  they  had 
the  following  children:  Ivan,  Marquis,  Jem  and  two 
daughters  are  deceased. 

Marquis  Miller  was  born  near  Gage  Lake,  Jack- 
son  Township,  Steuben  County,  in  1855.  His  wife, 
Imogene  Yager,  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township, 
Steuben  County,  and  died  in  1886.  After  attending 
the  local  schools  Marquis  Miller  became  a student 
of  the  Angola  High  School,  and  he  also  attended 
Hillsdale  College.  For  eight  terms  after  completing 
his  education  Mr.  Miller  taught  school  in  Steuben 
County.  After  his  marriage,  however,  he  com- 
menced farming  on  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son, 
Guy  E.,  and  lived  here  the  remainder  of  his  useful 
life,  his  death  occurring  as  the  result  of  an  accident, 
when  he  was  run  over  by  a wheat  binder,  he  dying 
ten  minutes  later.  He  and  his  wife  had  two  chil- 
dren, namely:  Guy  E.  and  Mary  E.  The  daughter, 

married  Henry  Voight,  an  engineer  on  the 
Baltimore  & Ohio  Railroad.  After  the  death  of  his 
first  wife  Marquis  Miller  was  married  to  Mrs.  Ellen 
Walter,  widow  of  Calvin  Walter. 

Guy  E.  Miller  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
attended  the  district  schools  of  his  native  township 


and  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  In  1905  he 
was  married  to  Annetta  Wells,  a daughter  of  Edgar 
Wells,  and  they  have  three  children,  namely:  Mar- 

shall A.,  Hope  E.  and  Russell  E.  At  the  time  of  his 
marriage  Mr.  Miller  rented  the  homestead  of  160 
acres,  and  here  he  has  since  carried  on  general 
farming  and  stock  raising.  When  his  father  died  in 
July,  1917,  he  inherited  the  farm.  He  is  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  in  which  both  his 
parents  were  very  active  workers.  They  were  ex- 
tremely religious  people  and  exerted  a strong  influ- 
ence for  good  in  their  community.  Guy  E.  Miller 
has  devoted  his  life  to  farming,  understands  the 
business  in  all  its  details  and  takes  a pride  in  living 
on  the  property  which  has  been  in  his  family  for  so 
many  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  very  popular 
in  their  neighborhood,  and  their  many  friends  enjoy 
visiting  at  their  pleasant  rural  home  in  Pleasant 
Township. 

Andrew  Robert  Badger  has  been  well  satisfied  to 
spend  all  the  years  of  his  life  in  Steuben  County. 
Prosperity  has  rewarded  his  labors  and  persevering 
efforts,  and  for  many  years  he  has  enjoyed  the  good 
will  and  esteem  of  his  home  community.  He  has 
reared  and  provided  for  a family,  and  all  these 
things  are  achievements  worthy  of  a man  s best 
ambition. 

Mr.  Badger  was  born  on  the  old  Badger  home- 
stead in  Scott  Township,  September  26,  1852,  a son 
of  John  C.  and  Sarah  (Camp)  Badger.  His  parents 
were  both  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  were  mar- 
ried in  that  state  and  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1850, 
settling  in  Scott  Township.  Their  first  home  was  on 
forty  acres  covered  with  heavy  timber,  and  under  the 
trees  John  Badger  put  up  a rude  log  cabin.  Later 
he  bought  another  forty  acres  and  eventually  sold 
both  tracts  and  bought  eighty  acres  in  York  Town- 
ship. He  also  acquired  sixteen  acres  known  as  the 
old  Headley  farm.  His  last  days  were  spent  on 
the  forty  acres  in  Scott  Township  where  he  had 
first  settled.  He  cleared  up-  a large  amount  of  land 
in  Steuben  County  that  is  now  cultivated  to  grain 
and  other  crops.  He  was  a republican  and  a member 
of  the  Christian  Church.  To  his  marriage  were 
born  seven  children : Melvin,  Charles  B.,  Andrew 

Robert,  Joseph,  Ada  and  John  and  one  that  died  in 
childhood.  Joseph  and  Ada  are  also  deceased. 

Andrew  Robert  Badger  grew  up  in  Scott  Town- 
ship, attended  public  school  there  and  finished  his 
education  with  two  terms  in  the  Angola  High  School. 
Since  his  school  days  were  ended  he  has  been  a busy 
worker,  and  for  several  years  as  a young  man  was  a 
carpenter.  He  now  owns  eighty  acres  in  York 
Township,  fifty-three  acres  in  Scott  Township  and 
has  done  well  with  all  departments  of  his  farming 
and  has  specialized  somewhat  in  pure  bred  Duroc 
Jersey  hogs  and  Shropshire  sheep. 

Mr.  Badger  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the 
Christian  Church.  In  1878  he  married  Mrs.  Alice 
Henney,  of  Steuben  County.  Of  the  six  children 
born  to  their  union  four  died  in  infancy.  Their 
only  living  son,  Roy,  born  in  1885,  was  educated  in 
the  public  schools  and  is  a miller  by  trade  and  now 
proprietor  of  the  Berlin  Mills.  He  married  Emma 
Wilson  and  has  one  daughter,  Lois.  Lura  Badger 
is  the  wife  of  Ford  Kleckner  and  has  two  children, 
Robert  and  Alice. 

Emanuel  Ulm  is  one  of  the  oldest  native  born 
residents  of  Spencer  Township,  DeKalb  County. 
He  was  born  in  that  locality  more  than  seventy 
years  ago.  He  participated  in  some  of  the  pioneer 
events  in  that  section  of  the  country  and  at  the  age 
of  fourteen  was  delegated  as  an  employe  of  Uncle 


340 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Sam  to  carry  the  mail  from  Spencerville  to  Butler 
three  times  a week.  He  began  his  independent 
career  with  only  a common  school  education  and  with 
no  capital  except  his  own  good  will  and  energy,  and 
has  made  himself  one  of  the  prosperous  and  influ- 
ential citizens.  During  the  late  war  Mr.  Ulm  was  a 
subscriber  to  Liberty  Bonds  to  the  extent  of  $1,600. 

Mr.  Ulm,  whose  farm  is  a mile  and  a half  north  of 
Spencerville,  was  born  in  the  same  locality,  Decem- 
ber 22,  1847.  Some  of  the  interesting  pioneer  inci- 
dents of  old  Concord  Township,  now  Spencer  Town- 
ship, revolve  around  his  father,  Nelson  Ulm,  who 
came  to  the  county  in  1834.  Nelson  Ulm  was  born 
in  Knox  County,  Ohio,  lost  his  father  when  he  was 
six  years  of  age  and  was  then  bound  out.  He  came 
to  DeKalb  County  at  the  age  of  sixteen  with  Daniel 
Rhodes,  another  pioneer  settler,  and  lived  with  and 
worked  for  Mr.  Rhodes  until  he  was.  twenty-one. 
Nelson  Ulm  and  the  Rhodes  family  arrived  in  1834, 
and  Nelson  Ulm  located  on  the  present  site  of 
Spencerville.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  drove  from 
Fort  Wayne  the  first  hogs  and  cows  ever  brought 
to  Spencerville,  and  during  the  following  winter  he 
took  two  bushels  of  corn  on  a hand  sled  to  mill  at 
Fort  Wayne.  Out  of  one  of  his  experiences  in  the 
woods  of  this  section  he  gave  the  name  Buck  Creek 
to  one  of  the  streams  of  DeKalb  County.  He  mar- 
ried Elvira  Lockwood,  a native  of  Vermont.  He 
was  a democrat,  and  both  were  members  of  the 
Methodist  Church.  In  the  Ulm  family  were  ten 
children,  the  two  now  living  being  Emanuel  and 
Harlow,  the  latter  of  St.  Joe,  Indiana. 

Emanuel  Ulm  attended  common  schools  to  the 
age  of  fourteen  and  after  that  worked  for  his  living. 
He  made  his  first  purchase  of  land  when  he  bought 
twenty  acres,  and  his  present  farm  comprises  ninety- 
five  acres.  He  is  a general  farmer,  and  out  of  the 
land  he  has  earned  his  prosperity.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  bank  at  Spencerville  and  his  good 
business  judgment  has  caused  him  to  be  called  upon 
to  settle  several  estates.  He  is  a democrat  in 
politics. 

April  15,  1872,  Mr.  Ulm  married  Mary  A.  Gill. 
She  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  was  edu- 
cated in  the  common  schools.  The}'  had  two  sons. 
The  older,  John  E.,  is  a farmer  in  Spencer  Town- 
ship. Walter  E.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-six, 
was  a graduate  of  high  school,  attended  college  at 
Valparaiso  and  was  a teacher. 

Frank  B.  Cline  is  proprietor  of  a prosperous  and 
well  ordered  farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  of  La- 
Grange  County,  which  has  been  his  home  over  a 
quarter  of  a century.  However,  he  has  lived  in  this 
township  of  LaGrange  County  practically  all  his 
life  and  his  people  came  here  in  pioneer  times. 

He  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township  June  27, 
1864,  a son  of  William  A.  and  Mary  Eliza  (Spears) 
Cline.  His  mother  was  a native  of  Springfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  while  his  father  was 
born  in  Ohio,  a son  of  William  and  Ellen  (Gibney) 
Cline.  Ellen  Gibney  was  born  either  in  Ireland  or 
in  this  country  soon  after  her  parents  came  from 
Ireland.  William  Cline,  who  was  probably  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  came  with  his  wife  to  LaGrange 
County  at  an  early  day.  The  maternal  grandfather 
of  Frank  B.  Cline  was  Thomas  Spears,  who  came 
from  Ohio  about  1835  and  entered  eighty  acres  of 
heavily  timbered  government  land  just  north  of 
Brushy  Prairie.  He  died  there  in  1850,  and  his 
widow  subsequently  became  the  wife  of  Mr.  Sears, 
grandfather  of  Charles  Sears,  a well-known  La- 
Grange County  farmer.  She  owned  the  farm  on 
which  the  Village  of  Helmer  now  stands,  and  spent 
her  last  years  there. 

William  A.  Cline  was  reared  in  Ohio  and  came  to 


LaGrange  County  with  his  parents  about  the  time 
he  reached  his  majority.  After  his  marriage  he 
moved  to  a farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  and  lived 
there  until  his  death.  He  and  his  wife  had  five 
children:  Milton,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mary  J., 

wife  of  Orval  Anderson,  occupying  the  old  Cline 
homestead:  Frank  B. ; Nellie,  Mrs.  Charles  Hill, 
and  Mrs.  Rachel  L.  Smith. 

Frank  B.  Cline  received  his  educational  advantages 
in  his  native  county,  including  one  year  in  the  Howe 
High  School.  Since  then  he  has  been  a farmer  and 
about  twenty-six  years  ago  removed  to  his  present 
farm,  where  he  has  developed  the  land  and  put  up 
all  the  substantial  buildings.  For  the  last  four  years 
he  has  given  particular  attention  to  the  breeding  of 
Jersey  cattle.  Mr.  Cline  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

February  3,  1887.  he  married  Miss  Carrie  Hackett. 
She  was  born  in  Wisconsin  but  her  father,  Minor 
Hackett,  lived  for  a number  of  years  in  LaGrange 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cline  have  two  children : 
Fred  S.  and  Vera  Lucile.  Fred,  associated  with 
bis  father  on  the  farm,  married  in  the  fall  of  1911, 
Miss  Troy  B.  Marks,  a daughter  of  Charles  B. 
Marks  of  LaGrange  County.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren: Lloyd  M.  and  Gladys  Merle.  Vera  Lucile  is 
the  wife  of  William  Hostettler,  in  the  garage  busi- 
ness at  Topeka,  Indiana. 

Albert  G.  Grubb,  M.  D.  For  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury Doctor  Grubb  practiced  medicine  and  carried 
on  various  responsibilities  in  the  business  and  civic 
affairs  of  the  community  of  Mongo.  He  has  the 
distinction  of  being  the  oldest  volunteer  from 
LaGrange  County  in  the  late  World  war.  He 
entered  the  Medical  Corps  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
captain  Sinc.e  his  discharge  he  has  been  located 
at  LaGrange. 

Doctor  Grubb  was  born  in  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
January  15,  1862,  a son  of  William  B.  and  Nancy 
(Warner)  Grubb.  His  father  was  born  in  Hancock 
County,  in  1833  and  his  mother  in  Wood  County, 
Ohio,  in  1835.  They  were  married  in  Hancock 
County  and  in  the  fall  of  1865  came  to  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  the  Village  of  Van 
Buren.  William  B.  Grubb  was  also  a physician  and 
surgeon,  and  his  services  joined  with  those  of  his 
son  give  a continuous  record  of  the  Grubb  family 
in  this  profession  in  LaGrange  County  for  more 
than  half  a century.  He  practiced  medicine  at  Van 
Buren  until  a few  years  before  his  death,  and  then 
moved  to  Montagne,  Michigan,  where  he  died 
August  14,  1901.  His  wife  died  near  the  Village  of 
Van  Buren  in  1879.  He  married  for  his  second  wife 
Ada  Dalton,  daughter  of  James  Dalton,  of  Van 
Buren  Township.  By  this  marriage  there  is  one 
son,  Earl  Grubb,  a farmer  in  Springfield  Township. 
Dr.  Albert  G.  Grubb  was  the  only  one  of  his 
mother’s  children  to  survive  infancy.  The  elder 
Doctor  Grubb  was  a democrat  in  politics. 

Albert  G.  Grubb  received  his  education  in  the 
schools  of  Van  Buren  Township,  and  by  attending 
the  LaGrange  County  Normal  was  prepared  for  his 
early  career  as  a teacher.  He  taught  in  Van  Buren 
Township,  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and 
also  during  a residence  of  four  years  in  Kansas. 
Doctor  Grubb  soon  after  his  marriage  moved  out  to 
Kansas.  He  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
partnership  with  T.  J.  Thurston,  a former  resident 
of  LaGrange  County,  a native  of  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship and  a soldier  of  the  Twelfth  Indiana  Cavalry 
in  the  Civil  war.  Mr.  Thurston  is  now  seventy-six 
years  of  age  and  resides  at  Seattle,  Washington. 
Doctor  Grubb  also  published  a newspaper  at  Alton, 
Kansas,  the  Western  Empire.  He  sold  this  paper 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA  • 


341 


and  disposed  of  his  other  interests  in  the  Sunflower 
State  in  1889  and  then  entered  the  College  of  Phy- 
sicians and  Surgeons  at  Chicago.  At  his  graduation 
in  1892  he  received  the  gold  medal  for  the  highest 
general  average  in  his  classes  through  the  entire 
course.  In  later  years  he  did  much  post-graduate 
and  clinical  work,  attending  the  New  York  Post- 
Graduate  School,  the  Bellevue  Hospital,  and  doing 
clinical  work  at  Mayo  Brothers  in  Rochester,  Minne- 
sota, and  at  Chicago.  He  is  a member  of  the  County, 
State  and  American  Medical  Associations.  After 
graduating  Doctor  Grubb  located  at  Mongo,  and 
was  a busy  practitioner  there  until  1917.  Early  in 
the  war  he  joined  the  Medical  Reserve  Corps,  was 
commissioned  a first  lieutenant,  and  on  August  7, 

1917,  reported  for  duty  at  Fort  Douglas,  Utah.  He 
was  assigned  to  the  Forty-Third  Regiment,  and  was 
with  that  regiment  until  the  15th  of  October,  when 
he  was  ordered  to  Garfield,  Utah,  and  made  head 
medical  supervisor  of  ten  camps,  five  in  Utah  and 
five  in  Idaho.  January  3,  1918,  he  was  commissioned 
captain,  and  was  ordered  back  to  Fort  Douglas, 
Utah,  where  he  continued  on  duty  until  receiving 
his  honorable  discharge  on  account  of  disability 
February  22,  1918.  Doctor  Grubb  on  September  9, 

1918,  located  at  LaGrange,  and  here  has  resumed  his 
private  practice. 

While  at  Mongo  Doctor  Grubb  was  one  of  the 
directors  and  vice  president  of  the  Mongo  State 
Bank  and  was  a member  of  the  committee  when  the 
new  bank  building  was  erected.  He  donated  ground 
for  the  Mongo  Knights  of  Pythias  hall  and  also 
platted  an  addition  to  the  village,  all  of  the  lots  in 
which  have  been  sold.  He  also  built  a private  hos- 
pital there,  and  he  still  owns  the  old  Henry  Rank 
dwelling,  which  has  been  remodeled  by  him.  Doctor 
Grubb  is  interested  in  farm  lands  in  Springfield 
Township.  Politically  he  is  a republican.  Some 
years  ago  he  was  appointed  trustee  to  fill  an  unex- 
pired term,  and  was  a trustee  when  the  high  school 
building  was  erected  at  Mongo.  He  resigned  the 
office  before  the  close  of  his  term. 

In  1884  he  married  Miss  Martha  E.  Meteer,  a 
daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Meteer,  of  Van 
Buren  Township.  To  their  marriage  were  born  six 
children,  the  oldest,  Cecil,  dying  at  the  age  of  three 
years.  Sylvia  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe  High 
School,  attended  the  State  Normal  School  in 
Michigan,  and  is  a graduate  of  the  Bush  Temple 
Conservatory  of  Music  in  Chicago.  She  taught 
music  in  Springfield  Township  in  the  schools  of 
Mongo  and  Brighton,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
Paul.  They  live  in  Elkhart,  Indiana,  and  have  three 
children,  Elizabeth,  Charles  and  Robert,  the  last 
two  being  twins.  Fern  Grubb  is  a graduate  of  the 
Mongo  High  School  and  of  Saint  Luke’s  Training 
School  for  Nurses  at  Chicago.  She  took  the  state 
examination  at  Indianapolis  and  is  now  a registered 
nurse  in  the  state.  She  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Dale  C. 
Weir,  of  Mongo,  and  the  mother  of  one  daughter 
Mary  Jean.  Carlie,  the  fourth  in  the  family,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Mongo  High  School  and  the  wife  of 
Fred  Deal,  a son  of  Louis  E.  Deal.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Deal  live  on  a farm  near  Plato  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, and  have  two  children,  Albert  Louis  and 
Marion.  Mildred  Grubb,  a graduate  of  the  Mongo 
High  School,  is  the  wife  of  Louie  Londick,  formerly 
of  Three  Rivers,  Michigan,  and  now  a merchant  at  - 
Fennville  in  that  state.  Doctor  Grubb’s  youngest 
child  is  Millicent,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  Mongo 
High  School  and  the  LaGrange  High  School  and 
is  still  at  home. 

C.  L.  Shatenberger  has  been  a resident  in  the 
Fremont  community  of  Steuben  County  for  over 
twenty  years,  has  been  a farmer  and  still  owns  a 


large  and  well  improved  farm  in  that  locality,  and 
is  concerned  with  many  of  the  leading  business  in- 
terests of  the  city  of  Fremont. 

Mr.  Shatenberger  was  born  in  Rollersville,  Ohio, 
March  15,  1867.  His  grandparents  were  Peter  and 
Margaret  Shatenberger.  Peter  Shatenberger,  a na- 
tive of  Alsace-Lorraine,  came  to  America  when  a 
young  man  after  his  marriage,  and  at  first  located  in 
New  York  City.  His  two  children  were  named 
Margaret  and  Peter.  Peter  Shatenberger,  Jr.,  was 
born  in  New  York  State,  July  15,  1836,  and  was  a 
farmer  and  carpenter  at  Rollersville,  Ohio,  and 
spent  practically  all  his  life  in  that  state.  Much  of 
his  time  was  devoted  to  the  carpenter  trade.  He 
died  April  1,  1892.  He  married  Susannah  Sheesley, 
born  at  Rollersville,  Ohio,  June  8,  1848,  daughter  of 
John  Sheesley.  She  and  her  husband  were  reared 
Lutherans  and  later  became  affiliated  with  the  Meth- 
odist Church.  Their  children  were  two  in  number, 
William  Henry  and  C.  L.  Shatenberger. 

C.  L.  Shatenberger  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Ohio  in  Sandusky  County,  had  experience  as  a young 
man  with  work  on  a farm,  and  on  December  24, 
1889,  married  Sarah  Boor.  The  first  two  years  after 
their  marriage  they  spent  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
on  a farm,  but  in  t8q2  Mr.  Shatenberger  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  business  at  Rollersville. 
He  was  in  business  there  and  prospered  for  four 
years,  but  in  1896  sold  out  and  about  six  months 
later  came  to  Fremont  Township  of  Steuben  County. 
In  the  spring  of  1897  he  moved  to  Fremont  to  take 
charge  of  a dry  goods  business,  and  continued  that 
work  two  years.  He  then  returned  to  a farm  in 
the  same  township  and  was  actively  identified  with 
agricultural  pursuits  for  seven  years.  Since  then  he 
has  made  his  home  at  Fremont,  but  still  owns  and 
gives  his  supervision  to  a fine  farm  of  280  acres. 
Mr.  Shatenberger’s  other  interests  are  represented 
by  stock  in  the  First  State  Bank,  the  local  flour  mill, 
the  Cider  and  Jelly  Mill,  and  he  is  president  of  the 
Hammel  Milling  Company  of  Fremont.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Church,  and  he 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

Mrs.  Shatenberger  is  a daughter  of  William  C. 
and  Sarah  B.  (Stockhouse)  Boor.  Her  father  was 
born  August  25,  1833,  and  her  mother  March  24, 
1840.  William  C.  Boor  was  a native  of  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  moved  from  there  to 
Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1893  located  at  Fre- 
mont, Indiana,  where  he  was  interested  in  farming 
and  the  dry  goods  business.  In  Ohio  he  had  owned 
oil  property  and  operated  oil  wells.  He  died  at  Fre- 
mont, October  17,  1902,  and  his  wife  passed  away  in 
Ohio  October  21,  1888.  Mrs.  Shatenberger’s  grand- 
parents were  William  and  Sarah  (Cessna)  Boor. 

Peter  Snowberger.  While  for  nearly  forty  years 
Mr.  Snowberger  has  been  quietly  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  other  community  activities  in  Steuben 
Township,  his  life  on  the  whole  has  presented  a 
great  variety,  beginning  with  a boyhood  service  in 
the  Union  army,  following  which  he  made  a number 
of  different  ventures  in  different  places.  He  has 
always  been  a man  of  independent  spirit,  and  willing 
to  work  out  his  problems  and  destiny  with  the  re- 
sources and  means  at  hand. 

He  .was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  February 
12,  1848,  a son  of  David  and  Evaline  (Haughey) 
Snowberger.  His  father  was  born  in  Franklin 
County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1820,  and  his  mother  in 
Jefferson  County,  Ohio,  in  1822.  They  were  married 
in  Ohio  February  21,  1845,  and  four  years  later,  in 
October,  1849,  arrived  in  Steuben  County,  settling 
on  land  in  Steuben  Township  which  David  had  en- 
tered from  the  Government  the  preceding  year.  On 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


342 


his  eighty  acres  he  cleared  a space  and  erected  a log 
house,  and  eventually  had  much  of  the  land  in  cul- 
tivation. His  wife  died  there  June  12,  1888,  and  he 
spent  his  last  days  with  his  son  Peter  and  passed 
away  March  7,  1900.  His  children  were  Robert, 
Peter,  Henry  D.,  Timothy,  Alva,  besides  two  that 
died  in  infancy  and  a daughter,  Alice,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  three  years.  David  Snowberger  was  a 
democrat  until  the  war  and  then  became  a loyal  re- 
publican, and  all  his  sons  followed  his  example  in 
politics.  For  some  time  he  and  his  wife  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Church  of  God  and  later  were  Dunkards. 

Peter  Snowberger  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Steuben  Township,  attended  the  public  schools  and 
for  one  term  was  in  school  at  Angola  under  Pro- 
fessor Carlin.  He  was  not  yet  eighteen  years  old 
when  he  enlisted  in  March,  1865,  in  Company  D of 
the  155th  Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  w.as  with 
his  regiment  until  mustered  out  and  given  his  hon- 
orable discharge  in  August  of  the  same  year.  Upon 
his  release  from  military  duty  he  returned  to  Steuben 
County,  and  did  some  work  in  contracting  and  also 
for  his  father  until  he  reached  his  majority.  Then 
near  Pleasant  Lake  he  and  his  brother  Robert  bought 
fifty  acres,  included  in  the  present  Willis  Dale  farm. 
Later  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  and  then 
became  associated  with  John  Crampton,  operating 
a threshing  outfit.  They  threshed  many  fields  of 
grain  in  Steuben  County  fifty  years  ago.  Next,  join- 
ing with  his  brother  Henry  he  bought  forty  acres 
in  DeKalb  County,  increased  the  area  of  their  hold- 
ings by  another  forty  acres,  and  again  sold  out  to 
his  brother.  Mr.  Snowberger  then  left  Indiana  and 
went  to  Kansas,  where  he  bought  160  acres  in  Sum- 
ner County.  He  had  all  the  experiences  of  a Kansas 
pioneer  and  for  ten  years  owned  a farm  there  but 
sold  it  in  1880.  He  began  with  a small  tract  of  land 
in  Steuben  Township  which  now  has  become  a well 
proportioned  farm  of  143M  acres.  Much  of  it  has 
been  cleared  under  his  ownership  and  it  has  been 
improved  with  excellent  buildings  and  is  a fine  place 
both  for  crops  and  for  livestock.  Mr.  Snowberger 
is  a republican,  and  for  some  time  was  affiliated  with 
the  progressive  wing  of  that  party.  For  two  terms 
he  was  township  supervisor.  He  is  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post.  December  6,  1874,  he  married 
Miss  Martha  Jane  Teeters.  She  was  born  in  Steuben 
Township,  February  1,  1856,  a daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mary  Ann  (Kogan)  Teeters,  who  were  early 
day  settlers  in  Steuben  County,  first  locating  near 
Hudson  in  Salem  Township  and  afterward  moving 
to  Steuben  Township,  where  her  father  died  Feb- 
ruary 18,  1879,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two.  Her  mother 
died  at  seventy.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Snowberger  had 
four  children:  Frank,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 

and  a half  years ; Edward,  who  is  unmarried  and 
still  at  home ; Blanche,  also  at  home ; and  Bessie, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Jesse  McClughen,  living  at 
Helmer,  and  they  have  one  child,  Maxine. 

Mrs.  Snowberger’s  father  was  a stock  buyer  and 
also  operated  a cheese  factory  and  a chair  factory 
north  of  Hudson.  He  was  a prosperous  business 
man  and  at  one  time  owned  420  acres  in  Steuben 
County.  Mrs.  Snowberger’s  mother  was  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  while  she  is  affiliated 
with  the  Christian  denomination.  Mr.  Snowberger 
is  a member  of  Ashley  Lodge  No.  614,  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  and  Ashley  Chapter  Royal  Arch 
Masons. 

Elza  Shull.  The  Shull  family  came  to  DeKalb 
County  in  pioneer  times  and  have  been  identified 
with  its  farming  and  civic  interests  for  over  seventy 
years.  Elza  Shull,  who  owns  and  directs  the  opera- 
tions of  a large  farm  in  Jackson  Township,  was 
born  at  Auburn,  October  31,  1886. 


His  parents  were  Henry  C.  and  Rosa  A.  (Cramer) 
Shull.  His  father  was  born  in  Keyser  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  July  28,  1846,  and  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1908.  His  wife  was  born  in  Ohio,  January  13, 
1846,  and  died  in  August,  1914.  They  were  married 
September  5,  1869,  and  lived  in  Auburn  for  several 
years.  Henry  C.  Shull  was  a teacher  and  later  a 
prosperous  dairy  farmer.  He  was  in  the  dairy 
business  and  supplied  pure  milk  for  nineteen  years. 
He  owned  about  200  acres  of  land  and  his  last  years 
were  spent  in  looking  after  his  property.  He  was 
also  proprietor  of  a wagon  and  buggy  works  at 
Auburn.  He  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  In  their  family  were  seven  children,  five 
of  whom  are  still  living:  Carrie,  wife  of  Isaiah 

Wert;  Alice,  wife  of  George  Leyda,  of  Grand 
Rapids,  Michigan ; Flarry  M.,  who  is  a farmer  in 
Union  Township  of  DeKalb  County  and  is  present 
trustee  of  that  township,  being  the  second  republi- 
can ever  chosen  to  that  office;  Elza;  and  Earl,  of 
Auburn. 

Elza  Shull  grew  up  in  Auburn,  attended  the  public 
schools  and  the  high  school,  and  on  September  10, 
1910,  married  Ida  Hess.  She  was  born  in  Kansas 
but  was  living  in  Butler  Township  at  the  time  of 
her  marriage.  They  have  one  daughter,  Helen,  born 
May  22,  1915. 

Mr.  Shull  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Gleaners  and  is  a republican  in  politics.  He  farms 
eighty  acres  of  land  and  is  a member  of  the  Ship- 
pers Association. 

Pius  Alton  Long.  One  of  the  complete  and  ade- 
quate farms  of  LaGrange  County  is  the  Pleasant 
Hill  Farm  in  Bloomfield  Township,  the  proprietor 
of  which  is  Pius  Alton  Long,  member  of  a family 
of  prominent  standing  in  the  county  since  pioneer 
times,  and  a citizen  who  has  kept  his  business  affairs 
progressing  and  is  now  in  the  high  tide  of  his  career 
as  a stockman  and  farmer. 

Mr.  Long  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  June  25,  1873,  a son  of  David  J. 
and  Mary  Ann  (Moshier)  Long.  The  Moshier 
family  came  from  Berne,  Switzerland.  The  paternal 
grandparents,  David  and  Sarah  (Baer)  Long,  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  from  there  to  Ohio, 
where  David  J.  Long  was  born,  as  was  also  his  wife, 
Mary  Ann  Moshier.  The  grandparents  on  coming 
to  LaGrange  County  settled  on  a farm  near  Brighton, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  David  J. 
Long  was  one  of  nine  children  and  was  a small  boy 
when  brought  to  LaGrange  County.  He  finished  his 
education  in  the  LaGrange  Collegiate  Institute  at 
Ontario,  and  then  became  a farmer  in  Greenfield 
Township.  Later  he  moved  to  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, and  his  success  enabled  him  to  accumulate 
640  acres.  He  was  both  a farmer  and  stock  buyer 
for  many  years.  He  died  on  the  farm  where  his 
son  Pius  A.  now  lives,  and  his  widow  survived  him 
about  four  years  and  passed  away  at  LaGrange.  He 
was  a republican  in  politics  and  was  honored  with 
several  township  offices.  He  and  his  wife  had  four 
children  : Pius  A.,  William,  Maude  and  Daniel.  The 
last  three  were  born  in  Bloomfield  Township.  Will- 
iam is  a resident  of  Sturgis,  Maude  is  the  wife  of 
George  Choler,  of  LaGrange,  and  Daniel  is  also  a 
resident  of  LaGrange. 

Pius  Alton  Long  attended  the  Pleasant  Hill 
School,  also  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  has 
been  on  the  old  farm  ever  since  his  parents  moved 
there.  He  owns  255  acres  and  has  many  improve- 
ments. He  keeps  good  grade  stock,  and  has  done 
much  to  improve  the  working  power  of  the  com- 
munity by  maintaining  a stable  headed  by  a Belgian 
stallion  and  a full-blood  Jack.  He  is  a republican 
in  politics  and  served  two  terms  as  assessor  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


343 


Bloomfield  Township  and  one  year  as  deputy 
assessor.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Gleaners.  His  father  was  a Dunkard  in 
religion,  while  the  mother  was  a Lutheran. 

June  27,  1909,  Mr.  Long  married  Miss  Io  Bernice 
Adams,  a native  of  Branch  County,  Michigan, 
daughter  of  Giles  Adams.  The  five  children  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Long  are  named  Madola  Maude,  Giles 
David,  Mildred  Orva,  Clarence  Amos  and  Marjorie 
Ellen. 

Hon.  Cyrus  Cline,  who  ably  represented  the 
Twelfth  Indiana  District  in  Congress  from  1909  to 
1917,  the  Sixty-First  to  the  Sixty-Fourth  Congresses, 
inclusive,  has  been  a member  of  the  Angola  bar  for 
over  thirty-five  years. 

He  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  July  12, 
1856,  a son  of  Michael  and  Barbara  (Orewiler) 
Cline.  His  parents,  who  were  natives  of  Ohio, 
moved  to  Steuben  County  in  1857  and  settled  on  a 
farm  five  miles  northeast  of  Angola.  In  1873  the 
family  moved  to  Angola,  where  the  father  died 
February  28,  1878,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine.  Mr. 
Cline’s  mother  passed  away  August  5,  1918,  aged 
eighty-eight.  Michael  Cline  was  a democrat  up  to 
i860  and  after  that  a republican.  He  filled  the  office 
of  county  commissioner  in  Steuben  County  and  at 
the  time  of  his  death  was  township  trustee  of  Pleas- 
ant Township.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of 
the  Christian  Church.  Their  family  consisted  of 
Cyrus ; Melissa,  wife  of  O.  F.  Rakestraw ; Esther, 
widow  of  John  Zabst;  Alvisa,  wife  of  Amos  Cory; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  Ezra  L.  Dodge ; Nancy,  wife  of 
David  Wood;  Virgil,  an  Angola  photographer;  and 
Grace,  wife  of  J.  L.  Machin. 

Cyrus  Cline  was  educated  in  Steuben  County, 
taking  his"  high  school  work  at  Angola.  After  a 
year  or  so  of  teaching  he  entered  Hillsdale  College, 
Michigan,  in  1873,  and  was  graduated  with  his 
Bachelor  of  Science  degree  in  1876  and  two  years 
later  received  his  Master  of  Arts  degree.  Mr.  Cline 
served  as  county  superintendent  of  schools  of  Steu- 
ben County  from  1877  to  1883.  In  the  meantime  he 
studied  law,  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1884,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  a general  law  practice  at 
Angola.  He  was  elected  a member  of  the  Sixty- 
First  Congress  in  November,  1908,  and  his  service 
of  eight  years  involved  a critical  and  vital  period 
in  our  national  history. 

Mr.  Cline  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Angola  in  1903,  and  served  as  its 
president  for  seven  years.  He  is  still  one  of  its 

directors  and  is  also  a director  of  the  First  State 

Bank  of  Pleasant  Lake,  which  he  also  helped  organ- 
ize. He  is  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite 
Mason  and  in  1906  was  illustrious  grand  master  of 
the  Grand  Council.  He  attends  and  supports  the 
Congregational  Church. 

October  6,  1880,  he  married  Jennie  Gibson,  a 
native  of  Vermont.  She  was  born  in  1858.  They 

have  one  daughter,  Carrie,  who  is  a graduate  of 

the  Tri-State  College  and  the  University  of  Chicago, 
and  has  been  an  instructor  in  the  Angola  High 
School. 

David  J.  Norris,  a resident  of  LaGrange  County 
since  1876,  is  a highly  respected  and  widely  known 
old  citizen,  a prosperous  land  owner  and  in  the  past 
has  figured  influentially  and  prominently  in  the  of- 
ficial affairs  of  both  Clay  Township  and  the  county. 

Mr.  Norris  was  born  in  Huntingdon  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, February  1,  1847,  a son  of  Thomas  and 
Nancy  (Snyder)  Norris.  He  represents  some  of 
the  old  families  of  Pennsylvania.  His  mother,  a 
native  of  Clearfield  County,  was  a daughter  of  Louis 


and  Susanna  Snyder.  Louis  Snyder  was  born  in 
Germany,  a son  of  Louis,  Sr.,  who  was  a member 
of  the  German  nobility  and  brought  his  family  to 
America  in  colonial  times  and  took  part  in  the  war 
for  independence.  This  Revolutionary  veteran  lived 
to  be  1 17  years  old  and  was  active  until  the  end. 
His  wife  attained  the  age  of  107.  Louis  Snyder 
was  a large  land  owner  in  Clearfield  County,  Penn- 
sylvania. David  Norris’  grandparents  were  Joseph 
and  Elizabeth  (Enyeart)  Norris,  the  former  a native 
of  Maryland  and  the  latter  of  Huntingdon  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Joseph  Norris  was  a slave  owner  and 
planter  in  Maryland,  but  on  moving  to  Huntingdon 
County,  Pennsylvania,  took  his  slaves  with  him  and 
gave  them  their  freedom.  Thomas  Norris  was  a 
Huntingdon  County  farmer,  a successful  business 
man,  and  spent  all  his  life  on  the  place  where  he 
was  born.  His  children  were : Luden,  who  served 

in  the  Fifty-third  Pennsylvania  Infantry  during  the 
Civil  war,  David  J.,  Eliza,  Samuel,  Rachel,  Susan, 
Jane,  Louis,  Reuben,  Joseph,  Ella  and  Martin. 

David  J.  Norris  grew  up  in  a country  and  district 
where  his  family  had  so  many  associations,  attended 
the  common  schools  and  began  his  career  as  a 
farmer  in  his  native  county.  On  coming  to  La- 
Grange  County  in  1876  he  settled  in  Clay  Township, 
has  lived  there  more  than  forty  years,  and  has  ac- 
quired a valuable  farming  property,  comprising  240 
acres,  with  a model  group  of  buildings. 

Mr.  Norris  married  Mary  A.  Heffner,  a daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Grubb)  Heffner.  Her  father 
was  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil  war  and  was 
killed  in  the  Battle  of  the  Wilderness.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Norris  have  five  children,  named  Hiram,  Flora, 
Thomas  T.,  Rollen  and  Ruth.  The  last  named  has 
been  a teacher  for  the  past  four  years. 

For  nine  years  Mr.  Norris  was  honored  with  the 
responsibilities  of  the  office  of  trustee  of  Clay  Town- 
ship. He  also  served  three  years  as  a commissioner 
of  the  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge, . the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  at  LaGrange  and 
the  Knight  Templar  Commandery  at  Kendallville. 

Franklin  Wade  Crampton,  like  all  the  members 
of  the  Crampton  family  in  Steuben  County,  has 
shown  great  capability  in  business  affairs,  particular- 
ly as  a' farmer.  He  owns  one  of  the  good  farms  of 
Steuben  Township,  near  Pleasant  Lake,  and  is  also 
a business  man  of  Angola. 

The  farm  which  he  now  owns  was  his  birthplace. 
He  was  born  April  18,  1891,  son  of  Herbert  and 
Amy  (Bartlett)  Crampton.  His  father  was  born  in 
England  in  1847  and  his  mother  was  born  in  i860. 
The  grandfather,  William  Crampton,  who  was  born 
in  Lincolnshire,  England,  in  1817,  married  Mary 
Ohtfield.  He  came  to  America  alone  in  1849  and 
afterward  sent  back  for  his  family.  He  did  not 
have  enough  money  to  pay  for  forty  acres  of  wild 
land,  but  his  good  management  and  hard  work 
eventually  brought  him  one  of  the  best  farms  in  the 
county. 

Herbert  Crampton  was  three  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Steuben  County,  and  he  grew  up  in  the 
township  of  that  name,  attending  public  schools. 
His  first  land  purchase  was  eighty  acres  now  owned 
by  H.  J.  Crampton,  a son  of  Ford  Crampton.  Her- 
bert and  his  brother  William  also  owned  a farm  in 
DeKalb  County.  Later  he  bought  168  acres  com- 
prised in  the  homestead  jointly  owned  by  Franklin 
W.  and  his  sister.  Here  he  lived  and  prospered  until 
his  death  in  1911.  His  wife  died  in  1909.  Herbert 
Crampton  was  a republican  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
Baptists.  They  had  four  children:  Ford,  deceased; 
Mabel;  Franklin  Wade;  and  Ruth,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

Franklin  Wade  Crampton  attended  the  district 


344 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


schools  and  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School.  He  is 
one  of  the  younger  farmers  and  at  the  same  time  is 
one  of  the  most  progressive  citizens  of  Steuben 
Township.  He  owns  seventy-three  acres  of  the  old 
homestead,  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mabel  Wolf,  owning  the 
rest.  He  also  has  another  place  of  eighty  acres  in 
the  same  township,  and  is  using  the  land  profitably 
for  general  farming  purposes.  Mr.  Crampton  in 
1914  built  a shop  at  Butler  to  do  vulcanizing  work, 
and  has  built  up  a very  successful  business  in  that 
line.  He  is  an  independent  republican  _ in  politics 
and  with  his  family  worships  in  the  Baptist  faith. 

April  19,  1909,  he  married  Miss  Barbara  Brooks. 
She  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  October  21,  1890, 
a daughter  of  Elroy  and  Ella  (Robinett)  Brooks,  of 
Angola.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crampton  have  three  chil- 
dren : Myrick,  born  August  9,  1910;  Ned,  born 

March  17,  1913;  and  Amy  Maxine,  born  November 

23,  I9I4- 

George  T.  Parsell.  It  has  been  the  good  fortune 
of  George  T.  Parsell  to  have  his.  home  associations 
centered  around  one  spot  from  birth  until  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  farm  he  owns  today  in  Jackson 
Township  of  Steuben  County  was  where  he  was 
born  May  22,  1867.  Mr.  Parsell  has  the  reputation 
of  being  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  Steuben 
County,  and  when  only  seventeen  years  old  he  began 
buying  and  dealing  in  livestock,  and  in  that  business 
his  name  has  become  well  known  throughout  North- 
eastern Indiana. 

He  is  a son  of  Thomas  B.  and  Caroline  (Klink) 
Parsell,  and  some  further  history  regarding  these 
old  and  well  known  Steuben  County  families  is 
found  on  other  pages.  Mr.  Parsell  grew  up  on  the 
homestead  and  attended  local  schools  and  the  Angola 
High  School.  He  acquired  120  acres  of  the  home 
farm  in  1893,  and  in  1908  he  bought  eighty-seven 
acres  adjoining  and  in  1913  acquired  another  eighty 
acres.  Thus  his  management  as  a farmer  and  stock 
man  extends  to  287  acres,  improved  with  excellent 
buildings,  and  is  a first  class  crop  and  stock  farm. 
During  past  years  he  has  been  an  extensive  feeder 
of  sheep,  cattle  and  hogs. 

Mr.  Parsell  is  a republican  in  politics,  but  without 
official  record,  and  for  thirty-three  years  has  been 
identified  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fel- 
lows. He  is  a member  of  the  Lodge  at  Salem  Center 
and  for  twenty  years  has  been  affiliated  with  the 
encampment. 

May  24,  1891,  he  married  Miss  Estella  M.  Davis. 
She  was  born  in  Salem  Township,  October  15,  1868, 
a daughter  of  Edwin  and  Theresa  (Dreher)  Davis. 
Her  father,  who  was  born  in  1828  and  died  in  1871, 
was  a son  of  Abram  and  Nancy  (Conklin)  Davis, 
among  the  earliest  settlers  of  Steuben  County. 
Abram  Davis  spent  his  last  years  in  Missouri. 
Theresa  Dreher  was  a daughter  of  Daniel  and 
Elizabeth  (Roeader)  Dreher,  the  former  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1804  and  the  latter  in  New  Jersey. 
The  Dreher  family  moved  to  Ohio,  where  Elizabeth 
Dreher  died,  and  about  i860  Daniel  came  on  to 
Steuben  County  and  lived  there  until  his  death  in 
1895,  at  the  age  of  ninety-one.  He  and  his  wife  had 
a family  of  thirteen  children.  Mrs.  Parsell’s  mother 
died  in  1916,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Edwin 
Davis  grew  up  in  Salem  Township,  was  married  in 
that  county,  and  had  five  children,  named  Melvina, 
Alfretta,  Estella  M.,  William  and  Edwin.  Of  these 
Mrs.  Parsell  is  the  only  survivor. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Parsell  had  four  children : Ruth  E. 
is  the  wife  of  J.  LeRoy  Boggs,  of  Pittsburg,  and 
has  a daughter,  Ruth  Elizabeth.  Winifred  is  the 
wife  of  Roscoe  Warring,  a son  of  Charles  W.  War- 
ring, of  Steuben  County.  They  have  a son,  Ralph 


Augustin,  and  a daughter,  Helen.  The  third  child, 
Z.  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  months,  and 
the  youngest  is  Georgia  Pauline,  still  at  home  with 
her  parents. 

William  B.  Lawhead  is  a farmer  in  Butler 
Township,  DeKalb  County,  has  many  well  cultivated 
acres  under  his  ownership  and  management,  and  is 
one  of  the  solid  and  substantial  citizens  of  that 
community.  His  home  farm  is  in  section  24  of 
Butler  Township. 

Mr.  Lawhead,  whose  family  has  been  identified 
with  DeKalb  County  for  eighty  years,  was  born  in 
Jackson  Township  April  24,  1871,  a son  of  James 
G.  and  Wealthy  (Nelson)  Lawhead.  His  great- 
grandparents  were  James  and  Martha  Lawhead, 
who  came  to  DeKalb  County  in  1839  from  Wayne 
County,  Ohio.  James  Lawhead  died  in  1854  and  his 
wife  in  1880.  Their  son  Benjamin  Lawhead,  grand- 
father of  William  B.,  was  born  in  Fayette  County, 
Pennsylvania,  April  1,  1820,  went  with  his  parents 
to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in  1834,  and  was  still  a 
young  man  when  he  arrived  in  DeKalb  County.  In 
1843  he  married  Mary  Jane  Essig,  who  was  born  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  in  1821.  Benjamin  Lawhead 
bought  a farm  in  section  17  of  Jackson  Township 
in  1851.  James  G.  Lawhead  was  also  a native  of 
Jackson  Township,  and  he  married  Wealthy  Nelson 
in  1870.  She  died  April  25,  1877,  leaving  two  chil- 
dren, William  B.  and  Queen  Victoria,  the  latter 
becoming  the  wife  of  Eli  Amstutz  and  dying  in 
1917.  In  1879  James  G.  Lawhead  married  Eliza 
Walter,  and  they  had  five  children:  Gertrude,  de- 

ceased; Walter,  who  died  in  infancy;  Frank,  an 
attorney  in  Detroit,  Michigan ; Kirby,  a farmer  of 
Jackson  Township;  and  Dr.  Nixon  Lawhead,  of 
Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Lawhead,  the 
mother  of  these  five  children,  is  living  in  Auburn, 
Indiana. 

William  B.  Lawhead  was  six  years  old  when  his 
mother  died  and  he  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Jackson  Township,  acquired  a common  school  educa- 
tion and  remained  with  his  father  to  the  age  of 
twenty-one.  In  April,  1894,  he  married  Sarah 
McKinley,  who  was  born  in  DeKalb  County.  They 
have  three  children:  James  G.,  who  is  a graduate 

of  the  Garrett  High  School  and  was  with  the 
American  forces  in  France  in  1918-19;  Archie  R., 
who  is  at  home;  and  Orpha  D.,  a graduate  of  the 
high  school  and  for  one  year  was  a teacher. 

The  operations  of  Mr.  Lawhead  as  a general 
farmer  are  conducted  on  his  home  place  of  101  acres 
in  Butler  Township  and  forty  acres  in  Jackson 
Township. 

Walter  B.  Tingley  is  one  of  the  later  comers  to 
LaGrange  County,  where  he  has  acquired  a good 
farm  and  has  shown  a great  deal  of  progressive 
enterprise  in  improving  his  own  property  and  identi- 
fying himself  with  the  welfare  of  his  community  in 
Greenfield  Township. 

Mr.  Tingley  was  born  in  Mercer  County,  Ohio, 
October  15,  1876,  a son  of  John  B.  and  Martha 
(Baltzell)  Tingley.  His  father  died  in  1901  and  his 
mother  in  1898.  He  spent  his  active  life  as  a farmer 
in  Mercer  County,  Ohio,  and  was  a democrat  in 
politics. 

Walter  B.  Tingley,  one  of  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  are  still  living,  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  Mercer  County,  and  had  a public  school  educa- 
tion, spending  one  year  in  the  Rockford  High  School. 
Later  he  bought  the  old  home  place,  and  kept  it 
until  he  sold  to  his  brother-in-law,  and  on  February 
1,  1911,  bought  a farm  of  145  acres  in  Greenfield 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  In  1917  he  sold 
forty-five  acres  of  this,  but  still  has  a place  sufficient 


; : 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


345 


for  his  work  and  enterprise.  He  has  improved  the 
farm  in  many  ways,  and  is  a breeder  of  pure-bred 
Shropshire  sheep.  He  is  a democrat  and  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1898  Mr.  Tingley  married  Miss  Bessie  Bevmg- 
ton,  of  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  They  have  six  children, 
named  Mildred,  Leona,  Pauline,  Carl,  Catherine  and 
Madge.  Two  of  the  daughters  have  become  success- 
ful teachers.  Mildred  is  a graduate  of  the  high 
school  at  Howe,  attended  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola  and  spent  one  year  in  the  Indiana  State 
University.  She  is  an  instructor  in  the  Howe  High 
School.  Leona  is  also  a graduate  of  the  Howe  High 
School,  spent  one  year  in  the  Indiana  State  Univer- 
sity, and  is  a teacher  at  Ontario. 

John  A.  Croxton,  prominent  and  widely  known 
all  over  Steuben  County  as  a banker,  stock  dealer 
and  man  of  varied  enterprise,  was  born  at  Angola 
September  11,  1874. 

The  Croxtons  are  an  old  and  prominent  lamily  of 
this  part  of  Indiana.  His  parents  were  William  G. 
and  Sarah  (Carter)  Croxton.  William  G.  Croxton, 
who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1834,  came  to  Steuben 
County  in  early  days,  and  was  a lawyer  by  profession. 
At  one  time  he  practiced  in  partnership  with  Joseph 
Woodhull.  He  and  Orville  Carver  organized  the 
Steuben  County  State  Bank  in  1889,  and  Mr.  Croxton 
was  its  president  until  his  death  in  1903.  He  also 
acquired  a large  amount  of  land  in  the  county.  He 
was  an  Odd  Fellow  and  liberal  in  his  religious 
views.  He  married  after  coming  to  Steuben  County. 
He  had  three  sons : Mark,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years ; Paul  A.,  who  died  in  1905,  at  the  age  of 
thirty-six;  and  John  A. 

John  A.  Croxton,  who  was  five  years  old  when 
his  mother  died,  grew  up  at  Angola,  attended  the 
high  school  and  the  Tri-State  College,  and  at  the 
age  of  eighteen  began  buying  livestock.  He  was 
in  that  business  continuously  for  twenty-five  years. 
In  the  Spanish-American  war  he  went  with  the 
Second  Illinois  Infantry  in  the  capacity  of  a team- 
ster to  Cuba.  He  was  a farmer  and  livestock  man, 
and  still  owns  a large  place  adjoining  the  Fair 
Grounds.  His  father  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  Steuben  County  Agricultural  Association. 
Mr.  Croxton  left  the  farm  in  1902  and  was  engaged 
in  the  livestock  business  until  1918,  since  which  date 
he  has  given  much  of  his  time  to  the  buying  of 
wool  and  hay.  He  is  now  president  of  the  Steuben 
County  State  Bank,  having  succeded  his  brother 
Paul  in  that  office  in  1905. 

“ Mr.  Croxton  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason  and 
Shriner  and  a democrat  in  politics.  He  married 
Jennie  A.  Anderson  in  1900.  She  was  born  in 
Steuben  County,  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary 
Anderson.  Mr.  Croxton  is.  the  father  of  five  chil- 
dren, Mark  E.,  Marion  C.,  William  Paul,  Jack  A. 
and  Emily  Ruth. 

Orville  Goodale  Stevens,  a native  of  Steuben 
County,  has  been  a partner  in  the  Goodale  Abstract 
Company  of  Angola  since  1914. 

He  was  born  at  Metz,  October  29,  1883,  son  of 
Abraham  and  Florence  Amelia  Stevens.  His  father 
was,  born  in  Philadelphia,  August  2,  1840,  and  his 
mother  was  born  in  Metz,  Indiana,  August  4,  1848. 
Orville  Goodale  Stevens  finished  his  education  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College  and  completed  his  civil 
engineering  course  in  the  College  of  Engineering 
there  in  1908.  The  following  six  years  until  1914 
he  followed  his  profession,  and  was  engaged  in  heavy 
construction  and  contracting  in  Portland,  Oregon. 

Mr.  Stevens  since  1916  has  been  president  of  the 
Board  of  Children’s  Guardians.  He  is  treasurer  of 
the  Angola  School  Board,  having  filled  that  position 
since  August,  1917. 


Fremont  Folck.  There  are  many  advantages  of 
living  in  one  neighborhood  continuously,  and  those 
who  have  centered  their  interests  upon  a community 
are  more  attached  to  it  than  if  they  had  moved 
from  one  place  to  another,  severing  connections  and 
uprooting  ties  of  friendship  and  business  co-opera- 
tion. The  fertility  of  the  soil  of  Steuben  County,  its 
desirable  location  with  reference  to  transportation 
facilities,  combined  with  the  character  of  its  people, 
seem  to  form  a combination  difficult  of  resistance, 
and  the  majority  of  its  citizens  have  lived  here  the 
greater  portion  of  their  lives,  and  many  of  them  are 
native  sons  of  the  county.  One  of  these  men  who 
is  recognized  as  a useful  and  competent  aid  in  the 
development  and  preservation  of  the  agricultural 
prominence  of  this  section  is  Fremont  Folck,  a pros- 
perous farmer  of  Scott  Township. 

Fremont  Folck  was  born  on  his  present  farm  in 
section  11,  Scott  Township,  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
February  13,  1863,  a son  of  John  K,  Folck  and 
grandson  of  Abram  and  Hannah  Folck.  John  K. 
Folck  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  April  30,  1823,  and 
when  he  was  four  years  of  age  his  parents  brought 
him  West  as  far  as  Knox  County,  Ohio,  from 
whence  removal  was  made  a little  later  to  Morrow 
County,  Ohio,  and  there  John  K.  Folck  was  reared. 
In  1841  he  left  Morrow  County  and  made  an  ex- 
perimental trip  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  travel- 
ing alone  and  on  foot.  Not  being  satisfied,  he  re- 
turned home,  but  in  1845  went  back,  and,  selecting 
a tract  of  land,  remained  on  it  long  enough  to  girdle 
the  trees  for  future  clearing.  In  1847  he  moved  to 
Steuben  County  with  his  family  and  settled  on  land 
which  is  now  a portion  of  section  11,  Scott  Town- 
ship. His  farm  comprised  - 160  acres  of  land,  and 
the  brick  schoolhouse  of  District  No.  1 is  on  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  original  entry. 

In  1843  John  K.  Folck  was  married  first  to  Mar- 
garet Valentine  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  who  was 
a native  of  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  and  she  died  in 
1859,  aged  thirty-six  years,  leaving  five  daughters,  all 
of  whom  married,  they  being  as  follows : Mrs. 

Sarah  L.  Weiss,  Mrs.  Hattie  E.  Myers,  Mrs.  Ann  E. 
Dygert,  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Henry  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Fulmer. 
In  i860  John  K.  Folck  was  married  to  Mrs.  Martha 
Rathburn,  a daughter  of  Samuel  Nichols,  and  they 
had  one  son,  Fremont  Folck.  The  second  Mrs. 
Folck  died  in  1863,  aged  thirty-five  years.  The  third 
marriage  of  John  K.  Folck  occurred  in  1870,  when 
he  was  united  with  Mrs.  Louise  Headley,  widow  of 
Daniel  Headley,  an  early  settler  of  Steuben  County. 
Mrs.  Folck  was  always  prominent  in  local  affairs, 
and  was  very  active  in  promoting  the  development  of 
Scott  Township  in  every  respect.  He  served  as  as- 
sessor of  the  township  for  two  terms,  and  was  ap- 
praiser for  one  term  under  the  old  system.  Prior 
to  the  organization  of  the  republican  party  he  was 
a strong  abolitionist,  but  with  the  birth  of  the  new 
party  he  accepted  its  principles  and  voted  its  ticket 
the  remainder  of  his  life,  he  being  spared  until  1907. 
When  he  came  to  Scott  Township  his  land  was 
covered  with  timber,  and  he  cleared  this  off  with  his 
own  hands  and  made  his  farm  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township.  While  not  a member  of  any  church,  as 
he  was  very  liberal  in  his  religious  views,  he  took 
part  in  forwarding  all  good  work,  and  was  a man 
- of  high  moral  rectitude.  It  was  his  boast  that  he 
never  used  either  tobacco  or  intoxicants  in  any 
form,  and  to  this  in  part  he  attributed  his  long  life 
and  mental  and  physical  activity.  He  was  a man 
who  possessed  the  broader  sense  of  responsibility 
which  made  him  feel  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  so 
order  his  life  as  to  set  an  example  for  those  weaker 
than  he,  and  few  men  were  held  in  such  high  respect 
by  all  who  had  the  honor  of  his  acquaintance. 


346 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Fremont  Folck  attended  the  schools  of  Scott 
Township  and  learned  farming  under  his  father’s 
efficient  direction.  After  attaining  to  his  majority 
he  began  farming  the  homestead,  and  has  con- 
ducted it  on  his  own  account  for  thirty-six  years. 
All  of  the  modern  improvements  on  the  farm  have 
been  made  by  him,  and  it  is  now  an  exceedingly 
valuable  property.  In  1906  he  built  a large  barn  on 
modern  principles,  and  his  other  buildings  are 
equally  suitable  for  the  purposes  for  which  they 
are  used.  He  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock 
raising,  specializing  on  breeding  blooded  O.  I.  S. 
Chester-White  hogs  and  Shropshire  sheep. 

On  April  5,  1887,  Mr.  Folck  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Rebecca  Huffman,  a daughter  of  John 
and  Mary  Huffman,  and  they  have  the  following- 
children  : Dorsey,  who  married  Mildred  Gundrahin, 

Ford  and  John  K.  Mr.  Folck  is  a charter  member 
of  Fremont  Lodge,  Knights  of  Pythias.  Like  his 
father  he  has  rendered  efficient  service  as  a public 
official,  having  been  assessor  of  Scott  Township  for 
four  years  and  commissioner  of  Steuben  County 
from  1905  to  1911.  Mr.  Folck  has  devoted  himself 
to  mastering  one  line  of  business,  and  his  success 
proves  that  it  is  desirable  to  have  a definite  aim  in 
life  and  press  forward  toward  that  goal. 

Orville  Goodale,  one  of  the  most  prominent  and 
widely  known  citizens  of  Steuben  lownship,  was 
born  m York  Township  of  that  county,  March  11, 
1846,  a son  of  Burdett  B.  and  Mary  Ann  (Macart- 
ney) Goodale.  His  father  was  born  near  Wethers- 
field,  Connecticut,  in  1817,  and  his  mother  in  1821 
at  New  York  City.  The  paternal  grandfather  was 
Joseph  Goodale,  who  moved  from  Connecticut  to 
the  Western  Reserve  of  Ohio  and  in  1843  settled  in 
Steuben  County  in  Richland  Township.  His  chil- 
dren were  Burdett,  Dewitt,  Gera,  Juliette,  Emily 
and  John,  all  now  deceased. 

Burdett  Goodale  was  educated  in  Ohio  and  first 
came  to  Steuben  County  about  1837,  .but  did  not 
make  permanent  settlement  until  1842,  when  he 
located  on  a farm  in  York  Township.  He  was  a 
carpenter  as  well  as  a farmer  and  also  a local  min- 
ister of  the  Christian  Church.  In  politics  he  was  a 
whig  and  free  soiler,  and  his  death  occurred  in 
June,  1855,  before  the  organization  of  the  republi- 
can party.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren : Albert,  who  became  a Union  soldier  in  1861 

and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga;  Charles 
W.,  a physician  who  served  in  the  Civil  war  and 
spent  his  last  years  in  Steuben  County ; Orville ; and 
Florence  Amelia,  wife  of  Abraham  Stevens. 

Orville  Goodale  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  York  Township,  attended  Hills- 
dale College  of  Michigan,  and  was  also  a student 
at  Angola,"  and  for  about  twelve  years  taught,  being 
connected  with  the  select  and  public  schools  at  Metz. 
He  completed  his  education  in  Hiram  College  of 
Ohio.  In  the  intervals  of  teaching  he  spent  his  sum- 
mers in  farming.  In  1878,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two, 
he  was  elected  clerk  of  courts  of  Steuben  County  and 
reelected  in  1882,  filling  that  office  for  eight  years. 
During  his  official  term  he  also  looked  after  his 
farming  interests.  In  1893  he  bought  a half  interest 
in  an  abstract  office  which  had  been  established  by 
his  uncle,  Francis  Macartney.  It  was  continued  as 
the  Goodale  Abstract  Office,  and  Mr.  Goodale  was 
associated  in  partnership  with  his  nephew,  Burdett 
B.  Goodale,  for  four  years,  this  nephew  having 
bought  the  interests  of  Francis  Macartney.  Mr. 
Goodale  later  sold  his  interests  to  his  niece,  Miss 
Callie  Brandeberry.  Mr.  Goodale  now  owns  a farm 
of  sixty  acres  near  Lake  James,  where  he  spends 
his  summers,  and  has  a good  town  home  in  Angola. 


He  is  an  independent  republican  in  politics,  served 
as  a member  of  the  City  Council  of  Angola  six 
years,  and  for  a long  time  was  secretary  of  the 
Steuben  County  Agricultural  Association.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 

October  3,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Fast,  who 
was  born  in  Steuben  County  in  1850,  a daughter  of 
Christian  and  Henrietta  (Soule)  Fast.  Her  people 
were  pioneer  settlers  of  Steuben  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Goodale  have  four  children : Winifred,  a 

graduate  in  literature  and  music  from  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College  at  Angola,  is  the  wife  of  Rev.  B.  S. 
Ferrall,  a prominent  minister  of  the  Christian 
Church,  who  has  had  one  pastorate  at  Buffalo,  New 
York,  for  eighteen  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferrall 
have  a daughter,  Mary,  who  is  married  and  has  a 
daughter,  Ellen.  Albert  W.  Goodale,  a physician 
at  Orland,  Indiana,  married  Eva  Morse.  Mamie  is 
the  widow  of  Byron  Allison,  deceased,  and  has  a 
daughter,  Byrona.  Ralph  H.,  the  youngest  child, 
is  professor  of  English  at  Hiram  College,  Ohio.  He 
married  Hazel  Litchfield  and  has  a son,  Edmund 
Elliott. 

Albert  W.  Goodale,  M.  D.  A busy  and  successful 
physician  who  has  made  an  enviable  reputation  pro- 
fessionally and  as  a good  citizen  at  Orland,  Dr. 
Goodale  is  a native  of  Steuben  County,  a son  of 
Orville  Goodale.  Further  reference  to  this  well 
known  family  is  made  in  preceding  sketch. 

Dr.  Goodale  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township,  a 
half  mile  north  of  Crooked  Lake,  and  when  about 
five  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Angola,  where 
he  acquired  his  literary  education.  He  was  in  the, 
public  schools  and  high  school,  also  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College,  graduating  in  1896,  and  he  took 
his  medical  degree  from  the  University  of  Buffalo 
in  1907.  He  spent  one  year  as  interne  in  a hospital 
at  Detroit  and  did  his  first  professional  work  in 
Salem  Center.  He  was  there  one  year  and  on  Jan- 
uary 1,  1910,  began  his  practice  at  Orland.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County,  State  and  American  Medical 
Associations  and  in  politics  is  a republican. 

November  9,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Morse,  a 
daughter  of  Frank  and  Nellie  (Nordly)  Morse,  of 
Angola.  They  have  an  adopted  daughter,  Hannah 
Winifred,  now  five  years  old.  Dr.  Goodale  is  af- 
filiated with  Orland  Lodge  No.  225,  Ancient  Free 
and  Accepted  Masons,  and  Orland  Chapter  of  the 
Royal  Arch. 

David  T.  Ober  is  a member  of  an  old  and  well 
known  family  of  DeKalb  County,  and  he  owns 
seventy-five  acres  in  section  17  of  Butler  Township, 
most  of  which  has  been  owned  by  and  under  the 
management  of  the  Ober  family  for  half  a century. 

Mr.  Ober  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, June  10,  1864,  a son  of  Levi  S.  and  Elizabeth 
(Teeter)  Ober.  His  parents  came  from  Bedford 
County,  Pennsylvania,  to  Indiana  in  1866  and  spent 
the  rest  of  their  lives  in  section  17  of  Butler  Town- 
ship. Both  parents  were  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  or  Dunkard.  The  record  of  this 
family,  including  that  of  the  eight  children  of  Levi 
Ober  and  wife,  is  given  in  more  detail  on  other 
pages. 

David  T.  Ober  was  about  two  years  old  when 
brought  to  DeKalb  County,  and  he  grew  up  on  the 
home  farm  and  acquired  an  education  in  the  district 
schools.  He  remained  at  home  with  his  parents 
until  he  was  past  thirty-three  years  of  age,  and  in 
that  time  he  bore  a large  part  of  the  responsibility 
in  managing  the  fields  and  crops  of  his  father.  On 
July  4,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Sadie  Pepple.  She 
was  born  in  Swan  Township,  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, November  29,  1875.  She  had  a high  school 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


347 


education  and  for  several  years  was  a successful 
teacher.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ober  have  three  children: 
Manford,  born  in  February,  1900,  who  is  a graduate 
of  the  common  schools;  Jesse  E.,  born  July  29,  1903, 
now  in  the  second  year  of  the  Garrett  High  School; 
and  Mary  E.,  born  August  16,  1905,  who  has  com- 
pleted the  grade  school  work. 

Mr.  Ober  and  family  are  members  of  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren  and  he  is  one  of  its  trustees  and 
deacons.  Politically  he  is  a republican.  Aside  from 
his  interests  as  a farmer  he  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Garrett  elevator  and  the  Fort  Wayne  Tire  and 
Rubber  Company. 

Fleming  Barr.  One  of  the  oldest  families  estab- 
lished in  LaGrange  County  is  that  of  Barr,  and  one 
of  its  present  representatives  is  Mr.  Fleming  Barr, 
of  Greenfield  Township. 

Mr.  Barr,  whose  activities  for  many  long  years 
have  identified  him  with  farming,  was  born  on  his 
father’s  homestead  in  Greenfield  Township,  near 
Scripture  School  House,  August  26,  1852.  He  is  a 
son  of  John  and  Matilda  (Elya)  Barr.  His  paternal 
grandparents,  Amos  and  Vereba  (Bloxton)  Barr,  in 
1829  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  after 
spending  the  winter  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan, 
located  in  Greenfield  Township  and  entered  land 
now  contained  in  the  Hopkins  farm.  Amos  Barr 
acquired  a large  amount  of  land  and  at  his  death 
owned  160  acres  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  besides  his  homestead  property.  His  chil- 
dren were  Naomi,  Jane,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Nancy, 
Amos,  Rhoda,  John  and  Margaret. 

John  Barr  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1826,  and  was  three 
years  old  when  brought  to  Indiana.  He  grew  up  on 
the  old  homestead  and  married  Matilda  Elya,  who 
was  born  at  Batavia,  New  York,  December  25,  1825, 
a daughter  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Elya. 
The  Elya  family  came  to  Springfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  in  1847.  David  Elya  at  that  time 
bought  forty  acres,  later  another  forty  acres,  and 
he  spent  his  last  years  in  Springfield  Township.  His 
children  were  Mary  Matilda  and  Julia,  twins;  Nancy 
and  Bruce.  John  Barr  received  a good  education, 
attending  the  LaGrange  County  Collegiate  Institute. 
He  inherited  a part  of  the  homestead  and  traded 
land  with  his  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  Ewing,  who  later 
became  the  wife  of  Fleming  Hopkins.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  in  1883  John  Barr  owned  220  acres. 
He  had  lived  retired  for  several  years,  for  about 
one  year  at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  and  then  in  LaGrange. 
His  death,  however,  occurred  on  the  old  farm.  His 
widow  spent  her  last  years  with  her  daughter  Libbie 
Anderson  at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  where  she  died  in 
1914.  The  father  was  a republican  in  politics  and 
a member  of  the  Masonic  Order.  His  children  were 
three  in  number:  Julia  Ann,  wife  of  Charles  Miller, 
of  Greenfield  Township;  Fleming,  and  Libbie,  wife 
of  Milton  Anderson. 

Fleming  Barr  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  attended 
the  public  schools  and  the  Orland  Academy,  and  for 
eight  winters  was  a teacher.  Since  early  manhood 
he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  in  1879  he 
bought  forty  acres  and  also  owned  forty  acres  of 
the  old  homestead.  His  present  place  comprises 
100  acres,  and  he  has  remodeled  the  house  and 
placed  many  other  improvements.  He  is  a repub- 
lican and  served  as  trustee  of  Greenfield  Township 
six  years  and  for  five  years  filled  the  office  of 
assessor.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Mongo.  He  was  also  road  super- 
visor nine  years. 

On  September  1,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Fre- 
leigh.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  near 
Mongo,  January  5,  1859,  a daughter  of  John  Frank- 
lin and  Susan  Ann  (Shepardson)  Freleigh.  Her 


mother  was  a daughter  of  Otis  and  Susan  (Gibbs) 
Shepardson.  John  Franklin  Freleigh  was  born  in 
Ontario  County,  New  York,  in  1829,  and  in  1836 
went  with  his  parents  to  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
and  in  1845  settled  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  Indiana.  Later  he  located  in  LaGrange 
County,  where  he  married.  He  died  December  5, 
1890,  and  his  widow  December  8,  1900.  They  were 
the  parents  of  five  children:  Eva  Jane,  Ida  May, 
Ella,  Arthur  Pliney  and  Frank  Leander. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barr  were  the  parents  of  five  chil- 
dren. Lillie  May,  the  oldest,  was  born  April  1,  1879, 
and  is  the  wife  of  Milo  H.  Weaver.  Her  daughter, 
Irma  Mildred,  is  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Allen  Wilber. 
Estella,  the  second  of  the  family,  was  born  Novem- 
ber 19,  1880,  and  died  September  8,  1881.  Alma 
Veda  was  born  April  16,  1882,  and  was  first  married 
to  Samuel  Lint,  by  whom  she  had  one  child,  Cleola 
Margaret,  and  after  the  death  of  her  first  husband 
she  became  the  wife  of  Archie  Roberts  on  Septem- 
ber 2,  1916,  and  by  that  marriage  has  a daughter, 
Eileen.  John,  born  July  24,  1883,  died  June  7,  1884. 
The  youngest  of  the  family  is  Frank  Arthur  Barr, 
who  was  born  April  21,  1885,  is  a graduate  of  the 
LaGrange  High  School  and  the  Tri-State  College, 
and  for  two  years  was  principal  of  the  Brighton 
High  School.  He  began  teaching  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  and  has  also  been  a farmer.  He  owns  a 
place  of  forty  acres.  He  married  Hulda  Wilber. 
Their  children  are  Ralph  Wilber,  Leona  May,  Mil- 
dred Margaret,  who  died  in  infancy,  and  Harold. 

Ephraim  C.  Lantz  is  at  once  one  of  the  busiest 
men  and  also  one  of  those  with  the  largest  number 
of  active  business  interests  in  the  Topeka  com- 
munity. While  he  lives  on  his  farm  a half  mile 
south  of  that  village  in  Eden  Township,  he  spends 
much  of  his  time  in  Topeka,  where  he  is  president 
of  the  leading  bank  and  an  extensive  dealer  in  live- 
stock. 

Mr.  Lantz  was  born  in  Elkhart  Township  of 
Noble  County  September  17,  1869,  a son  of  Noah 
and  Lydia  E.  (Yoder)  Lantz.  His  father  was  born 
in  Fairfield  County  and  his  mother  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio.  The  father  came  with  his  parents  to 
Noble  County*  Indiana,  when  twelve  years  of  age, 
the  family  locating  in  Elkhart  Township,  where  the 
parents  spent  their  last  years.  Lydia  Yoder  came 
to  LaGrange  County  about  1868  with  her  husband 
after  she  was  married  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  They 
lived  in  Eden  Townshio  twelve  vears  and  then  moved 
to  Perry  Township  of  Noble  County.  Noah  Lantz 
died  in  Elkhart  Township  of  Noble  County,  and 
his  widow  spent  her  last  years  in  Topeka.  They 
were  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church.  Of  their 
eight  children  one  died  in  infancy  and  five  are  still 
living:  Ephraim  C. : Anna,  wife  of  Sherman  Reave; 
Alva,  of  Topeka;  Delta,  unmarried  and  living  at 
Topeka;  Edith,  wife  of  Ernest  Yoder,  a farmer  in 
Eden  Township. 

Ephraim  C.  Lantz  grew  up  on  a farm  and  had  a 
common  school  education.  When  he  was  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  rented  his  father's  place  for 
several  years.  On  November  6,  1802,  he  married 
Elizabeth  Plank.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  County, 
Ohio,  October  3,  1868,  and  met  and  married  her 
husband  while  visiting  in  Indiana.  For  twelve  years 
after  his  marriage  Mr.  Lantz  was  a tenant  farmer, 
and  has  made  his  enviable  prosperity  from  humble 
beginnings.  He  finally  bought  forty  acres,  and  later 
eighty  acres  where  he  now  lives,  and  is  also  owner 
of  100  acres  in  Elkhart  Township.  Noble  County, 
and  has  400  acres  in  Oklahoma.  Mr.  Lantz  is  pro- 
prietor of  a feed  store  at  Topeka,  and  buys  and  feeds 
hogs,  marketing  five  or  six  carloads  every  year. 

He  and  his  wife  have  three  daughters ; Fern,  a 


348 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


graduate  of  the  Topeka  High  School,  was  well  edu- 
cated in  music  and  drawing  and  is  now  teacher  of 
those  arts  in  the  Topeka  schools;  Ruby,  a graduate 
of  high  school  and  the  wife  of  Alvin  Kempf,  of 
Topeka;  and  Catherine,  who  was  born  in  1909.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Mennonite  Church  in 
Maple  Grove,  and  Mr.  Lantz  is  a republican. 

He  was  one  of  the  active  organizers  of  the  Farm- 
ers State  Bank  at  Topeka  in  1917,  and  has  been  its 
first  and  only  president.  The  other  officers  are : 
John  W.  Priest,  vice  president;  Dane  D.  Secrist, 
cashier;  and  the  directors  are  Mr.  Lantz,  John  W. 
Priest,  Dean  Mclntire,  Myron  F.  Walters,  Charles 
Hartzler,  Leon  Rose,  Abe  Mier  and  Isaac  Rose,  all 
well  known  and  substantial  citizens  of  LaGrange 
county. 

Eugene  Kelley  has  lived  for  more  than  three- 
quarters  of  a century,  has  had  a life  of  great  variety 
and  altogether  one  of  success  in  its  many  relations, 
was  a soldier  in  many  battles  during  the  Civil  war 
and  has  had  the  patriotic  satisfaction  of  seeing  sev- 
eral of  his  sons  fighting  for  their  country  in  recent 
years. 

Mr.  Kelley,  who  is  now  living  retired  at  Steuben- 
ville, where  he  has  served  as  postmaster  for  a num- 
ber of  years,  was  born  in  Medina  County,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 2,  1843.  He  was  eighteen  months  old  when 
his  father,  Stephen  Kelley,  lost  his  life  by  drowning. 
His  mother’s  maiden  name  was  May  Pixley.  She 
died  in  LaGrange,  Indiana,  in  1864.  Eugene  Kelley 
had  an  older  sister  Elizabeth.  His  mother  married 
for  her  second  husband  William  Johnson,  and  by 
that  union  had  six  children:  Albert  Nelson,  Wil- 

lard, George,  Emma,  Adeline  and  Bird.  Adeline  was 
accidentally  killed  at  Williamsport,  Indiana. 

Eugene  Kelley  first  came  to  Steuben  County  when 
five  years  of  age,  while  his  mother  was  visiting. 
At  that  time  Angola  only  had  one  store.  He  has 
been  a permanent  resident  of  the  county  since  1859. 
He  lived  with  his  mother  to  the  age  of  fourteen, 
then  went  to  work  on  a farm,  and  later  found  some 
employment  at  Pleasant  Lake.  From  Pleasant  Lake 
early  in  1861  he  went  to  Chicago  and  enlisted  in 
Company  G of  the  Forty-Second  Illinois  Infantry. 
He  was  with  that  regiment  in  all  its  active  service, 
including  twenty-five  battles,  and  he  participated  in 
all  of  them  except  one.  He  was  wounded  at  Mari- 
etta, Georgia,  July  4,  1864.  Captured,  he  spent  a 
period  of  imprisonment  in  Libby  prison  and  in  other 
southern  places  of  confinement. 

After  the  war  Mr.  Kelley  returned  to  Steuben 
County  and  there  took  up  the  trade  of  painter,  which 
he  followed  for  a number  of  years.  Since  1897  his 
home  has  been  in  Steubenville,  where  he  owns  a 
good  residence.  He  has  filled  the  office  of  post- 
master for  the  past  eighteen  years.  He  is  a stanch 
republican  in  his  political  affiliation  and  is  a member 
of  the  Grand  Army  Post. 

In  1867  Mr.  Kelley  married  Laura  Hough,  of 
Steuben  County.  They  were  afterward  divorced 
and  she  died  in  1912.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children,  one  of  whom  is  Harry  Kelley,  in  the  coal 
business  at  Angola.  In  1888  Mr.  Kelley  married 
Nora  Swager,  of  Steuben  County.  They  have  four 
children:  Volnev,  who  for  ten  years  has  been  a 

resident  of  France  and  is  now  a captain  in  the 
French  army;  James,  of  Steubenville;  and  Eugene 
and  Kathleen,  both  at  home  with  their  father. 
James  and  Eugene  both  have  army  records,  the 
former  having  served  three  years  in  the  Fourteenth 
Cavalry  of  the  regular  army.  During  that  time  he 
was  on  the  Mexican  border  service  and  in  the  Philip- 
pines, also  visited  in  China  and  Japan,  and  received 
his  honorable  discharge  after  his  term  of  service 


expired.  Eugene  was  in  the  Coast  Artillery  for 
about  one  year. 

Oliver  Walters,  a native  of  Steuben  County,  has 
busied  himself  since  early  manhood  with  farming, 
and  is  owner  of  one  of  the  well  improved  and  val- 
uable places  in  Salem  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Scott  Township,  May  29,  1876, 
son  of  William  and  Mary  (Smiley)  Walters.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  a daughter  of 
George  Smiley,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Pleasant. 
Township,  where  he  and  his  wife  both  died.  George 
Smiley  and  wife  had  a large  family  of  children, 
including  Martha,  Phoebe,  Lillie,  Alonzo,  Gilbert, 
William,  George,  Jesse  and  Charles.  William  Wal- 
ters was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  where  his 
father  died,  the  mother  subsequently  spending  her 
days  in  Scott  Township  of  Steuben  County.  Wil- 
liam Walters  grew  up  in  Scott  Township,  and  owing 
to  the  death  of  his  father  had  to  look  after  the 
rest  of  the  family  from  early  years.  He  began  as  a 
renter,  bought  forty  acres  .in  Steuben  Township, 
later  went  west,  and  finally  acquired  a farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  Michigan.  He  died  while  visiting  in 
Steuben  County  in  1911,  at  the  age  of  sixtv-four. 
His  widow  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine. 
William  Walters  was  one  of  three  sons,  Andrew, 
William  and  Solomon.  He  and  his  wife  had  nine 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living,  named  Charles, 
Frank,  George,  Albert,  Nettie,  Oliver,  Arlie,  Roy 
and  Robert. 

Oliver  Walters  attended  the  public  schools  in 
Pleasant  and  Jackson  townships.  He  has  been 
working  his  way  steadily  to  independence  since  early 
manhood.  The  first  land  he  owned  was  about 
thirty-six  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  He  sold  that 
and  in  1908  came  to  Steuben  Township,  where  he 
bought  eighty  acres.  He  has  remodeled  the  build- 
ings, and  takes  a just  pride  in  the  efficient  manage- 
ment of  what  is  one  of  the  best  farms  of  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Walters  is  a republican  in  politics. 

April  2,  1898,  he  married  Miss  Abbie  Simmons, 
She  was  born  in  Jackson  Township,  January  19, 
1876,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Nancy  (Parker) 
Simmons.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Walters  have  one  son, 
Henry,  born  July  14,  1899.  He  lives  on  the  farm 
with  his  parents. 

Francis  M.  Merica.  No  one  man  has  done  more 
for  the  public  schools  of  DeKalb  County  and  per- 
forms a more  vital  service  to  the  people  in  general 
than  Francis  M.  Merica,  superintendent  of  thd 
county  schools.  Mr.  Merica  is  a veteran  educator, 
has  been  in  school  work  more  than  thirty  years,  and 
has  a high  standing  among  school  men  over  In- 
diana. 

He  was  born  at  Millerstown  in  Champaign 
County,  Ohio,  February  28,  1862,  but  has  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  life  in  Northeast  Indiana.  His 
parents,  William  and  Catherine  (Snyder)  Merica, 
came  to  Indiana  in  1865,  locating  three  miles  south 
of  Garrett  in  DeKalb  County.  William  Merica  was 
born  near  Millerstown,  Ohio,  July  15,  1840,  while 
his  wife  was  born  September  10,  1842,  and  both 
were  reared  in  Champaign  County.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  the  family  had  limited  means.  Both 
parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church,  and  William  Merica  was  quite  active  in 
democratic  politics,  serving  as  a member  of  the 
County  Council  of  DeKalb  County  when  the  court- 
house and  county  infirmary  were  built.  He  was 
also  assessor  of  Butler  Township.  William  Merica 
died  September  8,  1915,  and  his  wife  February  13, 
1918.  They  had  three  children:  Thomas,  who  died 
at  Fort  Wayne,  May  22,  1911,  had  been  a teacher  in 
early  life  and  later  was  a traveling  salesman  for 


•T 


EDWARD  HUFF 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


349 


the  International  Harvester  Company;  Francis  M. ; 
and  Charles,  who  was  a graduate  of  DePauw  Uni- 
versity with  the  degrees  B.  A.,  M.  A.  and  Ph.  D., 
was  a Methodist  minister,  at  one  time  was  president 
of  Iowa  College  and  later  president  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wyoming,  and  died  at  Kendallville,  Indiana, 
July  24,  1918. 

Francis  M.  Merica  was  educated  in  Butler  Town- 
ship and  graduated  from  the  Methodist  College  at 
Fort  Wayne  with  the  Bachelor  of  Science  degree 
in  1887.  He  also  attended  Upland  University  in 
1889,  and  by  later  post-graduate  work  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago  received  the  degree  Ph.  B.  Be- 
fore completing  his  education  Mr.  Merica  taught 
for  two  years  as  principal  of  a high  school,  for 
eight  years  was  superintendent  of  the  same  school, 
and  after  graduating  from  the  University  of  Chi- 
cago was  elected  superintendent  of  the  schools  of 
LaGrange.  He  remained  at  that  post  three  years, 
for  four  years  was  superintendent  of  schools  at 
Wauwatosa,  Wisconsin,  and  then  came  to  Garrett, 
where  for  ten  years  he  was  superintendent  of  the 
public  school  system.  He  was  elected  county  super- 
intendent of  schools  for  DeKalb  County  in  1917, 
and  has  held  that  office  since  August  of  that  year. 

Mr.  Merica  was  a charter  member  of  the  board 
which  organized  the  Carnegie  Library  at  Garrett 
and  is  its  present  secretary.  Out  of  his  long  service 
as  a teacher  he  has  made  some  accumulations  toward 
independence  and  is  a property  owner  at  Garrett, 
having  four  dwelling  houses  there.  He  is  one  01 
the  trustees  of  the  Methodist  Church  at  Garrett,  is 
a past  master  of  Garrett  City  Lodge  No.  537,  An- 
cient Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  is  affiliated  with 
Garrett  Chapter  No.  129,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  of 
which  he  is  past  high  priest,  and  is  a past  grand 
of  Lodge  No.  602  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  past  chief  patriarch  of  Encamp- 
ment No.  169.  His  wife  is  an  active  member  of 
Harmony  Chapter  No.  6 7 of  the  Eastern  Star,  is  a 
past  matron  and  has  served  as  secretary  of  the 
chapter  for  over  fifteen  years. 

Mr.  Merica  married  Arilla  Jones,  of  Garrett.  She 
died  November  3,  1908,  mother  of  one  daughter, 
Marion,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  Western  College 
for  Women  at  Oxford,  Ohio,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Don  E.  Van  Fleet,  an  electrical  contractor  at  Gar- 
rett. June  25,  1912,  Mr.  Merica  married  Georgia 
Van  Fleet.  She  was  born  at  Deposit  in  Broome 
County,  New  York,  and  came  to  Indiana  when 
thirteen  years  of  age.  Mrs.  Merica  is  widely  known 
as  a former  teacher  in  DeKalb  County,  having  done 
twenty-six  years  of  work  in  the  different  schools  of 
the  county.  She  finished  her  education  in  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola. 

William  A.  Cline.  Any  account  of  the  older 
families  of  LaGrange  County  takes  into  considera- 
tion members  of  the  Cline  family,  now  making  up 
a widespread  relationship,  many  of  whom  are  indus- 
trious and  important  factors  in  various  communi- 
ties. but  particularly  in  Bloomfield  Township. 

The  late  William  A.  Cline  came  to  LaGrange 
County  when  a voung  man.  He  was  born  in  Rich- 
land County,  Ohio,  August  8,  1830,  and  he  died  at 
his  old  home  in  Bloomfield  Township  June  7,  1907. 
His  parents  were  William  and  Ellen  (Gibney)  Cline. 
William  Cline  was  born  in  Huntingdon  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1794,  and  was  married  in  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  bought  and  improved  a 
farm  of  237  acres.  On  coming  to  Indiana  in  1854 
he  bought  320  acres  in  Bloomfield  Township,  and 
lived  there  until  his  death  on  October  2,  1871.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania, 
July  22,  1799,  and  died  August  26,  1881. 

William  A.  Cline  became  a farmer  in  Bloomfield 


Township.  On  January  14,  1856,  he  married  Mary 
E.  Spears,  and  the  same  year  he  bought  eighty  acres 
in  Bloomfield  Township,  and  in  the  course  of  time 
had  one  of  the  best  farms  in  that  township,  owning 
more  than  300  acres.  Mrs.  Cline,  who  died  May 
31,  1917,  was  a daughter  of  Tunis  and  Mary  J. 
(Scoville)  Spears.  She  was  born  in  Springfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  January  17,  1840. 

Tunis  Spears  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1810  and 
his  wife  in  Connecticut  in  1820.  William  A.  Cline 
was  identified  with  the  republican  party  in  politics. 

The  oldest  of  the  children  of  William  A.  Cline 
and  wife  was  Milton,  who  was  born  June  17,  1859, 
and  died  August  21,  i860.  The  second  was  Mary  J., 
who  was  born  on  the  old  homestead  in  1861  and  on 
September  20,  1888,  became  the  wife  of  Orville 
Anderson.  Mr.  Anderson  was  born  in  Greenfield 
Township  August  20,  1862,  a son  of  Elijah  and 
Nancy  (Martin)  Anderson,  of  the  same  township. 
After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anderson  lived 
on  the  old  Cline  farm  about  thirty  years,  and  he 
died  there  March  2,  1919.  In  the  Anderson  family 
were  three  children : Leon  W.,  who  was  born  Sep- 

tember 7,  1889,  was  educated  in  the  common  schools 
and  the  high  school,  and  is  running  the  farm  of  his 
mother;  Barnice  E.,  who  was  born  February  1, 
1892,  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  P.  W.  Horner  and  lives  at 
New  Paris,  Indiana,  and  has  a daughter,  Dorothy 
May,  born  November  15,  1915;  and  Troas  L.  An- 
derson was  born  May  8,  1894,  and  died  April  11, 
1910. 

Frank  B.  Cline,  who  was  born  June  27,  1864, 
attended  the  Howe  High  School,  and  married  Carrie 
Hackett.  He  is  a farmer  in  Bloomfield  Township. 
They  have  two  children,  Fred  B.  and  Vera  Lucile. 
Fred  B.  married  Troy  Marks  and  has  two  children, 
Lloyd  and  Gladys. 

Nellie  E.  Cline,  born  February  16,  1868,  was  well 
educated,  attending  Normal  school  at  LaGrange, 
and  taught  for  about  nine  years  before  her  marriage 
to  Charles  Hill,  of  Bloomfield  Township.  They  have 
a son.  Ledger  C.  Hill,  still  at  home. 

Rachel  L.  Cline  was  born  April  27,  1870,  and 
after  receiving  her  education  taught  music  for  sev- 
eral years.  On  October  29,  1891,  she  became  the 
wife  of  Joseph  R.  Smith.  He  was  a son  of  James 
Smith,  and  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  in 
1870,  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Brighton.  Mr.  Smith  is  a farmer.  He  and  his  wife 
had  seven  children : Drusus,  born  September  9,  1894, 
married  May  Johnson,  and  they  have  three  young 
children,  Charles,  Orville  J.  and  Albert;  Orval  B., 
born  July  3,  1896;  Kenneth  E.,  born  June  3,  1899; 
Gaylord  G.,  born  June  26,  1902,  died  February  15, 
1903;  Annabelle,  born  January  23,  1904;  Owen  W., 
born  October  3,  1906;  and  Mary  Helen,  born  De- 
cember 13,  1910. 

Edward  Huff,  who  for  many  years  was  a resident 
and  prominent  property  owner  in  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship, was  prominently  connected  with  families  both 
in  LaGrange  County  and  over  the  line  in  Southern 
Michigan. 

He  was  born  on  White  Pigeon  Prairie  in  Michigan, 
July  10,  1851,  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Six- 
bey)  Huff.  Alexander  Huff  was  born  in  Schoharie 
County,  New  York,  in  1816  and  was  twelve  years  old 
when  his  father  died.  When  a young  man  he 
moved  to  Southern  Michigan,  married  in  that  state, 
and  lived  at  Constantine,  later  at  Adrian,  and  finally 
on  a farm  near  Klinger  Lake,  where  he  and  his 
wife  both  died,  he  in  1892  and  his  wife  in  1887.  He 
was  a cooper  by  trade,  but  for  many  years  was  a 
farmer.  Their  children  were  Charles ; Edward,  de- 
ceased ; Ida  : Lemuel ; Christiana,  deceased  ; Henri- 
etta ; and  Almeda.  Alexander  Huff  was  a republi- 


350 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


can  and  a member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  His 
wife  was  a daughter  of  Nicholas  and  Christiana 
Sixbey,  who  came  from  Schoharie  County,  New 
York,  and  were  early  settlers  near  Constantine,  Mich- 
igan. The  Sixbeys  owned  much  land  in  Southern 
Michigan.  Nicholas  Sixbey  died  near  Vistula,  Indi- 
ana, in  1875,  and  his  wife  died  in  December  of  the 
same  year.  In  the  Sixbey  family  were  the  follow- 
ing children : Elizabeth,  Margaret,  John,  David, 

Charlotte,  Henrietta,  Nicholas,  Catherine,  Ephraim 
and  Augusta. 

Edward  Huff  was  educated  in  public  schools,  at- 
tended the  Raisin  Valley  Seminary  near  Adrian, 
Michigan,  and  had  to  his  credit  a successful  record 
as  a teacher.  After  his  marriage  he  lived  for  one 
year  in  Indiana  and  for  nineteen  years  made  his 
home  in  Michigan.  In  1900  he  located  in  Van  Buren 
Township,  and  was  a resident  of  Scott  until  his 
death  on  March  6,  1917.  His  widow  is  still  living 
in  the  home  at  Scott.  Mr.  Huff  owned  209  acres 
in  Van  Buren  Township  and  also  had  200  acres  in 
Michigan.  He  was  a republican  and  with  his  wife 
was  active  in  the  Methodist  Church. 

November  24,  1880,  Mr.  Huff  married  Lucila  Dal- 
ton. She  was  born  in  Van  Buren  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  March  29,  1853,  a daughter  of 
John  and  Anna  (Hayner)  Dalton.  Her  parents 
were  natives  of  New  York,  born  July  6,  1810,  and 
August  22,  1812,  respectively.  On  coming  West 
they  settled  on  White  Pigeon  Prairie,  Michigan,  but 
soon  afterward  came  to  Van  Buren  Township  in 
LaGrange  County,  where  Mrs.  Huff’s  father  acquired 
and  owned  650  acres  of  land,  constituting  one  farm 
but  lying  partly  in  Michigan  and  partly  in  LaGrange 
County.  Her  father  also  owned  the  grist  mill  at 
Scott.  The  Daltons  were  Methodists.  Mrs.  Huff 
was  one  of  the  following  children  : Frances  Augusta, 
born  January  27,  1847;  Catherine,  born  July  1, 
1849;  and  Lucila,  born  March  29,  1853.  Mr.  Dalton 
died  March  20,  1888,  and  his  wife  October  27,  1900. 

Mrs.  Huff  is  the  mother  of  one  son,  Harry  Dalton 
Huff,  who  was  born  October  10,  1881.  He  had  a 
good  public  school  education,  studied  medicine  at 
the  University  of  Michigan,  but  has  followed  farm- 
ing during  his  active  career  and  is  working  land 
owned  by  his  mother.  September  7,  1905,  Harry  D. 
Huff  married  Miss  Jessie  Whistler.  They  have  two 
children,  Lucile'  Elizabeth,  born  December  30,  1907, 
and  Stanley,  born  March  10,  1913. 

Durward  Duff,  a nephew  of  the  late  Edward  Huff, 
being  a son  of  George  and  Henrietta  (Huff)  Duff, 
was  a soldier  in  the  great  war  and  his  record 
should  be  briefly  noted.  For  about  four  years  he 
was  in  the  Home  Guard  Regiment  in  Chicago.  He 
went  to  Houston,  Texas,  September  8,  1917,  and 
was  a private,  afterward  being  promoted  to  corporal 
in  the  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Second  Artillery, 
Thirty-Third  Division.  He  went  overseas  to  France 
May  28,  1918,  and  was  in  service  during  the  crit- 
ical summer  of  that  year.  He  returned  to  New  York 
City  May  27,  1919,  and  was,  honorably  discharged 
June  7,  1919. 

Hugh  M.  Widney.  The  name  Widney  was  spoken 
in  the  wilderness  of  Southern  DeKalb  County  more 
than  eighty  years  ago,  and  the  family  has  always 
been  one  of  the  most  substantial  and  influential  in 
Concord  and  neighboring  townships.  One  of  the 
younger  generation  is  Hugh  M.  Widney,  a widely 
known  authority  on  fruit  growing  and  horticulture, 
who  is  proprietor  of  the  Spring  Brook  Fruit  Farm 
and  the  Rivera  Farm,  comprising  200  acres  in  Con- 
cord and  Spencer  Townships. 

He  was  born  in  Concord  Township  March  24, 
1866,  a son  of  Oliver  H.  and  Emily  F.  (Maxwell) 
Widney.  His  father  was  also  a native  of  Concord 


Township,  while  the  mother  was  born  in  Ohio. 
Oliver  Widney  and  wife  were  married  in  1864,  and 
he  died  at  Auburn,  while  his  wife  passed  away  at 
St.  Joe.  They  had  two  children,  Hugh  M.  and 
Lenore. 

^ Hugh  M.  Widney  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in 
Concord  Township  and  had  a common  school  educa- 
tion. On  December  31,  1885,  he  married  Hattie  A. 
Davis,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Davis,  of 
Newville  Township,  DeKalb  County.  Mrs.  Widney 
in  former  years  was  a teacher  of  music.  Two  chil- 
dren were  born  to  them,  Blanchard  V.,  who  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola  with 
the  Bachelor  of  Science  degree,  has  spent  three 
years  in  Purdue  University  and  is  now  county  agri- 
cultural agent  for  Noble  County,  Indiana.  He  mar- 
ried, August  19,  1913,  Flossie  Copp,  daughter  of 
Abner  and  Alice  Copp,  of  St.  Joe.  The  younger 
child,  Dorris  Davis  Widney,  was  born  August  16, 
1903,  in  St.  Joe,  and  died  in  the  Johns  Hopkins 
Hospital  at  Baltimore,  Maryland,  January  29,  1919, 
in  her  sixteenth  year. 

The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church.  Mr.  Widney  is  affiliated  with 
Concord  Lodge  No.  556,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and  with  St.  Joe  Lodge  No.  400  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  being  a past  chancellor  of  the  Knights 
of  Pythias.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

Mr.  Widney  has  been  busily  engaged  with  his 
horticultural  specialty  for  thirty  years,  and  has  a 
highly  developed  and  valuable  fruit  farm  of  thirty 
acres  in  Concord  Township.  His  wide  experience 
and  expert  knowledge  has  made  his  services  valuable 
to  the  state  at  large.  He  has  been  on  the  staff  of 
lecturers  under  the  auspices  of  Purdue  University 
for  county  and  township  institutes,  and  has  traveled 
all  over  the  state. 

John  Chester  Burch,  a progressive  farmer  in 
Otsego  Township,  is  in  the  third  generation  of  the 
Burch  family,  which  performed  some  of  the  land 
clearing  and  other  pioneer  labors  in  Steuben  County. 
It  is  a family  of  long  standing  and  the  highest  in- 
tegrity of  character. 

John  Chester  Burch  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Otsego  Township,  January  5,  1870,  a son  of 
Halbert  and  Mary  (Rhinehart)  Burch.  His  grand- 
father, Chester  Burch  was  born  in  Vermont  in  1810, 
was  reared  to  manhood  and  married  in  Ohio,  and  in 
1837  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  settling  in 
section  15  of  Otsego  Township.  Chester  Burch 
died  January  26,  1879.  His  son  Halbert  was  one  of 
seven  children  and  was  killed  in  a runaway  accident 
in  November,  1872,  when  John  Chester  was  only 
two  years  old. 

John  Chester  Burch  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
under  the  care  of  his  widowed  mother,  attended 
public  schools,  and  for  a number  of  years  has  suc- 
cessfully pursued  farming  and  stock  raising  on  S3JA 
acres  of  the  old  homestead.  He  is  a republican  in 
politics. 

In  1892  he  married  Miss  Bernice  Lybarger.  She 
was  born  in  Starke  County,  Indiana,  September  5, 
1874,  a daughter  of  Alonzo  D.  and  Mary  (Barnes) 
Lybarger.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Knox 
County,  Ohio,  where  her  father  was  born  April  19, 
1842,  and  her  mother  August  3,  1847.  After  their 
marriage  they  came  to  Kosciusko  County,  Indiana, 
later  went  back  to  Knox  County,  and  in  1880  settled 
in  Steuben  County,  where  her  father  was  a renter 
for  a time  but  in  1896  bought  a farm  in  Otsego 
Township.  Her  parents  are  still  living  in  Steuben 
County,  in  Scott  Township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burch  have  five  children : Vera, 

who  attended  the  district  schools  and  the  high 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


351 


school  at  Hamilton  and  is  the  wife  of  Glenn  Sewell; 
Wayne,  a student  in  the  Metz  High  School;  Gael 
who  has  finished  the  grammar  school  work;  and 
Ford  and  Vanita,  who  are  the  youngest  children. 

John  Benjamin  Hayward.  There  is  hardly  a 
locality  in  Steuben  County  where  the  name  Hayward 
is  not  known  and  respected.  One  of  the  members 
of  the  family  who  did  most  to  make  the  name  gen- 
erally known  in  that  county  is  John  Benjamin  Hay- 
ward, former  sheriff.  Mr.  Hayward  lives  in  Salem 
Township,  and  his  grandfather  was  one  of  the 
earliest  pioneers  of  LaGrange  County. 

John  Benjamin  Hayward  was  born  in  Milford 
Township  of  Steuben' Cot \nty,  November  28,  1861,  a 
son  of  William  and  Louisa  (Chaffee)  Hayward. 
Grandfather  Isaac  Hayward  came  to  LaGrange 
County  and  settled  in  Milford  Township,  south  of 
Stroh,  in  1844.  He  owned  the  land  where  the  village 
of  Stroh  now  stands.  He  acquired  320  acres,  and 
after  the  death  of  his  wife  he  sold  this  farm  to  his 
son,  William.  His  death  occurred  about  1878,  when 
ninety-three  years  of  age.  He  was  a native  of 
England,  married  in  that  country,  and  six  of  his 
children  were  born  there.  When  he  came  to  Amer- 
ica he  was  five  weeks  and  five  days  on  the  ocean. 
In  this  country  six  other  children  were  born.  Wil- 
liam Hayward  was  the  youngest  of  this  large  family, 
was  born  in  Ohio,  June  30,  1840,  and  was  four 
years  old  when  brought  to  LaGrange  County.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  successful  farmers  and 
stock  men  in  this  section  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He 
began  with  320  acres  and  increased  this  to  520  acres, 
and  later  bought  another  120  acres,  giving  him  a 
complete  section.  He  was  an  extensive  cattle  dealer 
and  a sheep  feeder.  He  was  the  man  who  origi- 
nated the  important  improvement  known  as  the  Tur- 
key Creek  Ditch,  by  which  hundreds  of  acres  of 
fertile  land  were  reclaimed  for  tillage.  He  also 
built  an  elevator  at  Helmer  and  one  of  the  main 
store  buildings  there.  For  five  years  he  success- 
fully operated  the  elevator.  He  sold  that  business, 
and  after  the  village  of  Stroh  started  he  built  an 
elevator  there  and  platted  twenty  acres  of  his  land 
into  village  lots,  erecting  several  dwelling  houses 
on  them.  He  was  living  at  Stroh  at  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1906.  His  wife  was  born  in  1841  and  died 
in  1872.  They  had  the  following  children:  Walter, 

John  Benjamin,  Dora  Louise,  Estella,  who  died  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  Cora,  Ollie  and  Ida.  Wil- 
liam Hayward  married  for  his  second  wife  Caroline 
Drayer.  She  was  the  mother  of  four  children, 
Mary,  William  C.,  Arthur  and  Frank.  Frank  died 
when  four  years  old. 

John  Benjamin  Hayward  from  the  age  of  four 
grew  up  on  the  homestead,  attended  local  schools, 
and  in  1885  established  a home  of  his  own  by  his 
marriage  to  Clara  May  Butler.  She  is  a daughter 
of  James  and  Elnora  (Wright)  Butler.  His  grand- 
father, Jesse  Butler,  was  an  early  settler  of  Steuben 
County.  Mrs.  Hayward  was  born  on  the  same  farm 
as  her  father. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hayward  bought  forty 
acres  known  as  the  Daniel  Rouse  farm  in  Milford 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  He  sold  it  to 
James  Gettings  and  bought  the  eighty  acres  in 
Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County  where  he  is 
still  living.  In  1902  he  bought  eighty  acres  adjoin- 
ing on  the  north  side  of  the  road.  His  first  eighty 
was  acquired  in  1891.  Mr.  Hayward  was  elected 
sheriff  of  Steuben  County  in  1902.  He  held  that 
office  for  four  years,  and  at  his  second  election  had 
the  largest  majority  given  any  candidate  in  the 
county.  After  retiring  from  the  office  of  sheriff 
Mr.  Hayward  remained  in  Angola  for  six  years  in 
order  to  educate  his  children,  and  during  that  time 


represented  the  firm  of  Shaughniss  & Companj1-  at 
Angola  in  the  sale  of  buggies. 

Mr.  Hayward  is  an  active  republican,  as  was  his 
father  before  him.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  Salem  Center, 
being  a charter  member,  and  he  joined  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  at  Salem  but  is  now  a member  of  Angola 
Lodge.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church. 

To  their  marriage  were  born  seven  children: 
Lloyd  who  died  at  the  age  of  ten  months ; Elsie,  wife 
of  Paul  Crundwell  and  the  mother  of  one  daughter, 
Mary  Jane;  Imo,  who  married  Harry  Lambert  and 
has  two  children,  Margaret  and  Ralph;  Berdina, 
James,  Edgar  and  Robert,  the  four  younger  children 
still  at  home. 

John  J.  Troyer.  One  of  the  representative  fam- 
ilies of  LaGrange  County  bears  the  name  of  Troyer, 
a name  that  has  been  identified  with  Indiana  history 
since  pioneer  days.  Seventy-five  years  have  passed 
since  the  Troyer  family  left  their  old  home  sur- 
roundings in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and  journeyed 
westward  as  homeseekers.  They  paused  in  Elkhart 
County,  Indiana,  later  moved  on  into  Howard 
County,  and  still  later  became  firmly  established  in 
LaGrange  County.  A worthy  member  of  this  sturdy 
old  family  is  found  in  John  J.  Troyer,  who  owns 
one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  Clay  Township, 
and  is  a man  of  high  standing  in  township  and 
county. 

John  J.  Troyer  was  born  in  Howard  County,  In- 
diana, in  his  father’s  pioneer  log  cabin,  January  6, 
1870.  His  parents  were  Jeremiah  and  Mary  (Troyer) 
Troyer,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  born  November  28, 
1828,  and  she  was  born  November  28,  1830.  Jere- 
miah Troyer  was  sixteen  years  old  when  he  ac- 
companied his  parents,  Samuel  and  Barbara  (Hos- 
tetter)  Troyer,  to  Elkhart  County,  Indiana.  When 
his  mother  died  his  father  went  back  to  Holmes 
County  and  was  married  there  a second  time.  He 
died  in  Howard  County,  Indiana.  In  those  early 
years*  Jeremiah  Troyer  journeyed  back  and  forth 
to  Holmes  County  on  numerous  occasions,  making 
five  trips  on  horseback  and  several  bjr  wagon,  when 
he  had  to  ford  unbridged  creeks,  penetrate  swamps 
and  sleep  in  the  open,  and  on  more  than  one  horse- 
back journey  escaped  from  thieves  and  was  at- 
tacked by  panthers.  He  was  married  in  Holmes 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  trip  back  to  Howard  County, 
Indiana,  was  made  by  wagon.  The  first  home  was  a 
log  house  in  Howard  County.  From  there  in  1874 
the  parents  of  John  J.  Troyer  moved  to  LaGrange 
County  and  settled  in  Newbury  Township,  where 
the  father  bought  220  acres  in  the  woods,  north  of 
the  Pleasant  View  schoolhouse.  He  and  wife  spent 
the  greater  part  of  their  lives  on  that  place,  but 
subsequently  moved  to  Elkhart  County,  where  Jere- 
miah Troyer  died  in  i8g6,  having  survived  his  wife 
three  years.  They  had  the  following  children : 
Cornelius,  who  was  born  in  Holmes  County,  spent 
the  most  of  his  life  on  the  farm  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship ; Lydia,  who  was  in  Howard  County,  Indiana, 
married  Jerry  Yoder;  Mary,  who  lives  in  Newbury 
Township,  is  the  widow  of  Tobias  David  Yoder; 
Sarah,  who  died  in  Marion  County,  Kansas,  was 
the  wife  of  Edward  Shock;  Susan,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Samuel  S.  Esch,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana;  Samuel  E., 
who  lives  at  Elkhart,  formerly  lived  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County;  Barbara,  who  is  the  wife 
of  P.  S.  Schrock,  of  Marion  County,  Kansas ; 
Paulina,  who  died  in  early  womanhood;  Jeremiah, 
who  lives  at  Chateau,  Oklahoma ; Elizabeth,  who 
was  the  wife  of  J.  D.  Troyer,  and  died  in  Johnson 
County,  Iowa;  Abraham,  who  died  in  infancy;  John 


352 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


J.,  who  resides  in  Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County; 
Moses  J.,  who  lives  in  Ford  County,  Kansas;  and 
David  J.,  who  lives  at  Midland,  Michigan.  The 
parents  were  members  of  the  Mennonite  faith  and 
all  their  children  embraced  the  same. 

John  J.  Troyer  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
obtained  a public  school  education.  He  started  out 
for  himself  without  capital,  and  all  he  has  he 
earned  through  his  own  industry.  His  business  all 
his  life  has  been  along  agricultural  lines  and  he  has 
profited  through  experience.  He  now  owns  170 
acres  of  exceptionally  fine  land  and  has  increased  its 
value  through  excellent  improvements,  his  farm 
buildings  all  being  convenient  and  substantial.  He 
gives  much  attention  to  grain  growing  and  raises 
standard  stock. 

Mr.  Troyer  was  married  on  November  13,  1893,  to 
Miss  Sophia  Hostetter,  who  is  a daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Katie  (Mehl)  Hostetter,  the  latter  of  whom 
died  in  1919.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Troyer  have  had  chil- 
dren as  follows:  Naoma,  who  is  the  wife  of  Mahlon 
C.  Esch,  and  they  have  an  adopted  child,  Gerald ; 
Viola  and  Orpha,  both  of  whom  died  in  infancy; 
Minnie,  who  is  a teacher,  is  a graduate  of  the  high 
school  and  Goshen  College ; Howard,  who  is  in  the 
senior  class  of  the  Shipshewana  High  School;  and 
Nora  May  and  Bessie,  who  have  made  fine  records 
in  the  public  school.  Like  his  father,  Mr.  Troyer 
is  a republican  in  his  political  opinions.  He  is  a 
highly  respected  citizen  of  LaGrange  County. 

Daton  H.  Long.  The  family  of  which  Daton  H. 
Long  is  a representative  has  been  in  LaGrange 
County  for  over  half  a century,  and  Mr.  Long’s 
personal  relations  here  have  been  chiefly  with  farm- 
ing, and  for  a number  of  years  also  with  the  good 
and  public-spirited  citizenship  of.  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship. 

He  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 8,  1857,  a son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Bair)  Long, 
the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter 
of  Ohio.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  and  came  to 
LaGrange  County  in  1861,  in  the  spring,  settling  on 
a large  tract  of  prairie  and  timber  in  Greenfield 
Township.  Daniel  Long  became  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  and  land  owners  of  the  county.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  his  possessions  aggregated  1,430  acres. 
He  died  at  the  old  home  in  Greenfield  Township, 
September  14.  1889,  aged  sixty-eight  years,  and  his 
widow  passed  away  August  29,  1915.  He  was  quite 
active  in  republican  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife 
were  members  of  the  Dunkard  Church.  Their  chil- 
dren were:  Mary,  wife  of  Daniel  Blasus ; Benjamin; 
Rebecca,  wife  of  John  Stierenagle ; David  J. ; Sarah, 
wife  of  Adolph  Segrist ; Phoebe  Jane;  Daton  H.; 
and  Vesta,  wife  of  Ellis  Rowe. 

Daton  H.  Long  was  four  years  old  when  the  fam- 
ily came  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  grew  up  on 
the  homestead  in  Greenfield  Township.  He  attended 
district  school,  the  high  school  at  Mongo  and  had 
a business  course  in  Chicago.  His  first  independent 
efforts  as  a farmer  were  made  on  eighty  acres  which 
he  bought  in  Lima  Township.  Later  he  bought 
97/4  acres  in  Greenfield  Township,  and  traded  that 
for  forty  acres,  where  he  now  lives  in  Bloomfield 
Township.  Since  coming  here  his  possessions  have 
grown  and  they  now  aggregate  146  acres.  He  has 
also  remodeled  the  house  and  the  barn  and  has  a 
fine  barn,  40  by  52  feet.  For  eighteen  years  he  and 
his  brother  David  were  associated  in  the  stock  ship- 
ping business.  Mr.  Long  is  a republican,  and  his 
wife  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

October  21,  1880,  he  married  Miss  Sabra  B.  Stacy. 
She  was  born  in  Lima  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  October  25,  1861,  a daughter  of  Nelson  and 
Laurette  (Anderson)  Stacy,  early  settlers  of  La- 


Grange County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  have  five  chil- 
dren : Mabel  Clare,  who  is  the  wife  of  Albert  J. 

Balkee  and  has  a daughter,  Vera  Mabel;  Harry  D., 
who  married  Bertha  M.  Rennert,  of  Oshkosh,  Wis- 
consin; Hazel,  who  died  in  infancy;  Mahlon,  who 
married  Ruth  Myers ; and  Morse,  who  died  in 
infancy. 

John  C.  McCoy  has  a large  and  well  kept  farm 
in  Bloomfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  and 
his  family  have  many  interesting  connections  with 
past  history. 

Mr.  McCoy  was  born  on  the  old  McCoy  place, 
now  included  in  the  city  limits  of  LaGrange,  July 
30,  i860,  a son  of  Mathew  and  Hannah  (Ferguson) 
McCoy.  His  father  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1823  and 
his  mother  in  Pennsylvania  in  1821.  Mathew  McCoy 
moved  to  LaGrange  County  in  1856  with  his  parents. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  McCoy,  who  settled  in  Bloom- 
field, just  north  of  LaGrange,  on  160  acres  of  land. 
Thomas  McCoy  and  wife  spent  their  last  years  there. 

Mathew  McCoy  received  his  early  education  in 
Ohio,  and  from  LaGrange  County  he  went  back  to 
that  state  to  claim  his  bride  and  brought  her  to  the 
farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  and  lived  on  the  old 
homestead  there  until  his  death  in  1901.  His  wife 
died  in  1905.  They  were  among  the  original  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  LaGrange  and 
contributed  liberally  to  the  erection  of  the  first 
building.  In  politics  he  was  a republican  and  at  one 
time  was  appointed  to  fill  out  an  unexpired  term  as 
county  treasurer.  Their  children  were : Mary, 

deceased;  Walter,  John  C.,  William  E. ; and  Jennie, 
deceased. 

John  C.  McCoy  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  and 
was  educated  at  LaGrange.  Since  early  manhood 
he  has  owned  several  tracts  of  land,  and  bought  his 
present  farm  of  174  acres  in  Bloomfield  Township 
in  1006.  One  hundred  and  nine  acres  of  this  tract 
was  the  old  Westbrook  Farm.  This  land  is  devoted 
to  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  in  the  past 
twelve  or  thirteen  years  many  improvements  have 
been  added,  including  a barn  46x72  feet,  a silo  12x30 
and  other  equipment  in  keeping. 

Mr.  McCoy  is  a republican  and  has  served  as 
trustee  of  Bloomfield  Township  one  term.  He  and 
his  wife  are  active  and  interested  members  of  the 
LaGrange  County  Horticultural  Society. 

October  18,  1883,  Mr.  McCoy  married  Miss  Rowena 
Repine.  She  was  born  at  Wolcottville  May  6,  1862, 
a daughter  of  John  C.  and  Margaret  (Vine)  Repine. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  have  five  children : Hugh, 

who  was  educated  in  the  LaGrange  public  schools, 
took  a commercial  course  at  Janesville,  Wisconsin, 
and  for  several  years  has  been  a railroad  man  with 
home  in  Montana.  He  married  Serena  Taft.  Hazel, 
the  second  in  the  family,  is  a graduate  of  the  La- 
Grange High  School  and  is  a graduate  nurse  from 
the  Presbyterian  Hospital  of  Chicago  and  since 
graduation  has  been  identified  with  that  institution, 
for  the  past  two  years  being  a skilled  attendant  in 
the  operating  room.  Margaret  is  also  a high  school 
graduate  and  taught  school  for  two  years  before 
her  marriage  to  Vern  Shelly.  Mr.  Shelly  is  the 
active  head  of  the  McCoy  farm  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship. He  and  his  wife  have  one  daughter,  Dorothy. 
John  C.  McCoy,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1901  and  graduated 
from  the  LaGrange  High  School  in  1919.  Arthur, 
the  youngest  child,  was  born  in  1903  and  is  now  in 
the  second  year  of  the  Bloomfield  Township  High 
School. 

Mrs.  McCoy’s  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1831  and  her  mother  in  Ohio  in  1832.  Though  more 
than  forty  years  of  age  at  the  time,  John  C.  Repine 
enlisted  in  Company  A of  the  First  Indiana  Heavy 
Artillery  in  1864,  and  was  with  that  command  during 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


353 


the  last  year  of  the  Civil  war.  He  was  discharged 
August  8,  1865.  He  went  to  Ohio  with  his  parents 
and  later  came  to  Noble  County,  Indiana,  where  he 
and.  his  wife  were  married.  Soon  afterward  they 
moved  to  South  Milford,  where  he  worked  at  his 
trade  as  a machinist,  and  four  years  later  settled 
at  Wolcottville  and  still  later  at  Rome  City,  where 
he  died  in  1906.  Mrs.  McCoy’s  mother  died  in 
1910.  Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  Church. 
Mrs.  McCoy  was  the  youngest  of  four  children,  the 
others  being  Clinton  E.,  Emma,  wife  of  Cassius 
Markham,  and  Cora  B.,  wife  of  Dr.  Charles  Niman. 

Arteman  A.  Stallman,  whose  busy  career  as  a 
farmer  in  York  Township  has  made  him  well  known 
throughout  Steuben  County,  has  spent  many  years 
in  this  county  and  was  also  formerly  a druggist  at 
South  Bend,  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  August  9,  1852,  a 
son  of  Frederick  E.  and  Elizabeth  (Rupp)  Stall- 
man.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Westphalia, 
Germany,  April  2,  1819,  came  to  America  in  1841, 
locating  at  Bucyrus,  Ohio,  where  he  operated  a 
butcher  shop  for  over  sixteen  years.  On  October 
4,  1844,  he  married  Elizabeth  Rupp,  who  was  born 
at  York,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  June  16,  1853.  About 
1857  Frederick  E.  Stallman  moved  to  York  Town- 
ship in  Steuben  County,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life  as  a farmer.  He  died  June  7,  1871.  He  and  his 
first  wife  had  the  following  children : Ann  Eliza- 

beth, born  April  23,  1846,  and  died  April  29,  1846; 
John  Henry,  born  May  3,  1847,  died  April  3,  1852; 
Charles  William,  born  April  13,  1850;  and  Arteman 
A.  On  March  4,  1856,  Frederick  Stallman  married 
Louise  Underwood.  She  died  April  22,  1857,  the 
. day  after  the  birth  of  her  only  child,  Lydia  Gertrude. 
The  daughter  was  born  April  21,  1857,  and  died 
February  10,  1912.  On  October  7,  1858,  Frederick 
Stallman  married  Rachel  Handley.  She  was  born 
November  15,  1828.  Her  children  were  four  in 
number,  Esther  Lillie,  born  August  19,  1859,  and 
died  May  13,  1862;  Elmer  Edwin,  born  August  30, 
1862;  Lettie  Jane,  born  October  24,  1863,  and  died 
February  2,  1886;  and  David  Casper,  born  January 
18,  1867. 

Arteman  A.  Stallman  when  ten  months  old  was 
taken  by  his  uncle,  Dr.  P.  E.  Rupp,  to  rear,  and  un- 
til he  was  two  years  old  he  lived  with  his  grand- 
mother Rupp.  Doctor  Rupp  marrying  at  that  time 
took  the  boy  into  his  home.  Doctor  Rupp  was  a 
resident  of  South  Bend,  and  there  Arteman  Stall- 
man  acquired  his  education  in  the  public  schools. 
From  the  age  of  fourteen  to  twenty-two  he  worked 
in  his  uncle’s  drug  store  at  South  Bend  and  ac- 
quired a thorough  knowledge  of  the  drug  business. 

On  June  1,  1875,  Mr.  Stallman  married  Catharine 
Harriett  Wood,  a daughter  of  George  A.  and  Har- 
riet R.  (Ranstead)  Wood.  Following  his  marriage 
he  moved  to  a farm  in  York  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  but  after  five  years  returned  to  South  Bend 
and  was  identified  with  his  uncle’s  drug  store  for 
two  years.  Since  1883  he  has  been  steadily  identified 
with  farming  and  at  his  present  location.  He  also 
erected  a building  and  put  in  a good  stock  of  general 
merchandise  and  for  five  years  he  operated  a huck- 
ster wagon  during  the  summer  months.  In  1887  he 
ran  a store  at  York  and  was  postmaster  there  one 
year.  After  that  he  combined  the  operation  of  his 
home  farm  with  his  store.  In  1894  he  moved  to 
section  20  in  that  township  and  in  the  spring  of  1901 
bought  the  place  where  he  still  lives  in  that  section. 
He  owns  135  acres  and  does  general  farming  and 
stock  raising.  Mr.  and  • Mrs.  Stallman  had  four 
children:  Mabel  L.,  who  died  June  29,  1919,  was  the 
wife  of  A.  L.  Phillips;  Aclelia  A.,  who  married  Fred 
Tol.  11—23 


D.  Rowe  and  has  four  children,  Victor  Loomis, 
Harlon  Dolores,  Freda  Doris  and  Frederick  Arte- 
man; Edward  Rupp,  who  married  Neva  Keys;  and 
Muriel  Dolores.  Mrs.  Stallman  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

Homer  A.  Barker.  Among  the  good  farms  of 
Noble  County  one  that  deserves  notice  on  account  of 
its  improvement  and  superior  management,  and  is 
also  representative  of  the  industry  and  effective 
work  of  a very  capable  citizen,  is  that  of  Homer  A. 
Barker  on  rural  route  No.  1 in  Wayne  Township. 

Mr.  Barker  has  been  identified  with  this  section 
of  Northeast  Indiana  all  his  life.  He  was  born  in 
Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
December  8,  1867.  His  parents  were  John  and  Han- 
nah (McMillen)  Barker.  John  Barker  was  born  in 
England  in  June,  1828.  Seven  weeks  after  his  birth 
his  parents  were  members  of  a small  colony  that  left 
England,  there  being  seven  families  and  seven 
brothers.  After  a voyage  across  the  ocean  they 
landed  at  New  York,  where  the  parents  sojourned  a 
short  time  and  then  moved  west  to  Cleveland.  John 
Barker  grew  up  in  northern  Ohio,  and  for  several 
years  was  employed  as  a boatman  on  the  canal  be- 
tween Cleveland  and  the  southern  part  of  that  state. 
He  was  married  at  Newburg,  now  a suburb  of 
Cleveland.  In  1862  he  came  to  Indiana  and  located 
in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  Three 
years  later  he  moved  to  Steuben  County,  and  that 
was  his  home  the  rest  of  his  life.  He  was  a demo- 
crat in  politics.  Of  the  seven  children  six  are  still 
living:  P.  A.  is  the  one  deceased;  N.  N.  Barker 

lives  at  Kendallville ; William,  of  Fort  Wayne; 
Harry,  of  LaGrange;  Josephine,  widow  of  A.  T. 
Balote;  Homer  A.;  and  Cora  A.,  wife  of  Arthur 
Cook,  of  Three  Rivers,  Michigan. 

^ Homer  A.  Barker  grew  up  on  the  old  farm  in 
Steuben  * County  and  _ was  educated  in  the  public 
. schools  there.  He  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of 
twenty-seven.  December  5,  1894,  he  married  Nettie 
Emerick.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  Township,  of 
Noble  County,  March  26,  1872,  daughter  of  J.  W. 
and  Phemia  (Smith)  Emerick,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  Mrs.  Barker  grew  up  on  a farm 
in  Wayne  Township  and  was  educated  in  the  com- 
mon schools. 

Since  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barker  have 
been  successfully  engaged  in  farming  in  Wayne 
Township,  and  his  ample  farm  now  comprises  200 
acres,  well  cultivated  and  well  stocked  and  improved. 

They  have  three  children : Clifford  J.  and  Mildred 
R.,  in  high  school,  and  Carl  D.  Mr.  Barker  is  a 
member  of  South  Milford  Lodge  No.  619  of  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  is  past 
noble  grand,  has  sat  in  the  Grand  Lodge,  and  is  also 
a member  of  the  Encampment  degrees.  Both  he 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Rebekahs.  Politi- 
cally he  votes  as  a democrat. 

Thomas  Clark  Benson.  One  of  the  beautiful 
homes  of  DeKalb  County  is  Birdlawn  Farm,  situated 
in  Richland  Township,  the  property  of  Thomas 
Clark  Benson..  It  is  the  old  family  homestead  of 
the  Hine.  family,  and  its  name,  together  with  that 
of  the  adjoining  farm,  Meadow  Lark,  which  also  is 
a part  of  the  Hine  family  estate,  serves  to  per- 
petuate the  beautiful  memory  of  a gifted  woman, 
the  late  Mrs.  Jane  L.  Hine,  mother  of  Mrs.  Benson, 
known  in  Indiana  history  as  the  “Bird  Woman.” 

Thomas  Clark  Benson  was  born  in  Warren 
County,  Indiana.  His  parents,  Jonathan  and  Eliza 
(Jones)  Benson,  died  when  he  was  very  young, 
and  he  was  reared  in  the  Ankrum  family  in  Ver- 
milion . Comfiy,  Illinois.  He  had  one  brother  and 
four  sisters,  namely:  Asbury,  Mary  Jane,  Eliza- 


354 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


beth,  Matilda  and  Lydia.  The  only  survivor  is 
Mrs.  Matilda  Nichols,  whose  name  is  at  Weather- 
ford, Oklahoma.  Mr.  Benson  was  afforded  educa- 
tional opportunities  and  for  a number  of  years 
taught  school  very  acceptably,  then  began  study  for 
the  ministry,  pursuing  theological  courses  at  Union 
Christian  College,  Merom,  Indiana,  and  Oberlin 
Theological  Seminary  at  Oberlin,  Ohio.  It  was  at 
Oberlin  that  he  met  Miss  Nellie  Cynthia  Hine,  to 
whom  he  was  united  in  marriage  on  March  26,  1884, 
at  Birdlawn,  the  present  family  home. 

When  Mrs.  Benson’s  grandfather,  Sheldon  Ho- 
ratio Hine,  first  invested  in  this  half  section  of 
Richland  Township  wild  land  he  traded  thirty  milch 
cows  for  it,  at  the  time  living  in  the  Western  Re- 
serve across  the  Indiana-Ohio  state  line,  buying  this 
property  as  an  investment.  When  he  sent  his  son, 
Horatio  Sheldon  Hine,  to  pay  the  taxes  the  young 
man,  then  nineteen  years  old,  did  not  regard  it  as 
worth  the  money,  but  his  father  said,  “Young  man, 
some  day  you  will  be  glad  to  have  it.”  Since  1863 
Birdlawn  has  been  a part  of  the  estate  now  owned 
by  Mr.  Benson.  When  Horatio  S.  Hine  came  to 
pay  the  taxes  he  found  conditions  that  would  have 
justified  almost  any  business  man  entering  a pro- 
test. He  found  a swamp  instead  of  a farm  and  the 
sink  hole  in  it  was  so  deep  that  for  many  years  the 
New  York  Central  Railroad  passing  through  Water- 
loo, Sedan  and  Corunna,  had  to  make  a detour  in 
order  to  avoid  it.  A road  bed  through  the  sink  hole 
was  finally  made  by  hauling  timber  from  three 
states,  Indiana,  Michigan  and  Ohio,  laying  tier  on 
tier  on  the  ice,  subsequent  draining  making  it  pos- 
sible to  make  a solid  permanent  roadway.  The 
above  is  interesting  as  local  as  well  as  family 
history. 

While  a brother  of  Horatio  Sheldon  Hine,  Lemon 
Hine,  first  came  to  this  DeKalb  County  farmstead 
and  remained  long  .enough  to  build  the  houSe  which 
still  stands  there,  it  was  Horatio  S.  Hine  who  de- 
veloped the  farm,  and  it  is  his  grandson,  Martin  Lee 
Benson,  who  at  present  maintains  its  standing  in 
agricultural  pre-eminence.  Horatio  S.  Hine  was 
twice  married,  his  first  union  being  with  Cynthia 
Brooks,  who  was  the  mother  of  three  sons : Sheldon 
H.,  Charles  L.  and  Ffank  B.  After  her  death  Mr. 
Hine  married  her  sister,  Jane  L.  Brooks,  who  be- 
came the  mother  of  three  children,  namely:  Mrs. 

Nellie  Cynthia  Benson,  Brooks  L.  and  Lemon.  The 
mother  of  Mrs.  Benson  was  born  April  2,  1831,  and 
died  February  11,  1916,  the  centennial  year  in  In- 
diana history.  With  a natural  love  of  nature,  Mrs. 
Hine  beautified  the  hill  slope  in  front  of  the  farm- 
house by  setting  out  wild  flowers  and  it  has  been 
Mrs.  Benson’s  pleasant  duty  to  protect  and  preserve 
them.  It  was  not,  however,  until  she  had  faithfully 
discharged  her  duties  as  wife  and  mother  that  Mrs. 
Hine  began  her  special  studies  of  bird  life,  and  some 
of  her  finest  essays  were  written  after  she  had 
passed  three  score  and  ten.  She  was  frequently 
invited  to  address  audiences  on  bird  lore,  wrote 
voluminously  on  the  subject  for  different  publica- 
tions and  many  of  her  manuscripts  are  preserved  and 
consulted  as  being  scientifically  authentic.  She  was 
a member  of  the  National  Ornithological  Society, 
and  a booklet  has  been  issued  as  a memorial. 

For  several  years  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Benson 
continued  in  the  ministry,  serving  Christian  churches 
in  Kansas,  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio.  In  1896,  coming 
to  Birdlawn  with  Mrs.  Benson  to  visit  her  parents 
and  finding  them  in  need  of  a daughter’s  ministra- 
tions, he  decided  to  remain,  and  this  has  been  the 
Benson  home  ever  since.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benson 
have  the  following  children : Paul  Hine,  Martin 

Lee,  Rhoda  Bernice,  Kathryn  Eunice  and  Frank 
Earl.  As  a student  in  Angola  College  Paul  H. 


Benson  specialized  in  literature  and  chemistry.  As 
a soldier  in  the  state  military  organization  sent  to 
the  Mexican  border,  he  soon  became  an  interpreter 
of  languages,  and  his  knowledge  of  chemistry  has 
been  very  useful  to  him  in  a business  way  at  Sagi- 
naw, Michigan,  since  he  returned  from  military 
service.  Martin  Lee  Benson  made  a special  study 
of  agriculture  and  is  the  farmer  at  Birdlawn.  Rhoda 
B.  is  the  wife  of  J.  H.  Miser  and  they  live  on  their 
fruit  ranch  in  California.  They  have  two  sons, 
Harold  and  Glenn.  Kathryn  E.  Benson,  a graduate 
of  the  Auburn  High  School,  had  training  in  the 
Oklahoma  College  of  Agriculture,  and  for  several 
years  taught  school  in  Wyoming.  Frank  Earl  Ben- 
son, who  was  one  of  the  earliest  enlisted  men  to  go 
overseas  with  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces 
in  the  World  war,  served  as  orderly  to  Dr.  Richard 
Derby,  son-in-law  of  the  late  beloved  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  and  at  Chateau  Thierry  and  other  points 
was  between  the  lines  in  the  hardest  of  the  fighting 
and  ever  exhibited  the  valor  that  has  won  laurels 
for  the  American  soldier.  This  family  in  all  its 
branches  illustrates  the  sterling  qualities,  high  ideals 
and  solid  worth  that  make  the  real  American  type. 

V.  D.  Weaver.  In  the  citizenship  of  LaGrange 
County  few  men  have  played  a more  active  and 
varied  part  in  the  last  twenty-five  or  thirty  years 
than  V.  D.  Weaver,  whose  name  is  associated  with 
a number  of  important  enterprises,  and  is  also  well 
known  in  public  affairs  through  his  long  service  as 
county  auditor.  While  he  is  a man  of  many  inter- 
ests, he  is  usually  found  in  business  hours  in  the 
National  Bank  at  LaGrange,  of  which  he  is  president. 

He  was  born  in  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  July  26,  1869,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth 
(Yoder)  Weaver.  His  father  was  born  near  Johns- 
town, Pennsylvania,  January  9,  1832,  and  his  mother 
in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  May  30,  1842. 
They  were  reared  in  Pennsylvania,  were  married 
there  on  December  5,  1861,  and  about  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war,  in  1864  or  1865,  came  to  Newbury 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  They  bought  a 
farm,  lived  on  it  a short  time,  and  then  bought  an- 
other place  in  the  same  township,  where  they  spent 
the  rest  of  their  industrious  and  useful  lives.  The 
mother  died  July  10,  1886,  and  the  father  April  8, 
1915.  They  were  lifelong  members  of  the  Men- 
nonite  Church.  Their  family  consisted  of  eleven 
children,  ten  of  whom  are  still  living.  Willis  died 
after  his  marriage.  Those  still  living  are : Cather- 

ine, wife  of  Jonathan  Farver;  Daniel,  connected  with 
the  LaGrange  Hardware  Company;  Nancy,  wife  of 
George  Nelson ; V.  D. ; Mahlon,  a farmer  in  New- 
bury Township;  Mary,  wife  of  Harry  J.  Hostetler, 
of  Newbury  Township;  Silas,  a farmer  in  Bloom- 
field Township;  Susan,  wife  of  Milo  Miller,  of 
Michigan ; Elizabeth,  wife  of  William  E.  Hoffman, 
of  Kent  County,  Michigan ; and  Rose,  wife  of 
Lorenzo  Blough,  of  Windber,  Pennsylvania. 

V.  D.  Weaver  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
LaGrange  County,  attended  the  district  schools  and 
later  graduated  in  a business  course  from  Valpa- 
raiso University.  On  returning  to  LaGrange  he  was 
connected  with  the  Farver  Brothers  lumber  busi- 
ness for  fifteen  years,  and  he  is  still  a director  of 
the  Farver  Lumber  Company.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  interested  himself  in  public  affairs,  and  being 
recognized  as  a man  of  capability  and  good  judg- 
ment was  elected  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  trustee 
of  Newbury  Township.  He  served  the  long  term. 
In  December,  1903,  he  was  appointed  to  fill  out  an 
unexpired  term  of  one  month  in  the  county  auditor’s 
office,  and  on  January  x,  1904,  entered  that  office  by 
formal  election,  serving  four  years,  and  was  then 
re-elected  and  held  the  reins  of  administration  until 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


355 


January  I,  1911,  when  he  retired  with  a splendid 
record  to  his  credit.  In  1910  he  had  been  elected 
assistant  cashier  of  the  National  Bank  of  LaGrange 
and  on  January  1,  1911,  he  entered  upon  his  duties 
in  that  position,  serving  as  cashier  until  July  1, 
1919,  when  he  became  president  of  the  bank. 

Mr.  Weaver  is  also  a director  of  the  Weldman 
State  Bank,  of  the  LaGrange  Hardware  Company, 
and  is  connected  with  a number  of  local  organiza- 
tions. He  is  treasurer  of  the  LaGrange  Commercial 
Club,  treasurer  of  the  Red  Cross,  president  of  the 
LaGrange  School  Board,  is  Sunday  school  treasurer 
and  a steward  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
and  is  treasurer  of  the  Republican  County  Central 
Committee.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

December  22,  1895,  Mr.  Weaver  married  Elora 
Frazier.  She  was  born  at  Nappanee,  Indiana, 
November  21,  1875,  and  died  January  8,  1910.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Weaver  had  four  children : G.  Hobert,  a 
graduate  of  high  school  and  of  the  Valparaiso  Com- 
mercial College,  was  cashier  of  the  Weldman  State 
Bank  for  eighteen  months  and  then  left  civil  life  to 
give  his  services  to  the  Government,  and  was  con- 
nected with  the  mechanical  department  in  the  great 
ship  building  plant  at  Newport  News.  Benjamin 
M.,  the  second  son,  is  a traveling  salesman  for 
Coppes  Brothers  & Zook,  cabinet  manufacturers  at 
Nappanee,  Indiana.  The  two  younger  children  are 
David  F.  and  Ruth  Pauline,  both  public  school 
students. 

William  Fair  was  long  and  favorably  known  in 
LaGrange  County,  was  an  old  Union  soldier,  and 
for  half  a century  was  identified  with  the  agricul- 
tural community  of  Springfield  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  in 
1844,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  (Weaver)  Fair.  His 
parents  were  both  born  in  Pennsylvania,  were  mar- 
ried in  Ohio  and  in  1866  came  to  LaGrange  County 
and  located  in  Springfield  Township,  where  they 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land.  Later  they  bought 
twenty  acres  more  in  the  same  township,  and  on 
that  place  spent  the  rest  of  their  lives.  The  father 
was  born  March  11,  1818,  and  died  August  28,  1871. 
The  mother  was  born  July  14,  1823,  and  died  De- 
cember 23,  1908,  at  the  age  of  eighty-five.  The 
record  of  their  children  is  as  follows : Charles, 

born  April  25,  1842,  and  died  August  18,  1842; 
Hannah,  born  July  7,  1843;  William,  born  October 
12,  1844,  and  died  August  6,  1916,  his  older  sister 
Hannah  surviving  him  and  passing  away  September 
28,  1917;  Elizabeth,  born  May  17,  1846;  Ephraim, 
born  March  26,  1848,  and  died  September  29,  1875; 
Manasses,  born  August  24,  1850;  Eston,  born  Sep- 
tember 1,  1853 1 Nathaniel,  born  March  9,  1855,  and 
died  July  17,  1861 ; Emanuel,  born  October  10,  i860, 
and  died  July  3,  1880;  and  Dora  Ellen,  born  Febru- 
ary 11,  1867. 

William  Fair  was  reared  in  Ohio,  attended  the 
public  schools  there,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
October  3,  1864,  enlisted  in  Company  E of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-Second  Ohio  Infantry.  He 
was  a private  during  the  latter  period  of  the  war 
and  was  granted  his  honorable  discharge  July  7, 
1865.  Soon  afterward  he  assisted  his  father  in 
buying  the  land  in  LaGrange  County,  and  he  took 
twenty  acres  there  where  his  widow  still  lives.  He 
lived  there  until  his  death  and  the  family  homestead 
now  consists  of  forty  acres.  William  Fair  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  was  public  spirited,  a kind 
neighbor  and  friend,  and  led  a wholesome  and  un- 
selfish life. 

October  24,  1881,  he  married  Sophia  Rasler.  Mrs. 
Fair  was  born  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  October 
15,  1855,  a daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Neff) 


Rasler,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  father 
was  born  in  1808  and  her  mother  in  1814.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio,  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
at  an  early  age,  and  in  1857  moved  to  LaGrange 
County  and  located  in  Springfield  Township.  Her 
father  for  a time  rented  the  Wash  Greenfield  Farm 
and  then  bought  twenty  acres  in  Milford  Township, 
moving  to  that  place  in  1862.  Her  father  died  there 
September  10,  1882,  and  her  mother  June  3,  1892. 
In  the  Rasler  family  were  nine  children : Daniel, 

born  July  27,  1835,  and  died  April  30,  1917;  David, 
born  November  18,  1837,  and  died  September  8, 
1841 ; Philip  Noah,  born  May  13,  1840,  and  died 
March  30,  1904;  John,  born  December  2,  1842,  and 
died  November  26,  1900;  George,  born  December 
22,  1845,  and  died  February  20,  1846;  Aaron,  born 
October  22,  1848,  and  died  March  15,  i860;  Mary 
Ann,  his  twin  sister,  born  October  22,  1848,  and 
died  July  7,  1894;  Gilbert,  born  June  15,  1851,  died 
July  23,  1862;  and  Sophia,  Mrs.  Fair,  who  is  the 
youngest  of  the  family,  born  October  15,  1855. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fair  had  four  children : George, 

the  oldest,  was  born  November  6,  1882,  was  educated 
in  the  high  school  at  Mongo,  and  now  works  the 
home  farm.  Celestia,  born  April  24,  1886,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  eighth  grade  and  the  Mongo  High 
School.  Ellen,  born  September  27,  1888,  died  in  in- 
fancy. Stella,  the  youngest  daughter,  was  born 

April  24,  1893,  and  completed  the  work  of  the  grade 
schools  and  the  Mongo  High  School,  attended  the 
LaGrange  High  School  and  the  Tri-State  College 
at  Angola,  and  was  a successful  teacher  in  North 
Dakota  until  she  married  Lewis  O.  Magnus.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Magnus  live  near  Sterling,  North  Dakota, 
and  have  one  child,  Chester  Irvin. 

Bart  Hanselman.  A new  flag  has  been  added  to 
those  of  our  country  during  the  past  couple  of 
years,  and  it  hung  in  the  windows  of  homes  all  over 
the  land  while  those  whom  the  service  stars  repre- 
sented were  serving  in  the  different  branches  of  the 
army  and  navy  during  the  great  war.  Although  the 
majority  of  these  flags  are  now  carefully  stored 
away  among  the  precious  mementoes  of  the  families 
to  whom  they  belonged,  the  boys  being  happily  so 
many  of  them  back  on  our  own  shores,  they  will 
never  be  forgotten  or  what  they  represent  held  in 
light  esteem.  Steuben  County  sent  the  very  flower 
of  its  young  manhood  to  France  to  do  battle  against 
a common  enemy,  and  its  soldiers  of  this  war  rank 
with  those  of  the  old  soldiers  of  the  Civil  war  still 
answering  to  roll  call  in  the  flesh.  One  of  the 
patriotic  families  who  is  proud  of  the  fact  that  one 
went  out  from  their  home  in  response  to  the  call  of 
the  Government  is  that  bearing  the  name  of  Hansel- 
man,  of  whom  Bart  Hanselman  is  one  of  the  pros- 
perous farmers  of  Otsego  Township. 

Bart  Hanselman  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  the  City  of  Angola, 
September  25,  1865,  a son  of  John  Q.  and  Margaret 
(Kankamp)  Hanselman,  and  grandson  of  Aaron  and 
Christina  (Read)  Hanselman,  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  became  pioneers  of  Steuben  County,  lo- 
cating in  Steuben  Township  at  a very  early  day  and 
developing  a valuable  farm  from  the  wilderness. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  John  Q.,  George, 

Lynn,  Elizabeth,  Eliza,  David,  Peter,  Daniel  and 
Lewis. 

John  Q.  Hanselman  was  born  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  January  25,  1836,  and  he  died  January 
19,  1918,  in  Otsego  Township.  His  wife  was  born 
at  Bremen,  Germany,  April  4,  1841,  and  died  in 
Otsego  Township,  June  17,  1907.  She  was  a daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Lucile  Kankamp.  In  young  man- 
hood John  Q.  Hanselman  was  engaged  in  teaming 


356 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


from  Waterloo  to  Angola  but  later  bought  140  acres 
of  land  on  section  5,  Otsego  Township.  After  the 
death  of  his  wife  he  lived  at  the  home  of  his  son 
Clarence  Hanselman,  but  died  at  the  home  of  his 
son  Bart.  Their  children  were  as  follows : Flor- 

ence, who  died  in  childhood ; Bart,  whose  name 
heads  this  review;  Lillie,  who  married  Harvey  Har- 
man; Morton;  and  Clarence. 

Bart  Hanselman  attended  the  local  schools  of 
Otsego  Township  and  grew  up  amid  healthy  sur- 
roundings, learning  to  be  useful  on  his  father’s  farm. 
On  December  24,  1890,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Jennie  McMillan,  born  in  Scott  Township, 
Steuben  County,  a daughter  of  George  and  Mar- 
garet Jane  (Magers)  McMillan,  the  former  born 
in  Livona,  Cattaraugus  County,  New  York,  March  7, 
1831,  and  the  latter  born  in  Marion  County,  Ohio, 
March  23,  1832.  The  paternal  grandfather  of  Mrs. 
Hanselman,  John  McMillan,  came  to  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, Indiana,  about  1836,  and  was  one  of  the  first  set- 
tlers of  Scott  Township,  there  entering  eighty  acres 
of  wild  land,  on  which  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  His  children  were  as  follows : Jane,  Mary, 

Annania,  George  and  John.  George  McMillan  be- 
came a farmer  of  Scott  Township,  owning  forty 
acres  of  land,  on  which  he  lived  practically  all  of 
his  life.  He  died  in  1904,  his  widow  surviving  him 
until  February  24,  1916.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Elva,  Melvin,  Olive  and  Jennie.  The 

mother  of  Mrs.  Hanselman,  Margaret  Jane  (Mag- 
ers) McMillan,  was  the  daughter  of  Peter  and  Eliza- 
beth (Ramsey)  Magers.  Peter  Magers  located  in 
Scott  Township  in  1836,  there  entering  land,  but 
went  back  to  Ohio  for  his  family,  and  they  spent 
the  remainder  of  their  lives  in  this  township. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Hanselman  began  farming 
in  Scott  Township,  remaining  there  for  nine  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Fremont  Township  and  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  for  three  years.  In  1903  he  bought 
his  present  farm  of  144)4  acres  of  land  in  section  6, 
Otsego  Township  and  Scott  Township.  This  farm 
is  one  of  the  best  improved  in  his  locality,  and  his 
buildings  are  in  fine  condition.  Here  he  is  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Hanselman  have  had  the  following  children  born  to 
them.  Nola  M.,  is  a graduate  of  the  Angola  High 
School,  also  attended  the  Tri-State  College,  of  An- 
gola for  two  terms,  and  then  taught  the  school  of 
district  No.  5 in  Otsego  Township  for  one  year.  She 
was  then  married  to  Carl  Henney,  and  they  have  a 
daughter,  Eileen  Jeanette.  Robert  B.  attended  the 
Angola  High  School  and  the  International  Business 
College,  of  which  he  was  a graduate,  and  entered  the 
United  States  navy  and  saw  service  in  England  and 
France  in  the  paymaster’s  department  of  the  yeomen. 
The  Hanselmans  and  all  their  connections  are 
among  the  very  early  settlers  of  Steuben  County, 
and  to  them  and  theirs  is  due  the  credit  of  develop- 
ing much  wild  land  and  laying  the  foundations  for 
the  present  prosperity  and  improvements  which  are 
such  marked  features  of  this  rich  agricultural  region. 
These  pioneers  endured  much  in  the  way  of  hard- 
ships and  privations,  but  they  labored  wisely  and 
well,  and  their  descendants  are  enjoying  the  fruits 
of  their  industry  and  foresight. 

Fillmore  Price.  Many  relationships  would  serve 
to  identify  the  citizenship  of  Fillmore  Price  with 
Noble  County.  He  has  lived  in  Perry  Township  all 
his  life,  more  than  sixty  years,  represents  one  of  the 
early  families  in  that  section,  has  been  a practical 
and  successful  farmer,  is  a former  township  trustee, 
and  is  almost  as  well  known  in  the  city  of  Ligonier 
as  in  his  immediate  locality.  His  farm  home  is  in 


section  8 of  Perry  Township,  five  miles  northwest 
of  Ligonier. 

He  was  born  in  Preble  County,  Ohio,  December 
7,  1856,  and  was  brought  to  Noble  County,  Indiana, 
when  only  two  years  old.  His  parents,  Jacob  and 
Elizabeth  (Lock)  Price,  were  also  natives  of  Preble 
County.  Elizabeth  Lock  was  born  in  the  same  house 
as  her  son  Fillmore.  In  1858  the  family  came  to 
Noble  County  and  settled  three  miles  northwest  of 
Ligonier.  They  sold  that  property  in  1876  and  bought 
where  Fillmore  Price  now  lives.  His  parents  spent 
the  rest  of  their  days  here,  the  father  dying  in  1894 
and  the  mother  in  1917.  They  were  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  and  Jacob  Price  always  took  an 
active  interest  in  local  affairs,  was  a republican,  and 
served  a number  of  years  as  road  supervisor.  He 
and  his  wife  had  four  children,  one  of  whom  died 
in  infancy,  and  Melzina  is  also  deceased.  The  only 
surviving  daughter  is  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  A.  J.  Price, 
of  Missouri. 

Fillmore  Price  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Perry  Township  and  lived  at  home  to  the  age  of 
twenty-two.  On  January  1,  1880,  he  married  Anna 
Rachel  A.  Hoshaw,  who  was  born  in  Elkhart  County, 
Indiana,  November  19,  i860,  but  was  reared  and 
educated  in  Noble  County.  Ever  since  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have  lived  on  their  present 
farm,  which  comprises  100  acres,  and  is  devoted  to 
general  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Price  is  also 
a stockholder  in  the  Citizens  Bank  of  Ligonier  and 
the  Farmers  Elevator  there. 

Politically  his  actions  have  all  been  in  line  with 
the  republican  party,  of  which  he  is  one  of  the  most 
influential  members  in  his  community.  He  served 
as  township  assessor  ten  years,  and  his  term  as 
trustee  ran  from  1915  to  1919.  He  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  and  he 
has  served  as  a noble  grand  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  is  also  a member  of  the 
Encampment  at  Ligonier.  He  is  also  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price  have  two  children.  Bertha 
B.  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  wife  of 
Harry  Haller.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Haller  live  just  across 
the  road  from  her  parents.  Willard  B.  had  two 
years  in  high  school  and  is  a graduate  of  the  Elk- 
hart Business  College  and  now  lives  in  South  Bend. 

Josiah  J.  Miller.  Of  the  various  Miller  families 
represented  in  the  citizenship  of  Northeastern  In- 
diana that  containing  Josiah  J.  Miller,  a well  known 
farmer  and  leader  in  the  Mennonite  Church  in  New- 
bury Township  of  LaGrange  County,  has  been  iden- 
tified with  this  part  of  Indiana  for  many  years. 

Josiah  J.  Miller  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
October  19,  1870,  a son  of  John  J.  S.  and  Nancy  C. 
(Miller)  Miller  and  a grandson  of  John  Miller. 
John  J.  S.  Miller  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
May  23,  1846.  His  wife,  Nancy  Miller,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania,  December  20,  1853,  a daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Nancy  (Yoder)  Miller.  John  J.  S. 
Miller  grew  up  in  Newbury  Township,  married 
there,  and  in  1881  took  his  family  to  St.  Joseph 
County,  Michigan,  and  lived  there  until  about  1903, 
when  he  returned  to  LaGrange  County  and  is  still 
living  in  Newbury  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had 
six  children:  Josiah  J.,  George  Monroe,  Elizabeth, 
James  Elmer,  Mary  Matilda  (who  died  in  child- 
hood) and  Laura. 

Josiah  J.  Miller  attended  the  district  schools  of 
Newbury  Township  until  he  was  eleven  years  old, 
and  after  that  finished  his  education  in  Michigan. 
At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  working  as  a 
farm  hand,  and  continued  earning  monthly  wages 
in  that  way  for  three  years.  In  1902  he  and  his 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


357 


father  bought  a farm  in  section  22  of  Newbury 
Township  and  subsequently  he  bought  out  his 
father’s  interest  and  now  owns  131)4  acres.  He 
practices  general  farming  and  livestock  husbandry 
on  a successful  scale,  and  has  a group  of  fine  build- 
ings, nearly  all  of  which  have  been  put  on  the  land 
during  his  tenure  of  ownership. 

For  the  past  seventeen  years  Mr.  Miller  has  also 
officiated  as  pastor  of  the  Shore  Mennonite  Church, 
doing  that  work,  according  to  the  custom  of  the 
church,  without  compensation.  In  1895  he  married 
Magdalena  Yoder,  daughter  of  Joseph  C.  Yoder. 
To  their  marriage  were  born  Irwin,  Percival  J., 
Mabel  Elizabeth,  Orpha,  Rachel  and  Clara.  The 
mother  of  these  children  died  in  1907.  Mr.  Miller 
married  Mrs.  Anna  Weaver  in  1909.  She  was  the 
widow  of  Willis  D.  Weaver.  They  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Alta  and  by  her  first  marriage  Mrs.  Miller  has 
a son,  Ralph. 

Burritt  S.  Walter,  the  present  county  treasurer 
of  LaGrange  County,  has  taken  an, active  part  in 
public  affairs  for  a number  of  years  and  at  the  same 
time  has  played  a busy  role  in  farming  and  in  various 
other  enterprises. 

He  was  born  in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  July  11,  1869,  son  of  Valentine  and  Lydia 
(Shipley)  Walter.  His  parents  were  both  born  in 
Ohio,  but  when  children  were  brought  by  their  re- 
spective parents  to  LaGrange  County,  both  families 
settling  in  Clay  Township.  Valentine  and  Lydia 
attended  district  school  there  and  after  they  were 
grown  they  married,  and  for  a number  of  years  were 
substantial  farming  people  there.  They  now  live 
retired  at  LaGrange.  The  father  is  a republican 
and  both  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church, 
Valentine  having  been  officially  connected  with  the 
congregation  for  a number  of  years. 

Burritt  S.  Walter  was  the  only  one  of  the  two 
children  of  his  parents  to  survive  infancy.  He  grew 
up  on  the  home  farm  in  Clay  Township,  and  in  addi- 
tion to  the  district  schools  attended  a high  school 
at  LaGrange.  Since  early  manhood  he  has  found 
abundant  opportunity  to  test  his  ability  in  business 
affairs.  He  owns  a splendid  farm  of  420  acres  in 
Clay  Township,  and  is  also  interested  in  sixty  acres 
in  another  township  in  the  county.  For  a number 
of  years  he  has  done  a large  business  buying  and 
shipping  cattle  and  horses.  He  is  president  of  the 
LaGrange  Automobile  Company,  director  of  the 
LaGrange  Trust  Company,  is  treasurer  of  the  La- 
Grange Combination  Sales  Company,  and  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  Noble  Truck  Company. 

Politically  he  has  long  been  identified  with  the 
republican  party  and  for  six  years  was  township 
assessor  in  Clay  Township.  He  is  now  serving  his 
second  term  as  county  treasurer,  and  no  more  care- 
ful and  efficient  custodian  of  the  public  funds  of  the 
county  ever  held  office  at  the  courthouse  in  La- 
Grange. Mr.  Walter  is  a member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  one  of  its  trustees,  and  is  affiliated  with 
LaGrange  Lodge  No.  144,  Knights  of  Pythias. 

He  married  Lou  S.  Latta,  who  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  of  this  county  and  before  her 
marriage  was  a teacher  for  several  terms.  They 
have  four  children:  Rollo  N„  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  for  two  terms  a student  in  the  Angola 
Tri-State  Normal  and  now  cashier  of  the  LaGrange 
Truck  Company;  Nina,  wife  of  Forest  Aldrich; 
Russell  L„  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School  and  a practical  farmer  in  Clay  Township ; 
and  Monroe,  who  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and 
is  now  a student  of  dentistry. 

Casper  Bardon  is  an  old  and  prominent  resident  of 
LaGrange  County,  a prosperous  farmer  in  Van  Bu- 


ren  Township,  and  is  especially  esteemed  because  of 
his  service  as  a Union  soldier  during  the  Civil 
war. 

He  was  born  in  Germany  June  12,  1841,  and  in 
1847,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  came  to  America  with 
his  parents,  Michael  and  Catherine  (Buckner)  Bar- 
don. The  family  lived  in  Pennsylvania  for  eight 
years  and  then  settled  in  Van  Buren  Township  of 
LaGrange  County.  Michael  Bardon  acquired  a tract 
of  land,  cleared  some  of  the  woods  away  and  built 
a log  house  12  by  18  feet  as  the  first  home  of  his 
family.  Like  so  many  of  his  countrymen,  he  was 
industrious  and  thrifty  and  made  a good  farm.  Dur- 
ing his  lifetime  he  built  a large  barn  40  by  60  feet. 
The  comfortable  and  commodious  house  still  stand- 
ing on  the  farm  was  built  by  Mr.  Casper  Bardon, 
who  is  a carpenter  by  trade.  Michael  Bardon  died 
in  1894,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  and  his  widow 
survived  until  1904,  when  she  was  eighty-five  years 
of  age.  Their  children  were  Margaret,  Elizabeth, 
Susan,  Casper,  Catherine,  Mary,  Louis,  Frederick, 
Henry  and  Charlotte. 

Casper  Bardon  finished  his  education  in  the  com- 
mon schools  of  LaGrange  County,  and  in  1862,  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  enlisted  in  Company  D,  Thirtieth 
Indiana  Regiment.  His  second  enlistment  was  in 
Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Second  Indi- 
ana Infantry  and  was  with  his  command  until  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  participated  in  many,  cam- 
paigns and  many  engagements  and  was  in  the  great 
battles  of  Gettysburg  and  Nashville.  When  the  war 
was  over  he  returned  to  Van  Buren  Township,  and 
had  thirteen  acres  of  the  old  homestead.  Later  he 
bought  the  138  acres  which  he  now  owns  and  where 
he  lives,  near  Scott,  and  he  also  owns  a life  lease 
on  forty  acres  in  Van  Buren  Township.  He  has 
worked  at  his  trade  as  carpenter  and  has  made  a 
competence  as  a farmer.  He  cast  his  first  vote  for 
Lincoln  and  has  been  a stanch  republican  ever  since. 
He  is  a Lutheran  in  church  membership,  while  his 
first  wife  was  a Baptist,  and  the  present  Mrs.  Bar- 
don is  a Methodist. 

In  1872  he  married  Miss  Lois  Berry,  a daughter 
of  Conrad  Berry,  of  Van  Buren  Township.  Their 
only  child  was  stillborn.  Mrs.  Bardon  died  in  1903. 
In  1905  he  married  for  his  present  wife  Minnie  M. 
(Shelby)  Johnson.  She  was  the  mother  of  one  son 
by  her  first  husband,  Clarence  Johnson,  who  owns 
his  own  farm  in  Colorado  and  married  Viva  Smith, 
a daughter  of  George  P.  Smith,  of  LaGrange. 

Henry  H.  Bodie,  whose  home  is  in  Jamestown 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  is  now  practically 
retired,  after  many  years  of  well  spent  toil  and 
thrifty  husbandry  as  a farmer.  When  a boy  he  had 
to  get  out  and  make  his  own  way  in  the  world,  and 
in  all  his  active  career  he  has  sought  no  help  which 
he  could  not  repay  and  has  thoroughly  earned  his 
independence. 

Mr.  Bodie  was  born  in  Putnam  County,  Ohio, 
March  19,  i860,  son  of  Joseph  and  Rhoda  Ann 
(Martin)  Bodie.  Joseph  Bodie  enlisted  in  the  Union 
army  in  1861,  and  served  faithfully  until  his  death 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  1864.  About  the  time 
of  his  death  his  widow  and  her  family  moved  to 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  and  she  survived  her  hus- 
band nearly  half  a century,  passing  away  in  1909, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-one.  Her  children  were  Hannah, 
Barbara,  Margaret,  Isaac,  Christene,  William,  Sarah, 
Joseph,  Henry  H.  and  Emma. 

Henry  H.  Bodie  when  nine  years  old  came  to 
Steuben  County  to  live  with  his  gister  Margaret,  who 
married  Amos  Gleason  and  lived  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship. He  had  little  time  or  opportunity  to  attend 
school,  and  at  an  early  age  went  to  work  for  neigh- 
boring farmers  by  the  month.  Having  accumulated 


358 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


some  equipment  and  with  his  experience  he  began 
renting  land  from  Gideon  Davis,  whose  daughter 
he  married.  In  1903  he  moved  to  Jamestown  Town- 
ship and  bought  eighty  acres  which  his  son  Roy 
now  operates.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bodie  for  the  past 
eight  years  have  lived  in  comfort  on  a small  place. 

Mr.  Bodie  is  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  members  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  Church.  In 
1880  he  married  Allie  V.  Davis,  who  was  born  in 
Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County  August  27, 
1856,  a daughter  of  Gideon  and  Eleanor  (VanCleve) 
Davis.  Her  father  came  from  the  State  of  New 
York  to  Jackson  Township  in  1837,  settling  on  the 
140-acre  farm  where  he  died  in  1888,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-three.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Huntingdon 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  passed  away  in  1912,  aged 
eighty-two.  In  the  Davis  family  were  four  children : 
Americus,  Viola,  Allie  and  Elmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Davis  also  reared  Edwin  Owen  Collins,  a son  of 
Truman  Collins,  until  he  was  seventeen  years  of 
age.  and  also  Harriett  Collins. 

Mrs.  Allie  Bodie’s  early  school  days  were  spent 
in  the  No.  6 Schoolhouse  in  Jackson  Township. 
She  finished  the  work  there  and  entered  the  high 
school  at  Angola,  Indiana,  under  the  teaching  of 
R.  V.  Carlin,  L.  R.  Williams,  A.  W.  Long  and 
others.  After  completing  her  studies  there  she 
took  up  teaching,  and  was  a most  successful  in- 
structor, and  probably  as  well  and  as  favorably 
known  as  any  teacher  in  the  county. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bodie  have  three  children:  Inez, 

Roy  G.  W.  and  Zelma.  Inez,  born  June  10,  1882, 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, the  Flint  High  School,  was  a successful  teacher 
for  several  years,  and  is  the  wife  of  Bert  Collins. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  had  four  children,  Lowell, 
Loene,  Max  and  Robert  Bodie,  but  the  last  named 
died  in  infancy.  Roy  G.  W.  Bodie  was  born  Sep- 
tember 22,  1886,  and  completed  his  education  in  the 
Jamestown  High  School.  He  is  a successful  young 
farmer,  working  his  father’s  place  of  eighty  acres  in 
Jackson  Township,  is  a republican,  and  he  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  In  1905  he  married  Ethel  DeLancey,  a 

daughter  of  Charles  and  Emma  DeLancey,  of  a 
family  well  known  in  Steuben  County  and  referred 
to  on  other  pages.  Roy  Bodie  and  wife  have  four 
children,  Arnona,  Roy  Charles,  Clyde  Henry  and 
Beatrice  Lula.  The  daughter  Zelma  Bodie,  born 
February  27,  1892,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  the  Jamestown  High  School,  and  is  the  wife  of 
Ray  DeLancey,  a son  of  Charles  DeLancey,  above 
mentioned.  They  have  four  children,  named  Opal, 
Oral,  Merlyn  and  Arlene.  They  live  on  the  De- 
Lancey farm  at  Gage,  Indiana. 

Earl  Lemmon  is  a son  of  Clay  Lemmon,  who 
was  the  youngest  son  of  Maurice  and  Lucinda  Lem- 
mon, and  was  born  in  Otsego  Township,  August  18, 
1844.  On  October  10,  1861,  at  the  age  of  seventeen, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  K of  the  Forty-Fourth  In- 
diana Infantry,  and  saw  a long  period  of  interesting 
and  arduous  service.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
and  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  after  a period  of  con- 
finement in  the  hospital  was  honorably  discharged  in 
the  fall  of  1862.  About  a year  later  he  enlisted  as  a 
veteran  in  Company  H of  the  Seventy-Fourth  In- 
diana Infantry  and  joined  the  regiment  in  Chatta- 
nooga in  time  to  participate  in  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
He  was  with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea  and 
was  in  the  Grand  Review  at  Washington  in  May, 
1865.  He  received  his  honorable  discharge  July 
24,  1863,  and  was  not  absent  a day  from  his  regi- 
ment during  his  second  enlistment.  In  1869  he 
settled  on  a farm  in  section  20  of  Otsego  Township. 
He  became  prominent  in  local  affairs,  was  elected 


township  trustee  in  1876  and  again  in  1878,  and  did 
much  to  improve  school  facilities  of  the  township. 
He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1880,  and  in 

1884  was  elected  treasurer  of  Steuben  County,  an 
office  he  held  from  1885  to  1889.  As  a farmer  he 
had  begun  in  the  woods  and  had  cleared  up  a place 
of  120  acres,  his  first  home  being  a log  cabin.  After 

1885  he  made  his  home  in  Angola.  After  retiring 

from  the  office  of  county  treasurer  he  studied  in  a 
college  at  South  Bend  and  was  trained  for  the 
profession  of  optician,  which  he  followed  many 
years  in  Angola.  He  married  September  19,  1869, 
Jane  Cameron,  who  was  born  in  Richland  Township 
of  Steuben  County  January  27,  1846,  a daughter  of 
William  and  Sarah  Cameron.  They  became  the 
parents  of  four  children : Sarah  Erdine,  wife  of 

John  E.  Kratz,  of  Angola;  Ernest,  who  died  in 
infancy;  Edith,  who  died  in  February,  1918,  at  the 
age  of  forty;  and  Earl. 

Earl  Lemmon,  who  was  born  on  the  old  home- 
stead in  Otsego  Township  September  17,  1883,  lived 
in  Angola  from  the  age  of  two  years  until  he  was 
twenty-five.  He  is  a graduate  of  the  Angola  High 
School,  and  in  1902  he  began  working  the  home 
farm  and  after  the  death  of  his  father  in  1917 
acquired  this  property  and  has  been  busily  engaged 
in  general  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  politics 
he  is  a republican. 

In  November,  1907,  Mr.  Lemmon  married  Miss 
Ethel  Dirrim,  daughter  of  Lincoln  Dirrim  and  a 
granddaughter  of  Wesley  Dirrim,  these,  constituting 
some  of  the  oldest  and  most  honored  names  of 
Steuben  County  citizenship.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lemmon 
have  four  children,  named  Esther,  Elsie,  Edith  and 
Clay. 

Harry  B.  Schlotterback.  This  is  one  of  the 
oldest  family  names  in  the  history  of  Perry  Town- 
ship in  Noble  County.  The  family  was  established 
here  in  the  earliest  pioneer  times,  when  the  county 
was  a wilderness,  and  long  years  before  the  building 
of  the  first  railroad  or  other  modern  improvements. 
The  present  representative  of  the  name  Harry  B. 
Schlotterback,  is  not  only  one  of  the  leading  farmers 
of  Perry  Township,  but  has  been  honored  by  his 
fellow  citizens  with  the  responsibilities  of  the  im- 
portant office  of  township  trustee,  of  which  he  is  the 
present  incumbent. 

Mr.  Schlotterback  was  born  in  the  same  township 
March  26,  1870,  a son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  E. 
(Davis)  Schlotterback.  How  early  the  family  was 
established  in  this  section  of  Noble  County  is  in- 
dicated by  the  fact  that  Henry  Schlotterback  was 
born  in  Perry  Township,  October  30,  1834,  more 
than  eighty-five  years  ago.  His  wife  was  also  born 
in  the  same  township  in  1842.  Henry  died  in 
October,  1917,  and  his  wife  in  1911.  He  was  a re- 
publican and  always  followed  farming  as  his  occu- 
pation. There  were  seven  children  in  the  family: 
Eden  H.,  a mechanic  at  Ligonier;  Anna,  wife  of 
William  Lacounts ; Harry  B. ; Emma,  wife  of  Albert 
Deardorff ; John  M.,  who  lives  in  Canada;  Jesse  E., 
of  Wawaka;  and  Louis  E.,  of  Ligonier. 

Harry  B.  Schlotterback  received  his  education  in 
the  district  schools  and  lived  at  home  until  he  was 
twenty-one,  at  which  time  he  acquired  a home  of 
his  own  by  his  marriage  to  Miss  Lizzie  M.  Pollock, 
a sister  of  Charles  E.  Pollock,  one  of  the  well  known 
citizens  of  Washington  Township  of  Noble  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schlotterback  have  two  children : 
Marian  L.,  a graduate  of  the  Ligonier  High  School 
and  still  at  home ; and  Melvin,  who  is  in  the  third 
year  of  the  high  school. 

Mr.  Schlotterback  is  an  active  republican  in  poli- 
tics, and  was  elected  on  that  ticket  to  his  present 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


359 


responsibilities  as  township  trustee.  He  is  making 
a success  at  his  business  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser,  and  has  a fine  and  well  improved  place 
of  127  acres  in  section  32. 

Holly  J.  Bontrager,  the  present  trustee  of  New- 
bury Township,  is  one  of  the  busy  and  energetic 
young  men  of  affairs  of  Shipshewana.  His  own 
career  has  been  a continuation  of  an  honorable 
family  record  that  has  been  identified  with  La- 
Grange  County  since  early  times. 

Mr.  Bontrager  was  born  in  Newbury  Township 
September  14,  1881,  a son  of  John  A.  and  Sarah 
(Hershberger)  Bontrager.  His  mother  was  born 
in  Starke  County,  Indiana,  June  9,  1862,  a daugh- 
ter of  Abraham  Hershberger.  His  father  was  born 
in  Newbury  Township  October  5,  1856.  Mr.  Bon- 
trager’s  great-grandfather,  John  Bontrager,  was 
born  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  3, 
1781.  In  December,  1802,  he  married  Barbara  Johns, 
who  was  born  November  22,  1782.  Their  family 
consisted  of  the  following  children : Fannie,  born 
September  22,  1803;  John,  born  March  10,  1805; 
Maggie,  born  January  23,  1807;  Mary,  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1808;  Joseph,  born  August  4,  1811;  Gertie, 
born  January  25,  1814;  Christian,  born  January  16, 
1816;  Barbara,  born  July  21,  1819;  and  Amos,  born 
November  20,  1826. 

The  family  record  is  continued  through  Amos 
Bontrager,  who  married  Lydia  Miller.  She  was 
born  two  years  after  her  husband,  on  July  21,  1828, 
and  was  a native  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  Amos 
Bontrager  was  one  of  an  early  colony  of  settlers  to 
come  from  Pennsylvania  to  Northeast  Indiana.  The 
journey  was  made  along  the  Ohio  River  until  they 
started  north  to  LaGrange  County.  The  Bontragers 
brought  along  a herd  of  sheep  and  a number  of 
cattle.  Amos  Bontrager  located  in  section  21  of 
Newbury  Township  about  1848,  and  lived  there  the 
rest  of  his  life.  He  died  October  24,  1899,  and  his 
wife  December  21,  1898.  Th'e  names  of  their  chil- 
dren and  dates  of  birth  are  as  follows : Rosa,  born 

March  10,  1850;  Gertie,  June  12,  1851;  Isaac,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1853;  Barbara,  November  21,  1854;  John, 
October  5,  1856;  Benjamin,  October  30,  1858;  Tobias, 
stillborn,  i860;  Eli,  December  16,  1861;  David,  De- 
cember 30,  1864;  Lydia,  March  15,  1867;  Abner, 
February  19,  1870; 'and  one  daughter,  stillborn,  1873. 

John  A.  Bontrager  has  been  a farmer  in  Newbury 
Township  since  early  manhood  and  owns  a good 
farm  of  100  acres  there.  His  wife  died  December 
20,  1898.  They  had  three  children : Holly  J.,  Todd 
J.,  born  November  17,  1884;  and  Sadie,  born  Sep- 
tember 14,  1898,  and  died  January  2,  1899. 

Holly  J.  Bontrager  attended  district  school  in 
Newbury  Township,  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school 
at  Shipshewana,  and  the  first  year  out  of  high  school 
he  taught  in  that  township.  From  1902  to  igi5  he 
lived  in  Chicago,  and  on  returning  to  LaGrange 
County  was  associated  in  farming  with  his  father 
until  February,  1919.  Since  that  date  he  has  given 
his  time  and  energies  to  his  duties  as  secretary  .and 
treasurer  of  the  Fafver  Lumber  Company  of  Ship- 
shewana. Mr.  Bontrager  was  elected  to  the  office 
of  township  trustee  in  November,  1918,  and  entered 
office  in  the  following  January. 

June  16,  1909,  he  married  Ethel  Preston,  a daugh- 
ter of  Henry  and  Mary  (Raymond)  Preston.  Mrs.  . 
Bontrager,  who  died  August  26,  1914,  was  the  mother 
of  two  children:  Maurice,  born  January  31,  1910; 

and  Frances,  born  May  16,  1914.  On  April  22,  1919, 
Mr.  Bontrager  married  Ida  Brasen,  a daughter  of 
Olaf  and  Sophia  Brasen. 

Frank  M.  Smith,  who  has  been  identified  with 
the  ownership  and  operation  of  a number  of  farms 


in  Northern  Indiana  and  elseryhere,  also  was  for- 
merly proprietor  of  some  of  the  grain  elevators  in 
LaGrange  County,  is  a native  of  that  county,  and 
of  a family  relationship  that  has  received  special 
attention  on  other  pages  of  this  publication. 

He  was  born  near  Cedar  Lake  in  Lima  Township 
January  16,  1854,  a son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Burnell) 
Smith.  His  mother,  it  should  be  noted,  was  born 
in  England  and  was  six  years  of  age  when,  her 
mother  having  died,  she  came  to  the  United  States 
with  her  father,  Thomas  Burnell,  whose  name  is 
prominently  identified  with  the  early  settlement  of 
LaGrange  County,  where  he  located  in  1830  and 
built  the  first  frame  house  on  English  Prairie. 

Frank  M.  Smith  was  six  years  of  age  when  with 
his  parents  he  came  to  Greenfield  Township,  and  he 
grew  up  on  a farm,  supplementing  his  advantages 
in  the  local  schools  at  Orland  Academy  and  the 
LaGrange  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario.  He  also 
had  normal  school  instruction,  and  on  February  22, 
1873,  graduated  from  the  commercial  department  of 
Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan.  With  this  training 
he  taught  school  six  winters,  working  on  the  farm 
in  other  seasons.  He  then  engaged  in  farming  as 
his  regular  vocation,  and  bought  eighty  acres  in 
section  16  of  Lima  Township.  Later  he  added  160 
acres  and  had  a complete  and  well  equipped  farm 
of  240  acres.  He  bought  and  sold  a number  of 
tracts  of  land,  and  at  the  present  time  his  holdings 
are  represented  by  eighty  acres  in  Clay  Township, 
forty  acres  in  Lima  Township,  160  acres  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and  160  acres  in  Scott 
County.  Kansas. 

Mr.  Smith  came  to  Howe  in  1901  and  engaged  in 
the  grain  business,  at  the  same  time  looking  after 
his  farms.  For  several  years  be  bought  grain,  and 
later  he  bought  the  elevator  at  Shipshewana  and 
ptiout  six  months  later  the  Wolcottville  elevator. 
Half  a year  later  he  sold  these  and  bought  a half 
interest  in  the  elevator  at  Howe,  but  sold  that  in 
1018.  He  now  devotes  his  time  to  looking  after  his 
farms  and  is  also  owner  of  some  good  property  at 
Howe.  Mr.  Smith  is  non-partisan  in  politics.  His 
wife  is  an  Episcopalian. 

On  January  15,  1878.  he  married  Florence  Augusta 
Deal,  daughter  of  Elisha  and  Catherine  (Millis) 
Deal.  To  their  marriage  were  born  three  children, 
and  they  now  have  one  grandchild.  Catherine  Ber- 
n’Ve.  the  oldest  daughter,  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe 
High  School,  and  by  her  marriage  to  Willard  G. 
Sweitzer.  of  Howe,  has  a daughter,  Catherine.  Nel- 
lie Deal  Smith  comnleted  her  education  in  the  Howe 
High  School  and  died  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
three.  Marv  Elizabeth  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe 
High  School,  had  other  educational  advantages,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Frank  Cummings,  of  LaGrange. 

Mrs.  Smith  was  horn  in  Snringfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  Januarv  27,  18^9.  Her  grandpar- 
ents were  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  (Rawles)  Deal, 
who  settled  in  Springfield  Township  at  an  early 
date,  cleared  no  a farm,  and  Conrad  died  in  1870. 

F.lisha  Deal,  father  of  Mrs.  Smith,  was  born  in 

Marion  County,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  was  five  years 
old  when  he  came  .with  his  parents  to  Springfield 
Township.  He  lived  with  his  father  until  he  was 
twenty-seven,  when  he  began  farming  for  himself. 
For  many  years  he  also  operated  a threshing  ma- 
chine, and  had  one  of  the  pioneer  outfits  in  La- 
Grange County.  He  was  owner  of  a farm  of  120 
acres  in  Springfield  Township.  Elisha  Deal  married, 
February  14,  1857,  Catherine  Millis,  a daughter  of 
Levin  and  Ruth  (Leonard)  Millis,  natives  of  Mary- 
land, where  Catherine  was  born  in  1834.  Elisha 

Deal  and  wife  had  two  daughters,  Augusta  and 

Mary  E.,  the  latter  born  August  27,  1863. 


360 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Philip  Choler.  The  Choler  family,  prominently 
represented  in  LaGrange  County  by  the  present 
county  clerk  and  also  by  Mr.  Philip  Choler,  one  of 
the  largest  land  owners  and  leading  farmers  of 
Bloomfield  Township,  was  established  here  more 
than  half  a century  ago. 

Philip  Choler  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township 
October  4,  1866,  two  years  after  his  parents,  Levi 
and  Elizabeth  (Groff)  Choler,  established  their  home 
in  Bloomfield.  The  parents  were  both  born  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio.  On  coming  to  LaGrange 
County  Levi  Choler  worked  in  a saw  mill  for  two 
years  and  then  bought  land  and  farmed  continuously 
until  his  death.  He  owned  160  acres  and  he  and  his 
family  were  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  His 
children  were : Kate,  wife  of  A.  D.  Griffith,  of 

Sturgis,  Michigan;  Phoebe,  deceased  wife  of  John 
Fellows ; Mary,  Mrs.  J.  N.  Smith,  of  LaGrange ; 
Philip;  Etta,  wife  of  A.  J.  Gilbert,  of  California; 
George,  present  county  clerk  of  LaGrange  County; 
and  Dora,  Mrs.  Milo  Yoder,  of  Middlebury,  Indiana. 

Philip  Choler  attended  the  Pleasant  Hill  School 
when  a boy,  and  since  his  school  days  has  been 
identified  with  farming.  Through  many  years  of 
industrious  effort  he  has  acquired  a large  and  valu- 
able farm,  comprising  250  acres.  He  has  lived  on 
this  farm  since  1899,  and  in  twenty  years  has  erected 
a number  of  substantial  buildings. 

January  8,  1895,  he  married  Miss  Ella  Fisher. 
She  was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  a daugh- 
ter of  Adam  and  Mary  Jane  (Sherley)  Fisher,  the 
former  a native  of  Columbiana  County  and  the 
latter  of  Noble  County,  Indiana.  Mrs.  Choler’s  ma- 
ternal grandmother,  Jane  (Frederick)  Sherley,  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  ninety  years,  making  her 
home  among  her  children.  She  and  her  husband 
came  from  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  and  were  early 
settlers  in  Noble  County,  and  afterward  lived  in 
Steuben  County.  Her  two  brothers,  William  and 
Ira,  were  Union  soldiers.  Mr.  Choler’s  maternal 
uncle,  Philip  Groff,  was  also  a soldier  in  the  Civil 
war.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Choler  are  members  of  the 
Lutheran  Church.  They  have  three  children:  Vern, 
Dora  Marie  and  Iva  Elizabeth.  Dora  is  the  wife  of 
Robert  Frutig,  a farmer  of  Bloomfield  Township. 
The  son  Vern  is  an  honored  soldier  of  the  recent 
war.  He  was  in  the  service  twenty  months  and  one 
day  and  in  all  that  time  was  never  home  on  a leave 
of  absence.  He  sailed  overseas  June  11,  1918,  in 
Company  D of  the  Three  Hundred  and  Fourteenth 
Engineers,  part  of  the  Eighty-Ninth  Division.  He 
returned  to  America  May  26,  1919.  When  he  went 
into  army  camp  he  trained  for  the  infantry  but  later 
was  transferred  to  the  engineers.  While  along  the 
battle  front  he  was  slightly  gassed.  He  now  makes 
his  home  with  his  father. 

William  M.  Sanxter.  Northeastern  Indiana  has 
produced  some  of  the  most  prosperous  farmers  and 
reliable  citizens  of  the  country,  men  who  understand 
their  work  and  love  their  country,  and  can  be 
depended  upon  to  continue  their  agricultural  labors 
as  long  as  there  is  need  of  their  efforts  to  produce 
a sufficient  amount  of  food  to  supply  domestic  and 
foreign  demands,  now  so  greatly  increased  because 
of  the  great  war.  One  of  the  men  who  belongs 
to  this  class  is  William  M.  Sanxter  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County.  He  was  born  in  Richland 
Township,  Steuben  County,  September  12,  1861,  a 
son  of  Christopher  and  Rebecca  (Brown)  Sanxter, 
both  natives  of  England,  he  born  in  1822  and  she  in 
1824.  They  were  married  in  England,  where  four 
of  their  children  were  born,  and  then  in  1852  they 
came  to  the  United  States,  landing  at  New  York 
City.  With  them  came  Joseph  Brown  and  James 
Peachey,  neighbors,  Joseph  Brown  being  the  father- 


in-law  of  Christopher  Sanxter  and  James  Peachey. 
The  trip  across  the  ocean  took  sixteen  weeks,  as 
they  were  shipwrecked,  and  they  had  many  adven- 
tures. They  were  a little  more  fortunate  than  many 
emigrants  of  their  day,  as  there  was  enough  money 
among  them  to  pay  the  railroad  fare  of  the  women 
and  children  to  their  objective  point,  Medina 
County,  Ohio,  but  the  men  had  to  make  the  trip 
on  foot.  Christopher  Sanxter  and  his  family  later 
went  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  still  later  came 
to  Steuben  County,  securing  land  in  Otsego  Town- 
ship, but  not  being  satisfied  went  to  DeKalb  County, 
Indiana.  Two  years  later  they  returned  to  Steuben 
County,  and  spent  two  years  in  Richland  Township, 
but  then  returned  to  Otsego  Township,  where  Mr. 
Sanxter  owned  16 7)4  acres,  and  here  he  died  in 
1889,  his  wife  having  passed  away  in  1883.  He  was 
a republican  and  took  pride  in  the  fact  that  he  cast 
his  first  presidential  vote  for  Abraham  Lincoln. 
Both  he  and  his  wife  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  England,  and  connected  themselves  with 
that  denomination  upon  coming  to  their  new  home. 
Their  children  were  as  follows : Arthur ; Catherine, 
who  married  J.  S.  Baker;  Frederick,  who  died  in 
England;  Margaret;  Frederick  (II),  who  is  de- 
ceased; Margaret  (II),  who  is  deceased;  Mary 
Delaney,  who  married  Ted  Craig;  William  M., 
whose  name  heads  this  review;  and  Ella  M.,  who 
is  the  wife  of  George  Beard  of  DeKalb  County. 
The  first  four  children  were  born  in  England,  and 
the  remaining  five  in  the  United  States. 

William  M.  Sanxter  was  reared  in  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, and  attended  the  schools  of  his  neighborhood. 
Having  been  brought  up  amid  rural  surroundings, 
he  early  decided  to  become  a farmer  and  has  de- 
voted himself  to  agricultural  work,  now  owning  a 
fine  farm  of  120  acres  in  Otsego  Township,  where 
he  carries  on  general  farming  and  stock  raising. 
Both  by  inheritance  and  inclination  he  is  a re- 
publican. 

On  January  1,  1884,  Mr.  Sanxter  was,  married  to 
Ella  M.  Erlsten,  born  at  Defiance,  Ohio,  November 
7,  1863,  a daughter  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (Zyler) 
Erlsten.  Alexander  Erlsten  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  January  1,  1834,  and  his  wife  was 
born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  November  26,  1842. 
They  were  married  in  Ohio,  and  April  11,  1878, 
settled  on  the  farm  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Sanxter. 
In  1886  they  moved  to  Hamilton,  Indiana,  where 
he  now  lives,  but  Mrs.  Erlsten  died  December  27, 
1918.  They  had  the  following  children:  Ella; 

Charles,  who  is  deceased ; Daisy ; and  Clara.  Mr. 
Erlsten  served  during  the  Civil  war  as  a soldier 
in  the  Union  army,  enlisting  in  1861  in  the  Thirty- 
Eighth  Ohio  Infantry,  and  served  for  fourteen 
months,  when  he  was  honorably  discharged.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sanxter  became  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children : Erlsten  Arthur,  who  married 

Clara  Kepler  of  Steuben  County,  has  the  following 
children,  Estle,  Luella  and  Forrest;  Forrest  Glenn, 
who  is  deceased ; Shirley,  who  married  Eula  Tee- 
gardin,  a daughter  of  Thomas  Teegardin  of  Otsego 
Township,  has  the  following  children,  Geraldine, 
Lawana  and  Marian ; Leon,  who  married  Mrs.  Inez 
Tee,  has  one  son,  William  Edward;  Olen  G.,  who 
is  mentioned  below ; Leta  and  Lois,  both  of  whom 
are  at  home.  Olen  G.  Sanxter  was  a member  of 
the  National  Guards  and  saw  service  on  the  Mexican 
border  during  1917,  and  in  the  World  war,  receiv- 
ing his  honorable  discharge  December  16,  1918,  as 
second  lieutenant.  He  was  at  Camp  Shelby  and 
Camp  Taylor.  The  Sanxter  family  is  one  of  the 
best  known  ones  in  Steuben  County,  and  it  is  con- 
nected by  marriage  with  many  other  old  established 
ones  in  this  part  of  the  state.  The  members  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


361 


this  family  have  ever  proven  themselves  worthy 
citizens  and  upright  men  and  women,  and  the 
several  communities  fortunate  enough  to  have  them 
as  residents  can  be  sure  of  securing  from  them  a 
hearty  and  effective  support  of  public-spirited  move- 
ments and  also  those  tending  toward  a moral  uplift. 

George  Strater.  Perhaps  at  no  time  in  the  coun- 
try’s history  has  every  agricultural  interest  been  of 
so  much  importance  as  at  the  present  time,  and  it 
is  the  capable,  industrious  farmer  who  has  the  op- 
portunity of  not  only  reaping  just  returns  for  his 
hard  work,  but  of  also  demonstrating  a spirit  of 
generous  patriotism  that  entitles  him  to  the  gratitude 
of  the  rest  of  the  country.  One  of  the  excellent 
farmers  and  representative  citizens  of  Noble 
County  is  George  Strater,  whose  farm  is  on  the 
southeast  quarter  of  section  26  in  Wayne  Township. 
Mr.  Strater  is  the  more  entitled  to  credit  since  he 
started  life  absolutely  without  capital,  and  has  ac- 
quired a farm,  paid  for  it,  improved  it,  and  won  his 
way  into  the  class  of  most  industrious  and  capable 
citizens. 

He  was  born  in  Orange  Township  of  Noble 
County  April  15,  1868,  son  of  John  F.  and  Margaret 
(Toby)  Strater.  His  parents  were  both  born  in 
Germany,  came  to  the  United  States  with  their  re- 
spective parents,  located  in  Richland  County,  Ohio, 
where  they  grew  up  and  married,  and  then  moved 
to  Indiana  and  established  a home  in  Orange  Town- 
ship, of  Noble  County.  Here  they  spent  the  rest  of 
their  lives.  They  began  with  eighty  acres  of  new 
land,  and  kept  improving  and  adding  more  until 
they  had  a complete  farm  of  260  acres.  Besides 
making  this  fine  farm  they  had  a large  family  of 
children  grow  up  around  them  and  for  whom  they 
provided  liberally.  Of  their  twelve  children  one 
died  at  the  age  of  two  years,  and  one  other  in  1915. 
Ten  are  still  living:  Catherine,  wife  of  Samuel 

Linsey,  of  DeKalb  County,  Indiana  ; Mary,  of  Wayne 
Township;  Nettie,  widow  of  Nelson  Chamberlin; 
Laura,  unmarried;  George;  J.  M.  Strater,  of  Orange 
Township;  Harvey,  of  Orange  Township;  Minnie, 
wife  of  W.  A.  Rhea;  Emma,  wife  of  John  Rhea; 
and  Albert,  of  Wayne  Township. 

George  Strater  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  common  schools,  and  was  with  his  parents 
to  the  age  of  twenty-one.  For  one  year  he  worked 
in  Howard  County,  but  with  that  exception  has  since 
lived  in  Noble  County.  On  September  15,  1896,  he 
married  Miss  Jennie  Ross.  She  was  born  in  Orange 
Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strater  began  house- 
keeping with  practically  nothing  excepting  a few 
household  goods,  and  as  tenants  and  renters  they 
kept  steadily  marching  ahead,  largely  in  an  era  of 
low  prices  and  little  demand  for  what  they  produced, 
but  eventually  have  secured  and  paid  for  their  pres- 
ent farm  of  160  acres,  which  is  a handsome  property 
and  very  valuable.  Mr.  Strater  handles  all  kinds  of 
the  best  grade  of  stock.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics 
and  a member  of  the  Evangelical  Church  at  Ken- 
dallville.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Strater  have  two  living 
children:  Norman  R.  and  Dorothy,  both  graduates 

of  the  common  schools  and  still  at  home. 

Jacob  S.  Hostetler,  who  is  the  father  of  Josiah 
J.  Hostetler  of  Shipshewana,  has  for  over  thirty 
years  been  one  of  the  leading  farmers  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  a citizen  well  known  and  well  liked  in 
his  community. 

He  was  born  in  Cambria  County,  Pennsylvania, 
March  26,  1863,  son  af  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Miller) 
Hostetler,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Cambria 
County.  The  maternal  grandparents  were  Jacob 
and  Fannie  (Hershberger)  Miller.  The  paternal 
grandfather  Peter  Hostetler  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 


vania November  30,  1807,  and  married  Elizabeth 
Eash.  Their  children  were  Polly,  Susan,  Isaac, 
Samuel,  Henry,  Sarah,  Lydia.  Samuel  Hostetler 
came  to  Clay  Township,  LaGrange  County,  in  1869 
and  after  living  on  a farm  there  .fourteen  years 
moved  eight  miles  further  west  to  Newbury  Town- 
ship, where  he  made  his  home  on  a farm  until  his 
death  in  1890.  His  widow  is  still  living.  They  were 
the  parents  of  nine  children,  named  Amanda,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Aaron  D.  Yoder;  Jacob  S.;  Fannie; 
Daniel  S. ; Samuel ; Levi ; Amos  ; Henry  and  Sarah. 

Jacob  S.  Hostetler  was  five  or  six  years  of  age 
when  brought  to  LaGrange  County  and  he  acquired 
his  education  in  the  district  schools  of  Clay  Town- 
ship. In  1887  he  married  Matilda  Miller,  daughter 
of  Moses  P.  Miller.  For  sixteen  years  after  his 
marriage  he  was  a farmer  in  Clay  Township  and 
in  1903  he  moved  to  Newbury  Township.  For  the 
past  nine  years  his  home  has  been  in  section  23, 
where  he  owns  his  farm  of  eighty  acres. 

His  first  wife  died  in  1898,  the  mother  of  three 
children,  Orva  C.,  Josiah  J.,  and  Willis,  Josiah 
alone  surviving.  In  1899  Mr.  Hostetler  married 
Carrie  Sunthimer  and  has  one  child,  Ora  Wilson. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hostetler  are  members  of  the  Amish 
Mennonite  Church. 

Josiah  J.  Hostetler.  A prominent  and  substan- 
tial old  pioneer  family  of  LaGrange  County  is  that 
of  Hostetler,  one  largely  agricultural  although  not 
entirely  so,  as  is  evidenced  in  a well  known  repre- 
sentative, Josiah  J.  Hostetler,  who  is  postmaster  at 
Shipshewana  and  has  been  connected  with  railroad 
affairs  at  this  point. 

Josiah  J.  Hostetler  was  born  in  Clay  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  August  20,  1890,  the 
son  of  Jacob  S.  and  Matilda  (Miller)  Hostetler, 
and  a grandson  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Hostetler,  who 
came  very  early  to  LaGrange  County.  The  grand- 
father died  here  but  the  grandmother  survives  and 
is  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of  Newbury  Town- 
ship. The  mother  of  Josiah  J.  Hostetler  died  when 
he  was  a child.  His  father  subsequently  married 
Caroline  Sunthimer,  and  they  have  one  child,  Orie, 
and  the  family  home  is  in  Newbury  Township.  The 
maternal  grandfather  of  Mr.  Hostetler  was  Moses 
P.  Miller,  a man  of  prominence  in  the  county  at 
one  time,  and  extended  mention  of  whom  will  be 
found  in  this  work. 

After  attending  the  public  schools  Mr.  Hostetler 
took  a short  course  in  Goshen  College,  and  then 
accepted  the  position  of  ticket  agent  for  the  Valley 
Line  Railroad  at  Shipshewana,  in  which  he  con- 
tinued until  May,  1918,  when  he  was  appointed  post- 
master. From  early  manhood  Mr.  Hostetler  has 
been  a democrat  and,  believing  the  principles  of 
this  organization  are  best  for  the  public  good,  has 
brought  his  political  strength  to  bear  in  their  sup- 
port. The  office  of  postmaster  at  Shipshewana  is 
no  sinecure,  the  rapid  development  of  the  place 
bringing  additional  duties  and  responsibilities.  Mr. 
Hostetler  is  a popular  official  and  personally  enjoys 
the  esteem  of  everyone. 

John  H.  Schermerhorn.  The  annals  of  the 
Schermerhorn  family  cover  almost  the  entire  period 
in  which  LaGrange  County  has  been  the  home  of 
civilized  men.  The  family  history  here  goes  back 
over  eighty  years.  Several  of  the  Schermerhorns 
are  well  known  in  the  county  as  practical  and  pro- 
gressive farmers,  good  citizens,  and  men  who  have 
shown  a disposition  to  assume  the  duties  required 
for  the  public  welfare. 

One  of  the  family  is  Mr.  John  H.  Schermerhorn, 
a farmer  living  on  his  father’s  old  homestead  in 
Clear  Spring  Township.  He  was  born  on  that  farm 


362 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


December  26,  1876,  a son  of  Horace  G.  Schermer- 
horn  and  a grandson  of  Ernestus  Schermerhorn. 

Ernestus  Schermerhorn  was  born  in  Onondaga 
County,  New  York,  March  21,  1802.  He  married 
Ann  Johnson,  who  was  born  in  the  same  county.  In 

1836  they  came  West,  bringing  their  four  children, 
and  located  at  Howe,  Indiana.  Ernestus  Schermer- 
horn was  a salt  boiler  by  trade,  and  owned  an 
interest  in  salt  works  in  the  East  and  also  operated 
a canal  boat.  In  LaGrange  County  he  entered  200 
acres  of  government  land  in  Clay  Township,  and  in 

1837  moved  into  his  log  cabin  in  the  midst  of  the 
woods.  Two  years  later  he  sold  that  and  bought 
240  acres  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  in  section  4. 
This  is  the  land  now  owned  by  his  youngest  son, 
Horace,  and  operated  by  his  grandson,  John  H. 
Ernestus  Schermerhorn  was  a straight  out  repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  was  a devoted  reader  of  the 
old  New  York  Tribune  and  placed  special  confi- 
dence in  everything  Horace  Greeley,  its  editor,  said 
until  Greeley  went  on  Jeff  Davis’  bond,  a procedure 
that  disgusted  this  reader,  as  it  did  many  other  of 
the  faithful.  Ernestus  Schermerhorn  was  the  first 
county  assessor  of  LaGrange  County.  He  was  the 
father  of  twelve  children,  seven  sons  and  two 
daughters  reaching  maturity.  The  only  two  now 
living  are  Aaron  P.  and  Horace  G.  Aaron  was  born 
January  2,  1830,  and  lives  at  Stroh  in  LaGrange 
County. 

Horace  G.  Schermerhorn  was  born  on  the  old 
homestead  in  section  4 of  Clear  Spring  Township 
August  17,  1847,  grew  up  there  and  had  a common 
school  education.  April  4,  1874,  he  married  Evaline 
Wemple.  She  was  born  in  New  York  State,  but 
was  brought  to  Indiana  when  only  a girl.  They 
had  five  children : Alice,  wife  of  Bert  Wier,  of 
LaGrange  County;  John  H. ; Myrtie,  unmarried  and 
living  with  her  father;  Nettie,  wife  of  Earl  Fisher, 
of  LaGrange,  and  Bessie,  wife  of  William  Bogert, 
living  on  the  home  farm.  Horace  Schermerhorn  is 
a republican,  served  as  township  assessor,  and  is  now 
chairman  of  the  County  Council  of  LaGrange 
County. 

John  H.  Schermerhorn  has  spent  his  life  on  the 
old  homestead.  He  is  the  only  son  of  his  parents. 
He  graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and 
has  taken  the  short  course  in  agriculture  at  Purdue 
University.  He  is  one  of  the  progressive  and  suc- 
cessful fanners  of  the  county,  and  pays  much  atten- 
tion to  livestock. 

August  15,  1906,  he  married  Bertha  Showalter. 
She  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  and  is  a gradu- 
ate of  the  common  schools.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren : Horace  A.,  born  August  9,  1907 ; Oneida  M., 
born  December  17,  1909;  Mary  A.,  born  February  9, 
1912,  and  Elmer  O.,  born  October  31,  1918.  The 
family  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Mr.  Schermerhorn  is  a republican  and 
spent  one  term  of  four  years'  as  a member  of  the 
County  Council.  In  early  life  he  put  in  five  years 
as  a teacher  in  the  district  school. 

Edwin  R.  Powers,  of  Angola,  was  born  in  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio,  October  23,  1862,  a son  of 
Edwin  and  Clarissa  L.  (Jones)  Powers,  the  former 
a native  of  New  York  State.  The  grandparents 
were  Winn  and  Betsey  Powers,  who  were  identified 
with  the  earliest  settlement  of  Steuben  County, 
coming  about  1836.  Edwin  Powers,  Sr.,  was  seven 
years  old  when  brought  to  Steuben  County.  He 
attended  a school  at  home  kept  and  taught  by  his 
father.  He  followed  the  occupation  of  farming  and 
for  a number  of  years  owned  a farm  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio.  He  finally  moved  to  Angola  to  edu- 
cate his  children.  His  wife  died  in  1872.  He  served 
as  township  treasurer  in  Williams  County,  Ohio, 


and  was  a democrat  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children:  Winn,  who  for  two 

terms  was  mayor  of  the  City  of  St.  Paul,  Minne- 
sota, and  while  mayor  the  commission  form  of 
government  was  established;  Edwin  R. ; Dora  B., 
of  Minneapolis;  Frank  L.,  county  assessor  of  Ram- 
sey County,  Minnesota ; Daisy,  wife  of  Mr.  Wise- 
man, of  St.  Paul. 

Edwin  R.  Powers  was  educated  in  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  grew  up  on  a farm,  and  for  twenty 
years  was  a traveling  salesman.  In  1909  he  engaged 
in  the  real  estate  business  and  is  a member  of  the 
firm  Powers,  Powers  & Ivan. 

He  is  a democrat,  a member  of  the  Masons,  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias.  In  1891  he  married  Miss  Jessie  D.  Gore, 
of  Williams  County,  Ohio.  Their  daughter,  C. 
Louise,  is  the  wife  of  W.  O.  Goodwin,  of  Fremont. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodwin  have  a daughter,  Barbara 
Mary. 

Tohn  Klink.  Few  but  the  oldest  residents  in 
Salem  Township  in  Steuben  County  will  recall  the 
late  John  Klink,  who  was  an  early  settler  there,  a 
good  farmer  and  a good  citizen,  and  the  homestead 
that  he  developed  as  a result  of  so  much  toil  is  now 
occupied  bv  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Peeper. 

John  Klink  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
March  1.  1829,  son  of  Christian  and  Mary  (Failer) 
Klink.  He  came  to  Steuben  County  in  early  man- 
hood, and  bought  the  present  farm  in  section  12  of 
Salem  Township  in  1856,  more  than  sixty  years  ago. 
He  had  eighty  acres,  cleared  away  the  timber  and 
brush,  put  up  the  first  buildings  on  the  land  and 
lived  there  with  growing  prosperity  and  comfort 
until  his  death  on  Tanuary  13,  1866.  After  his  death 
his  widow  and  child  lived  on  the  homestead  for  nine 
years.  Mrs.  Klink  in  1875  was  married  to  William 
Craig,  and  they  moved  to  Auburn,  where  she  died 
May  2a.  1892.  The  children  of  John  Klink  were 
Mary ; Thomas  P.,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen ; 
Caroline,  who  died  when  fourteen  years  old;  and 
Lovina,  who  died  at  the  age  of  nine. 

Mary  Klink,  the  only  living  descendant  of  John 
Klink,  was  married  December  0,  1873,  to  Nathaniel 
Killinger,  a son  of  Steven  and  Rebecca  Killinger. 
Nathaniel  Killinger  was  born  in  Summit  County, 
Ohio.  October  2,  1849.  After  their  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Killinger  lived  on  the  farm  in  section  12, 
which  was  under  Mr.  Killinger’s  capable  direction 
until  his  death  August  14,  1891.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kil- 
linger had  three  children,  noted  briefly  as  follows : 
Minnie,  wife  of  Clyde  Dole,  a farmer  in  Salem 
Township,  and  they  had  three  children,  named 
Zema.  who  married  Clarence  Rehneil,  and  have  a 
son,  Howard  Paul : D.  N..  and  Ferman  P.  Morton 
B.  the  second  child  of  Mrs.  Killinger,  was  born 
Tanuary  20.  1877,  and  was  drowned  Tune  9,  1805. 
Llovd  C.  Killinger,  who  is  a successful  farmer  in 
Jackson  Township,  married  Rita  Doudt,  and  has 
two  children,  Dewan  and  Marjorie  D. 

On  Tidy  12,  1904,  Mrs.  Killinger  became  the  wife 
of  William  Peeper.  During  the  next  two  years 
they  lived  in  Hudson,  but  since  1907  have  resumed 
their  residence  on  the  old  Klink  homestead,  where 
Mr.  Peeper  is  now  directing  its  management. 

Alpheus  K.  Faux.  One  of  the  foremost  agricul- 
turists of  Allen  Township  in  Noble  County,  Alpheus 
K.  Faux  has  lived  in  that  county  since  boyhood  and 
is  a man  who  has  earned  his  own  success  in  life,  and 
now  has  a property  which  is  the  source  not  only  of 
profit  but  of  all  the  pleasurable  associations  of  a 
home.  His  farm  is  two  miles  south  and  two  miles 
west  of  Kendallville. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


363 


Mr.  Faux  was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio, 
December  20,  1864,  son  of  Charles  and  Maria 
(Stockdale)  Faux.  His  father  was  a native  of 

Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of  Ohio.  They  mar- 
ried in  Ohio  and  settled  on  a farm  near  Mount 
Gilead  in  Morrow  County,  but  in  1875  left  the 
Buckeye  state  and  located  in  Noble  County,  where 
they  spent  their  last  years.  Their  home  was  in 
Orange  Township.  They  were  members  of  the 

Baptist  Church  and  the  father  was  a democrat  in 
politics.  His  ready  energies  and  resourcefulness 
enabled  him  to  make  a success,  though  he  began 
life  as  a poor  man,  and  he  owned  320  acres  of  Noble 
County  land.  Of  his  fourteen  children  seven  are 
still  living:  Burke,  a farmer  in  Orange  Township; 

Sadie,  wife  of  Josiah  Ziglar;  Lottie,  wife  of  John 
Spice,  of  LaGrange  County;  Alpheus  K. ; W.  R., 
a farmer  in  Orange  Township;  Estella,  wife  of  John 
W.  Harvey,  of  Jefferson  Township;  and  Justin,  of 
Orange  Township. 

Alpheus  K.  Faux  began  attending  school  in  Ohio 
and  was  ten  years  old  when  his  people  located  in 
Noble  County.  After  getting  his  education  he  lived 
at  home  to  the  age  of  twenty-one  and  pursued  farm 
labor  as  a means  of  self  support  for  a number  of 
years.  In  1893  he  married  Frances  Wirick.  After 
his  marriage  he  rented  a farm,  and  then  bought  an 
interest  in  the  old  homestead.  That  was  his  home 
until  1909,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  his  160-acre 
farm  in  Allen  Township.  This  is  devoted  to  gen- 
eral farming  and  stock  raising,  and  is  considered 
one  of  the  notable  farms  of  the  township. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Faux  have  four  children : Bernice, 
Charles  D.,  George  and  Paul,  all  graduates  of  the 
common  schools  and  all  still  at  home.  Mrs.  Faux 
is  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  In  politics 
he  votes  as  a democrat. 

William  Seely,  who  has  long  since  passed  the 
age  of  four-score,  has  spent  three-quarters  of  a 
century  in  DeKalb  County,  and  during  this  long 
time  has  been  fruitful  in  many  private  and  public 
endeavors  and  influences  that  have  directly  promoted 
the  welfare  of  his  community  in  Newville  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Seel}',  who  still  lives  on  his  farm  near  the 
village  of  Newville,  was  born  in  New  York  State 
October  7,  1833,  a son  of  Amzi  and  Mercy  A.  (Ray) 
Seely,  the  former  a native  of  Connecticut  and  the 
latter  of  Massachusetts.  The  Seely  family  came  to 
Indiana,  arriving  in  DeKalb  County  July  3,  1843. 
The  same  year  they  settled  on  the  Richmond  farm, 
and  in  the  fall  of  1845  Amzi  Seely  moved  to  Orange- 
ville, where  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  flouring 
mill.  He  sold  his  share  of  this  property  in  1858  and 
after  that  lived  at  Newville  until  his  death  in  the 
spring  of  1877.  He  was  a man  of  prominence  in  the 
county  and  served  four  years  as  a county  commis- 
sioner. In  politics  he  was  a democrat.  Amzi  Seely 
was  the  father  of  four  children,  William;  Isaac  and 
Benjamin,  both  deceased,  and  Harriet,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Samuel  Stafford,  of  Newville. 

William  Seely  was  ten  years  old  when  brought 
to  Indiana.  He  finished  his  education  in  the  local 
schools  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  began  appren- 
ticeship to  the  cabinet  maker’s  trade.  He  followed 
that  work  until  the  spring  of  1872,  when  he  built 
a sawmill,  and  operated  this  mill  for  many  years 
as  a matter  of  commercial  convenience  and  of  profit 
to  the  Newville  community.  He  later  bought  his 
farm  of  120  acres,  and  for  many  years  has  had  his 
home  on  that  place. 

In  June,  1863,  Mr.  Seely  married  Ellen  Stager. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1836  and  was  reared  in 
DeKalb  County.  Mrs.  Seely  died  September  19, 


I9J3,  a few  weeks  after  they  had  celebrated  the 
fiftieth  or  golden  anniversary  of  their  wedding.  She 
was  the  mother  of  five  children : Elizabeth,  widow 

of  Horace  Josling;  Bertha,  wife  of  Charles  Wilson, 
of  DeKalb  County;  Lena,  wife  of  John  E.  Platter; 
Maude  M.,  wife  of  E.  R.  May,  of  DeKalb  County; 
and  John  A.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Detroit, 
Michigan.  Mr.  Seely  has  nine  great-grandchildren. 

Mr.  Seely  is  a democrat  and  has  been  quite  active 
in  politics.  He  was  elected  trustee  of  Newville 
Township  in  1882  and  served  three  terms,  eight  years 
altogether.  He  is  the  only  surviving  charter  -mem- 
ber of  William  Hacker  Lodge  of  Masons,  and  is 
also  a Royal  Arch  Mason. 

Charles  A.  Junod  has  had  the  satisfaction  of 
spending  over  forty  years  in  agricultural  effort  in 
LaGrange  County,  and  from  small  beginnings  has 
accumulated  sufficient  prosperity  for  all  his  needs, 
and  in  the  meantime  has  seen  a good  family  grow 
up  around  him  and  become  honored  in  their  re- 
spective spheres  and  vocations. 

Mr.  Junod  was  born  at  Ligieniere,  Switzerland, 
May  18,  1845,  but  has  been  a resident  of  America 
since  he  was  twelve  years  old.  His  parents  were 
Charles  L.  and  Elizabeth  (Kiefer)  Junod,  both 
natives  of  Switzerland.  His  father  was  born  in 
1811  and  brought  his  family  to  America  in  1857. 
He  lived  in  Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  until  1862, 
then  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  after 
three  years  in  Greenfield  Township  moved  to  Van 
Buren  Township,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life  and  where  he  died  June  6,  1889.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  he  owned  160  acres  of  land.  He  and 
his  wife  had  the  following  children : Ida,  Charles 

A. ,  Emma,  Augustus,  Lewis,  Alcid  (who  died  on 
the  way  to  Indiana  from  the  old  country),  Frank 
and  Amos. 

Charles  A.  Junod  received  his  education  partly  in 
the  old  country  and  partly  in  America,  and  as  a 
young  man  worked  out  by  the  day  or  month.  In 
1874  he  married  Eveline  Steininger,  a daughter  of 
Joseph  Steininger.  The  next  three  years  he  farmed 
rented  land,  and  in  1878  bought  the  place  of  eighty 
acres  in  Van  Buren  Township  where  he  lives  to- 
day and  where  he  has  gathered  most  of  his  pros- 
perity. In  1896  he  bought  an  adjoining  sixty  acres, 
and  has  the  entire  farm  well  arranged  and  well 
improved  with  buildings  and  other  equipment.  He 
and  his  wife  also  own  160  acres  in  St.  Joseph 
County,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Junod  lost  his  first  wife  in  1891.  She  was 
the  mother  of  four  children : Orla,  the  oldest,  is  a 
state  senator  living  in  Montana.  He  married  Mabel 
Mathew,  and  had  three  children,  Eveline,  Mabel  and 
Amoretta,  the  first  two  now  deceased.  Charles  F. 
has  achieved  distinction  in  financial  circles,  being 
vice  president  of  the  Atlantic  City  Bank  of  New 
York  City.  He  married  Augusta  Smith  and  they 
have  two  children,  Charles  F.,  Jr.,  and  Robert  Smith. 
Joseph  S.  Junod  is  a farmer  at  home,  while  Ray  L., 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  lives  in  Chicago  and  is 
connected  with  the  Continental  National  Bank.  He 
married  Catherine  Boyden  and  has  two  children, 
Elizabeth  and  William  B. 

June  7,  1892,  Mr.  Junod  married  Martha  C.  Sex- 
auer,  a daughter  of  Andrew  Sexauer.  They  have 
two  children,  Lottie  S.  and  Carlie  E.  Mr.  Junod 
served  for  eight  years  as  a member  of  the  County 
Council  of  LaGrange  County,  and  his  name  is  there- 
fore known  in  all  parts  of  this  county. 

Samuel  B.  Nichols.  The  life  activities  of  Samuel 

B.  Nichols  have  been  widely  known  in  LaGrange 
County,  particularly  in  Lima  Township,  where  he 


364 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


has  been  a farmer  and  stockman,  merchant  and  vice 
president  of  the  State  Bank  of  Lima  for  about  thirty 
years. 

He  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of  the  same 
county  November  io,  1867,  a son  of  Charles  G.  and 
Ella  (Burnell)  Nichols.  Of  the  older  members  of 
his  family  and  their  relations  with  LaGrange  County 
more  is  said  on  other  pages.  Samuel  B.  Nichols 
grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm,  had  a public  school 
education,  and  attended  the  Northern  Indiana  Nor- 
mal School  at  Valparaiso.  On  locating  at  Lima,  now 
Howe,  he  engaged  in  the  hardware  business  for 
about  ten  years,  associated  with  Arthur  S.  Atwater 
under  the  firm  name  of  Atwater  & Nichols.  In  the 
meantime  Mr.  Nichols  became  interested  in  the  State 
Bank  of  Lima,  and  when  his  brother  Charles  became 
its  president  he  accepted  the  post  of  cashier,  and 
has  been  the  responsible  executive  of  the  bank  ever 
since.  He  and  his  brother  also  own  the  old  home- 
stead and  do  an  extensive  business  as  stock  feeders. 

Mr.  Nichols  had  has  no  aspiration  for  office, 
though  he  is  now  a member  of  the  Township  Ad- 
visory Board.  He  votes  as  a republican,  is  a thirty- 
second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason,  and  a member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows.  He  was  reared  in  the  Episcopal 
Church,  but  attends  worship  at  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  which  his  wife  is  a member.  He  married 
October  23,  1895,  Mary  Samson,  daughter  of  Mar- 
shall Samson,  of  Homer,  New  York. 

Frank  J.  Smith  with  his  brother  Charles  Smith 
constitute  the  firm  of  Smith  Brothers,  hardware 
merchants  at  LaGrange!  This  is  an  old  established 
business,  the  firm  having  been  in  existence  thirty 
years.  They  bought  a business  which  had  been 
conducted  in  LaGrange  for  a number  of  years. 
Frank  J.  Smith  is  one  of  three  brothers,  all  of 
whom  have  been  successful  hardware  dealers.  The 
other  one  is  a merchant  at  Hillsdale,  Michigan. 

Frank  J.  Smith  was  born  at  Hillsdale  May  10, 
1859,  son  John  and  Elizabeth  (Openo)  Smith. 
His  father  was  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt,  Germany, 
in  1832.  The  mother  was  born  in  Oakland  County, 
Michigan,  in  1836.  Her  father,  Joseph  Openo,  came 
out  to  Michigan  Territory  and  settled  in  Oakland 
County  in  1835,  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  as  a 
farmer.  In  the  Openo  family  were  seven  children, 
named  Nancy,  George,  Charlotte,  Charles,  Joseph, 
Elizabeth  and  Mary.  John  Smith  came  from  Ger- 
many to  the  United  States  when  fourteen  years  of 
age,  having  in  the  meantime  acquired  a common 
school  education.  At  Hillsdale,  Michigan,  he  worked 
as  a farm  hand  and  later  entered  the  hardware 
business  in  that  city,  and  was  a prosperous  merchant 
at  the  time  of  his  death  in  1866.  He  and  his  wife 
had  three  children,  Frank  J.,  Charles  H.  and 
George  N.  The  latter  is  owner  of  the  Hillsdale 
Hardware  Company.  The  mother  of  these  sons 
died  at  Hillsdale  May  30,  1917. 

Frank  J.  Smith  grew  up  in  his  native  city,  at- 
tended the  public  schools,  was  in  high  school  through 
his  junior  year,  and  then  followed  the  period  in 
which  he  was  earning  his  living,  serving  five  years 
as  deputy  postmaster  at  Hillsdale.  Another  incident 
of  his  early  life  was  going  out  to  South  Dakota 
and  taking  up  a claim  of  160  acres.  After  finish- 
ing a commercial  course  at  Hillsdale  College  Mr. 
Smith  removed  to  Hudson,  Michigan,  where  he  was 
employed  in  a hardware  store  for  five  years.  He 
came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1888  and  with  his 
brother  Charles  bought  out  the  hardware  store 
owned  by  Arad  Lampman  on  the  west  side  of  Main 
Street.  They  were  in  that  old  location  for  three 
years  and  in  January,  1892,  moved  to  their  present 
location  where  they  have  been  in  business  for  over 


a quarter  of  a century  and  which  is  a landmark 
in  the  business  district  of  LaGrange.  The  Smith, 
Brothers  are  well  known  throughout  Northern  In- 
diana, have  a large  and  completely  stocked  hardware 
establishment,  and  their  success  has  been  derived 
from  their  knowledge  of  business,  honesty  and  up- 
right dealings  with  the  public. 

Mr.  Smith  is  an  independent  democrat  in  politics. 
He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  He  married  Eva  B.  Dickerson  in  1888. 
She  was  born  at  Hudson,  Michigan,  a daughter 
of  James  B.  and  Catherine  Schuyler  (Clover)  Dick- 
erson. Her  mother  was  a descendant  of  Peter 
Schuyler,  one  of  the  most  noted  heroes  of  the 
American  Revolution  and  first  mayor  of  Albany, 
New  York.  Her  parents  spent  many  years  in  Hud- 
son, Michigan,  where  they  died.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Smith  were  born  three  children : Arnold  D.,  who 

is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School  and  was 
a student  at  Wooster  University,  after  a year  in 
service  overseas  has  taken  up  his  pre-war  occupation 
as  an  automobile  salesman.  Kathryn  Schuyler,  who 
graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High  School,  then 
attended  Western  College  for  Women  at  Oxford, 
Ohio,  and  later  the  Michigan  Agricultural  College, 
is  now  bookkeeper  for  the  Smith  Brothers  hard- 
ware business  at  LaGrange.  George  Schuyler,  the 
youngest  child,  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School,  and  is  now  junior  in  the  Mechanical  En- 
gineering Department  of  Purdue  University. 

Charles  H.  Smith,  of  the  firm  of  Smith  Brothers, 
hardware  merchants  at  LaGrange,  is  one  of  the  most 
enterprising  citizens  of  his  community.  With  his 
brother  Frank  he  has  always  been  interested  in  every 
movement  for  the  welfare  of  the  city  and  county. 

He  and  his  two  brothers  are  all  veteran  hard- 
ware men,  the  third  brother  being  a hardware  mer- 
chant at  Hillsdale,  Michigan.  Charles  H.  Smith 
was  born  at  Hillsdale  March  10,  1861,  a son  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  (Openo)  Smith.  His  father 
was  a native  of  Germany,  came  to  the  United  States 
as  a boy  worked  at  various  occupations  in  Southern 
Michigan  and  afterward  became  a hardware  dealer 
at  Hillsdale,  where  he  died  in  1866,  when  his  son 
Charles  was  only  five  years  old.  The  mother  sur- 
vived many  years.  Her  father  was  one  of  the 
pioneer  settlers  of  Oakland  County,  Michigan. 

Charles  H.  Smith  as  a boy  attended  public  school 
at  Hillsdale,  and  was  in  his  senior  year  in  high 
school  when  he  left  his  studies  to  earn  his  own 
way  and  improve  his  opportunity  to  enter  the  hard- 
ware business.  For  ten  years  he  was  clerk  in 
a hardware  store  at  Hillsdale,-  and  the  only  inter- 
ruption to  his  service  was  eight  months  while  he  was 
entering  and  making  the  initial  improvement  upon 
a 160  acre  claim  in  South  Dakota.  Later  he  was 
clerk  in  a hardware  store  at  Huron,  South  Dakota, 
and  for  two  years  was  traveling  salesman  represent- 
ing a hardware  house  in  Minnesota  and  South 
Dakota. 

Mr.  Smith  and  his  brother  Frank  formed  their 
partnership  in  1888  and  bought  out  an  old  estab- 
lished business  at  LaGrange.  Their  trade  asso- 
ciations now  cover  all  the  territory  around  La- 
Grange, and  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  known 
hardware  organizations  in  Northeast  Indiana. 

Mr.  C.  H.  Smith  was  also  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  LaGrange  Creamery  and  Ice  Company  and 
has  been  president  of  that  corporation  since  it  was 
organized.  He  was  also  identified  with  the  organ- 
ization of  the  LaGrange  State  Bank  and  has  since 
been  one  of  its  directors.  He  is  an  independent 
democrat  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  LaGrange.  His  family  attend  the  Presby- 
terian Church. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


365 


Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Margaret  Selby  in  1890. 
She  was  born  at  LaGrange  and  her  father  was  the 
late  Harrison  Selby,  a prominent  old  time  merchant 
of  the  county.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  haye  one 
daughter,  Lenore  D.  She  is  a graduate  of  the 
LaGrange  High  School  and  finished  her  education 
at  Northwestern  University  in  Evanston,  Illinois, 
and  St.  Mary’s  College  at  South  Bend,  Indiana. 

L.  W.  Crandall  has  been  in  one  line  of  business 
at  Fremont  for  nearly  thirty  years,  general  produce, 
and  is  one  of  the  oldest  merchants  and  business  men 
of  that  town.  He  came  to  Steuben  County  over 
forty-five  years  ago,  and  was  a farmer  until  he 
entered  business  at  Fremont. 

Mr.  Crandall  was  born  in  Courtland  County,  New 
York,  July  29,  1853,  a son  of  Cordial  and  Charlotta 
(Cutler)  Crandall,  who  were  natives  of  Vermont. 
His  father  spent  his  active  life  as  a farmer  in 
Oneida  County,  New  York.  The  Crandalls  are  a 
Presbyterian  family.  There  were  seven  children : 
Andrew  Z.,  who  served  as  a^  Union  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war,  Aaron  S.,  Stanford*  S.,  Laura  L.,  Jotham 
N.,  Frank  W.  and  L.  W. 

L.  W.  Crandall  received  a public  school  education 
in  Oneida  County,  New  York,  and  at  an  early  age 
left  home  and  became  dependent  upon  his  own 
energies.  After  working  for  several  years  in  the 
East  he  came  to  Angola  in  1872,  and  worked  for 
others  until  he  could  get  started  independently. 
For  twelve  years  he  was  a farmer  in  Jamestown 
Township,  and  in  1891  left  his  farm  and  engaged 
in  the  feed  and  produce  business  at  Fremont. 

March  30,  1881,  he  married  Mary  J.  Nuttle.  They 
had  four  children:  Robert  C.,  Frank  L.,  Lula  F. 

and  Bertha  M.  Bertha  died  in  childhood. 

Milton  Halferty  has  been  one  of  the  fixtures  in 
the  agricultural  community  of  Noble  County  prac- 
tically all  his  life.  His  people  settled  in  Allen 
Township  upwards  of  seventy  years  ago,  and  there 
the  Halfertys  have  been  known  for  their  substantial 
character,  their  industry,,  ’thrift  and  intelligence 
ever  since. 

Milton  Halferty  was  born  on  the  farm  where  he 
now  resides  in  Allen  Township,  August  19,  1865. 
His  farm  is  two  and  a half  miles  west  of  Avilla. 
Mr.  Halferty  is  a son  of  Edward  and  Henrietta 
(Carr)  Halferty.  The  Halferty  family  came  from 
Pennsylvania,  where  the  grandfather  served  as  lieu- 
tenant in  the  French  and  Indian  war.  Edward  Hal- 
ferty was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, October  14,  1816,  and  in  early  life  moved  to 
Ohio.  November  17,  1846,  in  Ohio,  he  married  Miss 
Henrietta  Carr.  She  was  born  in  Morrow  County, 
Ohio,  January  17,  1823.  Five  years  after  their  mar- 
riage, in  1851,  they  came  to  Indiana  and  secured  a 
tract  of  raw  land  in  Noble  County,  redeemed  it 
from  the  wilderness,  and  lived  there  and  prospered 
until  the  close  of  their  lives.  They  were  the  parents 
of  nine  children : Mary  J.,  widow  of  James  M: 

Black;  Byron,  deceased;  Charles  M.,  of  Avilla;  Wil- 
liam, of  Morrow  County,  Ohio ; Pierce,  of  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana;  Mina,  wife  of  John  D.  Kuhn; 
Dora,  who  is  the  widow  of  Emmett  Cox ; Albert,  of 
Noble  County;  and  Milton. 

Milton  Halferty  has  spent  all  his  life  on  the  old  . 
farm,  and  as  a boy  attended  the  local  schools  nearby. 
In  1891  he  married  Miss  Jennie  M.  Seymour.  This 
good  and  noble  woman  died  September  4,  1892, 
leaving  one  daughter.  The  daughter  is  also  named 
Jennie  and  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and 
the  Avilla  High  School,  and  spent  three  years  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola,  Indiana.  She 
taught  a number  of  terms  in  the  district  schools  and 


is  now  at  home  with  her  father.  Mr.  Halferty  has 
ninety  acres,  all  under  cultivation,  and  it  is  from 
that  Ue  has  made  his  living  for  over  thirty  years, 
hte  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge  No.  316, 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  is  a past 
noble  grand  and  has  been  a,  member  of  the  Grand 
Lodge.  In  politics  he  votes  as  a democrat. 

Ira  E.  Smith  is  a resident  of  Spencer  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  and  for  over  sixty  years  or  more 
he  has  been  busied  with  his  affairs  as  a stirring  and 
progressive  agriculturist  in  that  community.  Mr. 
Smith  is  proprietor  of  a fine  farm  of  160  acres  in 
sections  34  and  35  in  Spencer  Township.  His  home 
is  2j^  miles  southeast  of  Spencerville. 

He  was  born  in  Portage  County,  Ohio,  February 
22,  1852,  a son  of  Levi  and  Harriet  E.  (Robb) 
Smith.  Levi  Smith  was  born  in  Mahoning  County, 
Ohio,  February  22,  1828,  a son  of  Peter  and  Eliza- 
beth Smith,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania.  Levi 
Smith  at  the  age  of  seventeen  began  learning  the 
shoemaker’s  trade,  but  in  1849  bought  a farm  in 
Portage  County,  Ohio,  and  in  the  spring  of  1854 
came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  and  bought  eighty 
acres  of  sparsely  improved  land^  He  became  one  of 
the  well  to  do  citizens  of  DeKalb  County,  owning 
over  320  acres,  and  he  and  his  wife  lived  there  until 
their  death.  He  married  Harriet  Robb  in  1849.  She 
was  born  in  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Eliza- 
beth Robb.  Levi  Smith  and  wife  had  two  children : 
Ira  E.  and  Isaiah.  The  parents  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  the  father  was  a demo- 
crat. 

Ira  E.  Smith  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in  De- 
Kalb County  from  the  age  of  three  years  and  was 
educated  in  the  district  schools.  September  17,  1876, 
he  was  married  to  Lois  D.  Moore.  She  was  born 
in  Scipio  Township  of  Allen  County,  Indiana,  April 
17,  1857,  a daughter  of  William  A.  and  Dorliska 
(Bracy)  Moore.  William  A.  Moore  and  wife  were 
natives  of  New  York  State  and  were  married  in 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  where  they  spent  their  lives 
as  farmers  in  Scipio  Township.  William  A.  Moore 
died  September  19,  1896.  and  his  wife  May  17,  1914. 
Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Protestant 
Church  and  William  A.  Moore  was  a republican.  In 
the  Moore  family  were  the  following  children : 
Angela  S.,  wife  of  Zack  Bartholomew ; Harriet  E., 
wife  of  John  Omo, ; Lois  D. ; William  W. ; Charles 
W. ; Henrietta  C.,  deceased ; Hiram  B. ; Cora  L., 
wife  of  John  Rarick,  all  living  but  Henrietta.  Mrs. 
Smith  was  educated  in  the  district  schools. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  moved 
to  the  farm  where  they  now  reside.  They  have 
three  children : Harriett  D.,  who  is  the  wife  of 

George  Bowman  and  lives  near  Leo,  Indiana;  Wil- 
liam L.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Allen  County; 
and  Elmer  E.,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Spencer 
Township.  All  the  children  were  given  good  ad- 
vantages in  the  local  schools.  Mr.  Smith  is  a 
democrat  and  has  wielded  considerable  influence 
in  local  politics. 

George  W.  Kepler.  The  old  Kepler  home  is  in 
Franklin  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  a mile  and 
a half  southeast  of  Hamilton.  This  place  has  been 
the  center  of  associations  for  five  generations  of 
the  Keplers.  Land  that  was  taken  up  and  develop- 
ment begun  by  the  grandfather  of  George  W.  Kep- 
ler, the  present  owner,  has  been  under  this  name  for 
over  eighty  years.  Two  small  girls,  living  in  the 
same  locality,  are  granddaughters  of  George  W. 
Kepler,  and  represent  the  fifth  generation  of  the 
family. 

George  W.  Kepler  was  born  at  Hamilton  in 
Steuben  County  May  9,  1868.  He  is  a son  of  John 


366 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  Nancy  (.Gunsenhouser)  Kepler,  the  former  born 
in  Franklin  Township  in  March,  1839,  and  the  latter 
in  Wilmington  Township.  John  Kepler  was  a son  of 
Samuel  and  Mary  Kepler,  who  came  to  DeKalb 
County  about  1834  and  settled  in  Franklin  Township, 
spending  their  last  days  on  the  farm  where  George 
W.  Kepler  now  lives.  John  and  Nancy  Kepler  had 
four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living:  Lula, 
widow  of  hjenry  Miller;  George  W. ; Della,  wife  of 
Charles  Mumaw,  of  Butler,  and  Cora  M.,  who  died 
in  childhood. 

George  W.  Kepler  grew  up  in  Franklin  Township, 
attended  district  schools  and  the  Flamilton  Fligh 
School,  and  on  December  6,  1889,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  married  Della  Betz.  She  was  born  in 
Franklin  Township  March  16,  1870,  a daughter  of 
Jefferson  Betz,  and  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kep- 
ler lived  a mile  south  of  Hamilton,  and  then  for 
about  eight  years  lived  in  Hamilton.  Mr.  Kepler  is 
a carpenter  by  trade  and  has  done  a great  deal  of 
contracting  and  building  while  in  Hamilton  and  since 
returning  to  the  old  homestead  farm.  He  has  sev- 
enty-eight acres  devoted  to  cultivation  and  livestock. 
He  is  a democrat  in  politics,  is  affiliated  with  Ham- 
ilton Lodge  No.  228,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  his 
wife  is  a Pythian  Sister,  and  both  are  members  of 
the  Hamilton  Grange. 

Their  only  son  and  child  is  Alva  L.  Kepler,  who 
was  born  April  25,  1893,  and  lives  in  Franklin  Town- 
ship. He  married  Ida  Dangler,  and  their  two  young 
daughters  are  Marie  L.,  born  September  20,  1916, 
and  June  Rose,  born  June  1,  1919. 

Carl  A.  Redding,  of  Pleasant  Township  in  Steu- 
ben County,  has  a very  successful  record  as  a dairy- 
man, and  is  regarded  as  an  authority  on  many 
branches  of  the  dairy  industry  in  this  part  of  In- 
diana. His  own  career  supplements  a meritorious 
family  record,  his  people  having  been  identified  with 
Northeast  Indiana  for  three  generations. 

Mr.  Redding  was  born  in  Steuben  Township 
July  26,  1876,  a son  of  Alexander  George  and  Sarah 
(Zabst)  Redding.  His  grandfather,  George  Redd- 
ing, was  a native  of  France,  came  to  America  when 
a boy  with  an  older  married  sister,  and  was  bound 
out  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  to  learn  the  painter’s 
trade.  In  1862  he  came  to  Steuben  Township  with 
his  family,  locating  on  a farm.  He  retired  in  1875 
and  lived  in  Angola  until  his  death  in  1892.  His 
wife  died  in  1890.  They  have  two  children:  Sophia, 
who  married  George  Merrill,  of  Toledo,  and  Alex- 
ander George. 

Alexander  George  Redding  was  born  in  Toledo, 
Ohio,  and  died  in  September,  1876,  when  his  son 
Carl  was  only  a few  weeks  old.  His  wife,  Sarah 
Zabst,  was  born  in  Pleasant  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  a daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Zabst. 
John  Zabst,  a notable  figure  among  the  pioneers  of 
Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Alsace-Lorraine, 
France,  and  at  the  age  of  ten  years  came  to  Amer- 
ica. For  several  years  he  worked  on  a canal  boat 
between  Buffalo  and  Albany,  and  from  New  York 
State  settled  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio,  and  in 
1846  invaded  the  wilderness  of  Steuben  County, 
Indiana.  He  located  on  a farm  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship two  miles  southeast  of  Angola.  The  woods 
were  heavy  and  dense  all  around  him,  and  there 
was  only  a cow  path  between  his  land  and  Angola. 
He  made  the  journey  from  Ohio  with  an  ox  team, 
his  wife  and  two  children  coming  with  him.  He 
paid  $500  cash  for  160  acres  of  land,  only  five  acres 
cleared  and  all  the  rest  gradually  came  into  cultiva- 
tion through  his  individual  labors.  He  was  a man 
of  high  standing  in  the  community,  and  was  active 
in  the  Methodist  Church.  John  Zabst  and  wife  had 


the  following  children : George,  deceased ; Erm- 

anda,  who  married  Levi  Harmon ; Magdalena,  who 
died  in  childhood;  Margaret,  who  became  the  wife 
of  Joseph  Crotzer ; Sarah;  Catherine,  wife  of  Silas 
Yeager;  John;  William;  Augustus,  who  died  in 
childhood ; and  Franklin. 

Carl  A.  Redding  was  the  only  child  of  his  father, 
whose  career  was  interrupted  just  as  he  was  getting 
started.  Carl  Redding  and  his  mother  then  lived 
with  her  people  in  Steuben  Township,  and  he  grew 
up  there,  attending  the  public  schools  of  Angola, 
including  high  school,  and  graduated  from  the  Tri- 
State  Normal  College  of  Angola.  After  leaving 
school  Mr.  Redding  applied  himself  to  the  business 
of  farming  on  his  present  place,  where  he  now  owns 
180  acres.  He  has  added  to  the  value  of  the  land 
by  his  modern  improvements.  He  began  farming 
there  in  1898  and  in  1907  began  specializing  as  a 
dairyman.  His  herd  grew  until  he  had  seventy 
head.  He  sold  a large  part  of  his  stock  in  Decem- 
ber, 1918,  but  still  has  about  fourteen  blooded 
Holstein  cattle. 

In  1897  Mr.  Redding  married  Mary  K.  Gale 
daughter  of  Jesse  M.  and  Elizabeth  Gale.  They 
have  two  children,  Louis  and  Ralph  R.  Mr.  Redd- 
ing is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  and  belongs  to 
the  Rotary  . Club  at  Angola. 

Frank  M.  Owen.  It  is  a pleasure  to  the  men 
who  are  now  engaged  in  cultivating  the  fertile  land 
of  Steuben  County  to  reflect  that  this  valuable  sec- 
tion of  Indiana  was  redeemed  by  men  of  brawn 
and  muscle  who  came  here  imbued  with  the  idea  of 
securing  homes  for  their  offspring,  and  that  among 
them  were  their  own  forebears.  Frank  M.  Owen 
of  Angola,  who  is  the  owner  of  considerable  land 
in  the  county,  descends  from  one  of  the  very  early 
settlers  of  Steuben  County,  Elijah  Owen,  whose 
arrival  dates  back  to  1836,  when  that  excellent  man 
entered  a tract  of  land  at  Gage  Lake  in  Millgrove 
Township,  and  there  he  spent  the  remainder  of  his 
life.  He  was  a ship  builder  by  trade,  and  had 
worked  at  Sandusky,  Ohio.  He  was  married  to 
Hannah  Green,  and  they  had  the  following  children : 
Ira,  Hannah  and  Henry  H.  The  last  named  was 
born  in  Lake  County,  Ohio,  near  the  Town  of  Perry, 
in  1834,  so  was  only  two  years  old  when  he  was 
brought  by  his  father  to  Steuben  County.  Here 
he  was  reared  and  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Gage  Lake,  and  about  1855  began  farming  in  Mil- 
grove  Township,  where  he  remained  until  1879,  when 
he  moved  to  Angola,  and  there  he  lived  the  re- 
mainder of  his  life.  Henry  H.  Owen  was  married 
to  Maria  Burroughs,  born  in  Fremont  Township, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  a daughter  of  Truman  and 
Lydia  (Dudley)  Burroughs,  the  former  a pioneer 
minister  of  the  Baptist  Church  in  this  part  of 
Indiana.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Adoniram  Judson,  Rising,  William  (who  is 

a veteran  of  the  Civil  war),  Arvilla,  Susan,  Maria, 
Ale'tha  and  Merritt.  The  children  born  to  Henry 
H.  Owen  and  his  wife  were:  Frank  M.,  whose  name 
heads  this  review,  and  Bell,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  twenty-five  years.  Both  parents  of  these  chil- 
dren were  consistent  members  of  the  Christian 
Church. 

Frank  M.  Owen  was  reared  in  his  native  place 
and  attended  the  excellent  schools  of  Gage  Lake 
and  the  Angola  High  School.  Having  been  brought 
up  to  farm  work,  he  realized  the  desirability  of  en- 
tering that  calling,  and  has  been  a farmer  all  his 
mature  years.  His  birth  occurred  at  Gage  Lake, 
Millgrove  Township,  September  5>  1861,  and  he  has 
spent  his  entire  life  in  Steuben  County,  now  mak- 


367 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


ing  his  residence  at  Angola,  although  he  owns  sev- 
enty-six acres  of  land  in  Millgrove  Township  and 
280  at  Gage  Lake.  The  rural  residence  is  near 
Crooked  Lake,  a very  desirable  location,  but  it  is 
only  occupied  during  the  summer  months,  for  since 
1897  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen  have  felt  that  their  chil- 
dren ought  to  be  given  the  advantages  of  the  An- 
gola schools.  . 

On  October  6,  1886,  Mr.  Owen  was  married  to 
Elsie  Morse,  a daughter  of  Frank  B.  and  Elsie 
(Lewis)  Morse.  Mrs.  Owen  had  the  misfortune 
to  lose  her  mother  when  she  was_  only  four  days 
old  and  she  was  adopted  by  David  D.  and  Ellen 
Scoville,  and  was  known  as  Elsie  M.  Scoville  prior 
to  her  marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen  have  two 
children,  namely : Alice  B.  and  Paul  H.  The 

family  all  belong  to  the  Christian  Church.  Mr. 
Owen  is  an  Odd  Fellow.  He  is  a man  of  probity 
who  has  always  done  what  he  believed  to  be  his 
full  duty  by  his  family  and  community,  and  is  held 
in  high  esteem  by  his  associates. 

Samuel  Weimer.  Representing  an  old  and  hon- 
ored family  name  in  Noble  Township,  Samuel 
Weimer  has  lived  there  all  his  life,  and  the  manner 
m which  he  has  conducted  his  private  affairs  and 
the  stanch  character  he  has  exhibited  in  all  his  life’s 
relations  make  him  worthy  of  all  the  esteem  and 
honors  paid  him.  His  farm  home  is  a mile  south 
and  quarter  of  a mile  east  of  Avilla. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  Township,  November  29, 
1862,  son  of  Solomon  and  Catherine  (Barcus) 
Weimer.  The  early  history  of  this  family  shows  that 
it  was  among  the  very  earliest  settlers  in  Noble 
County.  Solomon  Weimer  was  born  in  Avilla, 
October  15,  1841,  more  than  three-quarters  of  a 
century  ago.  His  father  was  Peter  Weimer  and  his 
grandfather  Samuel  Weimer,  both  natives  of  Baden, 
Germany.  Samuel  Weimer  brought  his  family  to 
the  United  States,  located  at  Avilla,  his  location 
being  where  the  Catholic  Church  now  stands.  Peter 
Weimer  after  his  marriage  settled  in  Avilla,  and 
later  owned  the  farm  which  is  now  the  site  of  the 
Old  People’s  Home.  Later  he  sold  that  and  moved 
two  miles  north  of  Avilla,  where  he  spent  his  last 
years. 

Solomon  Weimer  grew  up  on  the  farm  that  has 
since  been  sold  as  a site  for  the  Old  People’s  Home, 
and  after  his  marriage  located  on  a farm  west  of 
Avilla.  That  farm  he  still  occupied  until  his  death, 
and  was  one  of  the  well-known  old  timers  of  the 
locality.  He  died  December  15,  1918.  He  and  his 
wife  had  five  children:  Samuel;  John,  of  _ Flag 

Center,  Illinois;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Charles  Weimer; 
Sarah,  wife  of  August  Polk;  and  William,  still  at 
the  home  farm. 

Samuel  Weimer  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Allen 
Township  and  attended  the  district  schools.  He 
lived  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-one.  He  married 
Miss  Susanna  Simons,  and  after  their  marriage  they 
started  out  as  farmers  on  the  100-acre  place  where 
they  lived  until  February,  1919,  when  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Avilla,  his  son  now  conducting  the  farm. 
Mr.  Weimer  besides  prospering  as  a farmer  has 
identified  himself  with  various  local  affairs.  He  is 
a stockholder  in  the  Mutual  Telephone  Company. 
For  the  past  twenty  years  he  has  been  active  in  local, 
affairs  as  a republican.  His  wife  is  a member  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  and  he  is  one  of  the  liberal  con- 
tributors to  that  denomination^ 

For  all  his  material  prosperity  and  honored  posi- 
tion in  the  community  Mr.  Weimer  doubtless  takes 
the  greatest  satisfaction  of  his  life  in  the  fine  family 
of  children  that  has  grown  up  around  him.  The 


oldest  is  Carrie,  wife  of  Charles  Smuck,  of  Jefferson 
Township.  Leroy  is  a graduate  of  the  Avilla  High 
School,  of  Wabash  College  and  of  Cornell  Univer- 
sity, and  is  now  an  expert  in  plant  pathology  in  the 
United  States  Department  of  Agriculture.  He  is 
married.  Nora  married  Joseph  Anderson,  of  Swan 
Township,  Noble  County.  Ella  is  the  wife  of  James 
Kramer,  of  Greene  Township,  and  is  a graduate  of 
the  Avilla  High  School.  Clarence  served  with  the 
colors  in  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in 
France  until  he  returned  home  April  11,  1919,  after 
one  year’s  service.  He  was  in  Battery  F,  135th 
Light  Field  Artillery,  and  was  in  the  October  drive 
at  the  front.  The  two  youngest  are  Harold  and 
Gerald,  twins.  Gerald  is  married  and  lives  in  Jef- 
ferson Township,  and  Harold  is  married  and  on  the 
home  farm. 

Edward  G.  Dick,  proprietor  of  one  of  the  good 
farms  of  York  Township  in  Steuben  County,  has 
family  connections  that  have  been  identified  with 
this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana  from  pioneer  days. 
The  family  has  been  an  industrious  one  and  has 
furnished  numerous  citizens  of  high  standing  to 
different  localities. 

Mr.  Dick  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  of  Steu- 
ben County,  March  19,  1870,  a son  of  George  W. 
and  Julia  A.  (Larue)  Dick.  The  Larue  family  were 
among  the  first  settlers  of  York  Township.  His 
grandfather,  John  Larue,  was  for  a number  of  years 
engaged  in  farming  in  York  Township,  and  later 
was  a shoemaker  and  shoe  merchant  at  Metz.  He 
and  his  wife,  Josephine,  had  the  following  children : 
Tohn,  Edward,  Sylvester,  Norma,  Josephine,  Julia 
A.  and  Emelia,  but  the  last  named  died  in  child- 
hood. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Edward  G.  Dick  was 
George  E.  Dick,  a native  of  Germany  who  brought 
his  family  to  America  in  1851  and  located  in  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
life.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war,  becom- 
ing a member  of  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and 
Ninety-Fifth  Ohio  Regiment.  He  acquired  and  de- 
veloped a good  farm  of  180  acres.  His  children  were 
named  Peter,  Margaret,  Cass,  George  W.  and  Caro- 
line. George  W.  Dick,  also  a native  of  Germany, 
was  a small  child  when  brought  to  America,  and 
during  the  ’60s  he  moved  to  Jackson  Township  in 
Steuben  County.  He  has  had  a varied  and  active 
career  as  a farmer,  farm  developer  and  owner,  and 
has  tilled  the  soil  in  Ohio,  Northeast  Indiana  and 
in  the  West.  His  present  home  is  in  Northwest 
Township,  Williams  County,  Ohio.  He  and  his  first 
wife,  Julia  A.  Larue,  had  three  children,  Edward 
G.,  Minnie  and  Myrtie.  He  married  for  his  second 
wife  Jennie  Clark.  There  are  two  daughters  by 
the  second  wife,  Luella  and  Bessie. 

Edward  G.  Dick  attended  the  public  schools  of 
Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  began  farming  before 
he  reached  his  majority.  His  first  work  in  that  line 
was  done  in  Williams  County,  but  in  igoq  he  moved 
to  York  Township,  and  for  over  fourteen  years  has 
been  making  a living  and  earning  the  esteem  of  the 
community  as  a farmer  in  section  17,  where  he 
owns  eighty  acres.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  with  his  wife 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

He  married  Caroline  Knapp  in  September,  1889. 
She  is  a daughter  of  Nelson  and  Emelia  (Castine) 
Knapp.  They  have  five  children : Lawrence,  who 

married  Nora  Headley  and  has  two  children,  Alene 
and  Winona;  George  W.,  who  during  the  World 
war  served  in  Company  A of  the  Thirty-Sixth  In- 
fantry; Fern,  wife  of  Perry  Duguid  and  the  mother 
of  two  children,  Lee  and  Madeline ; Ethel,  who  is 


368 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


married  to  Floyd  Fireoved,  and  her  three  children 
are  Deloss,  Lena  and  Max ; and  Ralph,  youngest  of 
the  family,  is  at  home  on  the  farm. 

Samuel  E.  Cline.  Left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of 
ten  years,  Samuel  E.  Cline  had  many  difficult  strug- 
gles in  his  early  youth,  had  to  work  for  a living 
when  most  boys  of  his  age  were  in  school  and  at 
home,  and  out  of  it  all  he  has  achieved  a commend- 
able prosperity  and  is  one  of  the  successful  farmers 
of  LaGrange  County  and  is  also  the  present  assessor 
of  Springfield  Township. 

Mr.  Cline  was  born  in  Barry.  County,  Michigan, 
January  i,  1862,  a son  of  John  and  Martha  (Mc- 
Nutt) Cline,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  John  Cline  was  reared  in 
Ohio,  and  about  1855  brought  his  family  to  La- 
Grange  County,  Indiana.  A few  years  later  he 
moved  to  Barry  County,  Michigan,  where  he  died 
in  July,  1864,  when  his  son  Samuel  was  two  years 
old.  The  mother  returned  with  her  children  to 
LaGrange  County  in  the  same  year  and  lived  here 
until  her  death  eight  years  later.  Her  six  children 
were:  Sarah  Jane,  who  died  at  the  age  of  three 
years ; Nancy  Ellen,  who  died  when  one  year  old ; 
Hannah,  who  died  when  about  eleven  years  old; 
John,  a resident  of  Bloomfield  Township ; Hulda, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Eugene  Williams,  and  died 
in  January,  1917;  and  Samuel  E. 

Samuel  E.  Cline  received  all  his  education  in  the 
graded  schools  of  LaGrange  County.  The  year  of 
his  marriage  he  bought  forty  acres  of  his  present 
farm,  where  he  has  lived  since  September,  1886.  By 
his  personal  labors  he  has  cleared  about  thirty  acres 
of  land.  His  farm  had  only  a log  house  when  he 
came  to  it,  and  in  that  structure  his  children  were 
born.  Gradually  prosperity  has  rewarded  his  labors 
and  he  now  has  256  acres,  all  but  thirteen  acres  in 
one  body  and  with  excellent  improvements. 

August  7,  1886,  Mr.  Cline  married  Miss  Jennie 
Gage,  a native  of  Bloomfield  Township  and  daughter 
of  Ezra  Gage.  To  their  marriage  were  born  three 
children : Charles  E.,  a farmer  of  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship; Vern  E.,  a Springfield  Township  farmer;  and 
Claude  E.,  who  lives  on  the  home  place  with  his 
father.  Mr.  Cline  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Shipshewana.  He  married 
cial  capacity  he  was  a member  of  the  Township 
Advisory  Board  six  years  and  was  elected  assessor 
of  Springfield  Township  in  1914. 

George  Cassel.  One  of  the  prosperous  farmers 
of  Steuben  County  who  in  his  everyday  operations 
is  proving  that  American  farmers  are  among  the 
most  diligent  and  thrifty  persons  in  the  world, 
and  that  their  calling  is  now  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant, is  George  Cassel  of  Otsego  Township.  He 
was  born  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  December  22, 
1863,  a son  of  Curtis  Cassel,  and  grandson  of  Jacob 
Cassel. 

Curtis  Cassel  was  born  at  Hagerstown,  Mary- 
land, and  his  wife,  Emily  (Thrush)  Cassel,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Catherine  (Pfifer)  Thrush.^  In  1871  he  came  to 
Scott  Township,  Steuben  County,  there  spending 
about  thirty  years,  but  then  moved  to  York  Town- 
ship, and  after  six  years,  having  retired,  went  to 
Fremont,  where  he  died  in  August,  1917,  his  wife 
having  passed  away  in  1907.  Their  children  were  as 
follows:  Joseph;  Alice,  who  married  Theo  Swick; 

Helen,  who  married  Morton  Brown;  Jacob;  John; 
George ; and  Catherine,  who  married  Domer  Cassel. 

George  Cassel  has  had  quite  a varied  experience, 
for  after  he  had  completed  his  courses  at  the  dis- 
trict schools  of  Scott  Township  he  began  working 
for  neighboring  farmers,  and  then  was  employed 


in  a cider  mill  at  Quincy,  Michigan,  for  a time.  He 
left  there  to  take  charge  of  a threshing  outfit,  which 
he  conducted  for  seventeen  years.  Since  1893  he 
has  been  farming,  and  for  the  past  six  years  he 
has  been  engaged  in  selling  fire  insurance,  represent- 
ing the  Fidelity  Phoenix  Insurance  Company.  In 
1893  Mr.  Cassel  bought  twenty  acres  of  land  in 
Scott  Township,  adding  eighty  acres  more  in  1901. 
In  1910  he  sold  this  farm  in  Scott  Township  and 
bought  141  acres  in  Otsego  Township,  in  section 
3,  which  is  his  present  farm.  The  family  residence, 
a very  comfortable  modern  home,  was  erected  by 
him,  and  he  has  made  numerous  other  important 
improvements,  for  he  believes  in  keeping  everything 
thoroughly  up-to-date.  In  addition  to  doing  general 
farming  Mr.  Cassel  is  breeding  blooded  hogs,  and 
is  quite  an  authority  on  them. 

Mr.  Cassel  was  united  in  marriage  with  Della 
Bowman,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Lucy  (Kiss- 
inger) Bowman.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cassel  have  one  son, 
Floyd  B.,  who  was  born  July  29,  1888.  He  married 
Mabel  Miller,  and  they  have  two  children,  Charlotte 
L.  and  George  William.  Floyd  Cassel  is  assisting 
his  father  in  conducting  the  homestead  and  is  a 
very  energetic  young  man.  The  Cassel  family  is 
well  and  favorably  known  in  Steuben  County,  and  its 
representatives  stand  well  in  public  confidence. 

Lewis  I.  Matson,  who  has  spent  his  life  in  North- 
eastern Indiana,  represents  one  of  the  pioneer  fam- 
ilies of  DeKalb  County,  and  his  own  active  career 
has  been  spent  chiefly  in  Steuben  County,  where 
for  upwards  of  half  a century  he  has  been  a prac- 
tical and  progressive  farmer,  and  today  owns  one 
of  the  best  farms  in  the  vicinity  of  Pleasant  Lake. 

He  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  October  10,  1844, 
a grandson  of  Elijah  Matson  and  a son  of  John 
Matson.  John  Matson,  who  was  born  near  Rut- 
land, Vermont,  February  3,  1806,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  went  to  Onondaga  County,  New  York, 
and  in  1835  came  to  Indiana  and  entered  160  acres 
of . wild  land  in  DeKalb  County.  He  had  a cabin 
built  in  section  30  of  Franklin  Township,  and  the 
following  year  brought  his  family,  arriving  at  Ham- 
ilton on  September  30,  1836.  He  was  a carpenter 
by  trade  and  worked  long  hours  after  darkness 
fell  on  the  fields  to  make  doors  and  windows  for 
the  neighbors,  taking  his  pay  in  work  on  his  own 
land.  In  that  way  he  cleared  up  100  acres  and 
achieved  success  as  a farmer.  At  the  time  of  his 
death  he  had  over  200  acres  in  DeKalb  County. 
He  was  as  public  spirited  as  he  was  industrious, 
and  enjoyed  the  love  and  respect  of  his  community 
all  his  life.  He  died  November  4,  1876.  September 
10,  1833,  John  Matson  married  Margaret  Waterman, 
a daughter  of  Elijah  Waterman.  They  were  the 
parents  of  ten  children:  Cordelia,  Alvin,  Chloe, 

James,  Lewis,  Lydia,  George  and  Ophelia  and  .two 
that  died  in  infancy.  Cordelia  married  C.  W.  Taft. 
Alvin  never  married.  .Chloe  became  the  wife  of 
Professor  Alonzo  Collin,  a member  of  the  faculty 
of  Cornell  College  at  Mount  Vernon,  Iowa.  James 
married  Frances  Taylor.  Lydia  was  the  wife  of 
Burley  Albrook.  George  married  Matilda  Ridge, 
and  Ophelia  became  the  wife  of  M.  A.  Goodell. 
John  Matson  was  a whig  and  republican  in  politics. 

Lewis  I.  Matson  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead 
six  miles  south  of  Hamilton  in  DeKalb  County, 
attended  public  schools  and  also  had  a year  of  in- 
struction in  Cornell  College  in  Iowa.  He  was  a 
teacher  for  two  terms  and  in  1867  came  to  Steuben 
Township  in  Steuben  County,  locating  at  Pleasant 
Lake.  On  March  4,  1867,  he  married  Miss  Orcelia 
R.  Clark,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  County  March 
1,  1845,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Alonzo  P.  and  Betsey 


c 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


369 


(Bump)  Clark.  The  Clark  family  were  pioneers 
of  Steuben  County  February  16,  1852,  son  of  Find- 
ben  Township.  Doctor  Clark  took  up  land  near  the 
Village  of  Steubenville,  north  of  Pleasant  Lake.  At 
that  time  it  was  supposed  the  county  seat  would 
be  Steubenville.  Doctor  Clark  was  both  a physician 
and  a lawyer,  and  was  a citizen  of  great  influence 
in  his  locality  in  the  early  days.  He  owned  about 
600  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  Township.  He  died 
in  1867,  at  the  age  of  fifty-nine,  and  his  widow  sur- 
vived until  March  26,  1878,  being  then  seventy  years 
of  age. 

After  their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matson  lo- 
cated on  a part  of  the  Clark  homestead,  and  after 
a few  years  he  started  the  first  hardware  store  in 
the  Village  of  Pleasant  Lake  and  continued  the 
business  for  twelve  years.  He  then  took  up  gen- 
eral merchandising  with  the  firm  of  Chadwick  & 
Ransburg,  and  was  associated  with  those  merchants 
for  twelve  years.  He  then  resumed  farming,  and 
has  a place  of  300  acres  a mile  north  of  Pleasant 
Lake  and  is  successfully  engaged  in  general  crop 
raising  and  livestock.  Mr.  Matson  has  for  twenty- 
five  years  been  an  active  prohibitionist,  and  in  early 
life  was  affiliated  with  the  republican  party.  He 
was  trustee  of  Steuben  Township.  Mr.  Matson 
and  his  wife  were  Baptists,  and  he  has  been  affil- 
iated. with  that  church  for  forty  years. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matson  had  four  children.  Clark 
A.  P.  is  an  attorney  in  Chicago.  James  L.  is  con- 
nected with  the  shipping  department  of  the  Over- 
land Automobile  Works  at  Toledo.  Mabel  is  the 
wife  of  Henry  G.  Brown,  of  Lebanon,  Indiana. 
The  youngest  is  John  O.  Matson.  The  mother 
of  these  children  died  January  29,  1906.  On  August 
12,  1906,  Mr.  Matson  married  Ada  (Clark)  Shack- 
ford,  widow"  of  Charles  A.  Shackford.  She  has 
three  children  by  her  first  husband : Edna  Grace, 

wife  of  William  O.  Driskell ; Alice  M.,  wife  of 
Dr.  J.  R.  Lacey ; and  Mabel  F.,  unmarried. 

John  O.  Matson,  who  for  a number  of  years  has 
been  one  of  the  leading  business  men  and  merchants 
of  Steuben  County,  was  born  in  Steuben  Township 
November  4,  1878,  and  was  reared  in  Pleasant  Lake, 
attending  the  high  school  there.  He  acquired  a 
business  training  as  clerk  with  the  firm  of  Chad- 
wick & Ransburg  for  six  years.  In  May,  1903,  he 
bought  the  hardware  store  at  Pleasant  Lake  from 
H.  A.  Gish,  and  for  over  fifteen  years  has  con- 
tinued a profitable  business  as  a merchant,  grad- 
ually extending  his  lines  to  include  furniture  and 
agricultural  implements.  Mr.  Matson  is  a republi- 
can, but  has  never  sought  office,  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  and  Knights  of  the  Mac- 
cabees. He  has  been  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  for  over  twenty  years. 

July  31,  1900,  he  married  Miss  Bessie  B.  Lemmon. 
She  was  born  in  Steuben  County,  a daughter  of 
Riley  and  Lorana  (Tuttle)  Lemmon.  Riley  Lem- 
mon was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio,  November 
26,  1839,  and  his  wife  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  April  15,  1840.  The  parents  of  Riley 
Lemmon  were  Maurice  and  Lucinda  (Rathbun) 
Lemmon,  who  came  to  Steuben  County  in  1843, 
settling  in  Otsego  Township,  where  they  spent  the 
rest  of  their  days.  Riley  Lemmon  grew  up  on  the 
old  farm  in  Steuben  County  and  afterward  acquired 
the  ownership  of  the  place.  For  sixteen  years  he 
has  lived  at  Pleasant  Lake.  His  wife  died  in  1899. 
Riley  Lemmon  and  wife  had  the  following  children : 
Maurice,  Cora,  Morton,  Lora,  Chaplin,  Vira,  Bessie, 
Ethel  and  Elsie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Matson  have  two 
children : June  Maurine,  born  March  22,  1904,  and 

John  Lewis,  born  January  31,  1916. 

Vol.  IT— 2 4 


John  W.  Harvey  is  a native  son  of  Jefferson 
Township,  Noble  County,  and  for  the  better  part  of 
his  active  life  has  applied  his  energies  to  the  business 
of  farming  and  stock  raising  and  is  easily  one  of 
the  most  substantial  business  men  and  citizens  of 
that  community.  He  is  proprietor  of  the  Maple 
Grove  farm,  comprising  160  acres,  with  fifty-three 
acres  in  a farm  adjoining.  The  Harvey  home  is 
four  and  a half  miles  southwest  of  Kendallville,  in 
section  2 of  Jefferson  Township. 

This  farm  is  the  birthplace  of  John  W.  Harvey. 
He  was  born  March  4,  1871,  only  child  of  James  N. 
and  Isabelle  (Johnston)  Harvey.  James  N.  Harvey 
was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  in  Clear  Creek 
Township,  December  10,  1842,  son  of  George  and 
Mary  (Bremner)  Harvey.  George  and  Mary  Harvey 
were  both  natives  of  Scotland,  were  married  there 
and  three  of  their  children  were  born  before  they 
came  to  the  United  States  in  June,  1837.  They 
located  in  Ashland**  County,  Ohio,  but  in  the  spring 
of  1853  came  to  Indiana  and  located  in  Jefferson 
Township.  Some  years  later  they  moved  to  the 
village  of  Albion,  where  both  the  grandparents  died. 
Of  their  nine  children  only  two  are  now  living, 
Robert  Harvey,  who  was  liberally  educated,  was 
formerly  connected  as  a surveyor  with  the  United 
States  Government  and  is  now  state  surveyor  of 
Nebraska,  and  C.  L.  W.  Harvey,  a farmer  in  Jeffer- 
son Township  of  Noble  County. 

James  N.  Harvey  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  of  Noble  County,  attended  Adrian  College 
and  also  took  the  commercial  course  of  Oberlin 
College.  On  February  7,  1870,  he  married  Isabelle 
Johnson.  She  was  born  in  Scotland  September  10, 
1847,  and  was  brought  to  the  United  States  in  1854, 
her  parents  locating  in  Richland  County,  Ohio.  She 
lived  there  until  her  marriage,  and  had  a good 
academic  education  and  was  a teacher  prior  to  her 
marriage. 

John  W.  Harvey  has  spent  all  his  life  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Jefferson  Township.  He  attended  the 
district  schools  and  finished  his  education  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola.  After  his  education 
he  worked  the  home  farm,  and  on  January  20,  1897, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-six,  he  married  Miss  Cora  E. 
Faux.  She  was  born  near  Mount  Gilead  in  Morrow 
County,-  Ohio,  December  17,  1873,  and  at  the  age  of 
two  years  was  brought  by  her  parents  to  Noble 
County,  where  she  grew  up  and  received  her  edu- 
cation in  the  local  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harvey 
have  three  children : Carl  E.,  born  November  5, 

1897,  is  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  of 
the  high  school  at  Kendallville  and  is  still  at  home ; 
Charles  N.,  born  September  27,  1903,  is  a student 
in  the  common  schools ; and  Ivah  B.,  born  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1909,  is  also  a schoolgirl.  The  family  are 
members  of  the  Zion  United  Brethren  Church.  Mr. 
Harvey  is  a church  trustee.  He  is  affiliated  with 
Kendallville  Lodge  No.  316,  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows,  and  with  the  Encampment  No.  156 
at  Kendallville.  He  has  specialized  to  some  extent 
in  the  breeding  and  raising  of  cattle,  especially  the 
Polled  Angus.  Mr.  Harvey  is  a republican,  and  has 
been  quite  active  in  the  party.  Among  other  inter- 
ests he  is  a stockholder  in  the  Albion  National  Bank. 

Edward  A.  Olney.  There  is  probably  no  farm  in 
-LaGrange  County  which  has  been  longer  under  one 
continuous  ownership  than  the  place  where  Edward 
A.  Olney  lives  in  Van  Buren  Township.  He  was 
born  on  that  farm  September  17,  1862,  while  his  fa- 
ther, William  S.  Olney,  was  born  there  September 
16,  1834.  The  latter  date  indicates  that  the  Olney 
family  has  been  in  possession  here  for  at  least 
eighty-five  years.  The  grandfather,  John  Olney,  was 


370 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


born  in  Vermont  February  24,  1800.  On  August  14, 
1823,  he  married  Esther  Smith,  who  was  born  March 
13,  1802. 

John  Olney  with  his  family  came  to  Van  Buren 
Township  in  1830.  They  made  the  journey  with  an 
ox  team  from  Morgan  County,  Ohio.  Before  leav- 
ing Ohio  John  Olney  had  cut  from  the  native  woods 
a cane  to  serve  as  a staff  as  he  walked  along  and 
for  the  purpose  of  driving  his  oxen.  When  he 
reached  his  land  in  Van  Buren  Township  he  stuck 
the  cane  in  the  ground  in  the  front  yard  of  his 
humble  log  house.  In  a few  weeks  he  was  surprised 
to  find  it  budding  out  and  within  his  own  lifetime 
it  grew  into  a shapely  tree.  That  tree  is  still  a 
remarkable  and  interesting  landmark,  is  now  a great 
and  handsome  shade  tree,  and  three  feet  from  the 
ground  it  measures  sixteen  feet,  four  inches  in  cir- 
cumference. John  Olney  died  on  the  old  homestead 
June  9,  1841.  He  and  his  wife  had  the  following 
children:  John  Deming,  Strumfen,  Asa  Jackson, 

Betsey  Ann,  Henry,  William  Smith  and  Martin  Van 
Buren.  After  his  death  his  widow  married  Na- 
thaniel Callahan,  on  March  23,  1847,  and  they  re- 
mained on  the  old  farm  where  she  died  February 
12,  1858,  and  he  on  July  20,  1855. 

The  deeds  for  the  old  Olney  homestead  were  given 
to  John  Olney  by  the  Government  and  are  four  in 
number,  signed  in  1831,  1832,  1833  and  1837.  The 
first  three  bear  the  signature  of  Andrew  Jackson, 
President  of  the  United  States,  while  the  fourth  was 
signed  by  Martin  Van  Buren. 

William  S.  Olney  was  only  seven  years  old  when 
his  father  died,  and  after  the  death  of  his  mother 
he  and  a brother  bought  the  old  homestead  and  in 
1881  he  became  its  sole  owner.  He  had  much  of  the 
energy  and  industry  of  his  father  and  was  a suc- 
cessful farmer  and  at  one  time  owned  440  acres  in 
Van  Buren  Township  and  200  acres  in  St.  Joseph 
County,  Michigan.  He  was  an  honored  resident  of 
the  county  until  his  death  October  21,  1915.  He 
served  one  term  as  trustee  of  Van  Buren  Township 
and  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  builders  of  the 
First  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in  Van  Buren 
Township.  He  was  a charter  member  of  the  church 
organization  and  he  and  his  family  connections  were 
all  prominent  in  the  early  days  of  Methodism  in  that 
locality. 

William  S.  Olney  married  Delila  J.  Sidener.  She 
was  born  October  2,  1839,  a daughter  of  Nicholas 
and  Margaret  (Bussard)  Sidener.  Her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  where  her 
father  was  born  December  3,  1811,  and  her  mother 
June  27,  1817.  They  were  married  April  6,  1837. 
Nicholas  Sidener  had  made  his  first  trip  to  LaGrange 
County  in  1835,  buying  160  acres  in  Van  Buren  Town- 
ship. After  his  marriage  in  Ohio  he  returned  and 
settled  on  his  land  in  section  30.  Nicholas  Sidener 
was  a son  of  Nicholas  and  Nancy  Sidener,  the 
former  born  in  Virginia  September  1,  1773,  and  the 
latter  in  Pennsylvania  in  1782.  In  the  family  of 
Nicholas  and  Margaret  Sidener  were  the  following 
children:  Delila  J.,  Henry,  Samuel  L.,  Willard,  John, 
Mary,  James  E„  Martha  E.  and  Margaret  E. 

William  S.  Olney  and  wife  had  three  children: 
Charles  B.,  who  was  born  June  30,  1859,  and  died 
May  15,  1873;  Edward,  born  September  17,  1862;  and 
one  that  was  born  October  27  and  died  November 
28,  1873. 

Edward  A.  Olney,  the  only  living  child  of  his  fa- 
ther, acquired  his  education  in  the  Scott  School  in 
Van  Buren  Township,  attended  high  school  at  Stur- 
gis, Michigan,  and  from  early  manhood  has  worked 
the  home  farm,  which  is  owned  by  him  and  his 
widowed  mother.  On  June  21,  1893,  he  married 
Anna  Wisler.  She  was  born  January  20,  1874,  in 
Lima  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of 


Henry  and  Anna  Lucetta  (Nye)  Wisler.  Her  father 
was  born  in  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  November  19, 
1826,  and  her  mother  in  Ohio  May  6,  1834.  Henry 
Wisler  when  a young  man  went  to  Elkhart  County, 
Indiana,  and  about  1869  settled  in  Lima  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his 
active  life.  He  and  his  wife  lived  their  last  years  in 
Michigan.  In  the  Wisler  family  were  children 
named  W.  R.,  Jesse  F.,  Samuel  L.,  Grace,  who  be- 
came the  wife  of  Frank  Clugg,  Anna,  and  Sara,  who 
married  Sherman  Malcolm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olney  had  one  daughter,  Lucetta 
Jane,  who  was  born  September  28,  1913,  and  died 
April  6,  1918,  when  in  her  fifth  year.  As  their  only 
child  her  death  was  a terrible  sorrow  to  her  parents, 
and  as  a baby  she  was  widely  known  because  for 
three  consecutive  years  she  had  been  awarded  a 
bronze  medal  which  was  given  by  Woman’s  Home 
Companion  in  the  LaGrange  County  baby  contest  as 
making  the  best  score  for  a perfect  baby.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Olney  have  taken  two  daughters  to 
rear  at  their  home,  Ruth  Brownlee  and  Blanche. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Olney  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Scott.  He  is  a director  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Shipshewana  and  a stock- 
holder in  the  National  Bank  of  LaGrange. 

Cornelius  V.  Jones,  who  is  now  living  retired  at 
Angola,  has  played  a conspicuous  part  in  the  affairs 
of  Scott  Township  for  many  years,  both  as  a farmer 
and  a public  official.  He  is  a former  trustee  of  that 
township,  and  has  long  been  active  in  the  politics  of 
Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Jones  was  born  in  Scott  Township  October 
29,  1862,  a son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Van  Horn) 
Jones.  His  grandfather,  Ziba  Jones,  was  born  in 
1793,  became  a prominent  settler  in  Licking  County, 
Ohio,  and  married  Flora  A.  Everett.  In  1848  Ziba 
Jones  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County  and 
Settled  in  section  8 of  Scott  Township.  Before  com- 
ing to  this  county  he  had  experimented  in  the  cul- 
ture of  silk  worms  in  Ohio,  losing  his  money,  and 
was  therefore  in  poor  circumstances  when  he  came 
to  Indiana.  He  cleared  up  a tract  of  seventy  acres 
of  land,  and  renewed  his  prosperity  sufficient  to  live 
in  comfort  during  his  last  days.  He  died  Novem- 
ber 13,  1880.  For  over  seventy  years  he  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Church.  His  wife  died  in 
1872. 

Samuel  E.  Jones,  who  was  one  of  eight  children, 
all  natives  of  Licking  County,  Ohio,  was  a young 
man  when  he  came  to  Steuben  County,  and  mar- 
ried there  Sarah  Van  Horn,  who  was  born  in  1827. 
Ziba  Jones  started  the  first  nursery  in  Steuben 
County.  Samuel  E.  Jones  died  February  11,  1871, 
at  the  age  of  forty-seven.  He  was  a republican  and 
a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
owned  a farm  of  seventy  acres,  comprising  the  old 
Jones  homestead  in  Scott  Township,  and  lived  on  it 
until  his  death.  His  wife  died  in  1892.  Their  chil- 
dren were  Elva,  Sarah,  twins  that  died  in  infancy; 
Cornelius  V.,  Albert  and  Alice. 

Cornelius  V.  Jones  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm. 
This  old  homestead  is  no\y  owned  by  his  brother 
and  sister.  He  attended  the  public  schools,  also 
the  Fremont  High  School,  and  in  1900  bought  eighty 
acres  near  the  old  home  place.  He  has  found  that 
sufficient  to  furnish  him  with  plenty  of  work  and 
opportunity  to  render  good  service  as  a farmer  and 
citizen.  He  built  a barn  and  added  to  the  house, 
and  continued  general  farming  and_  stockraising 
until  November,  1918,  when  he  removed  to  Angola 
and  bought  a good  home  on  Martha  Street,  where 
he  lives  retired,  leasing  the  farm. 

Mr.  Jones  is  a republican.  He  was  elected  trustee 
of  Scott  Township  in  1914,  beginning  his  duties  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


371 


1915  and  continuing  in  office  four  years.  He  has 
also  served  on  the  advisory  board  of  Scott  Town- 
ship. He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

January  22,  1885,  he  married  Miss  Mattie  Merritte. 
She  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  January  IS,  1861,  a daughter  of  James  and 
Susan  (Whistler)  Merritte.  Her  father  was  born 
in  Morgan  County,  Ohio,  February  22,  1832,  and 
her  mother  in  Pennsylvania  February  3,  1832.  Her 
mother  came  to  Fremont,  Indiana,  in  1842  with  her 
parents,  Abraham  and  Sarah  (Faylor)  Whistler, 
who  were  pioneers  in  Jamestown  Township,  where 
Abraham  died,  his  widow  spending  her  last  days 
with  her  son  Enos  in  LaGrange  County.  James  and 
Susan  Merritte  were  married  in  LaGrange  County, 
and  then  came  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  _ in 
Jamestown  Township,  where  he  followed,  farming 
until  his  death  on  September  13,  1906.  His  widow 
is  now  living  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones.  In  the 
Merritte  family  were  three  sons  and  one  daughter, 
Adelbert,  Joseph,  John  and  Mattie.  Mrs.  Jones’ 
brothers  all  died  in  infancy  or  early  childhood. 

The  one  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jones  is  Vern  Rus- 
sell, who  was  born  April  8,  1886.  He  attended 
public  schools,  graduated  from  the  Fremont  High 
School,  took  the  scientific  course  in  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College,  graduating  in  1909,  and  subse- 
quently received  the  A.  P.  B.  degree  from  the 
same  institution.  He  has  had  a successful,  record 
as  a teacher,  having  taught  in  Scott  Township  three 
years,  at  Flint  three  years,  in  Angola  two  years, 
and  at  Edgerton,  Ohio.  During  his  second  year  at 
Edgerton  he  resigned  his  school  work  to  enter  the 
railway  mail  service,  where  he  is  still  on  duty.  Vern 
R.  Jones  married  Alta  Denman,  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County.  She  is  a graduate  of  the 
Flint  High  School.  Her  parents,  Arthur  and  Olive 
(Walsh)  Denman,  are  farmers  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship. 

Charles  J.  Masterson,  who  has  an  interesting 
personality,  is  a resident  of  Steuben  County.  He 
has  spent  many  years  in  the  service  of  the  New  York 
Central  Railroad  and  is  widely  known  as  a scientist. 
For  over  thirty  years  he  has  been  a student  of 
astronomy,  and  he  is  one  of  a notable  group  of  men 
who  without  the  aid  or  affiliation  of  any  great  en- 
dowed institution  has  contributed  new  knowledge 
and  done  much  to  advance  general  enlightenment  on 
this  subject.  Mr.  Masterson  owns  the  largest  tele- 
scope nearer  than  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  and  in 
addition  to  his  other  duties  has  employed  much  of 
his  time  in  his  own  observatory  as  special  instructor 
of  astronomy  to  students  attending  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College  at  Angola.  Perhaps  an  even  more 
important  feature  of  his  scientific  work  has  been 
his  regular  contribution,  covering  a period  of  about 
twenty-five  years,  of  articles  that  have  appeared  in 
the  Steuben  Republican,  and  have  done  much  to  pop- 
ularize this  science. 

Mr.  Masterson  was  born  at  Orange,  New  Jersey, 
November  28,  i860,  a son  of  Alfred  and  Annabella 
(Johnson)  Masterson.  His  parents  were  natives  of 
County  Norfolk,  England,  and  three  of  their  chil- 
dren were  born  there,  two  sons  dying  in  infancy. 
Their  daughter  Anna  came  with  her  parents  in  1837 
to  the  United  States.  The  family  located  at  Orange, 
New  Jersey.  In  August,  1861,  Alfred  Masterson 
enlisted  in  the  Seventh  New  Jersey  Volunteer  In- 
fantry, and  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Williamsburg, 
Virginia,  in  1862,  when  only  twenty-six  years  of  age. 

Charles  J.  Masterson,  the  only  child  of  his  parents 
born  in  the  United  States,  came  with  his  mother  in 
i865  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  In  1869  his  mother 
married  John  Barrett,  of  Angola,  and  she  died  on 


January  28,  1914,  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  Her 
son  by  Mr.  Barrett  is  John  Barrett  of  Hillsdale, 
Michigan. 

Charles  J.  Masterson  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Scott 
Township  of  Steuben  County  and  acquired  his  edu- 
cation in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Angola. 
He  has  rounded  out  a service  of  twenty-two  years 
with  the  New  York  Central  Railroad.  Mr.  Master- 
son,  who  is  unmarried,  is  a republican  in  politics 
and  a member  of  the  Congregational  Church. 

Jerry  O.  Wiggins,  who  for  the  last  ten  years  has 
lived  retired  in  a comfortable  home  at  LaGrange, 
was  long  identified  with  the  farming  interests  of 
Johnson  Township,  and  represents  two  of  the  oldest 
and  most  important  families  in  the  early  and  later 
history  of  LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  in  Johnson  Township  January  12, 
1870,  a son  of  Nathan  E.  and  Mary  E.  (Outcalt) 
Wiggins.  Flis  paternal  grandparents  were  John  and 
Lora  Wiggins,  who  were  very  early  settlers  in 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  where  they  spent  the 
rest  of  their  lives.  They  had  five  children : Eu- 

nice, Henry,  Nathan,  Andrew  and  another  son  that 
died  when  about  eighteen  years  of  age. 

Nathan  E.  Wiggins  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
grew  up  there,  had  a public  school  education  and 
as  a young  man  enlisted  in  Company  B,  of  the 
One  Hundredth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  went  out 
from  Steuben  County  and  served  more  than  three 
years  in  the  Union  army  and  was  one  of  the  faith- 
ful and  courageous  soldiers  whose  record  belongs 
to  the  military  history  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He 
was  in  Sherman’s  army  on  the  march  to  the  sea. 
After  the  war  he  returned  to  Steuben  County  and 
worked  for  John  Seaburn  for  some  time  at  monthly 
wages,  and  later  bought  a farm  in  Johnson  Town- 
ship, where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1875,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-five.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 

Mary  E.  Outcalt,  who  became  the  wife  of  Nathan 
E.  Wiggins,  survived  her  husband  over  forty  years 
and  died  May  8,  1916.  She  was  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Jerry  O.  and  Lois,  the  latter  dying  at  the 
age  of  eight  years. 

Mary  E.  Outcalt  was  of  remote  German  ancestry, 
but  the  family  was  established  in  America  three 
generations  prior  to  the  birth  of  her  father.  Her 
father,  Jeremiah  Outcalt,  was  born  in  Portage 
County,  Ohio,  in  October,  1812,  son  of  Scobey  and 
Clara  (Sabins)  Outcalt,  being  one  of  their  ten  chil- 
dren. Scobey  Outcalt  was  a teamster  with  the 
American  army  in  the  War  of  1812.  Later  he  and 

his  wife  moved  out  to  Illinois  in  1848  and  died  in 

that  state.  Jeremiah  Outcalt  first  came  to  La- 

Grange County  in  1839,  and  in  1846  settled  at  the 
village  of  Ontario,  where  he  spent  one  winter  in  the 
cooperage  trade.  In  the  spring  of  1847  he  moved  to 
his  farm  in  Johnson  Township,  having  purchased  the 
land  previously.  He  cleared  and  improved  and 

erected  substantial  buildings,  and  was  one  of  the 
useful  and  highly  respected  members  of  that  com- 
munity until  his  death  on  February  16,  1902.  Jere- 
miah Outcalt  married  Elizabeth  Irwin,  who  Was 
born  in  1808.  They  were  married  September  27, 
1840.  She  died  March  16,  1883.  Her  first  husband 
was  a Mr.  Ingram,  by  whom  she  had  two  children : 
Frances  Elizabeth,  born  in  1834;  and  Sarah  Jane, 
"born' in  1830.  The  four  children  of  Jeremiah  Out- 
calt and  wife  were : Adalia  and  Charles  Henry, 

twins,  born  in  1842;  Mary  E.,  born  January  18,  1844; 
and  Hortense,  who  was  born  in  1846  and  died  in 
infancy. 

Jerry  O.  Wiggins  was  only  five  years  old  when 
his  father  died  and  he  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his 
grandfather  Outcalt.  He  acquired  a public  school 
education,  and  all  his  adult  career  followed  farming. 


372 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


He  owns  the  farm  of  his  grandfather  Outcalt,  and 
for  a number  of  years  had  189  acres  in  operation  for 
crops  and  livestock.  In  March,  1910,  he  moved  to 
LaGrange  and  bought  a fine  home  on  Hawpatch 
street,  where  he  lives  in  comfort,  leasing  his  farm 
lands. 

Mr.  Wiggins  is  a republican,  is  a member  of  the 
Town  Board  of  LaGrange,  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  married 
Miss  Agnes  Stone  October  5,  1892. 

Lawrence  N.  Runic.  While  Mr.  Klink  has  made 
his  name  and  services  known  at  Angola  and  over 
the  surrounding  territory  as  one  of  the  leading 
undertakers,  his  own  career  has  been  only  part  of 
the  honorable  record  made  by  his  family  in  Steu- 
ben County  since  early  pioneer  days. 

Lie  is  a grandson  of  Christian  Klink,  who  was 
born  in  one  of  the  German  countries,  and  served 
five  years  and  three  months  in  the  Napoleonic 
wars  of  Europe.  Then  when  still  unmarried  he 
set  out  to  find  a new  home  in  America,  landing  at 
Baltimore.  According  to  the  custom  of  the  time 
he  was  “sold”  for  his  passage  money,  and  worked 
it  out  before  leaving  Baltimore.  He  then  removed 
to  Columbiana  County,  Ohio,  and  later  to  Seneca 
County  in  that  state,  and  in  1848  established  his 
home  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  He  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Salem  Township,  and  ac- 
quired a tract  of  land  which  is  now  owned  and 
farmed  by  his  grandson,  Chester  C.  Klink.  Only 
three  acres  of  his  land  had  been  cleared  when  he 
took  possession,  and  he  lived  to  see  much  of  it  in 
cultivation,  and  was  surrounded  with  all  the  com- 
forts of  life  when  he  and  his  wife  died  there.  His 
first  home  was  a log  cabin,  replaced  later  by  a 
frame  house,  and  in  1878  the  old  homestead  was 
improved  by  its  then  owner,  the  father  of  Lawrence 
N.  Klink,  with  a large  two-story,  fourteen  room 
brick  house,  one  of  the  best  country  homes  in 
Steuben  County. 

Eli  Klink,  father  of  Lawrence  N.,  was  born  in 
Seneca  County,  Ohio,  October  25,  1844*  and  was  a 
small  child  when  brought  to  Steuben  County.  He 
was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and  became 
one  of  the  successful  farmers  in  his  neighborhood. 
The  last  four  years  of  his  life  he  lived  retired  at 
Angola,  where  he  died  in  1909.  He  was  nominally 
a democrat  but  on  all  important  issues  cast  an  in- 
dependent ballot.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  de- 
voted members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
He  married  Syrena  Deller.  She  was  born  in  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana,  in  1850  and  is  still  living  at 
Angola.  Her  father,  Nicholas  Deller,  and  her 
mother,  Mary  Ann  Deller,  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Steuben  Township.  Their  first  home 
was  just  south  of  the  Mount  Zion  Church.  Nicho- 
las Deller  died  there  and  his  widow  spent  her  last 
days  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eli  Klink.  The  latter 
were  the  parents  of  six  children : Etta,  wife  of 

W.  J.  Huber,  of  Angola;  Olen,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Ernest  C.,  of  Toledo,  Ohio;  Chester  C., 
above  mentioned  as  owner  of  the  old  homestead 
farm  in  Salem  Township;  Lawrence  N. ; and  Zella, 
who  died  in  infancy. 

Lawrence  N.  Klink  was  born  on  the  old  farm 
in  Salem  Township  May  15,  1882.  He  lived  there 
until  nearly  grown,  and  supplemented  the  advan- 
tages received  in  the  public  schools  by  attending 
the  Tri-State  College.  In  December,  1902,  he  grad- 
uated from  the  Chicago  College  of  Embalming, 
and  the  following  two  years  he  was  in  the  furni- 
ture and  undertaking  business  at  Reading,  Michi- 
gan. On  September  1,  1904,  he  began  his  business 
and  service  at  Angola,  and  has  capably  served  this 


community  for  fifteen  years.  Mr.  Klink  is  a dem- 
ocrat in  politics  but  has  been  too  busy  to  concern 
himself  with  the  responsibilities  of  public  office. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Order,  the  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Angola,  and 
is  also  a member  of  the  Rotary  Club.  He  and  his 
family  are  members  of  the  Congregational  Church. 
May  15,  1905,  Mr.  Klink  married  Miss  Mabel  Ab- 
bott, of  Reading,  Michigan.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren : Lurene  and  Harry. 

Harvey  A.  Moore.  The  leading  business  man  of 
Avilla  in  Noble  County  is  Harvey  A.  Moore,  whose 
success  is  to  be  attributed  entirely  to  his  own 
energies  and  efforts.  He  started  on  a very  modest 
scale  and  has  not  only  acquired  his  present  store 
and  store  building,  but  is  also  interested  in  a number 
of  other  affairs  and  is  looked  upon  as  a leader  in 
every  movement  to  improve  and  help  forward  his 
community. 

Mr.  Moore  was  born  at  Wawaka,  Noble  County, 
Indiana,  November  17,  1877,  son  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  (Barnhart)  Moore.  His  mother  was  a native 
of  Williams  County,  Ohio,  and  in  that  county 
Harvey  A.  Moore  spent  most  of  his  boyhood.  He 
attended  the  public  schools  of  Ohio.  He  gained  his 
first  business  experience  in  that  state,  but  in  1898 
returned  to  Noble  County,  and  with  an  exceedingly 
modest  capital  began  selling  merchandise  at  Avilla. 
He  has  since  built  up  a large  trade  in  furniture  and 
is  proprietor  of  that  store  and  also  a stockholder  in 
a business  that  has  stores  both  in  Avilla  and  Auburn. 
Mr.  Moore  erected  the  Bank  Block  in  which  his 
own  store  is  located  and  has  considerable  other 
interests  in  local  real  estate. 

In  1897  Mr.  Moore  married  Miss  Byrd  Repple.  She 
is  a college  graduate  and  a very  cultured  woman. 
They  have  one  daughter,  Lorene,  now  attending  high 
school  at  Avilla. 

Mr.  Moore  is  an  active  Mason,  is  past  master  of 
Avilla  Lodge,  and  is  also  a thirty-second  degree 
Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  Shriner  at  Fort  Wayne. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Elks  at  Kendallville.  His 
name  is  widely  known  over  Kendall  County  as  a 
leader  in  democratic  politics.  He  is  now  a member 
and  president  of  the  City  Council  of  Avilla,  and  is 
also  his  party’s  nominee  for  membership  on  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners.  Besides  his  hold- 
ings at  Avilla  he  owns  a good  farm  of  ninety-six 
acres  in  Allen  Township. 

Edward  Noll.  A history  of  the  Noll  family  and 
that  of  Salem  Township  in  Steuben  County  runs 
side  by  side  for  a period  of  eighty  years.  The  Nolls 
came  here  in  Indian  times,  and  along  with  the  de- 
velopment of  a large  acreage  of  wild  land  to  cul- 
tivated fields  they  have  exercised  an  influence  over 
their  community  and  furnished  valuable  service  as 
capable  mechanics  and  business  men. 

The  founder  of  the  family  here  was  George  Noll, 
who  was  born  in  Union  County,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1796,  married  Nancy  Hall  and  lived  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio,  for  many  years.  Nine  children  were  born  to 
them  in  that  county,  Nancy,  Margaret,  Elizabeth, 
Barbara,  Catherine,  Jacob,  Henry,  Samuel  and  Mar- 
tin, and  the  mother  died  there.  In  1839  George  Noll, 
having  married  again,  brought  his  family  to  Steuben 
County  and  bought  land  in  section  11  of  Salem 
Township.  He  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1852. 
His  first  home  was  a log  cabin.  An  Indian  Trail  ran 
near  the  house  and  the  family  saw  Indians  passing 
over  that  road  nearly  every  day.  It  is  recalled  that 
salt  then  retailed  at  $9  a barrel,  though  the  wheat 
crop  grown  after  much  labor  in  clearing  away  the 
woods  brought  only  40  cents  a bushel,  and  all  grain 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


373 


had  to  be  hauled  to  market  at  Coldwater,  Michigan. 

Samuel  Noll  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  in 
1817,  and  had  just  passed  his  majority  when  he  came 
with  his  father  to  Steuben  County.  His  father 
being  quite  well  advanced  in  years  at  the  time  most 
of  the  work  of  clearing  up  the  land  devolved  upon 
him.  He  spent  many  long  days  chopping  trees  and 
clearing  away  the  brush.  He  brought  with  him  to 
Indiana  a knowledge  of  the  carpenter’s  trade,  was  a 
very  skillful  workman,  and  his  services  were  in  de- 
mand for  making  furniture  and  more  particularly 
for  fashioning  coffins.  Gradually,  though  he  kept 
his  home  on  the  farm,  he  engaged  in  the  undertak- 
ing business,  and  was  in  that  work  for  about  forty 
years,  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  May,  1888.  In  Stark  County  Samuel  Noll  mar- 
ried Christina  Flectling,  a native  of  Alsace,  Ger- 
many, where  she  was  born  in  1819,  coming  to  Amer- 
ica at  the  age  of  eight  years  with  her  parents. 
Samuel  Noll  and  wife  were  active  members  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  and  in  1882  they  were  instru- 
mental in  building  the  New  Trinity  Reformed 
Church  in  Salem  Township.  Samuel  Noll  and  wife 
had  a family  of  eight  children;  John,  Elizabeth, 
George  Washington,  William  F.,  Edward  and  Caro- 
line, twins;  Samuel,  who  died  in  childhood;  and 
Mary. 

Mr.  Edward  Noll,  who  therefore  represents  the 
third  generation  of  the  family  in  Northwest  Indiana, 
was  born  at  the  old  home  in  Salem  Township  July 
23,  1849.  As  a boy  he  attended  the  neighboring  dis- 
trict schools  and  besides  work  on  the  farm  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade  and  for  about  two  years  was 
a blacksmith.  His  mechanical  genius  has  found  ex- 
pression not  only  in  the  varied  work  of  the  farm 
but  as  the  operator  of  a threshing  outfit,  and  he  has 
been  in  that  line  of  business  for  upwards  of  forty 
years  and  has  worn  out  many  outfits  and  has  handled 
all  the  improvements  in  threshing  machinery  from 
the  time  of  the  old  horse  power  apparatus.  Mr. 
Noll  and  family  are  members  of  the  Reformed 
Church. 

In  September,  1873,  he  married  Chloe  Arvilla 
Ransburg,  a daughter  of  Leander  and  Harriet  Lu- 
cinda (Spangle)  Ransburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Noll 
having  no  children  of  their  own  took  into  their 
home  Ida  May  Farres  when  she  was  two  years 
of  age.  This  adopted  daughter  is  now  the  wife  of 
Clyde  Allen. 

Leander  Ransburg,  father  of  Mrs.  Noll,  was  born 
in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  November  6,  1819, 
a son  of  Christian  and  Catherine  Ransburg.  He 
settled  in  Salem  Township  of  Steuben  County  in 
1851  and  'spent  the  rest  of  his  active  life  on  a farm. 
His  first  wife  was  Rachel  Mithour,  and  they  had 
one  daughter,  Emeline.  Harriet  Lucinda  Spangle 
was  his  second  wife,  and  she  was  the  mother  of 
Chloe  Arvilla,  Edith  Ella,  Lewis  Walter  and 
Olive  E. 

George  Gordon  Talmage,  M.  D.  Talmage  is  the 
name  of  an  old  and  prominent  family  in  Springfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  where  Dr.  George 
Gordon  Talmage  was  born  December  20,  1869. 

His  father,  Elisha  Talmage,  was  born  at  Milton 
in  Saratoga  County,  New  York,  in  1813,  one  of  the 
ten  children  of  Enos  and  Polly  (Barber)  Talmage. 
His  parents  were  also  natives  of  New  York  and  of 
English  descent.  Elisha  Talmage  as  a youth  learned 
the  carpenter’s  trade,  and  followed  it  for  two  years 
at  wages  of  ten  dollars  a month.  In  the  summer 
of  1836  he  was  working  at  Auburn,  New  Ifork,  and 
the  following  fall  came  west  to  Michigan  and  spent 
a short  time  in  Lenawee  County.  He  went  back 
east  by  way  of  Canada,  and  in  the  spring  of  1837 
came  to  Indiana,  settling  in  the  fall  of  that  year  on 


[20  acres  in  Springfield  Township.  He  paid  $500 
for  this  land.  He  was  a man  of  skillful  industry 
and  much  enterprise  and  developed  a good  farm  of 
169  acres,  where  he  lived  for  many  years.  One 
feature  of  his  farm  business  was  the  manufacture  of 
cider. 

He  married  for  his  first  wife  Lucy  Williams,  a 
native  of  New  York,  who  died  in  April,  1849.  Their 
five  children  were  Joseph,  Harriet,  Enos,  Mary  E. 
and  Calista  E.  In  October,  1851,  Elisha  Talmage 
married  Jane  Griff en.  She  was  born  at  Spaxton, 
England,  and  came  to  this  country  in  1833  with  her 
parents,  Robert  H.  and  Mary  (Polman)  Griff  en. 
Elisha  Talmage  by  his  second  wife  had  ten  chil- 
dren : Lewis  E.,  Isaac  G.,  Charles  E.,  Harvey  H., 
Herbert  J.,  Lucy  L.,  Arthur  F.,  Ernest  E.,  George  G., 
and  Eva  J.  The  oldest  son  of  Elisha,  Joseph  W., 
served  as  a Union  soldier,  enlisting  in  1861  in  the 
Twenty-First  Indiana  Infantry,  and  soon  afterward 
was  transferred  to  the  Twenty-first  Heavy  Artillery. 
In  later  life  he  donated  the  land  for  a church  on 
his  farm  in  Nebraska.  Elisha  Talmage  and  wife 
are  both  buried  in  the  East  Springfield  Cemetery. 

Dr.  George  G.  Talmage  attended  the  public  schools 
of  his  native  township,  was  a student  in  the  Tri- 
State  Normal  at  Angola  and  in  June,  1901,  gradu- 
ated from  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons 
of  Chicago.  He  had  a busy  country  practice  on 
Brushy  Prairie  until  the  spring  of  1904,  when  he 
removed  to  Washta,  Cherokee  County,  Iowa.  He 
is  a republican  in  politics.  March  29,  1894,  Dr.  Tal- 
mage married  Miss  Laura  E.  Brown,  of  Springfield 
Township,  where  she  was  born  April  10,  1875.  She 
is  the  only  daughter  of  Warren  and  Falona  (Baxter) 
Brown,  and  member  of  a family  whose  career  has 
been  traced  in  detail  on  other  pages.  Dr.  Talmage 
and  wife  had  two  children : Russell  Brown  Talmage, 
born  November  4,  1900,  was  educated  in  the  Spring- 
field  Township  High  School  and  graduated  from 
the  Fremont  High  School  in  Steuben  County  in  1918. 
At  present  he  is  engaged  in  farming  on  the  old 
homestead,  being  a member  of  the  fourth  genera- 
tion on  this  farm,  knowq  as  the  Brown  Homestead. 
Ernest  Erastus  Talmage  was  born  January  6,  1904, 
and  is  now  a student  in  the  Springfield  Township 
High  School. 

David  Aburn  is  identified  with  the  farming  com- 
munity of  Perry  Township  in  Noble  County,  has 
had  a long  and  useful  career,  and  has  always  lived 
up  to  the  highest  obligations  and  standards  of  good 
citizenship.  His  farm  home  is  in  section  32. 

He  was  born  in  Darke  County,  Ohio,  June  13, 
1852,  son  of  William  and  Catherine  (Arnett)  Aburn. 
His  father  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  Ohio, 
June  25,  1825,  and  his  mother  in  Miami  County  of 
the  same  state,  September  13,  1826.  They  were 
married  in  Miami  County,  then  located  in  Darke 
County,  and  on  August  9,  i860,  left  that  section  of 
Ohio  to  come  to  Indiana  and  settled  in  Noble  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County.  On  March  21,  1882,  they 
transferred  their  home  to  the  farm  where  their  son 
David  now  lives.  William  Aburn  and  wife  were 
people  of  the  highest  character  and  lived  industrious 
and  honest  lives,  and  were  very  devout  members  of 
the  Dunkard  Church.  In  politics  the  father  affiliated 
as  a democrat.  His  wife  died  October  22,  1894,  and 
he  passed  away  on  the  old  farm  December  2,  1892. 
There  were  seven  children  and  four  are  still  liv- 
ing: David;  Tobias,  of  Whitley  County,  Indiana; 

Harriet,  wife  of  T.  N.  McNear,  of  Canada;  and 
Margaret,  wife  of  C.  D.  Betzner,  of  Perry  Town- 
ship. 

David  Aburn,  who  has  never  married,  has  spent 
most  of  his  life  in  Perry  Township,  and  acquired 
his  early  education  in  Noble  Township.  He  owns- 


374 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


160  acres  of  land  in  section  32,  and  among  other 
interests  is  a stockholder  in  the  Citizens  Bank  of 
Ligonier.  Politically  he  is  a democrat,  like  his 
father. 

Chester  P.  Crain,  who  was  a member  of  one 
of  the  early  families  of  Steuben  County  and 
■achieved  successful  results  in  a business  way  there, 
was  a native  son  of  the  county  and  spent  practi- 
cally all  his  life  within  its  border.  The  fine  farm 
which  he  developed  is  situated  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, and  is  now  occupied  by  his  widow  and  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  George  Saul. 

Mr.  Crain  was  born  in  Steuben  County  Septem- 
ber 5,  1845,  a son  of  Ezekiel  W.  and  Rebecca 
(Demory)  Crain.  His  parents  came  from  Canada, 
where  they  were  married  in  1823,  moving  to  Michi- 
gan in  1834,  and  in  the  spring  of  1836  Ezekiel 
Crain  came  to  Steuben  County  and  bought  land 
and  built  a log  cabin,  moving  the  family  to  the 
new  home  in  the  following  December.  Ezekiel 
Crain  was  a man  of  great  influence  among  the 
early  settlers,  and  died  in  Steuben  County  in  1871, 
his  widow  passing  away  in  1880.  They  had  seven 
children:  Abram,  Orange,  Nicholas,  Richard,  Eli- 

zabeth, who  became  the  wife  of  William  Carpenter, 
Benjamin  and  Chester  Perry. 

Chester  Perry  Crain  grew  up  on  the  old  farm 
where  his  widow  now  lives,  had  a public  school 
education,  and  with  the  exception  of  one  year  in 
Kansas  spent  his  life  in  Steuben  County.  After 
the  death  of  his  father  he  bought  the  homestead 
and  had  120  acres.  For  about  thirty  years  he 
made  a specialty  of  the  breeding  of  Red  Polled 
cattle,  and  that  business  is  still  carried  on  by  his 
son-in-law,  George  W.  Saul.  Mr.  Crain  was  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  he  and  his  wife  with 
their  daughter  and  husband  were  members  of  the 
Christian  Church  at  Angola. 

January  23,  1873,  Mr.  Crain  married  Miss  Susie 
Baker,  a daughter  of  Edward  and  Susan  (Sandall) 
Baker.  Her  parents  came  from  England,  were 
early  settlers  in  Steuben  County,  and  more  ex- 
tended mention  of  the  family  is  made  on  other 
pages  of  this  publication.  Mr.  Crain  had  one 
daughter,  Elgie  Melvina.  She  was  born  October 
13,  1875,  attended  the  public  schools  and  the  Tri- 
State  Normal  College,  and  on  June  12,  1901,  be- 
came the  wife  of  George  W.  Saul.  Mrs.  Saul  died 
May  12,  1915. 

Mr.  Saul  was  born  in  St.  Clair  County,  Michigan, 
November  12,  1876,  son  of  Leander  and  Catherine 
(Hoyer)  Saul.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Wil- 
liams County,  Ohio,  lived  for  several  years  in 
Michigan  and  from  there  came  to  Steuben  County 
and  now  live  in  Salem  Township.  Mr.  Saul’s  fa- 
ther is  a republican  and  his  mother  is  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  The  six  Saul 
children,  all  living,  are  Jennie,  Nettie,  George  W., 
Ivan,  Orran  and  Pearl.  George  W.  Saul  finished 
his  education  in  Pleasant  Lake  High  School.  He 
is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Angola.  He  and 
his  wife  had  one  daughter,  Troas  Olive,  born  May 
28,  1903. 

Elder  Walter  Swihart  is  one  of  the  men  of  most 
varied  interests  in  and  around  the  village  of  Churu- 
busco  in  Noble  County.  He  has  a fine  farm,  was 
vice  president  of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  of  Churu- 
busco  from  the  time  it  was  organized  until  he  re- 
signed in  1919,  has  for  a number  of  years  been  an 
elder  in  the  Church  of  the  Brethren,  and  some  con- 
siderable part  of  his  life  he  gave  to  educational  work 
as  a teacher. 


Mr.  Swihart  was  born  in  Wabash  County,  In- 
diana, July  21,  1864,  son  of  Jacob  and  Clara  (Gidley) 
Swihart.  His  father  was  born  in  Hancock  County, 
Ohio,  November  30,  1837.  His  mother  was  born  in 
Muskingum  County,  Ohio,  October  14,  1838.  When 
Jacob  Swihart  was  eight  years  old  his  parents  moved 
to  Wabash  County,  Indiana,  and  settled  near  Roann. 
He  grew  up  there  and  had  such  limited  advantages 
as  the  local  schools  could  furnish.  His  wife  was 
reared  in  Ohio,  had  a good  education  and  was  a 
teacher  for  several  years.  She  and  her  husband 
were  married  near  Roann  and  became  farmers  there. 
Later  they  moved  to  Whitley  County,  and  in  1870 
established  a home  in  Green  Township  of  Noble 
County,  where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days. 
Jacob  Swihart  died  while  visiting  in  Arkansas, 
February  22,  1898.  His  wife  died  in  Noble  County, 
April  29,  1899.  Both  were  active  members  of  the 
Church  of  the  Brethren.  They  were  the  parents  of 
seven  children:  John,  of  Elkhart  County;  Walter; 

Elizabeth,  wife  of  Alvin  M.  Hire;  Amy,  wife  of 
Arthur  Gardner,  of  Elkhart  County;  Martha,  wife 
of  Amasa  Cripe,  of  Elkhart  County;  Jesse,  of  Noble 
Township,  Noble  County;  and  Charles,  whose  home 
is  in  Arkansas. 

Elder  Walter  Swihart  grew  up  on  a farm  in  Green 
Township,  and  besides  the  advantages  of  the  district 
schools  he  attended  the  Ohio  Northern  University 
at  Ada  and  was  graduated  with  the  degree  Bachelor 
of  Science.  In  the  meantime  he  had  begun  teaching 
in  country  districts,  and  altogether  put  in  nineteen 
years  as  an  educator.  Some  of  his  teaching  was 
done  outside  the  state.  In  1895  he  went  to  Phoenix, 
Arizona,  and  taught  school  there  and  also  at  Glen- 
dale, in  that  territory,  for  a year  and  a half.  In  the 
fall  of  1900  he  went  to  Florida  and  was  a teacher 
there  two  years.  Another  year  he  spent  in  New 
Mexico,  and  has  also  seen  much  of  the  state  of 
Texas. 

Elder  Swihart  married  for  his  first  wife  Sarah 
Huber,  of  Elkhart  Township,  Noble  County.  She 
was  born  in  that  county,  was  well  educated  in  public 
schools  and  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola,  and 
also  did  considerable  teaching.  She  died  in  August, 
1902,  the  mother  of  three  children:  Huber,  a high 

school  graduate  and  a student  at  North  Manchester, 
and  also  in  a Bible  school  at  Chicago,  is  now  a 
farmer  in  Illinois;  Lucile  studied  at  North  Man- 
chester and  in  the  Chicago  Bible  School  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Rufus  Sipe ; and  Calvin  is  a graduate 
of  the  Churubusco  High  School. 

In  1903  Mr.  Swihart  married  Minnie  Miller.  She 
died  December  29,  1917,  the  mother  of  six  children, 
named:  Fairy,  Faith,  Ruth,  Ernest,  Robin  and 

Donald.  Both  these  wives  were  earnest  Christian 
women  and  active  members  of  the  Church  of  the 
Brethren. 

Mr.  Swihart  has  been  an  elder  in  this  church  since 
1904.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

Mr.  Swihart,  besides  his  many  other  interests, 
gives  an  active  supervision  to  the  work  of  his  home 
farm,  which  comprises  164  acres. 

William  H.  Crone  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in 
Northeast  Indiana,  for  many  years  was  a practical 
farmer,  still  owns  a large  amount  of  land  and  in 
recent  years  has  given  his  time  and  energies  to  the 
promotion  of  business  and  manufacturing  at  Wol- 
cottville.  He  is  interested  in  the  manufacturing  plant 
of  the  Centennial  Stave  Silo  and  Drain  Tile  Com- 
pany at  Wolcottville. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County 
August  11,  1851,  a son  of  John  and  Catherine 
(Switzer)  Crone.  His  father  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  August  26,  1818,  and  his 
mother  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  February  23, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


375 


1820.  They  were  married  in  Ohio  in  1839,  and  from 
that  state  moved  in  1849,  settling  in  Allen  Township 
of.  Noble  County,  Indiana.  John  Crone  spent  the 
rest  of  his  life  in  Noble  County  as  a farmer  and 
was  a highly  respected  citizen.  He  died  in  Decem- 
ber, 1899,  and  his  widow  lived  at  Garrett,  Indiana, 
until  her  death  in  February,  1907.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Evangelical  Church.  John  Crone  served 
as  a trustee  of  the  church  and  in  politics  was  a 
democrat.-  Of  their  twelve  children  five  are  now 
living:  Barbara,  widow  of  S.  A.  Rawson;  John  S., 

a farmer  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County;  Wil- 
liam H. ; Amy  R.,  wife  of  B.  F.  Stultz,  of  Elkhart, 
Indiana;  and  Laura,  wife  of  George  B.  Tyler,  liv- 
ing near  Lisbon  in  Allen  Township  of  Noble  County. 

William  H.  Crone  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm, 
attended  district  schools,  and  lived  at  home  until 
he  was  twenty-one  years  old.  On  October  27,  18741 
he  married  Laura  J.  Wilson.  She  was  born  March 
21,  1853,  daughter  of  Albert  and  Isabel  Wilson. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Crone  bought  a farm  in 
Jefferson  Township,  and  taking  it  in  its  native  con- 
dition he  cleared  it  up  and  had  all  under  cultivation 
except  fifteen  acres.  He  remained  there  twelve 
years  and  then  sold  and  moved  to  Florence  Town- 
ship of  Noble  County.  Later  he  moved  to  the 
vicinity  of  Wolcottville,  where  he  lived  on  a 200- 
acre  farm  until  1906.  Since  then  his  home  has  been 
in  Wolcottville,  and  he  had  an  extensive  business 
there  in  buying  and  shipping  live  stock  until  recent 
years.  He  has  been  a director  in  the  Silo  and  Drain 
Tile  Company  since  its  organization,  and  gives  all 
his  time  during  the  summer  seasons  to  selling  silos. 
The  last  several  winters  Mr.  Crone  has  spent  in  the 
South.  Besides  his  other  interests  he  has  a two- 
third  interest  in  215  acres  of  land  in  Johnson  Town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Crone  is  the  father  of  two  children,  Maude 
and  John.  The  daughter  is  a graduate  of  the  com- 
mon schools  and  is  now  the  wife  of  W.  D.  Fisher. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fisher  had  two  children,  and  the  one 
now  living  is  Gerald  W.  John  Crone  is  a graduate 
of  the  Avilla  High  School,  attended  the  Tri-State 
Normal  at  Angola  three  years  and  is  noW  a farmer 
in  Johnson  Township.  He  married  Dora  Whan- 
settler.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  and  Mr.  Crone  is  a democrat. 

Stephen  T.  McKee.  During  the  many  years  he 
spent  in  the  farming  community  of  Lima  Stephen 
McKee  was  known  for  his  progressiveness  in  every- 
thing he  did  and  also  for  the  energy  which  he  ap- 
plied to  his  undertakings  and  which  brought  him  the 
abundant  prosperity  he  now  enjoys  in  his  comfort- 
able home  at  Howe. 

Mr.  McKee  was  born  in  Montour  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  7,  1856,  and  has  lived  in  LaGrange 
County  since  he  was  eight  years  of  age.  His  par- 
ents were  William  and  Nancy  (Ellis)  McKee,  both 
natives  of  Columbia  County,  Pennsylvania,  while 
their  respective  parents  were  born  in  Scotland  and 
spent  their  last  years  in  Pennsylvania.  William  and 
Nancy  McKee  brought  their  family  from  Pennsyl- 
v vania  to  LaGrange  County  in  the  spring  of  1865. 
They  traveled  by  railroad  as  far  as  Sturgis,  Michi- 
gan, and  thence  a horse  drawn  vehicle  took  them 
to  a place  a little  north  of  Howe,  where  they  arrived 
the  first  of  April.  William  McKee  bought  a farm 
in  Lima  Township,  and  he  and  his  wife  lived  there 
until  their  death.  He  had  eighty  acres,  and  im- 
proved it  and  made  a good  home.  He  and  his  wife 
were  active  Presbyterians.  Their  family  consisted 
of  six  children:  James,  who  died  in  Pennsylvania; 
Ellis  ; Oliver  P. ; Amandas,  now  deceased  ; Elizabeth, 
deceased  wife  of  Washington  Gilbert,  and  Stephen  T. 

Stephen  T.  McKee  attended  country  schools  in 


LaGrange  County  and  also  the  high  school, at  Howe. 
As  a young  man  he  learned  the  trade  of  carpenter, 
but  has  used  his  skill  largely  to  do  his  own  building 
and  repair  work.  He  took  up  farming  in  Lima 
Township  on  his  father’s  old  place,  later  owned  it, 
and  increased  its  area  to  120  acres.  Mr.  McKee 
equipped  this  farm  for  dairy  purposes  and  developed 
one  of  the  best  Jersey  herds  in  the  township.  His 
farm  was  also  distinguished  by  having  one  of  the 
first  silos  in  that  vicinity,  and  as  a carpenter  he  con- 
structed the  silo  himself. 

Mr.  McKee  has  lived  retired  at  Howe  since  1902 
He  is  a charter  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
Lodge  at  Howe,  is  a Presbyterian,  and  has  been 
quite  active  in  local  politics,  serving  as  a member  of 
the  Township  Advisory  Board. 

On  November  4,  1896,  he  married  Miss  Anna- 
belle  Smith,  a native  of  Howe  and  a daughter  of 
John  Smith,  one  of  the  best  known  citizens  of  La- 
Grange County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McKee  have  one 
daughter,  Mildred  E.,  who  finished  her  education  in 
a college  at  Marion,  Virginia. 

Samuel  F.  Musser,  cashier  of  the  LaGrange 
State  Bank,  has  had  a long  and  active  career  in 
LaGrange  County,  has  been  a farmer,  merchant, 
traveling  salesman  and  is  a former  county  treas- 
urer, an  office  he  filled  with  thorough  competence 
for  two  terms. 

He  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township  of  La- 
Grange County,  September  15,  1852,  son  of  Daniel 
and  Rebecca  (Ritter)  Musser.  His  parents  were 
born,  reared  and  married  in  Franklin  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  came  to  LaGrange  County  about  1845. 
They  brought  all  they  had  with  them  in  a one- 
horse  wagon,  and  thus  started  with  practically 
nothing  in  the  woods  of  Clear  Spring  Township. 
Industry  brought  its  sure  reward,  and  in  course  of 
time  he  owned  a good  farm  of  eighty  acres,  well 
improved,  and  provided  liberally  for  his  family. 
The  parents  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  he  was  a republican  in  politics. 
Of  the  seven  children  four  are  still  living,  Samuel 
F. ; Maynard  F.,  a mail  carrier  at  LaGrange;  Jen- 
nie, wife  of  Myron  Nelson ; and  Alsie,  a widow 
living  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan. 

Samuel  F.  Musser  attended  the  district  schools 
during  his  boyhood  and  also  had  a thorough  train- 
ing in  all  the  duties  of  the  farm.  In  1876  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Eliza  Cowley.  For  ten  years  they  rented 
a farm  and  then  moved  to  LaGrange,  where  Mr. 
Musser  engaged  in  the  implement  business  for  eight 
years.  Selling  out  he  bought  a farm,  and  after- 
ward leased  his  land  and  traveled  for  an  imple- 
ment house  three  years.  In  1896  he  was  honored 
with  election  to  the  office  of  county  treasurer  and 
took  up  his  duties  in  January,  1898.  He  was  in  the 
courthouse  for  two  successive  terms,  and  in  the 
meantime  disposed  of  his  farm  and  became  one  of 
the  organizers  of  the  LaGrange  State  Bank.  He 
was  formerly  its  assistant  cashier  before  his  pro- 
motion to  the  office  of  cashier.  Mr.  Musser  has 
always  been  an  active  republican.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Howe,  and 
he  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Musser  have  two  sons.  Lee  A.  is  a 
dentist  with  a good  practice  at  South  Haven,  Mich- 
igan. Fred  C.  is  a physician,  and  is  well  estab- 
lished in  his  profession  in  Detroit. 

Melvin  C.  McGrew.  It  is  over  seventy  years 
since  the  McGrew  family  came  to  Steuben  County, 
and  the  name  has  been  identified  with  practically 
all  the  history  of  development  of  this  section  of 
Northeast  Indiana  from  the  pioneering  and  log 


376 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


cabin  days  to  the  era  of  modern  transportation, 
improved  highways,  and  unprecedented  prosperity 
for  the  agricultural  district. 

A representative  of  this  family,  Melvin  C. 
McGrew,  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  Pleasant 
Township.  He  was  born  in  Richland  Township 
of  Steuben  County,  February  16,  1852,  son  of  Find- 
ley and  Betsey  (Sharrock)  McGrew.  His  father 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1809  and  his  mother 
in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  in  1815.  lhey  were 
married  in  the  latter  state  and  in  1848  came  to 
Steuben  County  and  paid  a dollar  and  a quarter 
an  acre  for  land  in  Richland  Township.  Ob- 
viously it  was  virgin  soil  and  did  not  have  a single 
tree  removed,  and  it  was  the  task  of  Findley 
McGrew  to  clear  it  up  and  make  a home.  He  had 
eighty  acres,  eventually  well  developed  and  im- 
proved, and  the  log  house  which  was  the  first 
home  of  the  family  gave  way  to  a good  frame 
house.  He  was  a very  fine  mechanic,  a millwright 
by  trade,  and  it  was  his  practice  to  build,  operate 
and  own  mills.  He  operated  mills  at  Metz,  on 
Fish  Creek,  one  northeast  of  Butler  and  also  one 
at  West  Buffalo,  Ohio.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
useful  citizens  of  the  county  in  his  time.  He  died 
in  1872  and  his  wife  in  1870.  He  was  a democrat, 
and  thev  were  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church.'  They  had  a large  family,  named  Henry, 
Joseph,  Constance,  Sarah,  _ Benjamin,  Matilda, 
Tames,  Emily,  Susan,  Melvin  C.,  Ida  and  Ada, 
twins,  and  Findley. 

Of  these  numerous  children  Melvin  C.  McGrew 
is  the  only  survivor.  He  grew  up  on  his  father  s 
place  in  Richland  Township  and  lived  there  to  the 
age  of  twenty-one,  enjoying  such  advantages  as 
the  local  schools  afforded.  Since  then  he  has  been 
farming.  For  two  years  he  rented  the  Northway 
farm  in  Millgrove  "Township  and  in  1880  bought 
the  place  which  he  still  owns  and  occupies.  He 
has  1 12  acres,  and  all  its  building  improvements 
represent  his  individual  work  and  investment.  He 
does  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  the 
means  he  has  acquired  represents  what  he  has  put 
into  life  by  his  well  directed  efforts  and  judgment. 
He  is  a democrat,  but  has  no  official  aspirations, 
has  been  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  for  about  twenty-one  years  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1874  he  married  Rachel  Fast.  She  was  born 
in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  December  4,  1850,  a 
daughter  of  Christian  and  Henrietta  (Sowle)  Fast. 
This  is  a well  known  family  of  Steuben  County. 
Christian  Fast,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1814,  a son  of  Martin  Fast,  lived  from  early  in- 
fancy in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  where  the  Fast 
family  were  among  the  earliest  of  the  families  to 
settle,  and  in  1839  he  married  Henrietta  Sowle, 
who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1820.  In  1852 
Christian  Fast  came  to  Steuben  County  and  ac- 
quired'a tract  of  wild  land  in  Pleasant  Township 
and  eventually  owned  160  acres,  well  improved 
and  valuable.  He  died  in  1898.  His  first  wife 
died  in  1859,  the  mother  of  eight  children : Joseph 
A.,  Rosanna,  Francis  Allen,  Eli,  Mary,  Rachel, 
John  A.,  Henrietta.  Christian  Fast  married  for 
his  second  wife  Rhoda  M.  Wells,  and  they  had 
three  children,  Ira,  Orla  and  Laura.  The  old  Fast 
farm  in  Pleasant  Township  is  now  owned  and  oc- 
cupied by  Mark  Pogue. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGrew  have  two  children:  Alida, 
born  October  23,  1877,  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  and  the  Normal  School,  was  a teacher  for 
several  terms,  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Harley  Webb. 
They  have  two  children,  Hilda  and  Joyce.  George 


A.  McGrew  was  born  May  20,  1880,  and  also  had 
a public  and  normal  school  education.  He  mar- 
ried Zora  Spangle,  and  their  family  consists  of 
Harold,  Eilene,  Marian  and  Wayne. 

Bernard  Pullman  has  been  a resident  of  Ken- 
dallville  since  he  was  seven  years  of  age,  and  his 
successful  position  in  business  affairs  is  due  to  a 
concentration  of  effort  along  one  line.  He  has 
always  worked  in  the  stone  business,  and  is  now 
proprietor  of  the  Pullman  Granite  and  Marble 
Works  at  Kendallville. 

Mr.  Pullman  was  born  in  Germany  May  26,  1859, 
son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Drasser)  Pullman.  His 
parents  came  from  Germany  in  the  spring  of  1867 
and  located  at  Kendallville,  where  his,  father  was  a 
stone  cutter  and  followed  the  trade  many  years 
with  his  son. 

Bernard  Pullman  was  educated  in  the  common 
schools  to  the  age  of  fourteen.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  continuously  identified  with  the  stone  busi- 
ness, spending  four  years  in  learning  his  trade  and 
working  as  a journeyman  four  years.  About  1881 
he  entered  business  for  himself,  and  for  over  thirty- 
nine  years  has  conducted  the  leading  granite  and 
marble  works  of  the  city  and  Northern  Indiana. 

Mr.  Pullman  married  Ida  M.  Lash,  who  was  born 
in  Kendallville,  a daughter  of  William  Lash.  She 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  city.  They 
have  two  children : Inez,  a graduate  of  the  Ken- 

dallville High  School,  is  the  wife  of  Rodell  Ludlow, 
now  residents  of  Dallas,  Texas.  Harold  L.,  who 
attended  high  school,  is  now  at  home.  He  married 
Aileen  Shamburger.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pullman  have 
one  grandson,  Bernard  P.  Ludlow. 

Mr.  Pullman,  besides  his  close  attention  to  busi- 
ness, has  also  been  interested  in  local  affairs.  He 
has  been  a member  of  the  City  Council,  is  a repub- 
lican and  is  a prominent  Mason,  both  in  the  Yofk 
and  Scottish  Rite.  He  has  taken  thirty-two  degrees 
in  the  Scottish  Rite  and  is  a member  of  the  Lodge, 
Chapter  and  Commandery  in  York  Rite,  and  has 
served  asf  eminent  commander  of  the  Knights 
Templar.  “He  is  also  a Shriner.  He  and  his  family 
are  Presbyterians. 

John  Craig  Smiths  The  name  of  John  Craig 
Smith  is  associated  with  a high  degree  of  prominence 
in  business  and  civic  affairs  in  LaGrange  County.  He 
is  a resident  of  Van  Buren  Township  and  his  family 
were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Smith  was  born  in  Lima  Township  December 
22,  1857,  a son  of  William  and  Esther  (Craig)  Smith. 
William  Smith  was  born  in  Clark  County,  Ohio, 
January  10,  1822,  one  of  the  ten  children  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Hurd)  Smith,  the  former  a native 
of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  David 
Smith,  of  Irish  descent,  was  a soldier  in  the  War 
of  1812,  was  married  in  Ohio,  and  in  1833  brought 
his  family  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  locating 
on  a farm  of  360  acres,  where  he  lived  until  his 
death.  He  was  an  abolitionist  in  politics,  one  of  the 
early  temperance  workers  in  the  county,  and  was  one 
of  the  first  members  of  the  Board  of  County  Com- 
missioners. 

William  Smith  acquired  a liberal  education  for  his 
time  and  for  twenty  years  taught  school  in  winters, 
while  the  summers  were  spent  in  farming.  He  taught 
the  first  term  of  school  in  the  new  schoolhouse  at 
Lima.  He  also  represented  LaGrange  County  in  the 
State  Legislature  in  1855  and  again  in  1867.  During 
his  first  term  he  cast  the  deciding  vote  for  recharter- 
ing the  State  Bank  of  Indiana.  During  the  second 
term  he  assisted  in  electing  Oliver  P.  Morton,  In- 
diana’s war  governor,  to  the  United  States  Senate. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


377 


For  a number  of  years  he  was  engaged  in  the  lumber 
and  agricultural  implement  business.  He  was  a 
Mason  and  member  ot  the  Fresbyterian  Church,  and 
died  at  Cogansport,  Indiana,  May  4,  1901.  In  1047 
he  married  Estner  Craig,  She  was  born  in  North- 
umberland County,  Fennsylvania,  in  1822  and  died 
in  i«66.  She  was  the  mother  of  three  children: 
Senator  B.,  Mary  E.  A.  and  John  C.  William  Smith 
married  for  his  second  wife  Kate  Wood,  who  was 
born  in  LaGrange  County  in  1844.  By  that  union 
there  were  two  children,  William  D.  and.  lone  C. 

John  Craig  Smith  was  about  eight  years  old  when 
his  mother  died,  and  he  grew  up  in  the  home  of  his 
maternal  grandparents,  John  and  Jane  (Derr)  Craig, 
who  were  early  settlers  of  LaGrange  County.  He 
acquired  a public  school  education,  attended  the 
graded  schools  of  Lima,  and  since  early  youth  his 
chief  interests  have  been  identified  with  farming. 
He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

November  24,  1880,  Mr.  Smith  married  Emma  L. 
Hinkle.  She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  February  23, 
i860,  a daughter  of  Aquila  and  Mary  (Boyer) 
Hinkle.  The  Hinkle  family  settled  in  LaGrange 
County  in  October,  1864.  In  1872  Aquila  Hinkle 
bought  land  in  section  29  of  Van  Buren  Township, 
where  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  now  live.  He  first 
bought  120  acres  and  later  increased  his  holdings  to 
180  acres.  He  divided  this  place  among  his  chil- 
dren. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  since  added  seventy 
acres  and  now  have  249)^2  acres.  For  several  years 
Mr.  Smith  was  a breeder  of  Jersey  cattle,  and  is 
now  practically  retired  from  the  heavier  responsibili- 
ties of  farming.  .He  is  a stockholder  in  the  local 
elevator  and  shippers  association  at  Howe. 

Mrs.  Smith’s  father  died  in  November,  1914,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  her  mother  passed  away 
May  5,  1919,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine  years  and 
one  month.  Mrs.  Smith  was  their  only  child. 

The  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  is  Augusta, 
who  was  born  in  September,  1881.  She  is  the  wife 
of  Charles  F.  Junod,  member  of  an  old  and  prom- 
inent family  of  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  Junod  was 
born  in  Van  Buren  Township,  is  a graduate  of  Knox 
College  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  spent  ten  years  or 
more  with  the  Northwestern  Mutual  Life  Insurance 
Company  at  Milwaukee,  part  of  the  time  being  gen- 
eral agent  for  Nebraska,  and  in  1915  became  con- 
nected with  Kountze  Brothers,  bankers  of  national 
and  international  prominence  at  New  York  City. 
Mr.  Junod  is  now  vice  president  of  the  Atlantic  Na- 
tional Bank  of  New  York  City.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Junod 
have  two  sons,  Charles  Frederick,  Jr.,  born  April 
10,  1911,  and  Robert  Smith  Junod,  born  August  25, 
I9I3- 

Ross  H.  Abel  is  the  present  trustee  of  Newville 
Township  in  DeKalb  County.  He  is  a man  emi- 
nently qualified  for  the  duties  of  this  responsible 
office,  to  which  is  entrusted  the  management  and 
welfare  of  the  local  schools  and  many  other  mat- 
ters of  direct  concern  to  every  resident  of  the  town- 
ship. Mr.  Abel  has  been  one  of  the  prominent 
educators  in  Stark  County  for  many  years,  has  lived 
in  the  southern  part  of  DeKalb  County  all  his  life, 
and  is  also  identified  with  its  rural  interests  as  a 
farmer. 

This  is  one  of  the  oldest  families  of  old  Concord 
Township.  His  grandfather,  George  H.  Abel,  was 
born  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  February  21,  1808, 
the  son  of  Damon  and  Sallie  (Root)  Abel.  In  1828 
he  married  Electa  Hadsell,  who  was  born  in  New 
York  State.  After  his  marriage  he  followed  farm- 
ing in  Ohio  until  September,  1836,  when  he  came  to 
Indiana  and  entered  160  acres  in  Concord  Town- 
ship. He  cleared  up  most  of  this  land  and  lived  an 


active  and  useful  life  there  until  his  death  on  May 
10,  1674,  being  survived  by  his  widow  a number  of 
years.  They  nad  a family  of  ten  children,  and  sev- 
eral of  the  sons  made  honorable  records  as  soldiers 
in  the  Lmon  army. 

Walter  M.  Abel,  a son  of  George  H.  Abel,  was 
born  in  Concord  Township  August  27,  1846,  and 
served  two  years  in  the  Civil  war.  Later  he  was 
at  one  time  commander  of  his  Grand  Army  Post, 
was  a loyal  republican  in  politics,  and  spent  his 
business  energies  largely  as  a farmer.  He  died 
September  15,  1917.  Walter  Abel  married  Anna 
E.  Nelson,  who  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County-, 
Ohio,  March  30*  1853,  came  to  DeKalb  County  when 
a girl,  and  is  still  living.  She  is  a member  of  the 
Wesley  Chapel  of  the  Methodist  Church.  Walter 
Abel  and  wife  had  two  children.  The  older  is 
Lulu  M.,  wife  of  Philip  Carper  of  Jackson  Town- 
ship. 

Ross  H.  Abel  was  born  in  Concord  Township 
January  29,  1880,  and  lived  at  home  attending  dis- 
trict school  at  Spencerville  and  St.  Joe,  and  after- 
ward took  normal  and  special  courses  in  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola  and  at  Valparaiso.  Mr. 
Abel  has  been  a teacher  -in  DeKalb  County  for 
eighteen  years.  He  and  his  mother  live  together, 
and  for  a number  of  years  he  has  had  the  prac- 
tical operation  of  the  ninety-five  acres  in  the  home 
farm.  Mr.  Abel  was  elected  trustee  of  Newville 
Township  November  5,  1918.  He  has  been  quite 
active  as  a republican. 

George  Dayton  Searing,  Jr.,  in  association  with 
his  father  became  a business  man  at  Howe  when 
he  was  hardly  more  than  a boy  in  years,  and  has 
continued  a useful  service  long  furnished  by  mem- 
bers of  his  family  in  the  undertaking  and  furniture 
business  there.  Mr.  Searing  has  the  distinction  of 
having  introduced  the  first  motor  hearse  in  La- 
Grange County,  buydng  it  and  bringing  it  to  his 
establishment  at  Howe  June  5,  1916. 

Mr.  Searing  was  born  at  Lima,  now  known  as  the 
Town  of  Howe,  October  12,  1879,  a son  of  George 
D.  and  Sarah  A.  (Byram)  Searing.  His  grand- 
parents were  Ichabod  W.  and  Ruth  (Upson)  Sear- 
ing, the  former  a native  of  New  Jersey.  From  Men- 
don,  New  Jersey,  the  Searings  came  West  and  set- 
tled in  Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County  in 
1837.  Ichabod  Searing  and  wife  had  five  children : 
Henrietta  V.,  who  is  still  living  and  makes  her  home 
with  Mrs.  Sarah  Searing  at  Howe ; Caroline,  who 
was  the  wife  of  Joseph  Upson;  Mrs.  Angeline  Up- 
son; Noah;  and  George  D.,  Sr. 

George  D.  Searing,  Sr.,  was  born  in  Greenfield 
Township  March  31,  1847,  spent  his  early  life  on  a 
farm,  and  finished  his  education  in  the  LaGrange 
County  Collegiate  Institute  under  Professor  Patch. 
He  was  an  early  business  man  at  the  Village  of 
Lima,  where  he  opened  a stock  of  furniture  in  the 
year  1870,  and  then  engaged  in  the  undertaking 
business,  until  his  store  was  burned  out,  entailing  a 
total  loss.  However,  he  continued  in  business  and 
also  did  considerable  writing  of  insurance.  From 
1880  until  his  death  on  August  8,  1914,  he  served 
continuously  as  a justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a 
republican  in  politics,  was  affiliated  with  Howe  Lodge 
of  Masons  and  was  a member  of  LaGrange  Chapter 
of  the  Royal  Arch.  He  was  also  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe.  His  widow, 
still  living,  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 
They  had  two  children,  Anna  R.  and  George  D. 
The  daughter  is  living  at  South  Pasadena,  Cali- 
fornia, widow  of  Henry  A.  Herman,  who  was  killed 
at  Long  Beach,  California,  in  December,  1917.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Herman  had  three  children : Dorothy, 
George  and  Margaret. 


378 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


George  D.  Searing,  Jr.,  graduated  from  the  Lima 
High  School  in  1900.  The  following  year  he  gradu- 
ated from  Clark’s  School  of  Embalming  at  Cincin- 
nati, and  had  learned  the  undertaking  business  while 
working  for  his  father  as  a boy.  He  was  his  father’s 
partner  from  1900  until  1914,  and  has  since  been 
active  head  of  the  business.  For  nineteen  years  he 
has  held  a position  as  notary  public  and  he  also 
carries  on  the  insurance  agency  which  his  father 
established. 

Mr.  Searing  is  a republican,  is  a charter  member 
of  the  Lodge  of  Masons  at  Howe  and  also  a mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  November,  1907, 
he  married  Miss  Marjorie  Hoff.  She  was  born  in 
Kansas,  a daughter  of  Enoch  and  Florence  (Bart- 
lett) Hoff,  formerly  of  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Searing  have  two  children,  Florence  B.,  who 
was  born  November  28,  1908,  and  died  in  June,  1917, 
and  Caroline  A.,  born  February  19,  1912. 

Eli  C.  Walker  has  been  a prominent  business 
man  of  Auburn  for  a number  of  years  and  consist- 
ent with  his  position  in  business  is  also  the  city’s 
chief  executive.  His  popularity  in  Auburn  is  very 
well  shown  by  the  result  of  his  election  to  the 
position  of  city  mayor.  Although  the  opposing 
candidate  was  a prominent  attorney  and  business 
man  of  wide  experience,  Mr.  Walker  received  the 
largest  number  of  votes  ever  cast  for  any  candidate 
in  this  city.  Assisted  by  a Council  of  excellent 
business  men.  Mayor  Walker  has  given  Auburn  a 
splendid  administration,  of  which  the  people  are 
justly  appreciative. 

He  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  January  2, 
1868,  son  of  George  W.  and  Caroline  (Neidig) 
Walker.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Chester 
County,  Pennsylvania,  was  two  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Stark  County,  Ohio.  He  grew 
up  there  and  was  married  to  Caroline  Neidig,  who 
was  born  in  that  county.  They  lived  on  a farm  in 
Stark  County,  Ohio,  until  1880,  when  the  Ohio  prop- 
erty was  sold  and  the  family  came  to  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana,  locating  in  Richland  Township. 

George  W.  Walker  died  there  May  2,  1915,  and 
his  widow  is  still  living.  Both  were  members  of 
the  English  Lutheran  Church,  and  he  was  a veter- 
an of  the  Civil  war,  having  answered  his  country’s 
call  as  a volunteer  soldier.  He  was  also  a Master 
Mason  and  a republican  in  politics.  Of  a family  of 
six  children  five  are  still  living:  Charles  E.  M.,  of 

Auburn ; Maggie,  wife  of  Frank  Boren,  of  Rich- 
land Township;  Jennie,  wife  of  Bert  Mochamer, 
of  Auburn ; Amelia,  wife  of  Ezra  Rohm,  of  Grant 
Township;  and  Eli  C. 

Eli  C.  Walker  was  twelve  years  old  when  brought 
to  DeKalb  County.  He  continued  his  education 
in  the  district  school,  also  the  Auburn  High  School 
and  the  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola.  Many  resi- 
dents of  this  county  remember  gratefully  his  serv- 
ices as  a teacher.  He  taught  for  fifteen  years, 
eleven  in  the  district  schools  and  four  years  was 
head  of  the  Corunna  Graded  School,  which  he 
organized. 

He  was  married  to  Edith  Chaney,  who  was  born 
in  Richland  Township  in  this  county.  His  wife 
possesses  a marked  religious  character,  which  has 
been  a determining  factor  in  the  lives  of  her  hus- 
band and  children,  contributing  not  only  to  their 
happiness  but  also  to  any  accomplishments  to  which 
they  may  have  attained. 

After  his  marriage  he  gave  up  school  work  and 
for  a time  was  assistant  cashier  of  the  Thomas 
Exchange  Bank  at  Corunna.  In  1903  he  moved 
to  Auburn  and  became  associated  with  the  La  Due 
& Carmer  Company  in  the  shipping  business. 
While  connected  with  this  firm  the  family  moved 


to  Fort  Wayne,  where  they  lived  for  three  years. 
After  returning  to  Auburn  he  and  associates  incor- 
porated the  J.  M.  Carmer  Company,  July  1,  1915. 
Soon  after  this  Mr.  Walker  bought  a controlling 
interest  and  continued  to  manage  the  corporation’s 
affairs  until  he  sold  out  May  14,  1919. 

Mr.  Walker  has  been  quite  active  in  politics  and 
was  elected  mayor  of  Auburn  in  November,  1917, 
beginning  his  official  term  January  7,  1918.  He  is 
district  steward  of  the  First  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  of  Auburn,  and  has  served  as  superintend- 
ent of  the  Sunday  school  both  here  and  at  Trinity 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Fort  Wayne.  He  has 
also  served  in  many  other  lay  capacities.  Mr. 
Walker  is  a Scottish  Rite  Mason  and  a member  of 
Mizpah  Temple  of  the  Mystic  Shrine  of  Fort 
Wayne.  He  is  also  an  Odd  Fellow,  and  he  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Eastern  Star  at 
Auburn. 

To  his  marriage  were  born  three  children:  Vic- 
tor O.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the  Auburn  High 
School  and  a Purdue  University  student,  is  em- 
ployed as  an  engineer  with  the  S.  F.  Bowser  Com- 
pany at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  married  to  Carrie 
Archer.  Clement  is  a graduate  of  the  Auburn 
High  School  and  is  still  at  home.  He  is  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  shipping  business.  Marie, 
the  only  daughter,  died  July  11,  1915,  while  a stu- 
dent in  the  Auburn  High  School. 

John  M.  Crain.  It  has  been  characteristic  of  the 
Crain  family  throughout  their  residence  of  more 
than  three  quarters  of  a century  in  Steuben  County 
to  be  farmers,  good  citizens  and  people  accustomed 
to  assuming  their  share  of  all  the  responsibilities 
of  community  life.  These  characteristics  belong 
to  one  of  the  younger  generation,  John  M.  Crain, 
who  handles  three  separate  farms  and  is  one  of  the 
leading  young  stockmen  and  agriculturists  of  Pleas- 
ant Township. 

His  grandfather,  Lucius  Crain,  first  visited  Steu- 
ben County  from  New  York  State  in  1836,  buying 
land  in  section  36  of  Steuben  Township.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1837,  he  moved  his  family  to  this  land,  but 
the  following  year  they  returned  to  New  York. 
He  made  permanent  settlement  in  Steuben  County 
in  1840,  and  lived  here  until  his  death  on  August 
31,  1848.  Lucius  Crain  married  Paulina  Frink. 

One  of  their  children  was  the  late  John  M.  Crain, 
Sr.,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1834  and 
was  a boy  when  the  family  came  to  Steuben 
County.  He  grew  up  in  Otsego  Township  and 
later  sold  his  place  there  and  bought  the  farm 
where  George  Webb  now  lives,  and  finally  _ the 
Pleasant  Township  farm  where  his  widow  resides. 
John  M.  Crain,  Sr.,  died  in  1891.  He  was  a dem- 
ocrat in  politics  and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church.  John  M.  Crain  married 
Rose  Renner,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  County 
July  20,  1850,  a daughter  of  John  Renner,  of  an- 
other prominent  family  of  the  county.  Mrs.  John 
M.  Crain  had  nine  children:  Irene,  Paulina,  de- 

ceased, Anna,  Odesta,  lone,  Beulah,  Frances,  John 
M.  and  Theodore. 

John  M.  Crain,  Jr.,  was  born  on  the  farm  where 
his  mother  now  lives  in  Pleasant  Township  on  De- 
cember 4,  1889.  He  grew  up  there,  attended  the 
public  schools,  and  since  early  manhood  has  been 
successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
In  1915  he  bought  eighty  acres  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. He  also  rents  eighty  acres_  of  the  Widow 
Moss  of  Angola,  and  has  in  addition  the  manage- 
ment of  his  mother’s  home  farm.  This  gives  him 
a large  acreage,  but  he  uses  it  profitably  and  effi- 
ciently and  is  one  of  the  leading  breeders  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


379 


county  of  Belgian  horses.  Shorthorn  cattle  and 
Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 

Mr.  Crain  is  a republican.  His  wife  is  active 
in  the  Christian  Church.  He  married  in  1912 
Frances  Jones,  of  Steuben  County.  Their  two 
children  are:  John,  born  March  17,  1913,  and  James, 
born  May  30,  1917. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Campbell,  of  Perry  Township, 
widow  of  the  late  Michael  Campbell,  is  one  of  the 
interesting  women  of  that  section  of  Noble  County, 
and  has  spent  all  of  her  long  and  useful  life  in  one 
locality.  The  associations  of  her  later  years  are 
bound  up  with  those  of  her  early  childhood,  as  she 
has  lived  from  birth  on  one  farm,  which  incidentally 
is  one  of  the  oldest  improved  tracts  of  land  in  Perry 
Township. 

Her  late  husband,  Michael  Campbell,  was  born 
near  Lima,  Ohio,  January  8,  1849,  and  011  leaving 
Ohio  came  to  Indiana  but  soon  went  to  Michigan, 
and  about  1874  settled  in  Noble  County,  Ohio.  On 
June  28,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Harper. 

Mrs.  Campbell  was  born  March  19,  1850,  and  the 
house  in  which  she  now  lives  is  truly  a landmark  of 
that  country  locality,  since  it  was  standing  before 
she  was  born.  She  was  a daughter  of  Solomon  and 
Mary  (Shobe)  Harper.  Her  father,  who  was  born 
in  Fayette  County,  Ohio,  November  7,  1809,  was  a 
son  of  Philip  Harper.  Solomon  came  to  Noble 
County  in  November,  1831,  when  this  section  of 
Northern  Indiana  was  a vast  wilderness,  and  with 
only  here  and  there  scattered  settlements.  He  en- 
tered land  including  the  present  homestead  of  Mrs. 
Campbell,  and  was  a man  of  influence,  of  great 
business  activity,  and  at  one  time  owned  480  acres. 
His  first  home  was  a small  log  cabin,  constructed  in 
the  midst  of  the  woods.  He  lived  in  that  locality  for 
over  forty  years,  passing  away  in  1873.  His  wife 
survived  him  until  July,  1891.  Solomon  Harper 
was  a democrat  in  politics.  He  and  his  wife  had 
twelve  children,  only  four  of  whom  are  now  living: 
Z.  E.  Harper,  of  Perry  Township;  Harriet,  wife  of 
George  Snyder,  of  Ohio ; Mrs.  Elizabeth  Campbell ; 
and  Gideon,  who  lives  in  Ohio. 

Elizabeth  Harper  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
attended  the  nearby  district  schools.  She  is  the 
mother  of  two  children : Fannie,  wife  of  William 

H.  Smith,  of  Whitley  County;  and  Homer,  who  is 
unmarried  and  lives  at  home  with  his  mother.  Mrs. 
Campbell  owns  eighty  acres,  and  this  land  was  part 
of  the  tract  entered  by  her  father  eighty-five  years 
ago,  in  1834. 

Franklin  J.  Merriman.  When  the  history  of 
the  late  war  and  the  days  immediately  following  it 
is  written  by  the  future  generations  a proper  amount 
of  credit  is  going  •to  be  accorded  the  efforts  of  the 
agriculturalists  of  this  country,  who  through  their 
willingness  to  work,  their  knowledge  of  their  calling 
and  their  inherent  patriotism  made  possible  the  re- 
lieving of  the  terrible  famine  conditions  of  Europe 
and  the  proper  feeding  of  the  people  of  their  own 
land.  Without  the  intelligent  co-operation  of  these 
men  the  sacrifices  of  the  soldiers  might  all  be  nulli- 
fied, and  therefore  they  will  be  accorded  a very 
prominent  place  in  the  records  of  this  marvelous 
epoch.  Indiana  is  furnishing  a number  of  such 
men,  and  one  of  them  most  certainly  is  Franklin 
J.  Merriman  of  Steuben  Township,  Steuben  County, 
a farmer  by  inheritance  and  preference. 

Franklin  J.  Merriman  was  born  in  Scott  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  October  8,  1861,  a son  of 
Jerome  Merriman  and  grandson  of  Rufus  Merri- 
man, one  of  the  pioneers  of  Steuben  County,  who 
came  here  about  1835.  He  walked  from  Lima,  Ohio, 
his  sole  possessions  being  an  axe,  an  auger  and  a 


gun,  to  Steuben  County,  and  located  on  some  land 
1 miles  east  of  Angola,  and  clearing  a small  space 
on  it  erected  a log  shanty,  which  was  in  time  re- 
placed by  a comfortable  residence.  On  this  prop- 
erty Rufus  Merriman  remained  the  rest  of  his  life, 
and  continued  to  farm.  His  wife  bore  the  maiden 
name  of  Dolly  Gale,  and  they  had  the  following 
children : Henry,  Loren,  Jerome,  Alvira  and  an 

infant  daughter.  The  daughter  Alvira  married 
Franklin  Cary. 

Jerome  Merriman  was  born  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  but  became  a farmer  of  Scott 
Township.  When  gold  was  discovered  in  California 
he  was  in  the  prime  of  life  and  excellent  health,  and 
made  plans  to  take  the  trip  across  the  plains,  but 
the  excitement  probably  brought  about  a condition 
that  resulted  in  the  development  of  tuberculosis, 
and  he  died  of  that  malady  in  1862.  He  was  a man 
of  many  talents  and  was  noted  as  a violinist.  He 
was  married  to  Laura  Wickwire,  a daughter  of 
George  W.  Wickwire,  and  Franklin  J.  was  their 
only  son.  Jerome  Merriman  was  a Mason,  and 
lived  up  to  the  highest  conception  of  the  ideals  of 
that  order. 

After  the  death  of  his  father  Franklin  J.  Mer- 
riman was  taken  by  his  maternal  grandfather, 
George  W.  Wickwire,  with  whom  he  lived  until  the 
latter’s  death  in  1883,  when  Mr.  Merriman  went  to 
Angola,  and  until  the  fall  of  1913  carried  on  farm- 
ing in  its  vicinity.  He  then  moved  on  his  present 
fine  farm  of  no  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, where  he  is  engaged  in  general  farming  and 
stockraising,  and  has  a good  property,  which  he 
keeps  in  excellent  order.  His  wife  owns  120  acres 
of  land  in  Oklahoma. 

On  July  3,  1895,  Franklin  J.  Merriman  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Ella  Rowley,  a daughter  of  James 
L.  Rowley,  and  they  became  the  parents  of  the 
following  children:  Jerome  Rowley,  who  is  one  of 

the  brave  Steuben  County  soldiers,  a member  of  the 
Nineteenth  Observation  Balloon  Company;  George 
Clem ; and  June  Lois.  Mr.  Merriman  belongs  to 
the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

Mrs.  Merriman  is  a granddaughter  of  Alva  Row- 
ley,  who  after  some  years  spent  in  farming  in 
Erie  County,  Pennsylvania,  came  west  to  Western 
Ohio,  where  he  combined  gunsmithing  and  shoemak- 
ing with  farming.  One  of  his  sons,  James  L.  Row- 
ley,  became  the  father  of  Mrs.  Merriman,  and  he 
was  born  at  Charlestown,  Otsego  County,  New  York, 
in  1818.  His  wife,  Sabina  (Miller)  Rowley,  was 
born  in  Cumberland  County,  Ohio,  in  1836,  a daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Rebecca  (Carl)  Miller.  James  L. 
Rowley  attended  the  public  schools  of  Erie  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  in  young  manhood  came  to  Steu- 
ben County,  Indiana,  arriving  here  in  1836.  After 
a couple  of  years  spent  at  Angola  he  returned  to 
Ohio,  but  in  1842  came  back  to  Steuben  County, 
and  here  rounded  out  his  life.  After  his  return  he 
lived  for  a time  at  Angola,  and  then  moved  on  a 
farm  in  Jackson  Township.  In  the  meanwhile  he 
studied  dentistry,  and  when  he  had  perfected  him- 
self in  that  profession  he  went  back  to  Angola,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  an  active  practice  for  ten 
years.  Owing  to  the  partial  failure  of  his  eyesight 
he  was  obliged  to  abandon  his  practice,  and  so  he 
went  back  to  his  farm  of  141  acres,  and  there  he 
died  in  1898,  his  widow  surviving  him  until  1913. 
Their  children  were  as  follows:  Frank  M.,  John  J. 
and  Ella,  the  latter  being  Mrs.  Merriman. 

Both  the  Merriman  and  Rowley  families  were 
established  in  Steuben  County  at  a very  early  day, 
and  their  representatives  have  borne  their  part  in 
the  development  of  this  region.  They  have  been 
principally  farmers,  although  a few  have  entered 
professional  life,  and  many  acres  of  valuable  land 


380 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


now  being  cultivated  were  cleared  through  their 
efforts,  it  is  such  families  as  these  that  make  up 
the  great  backbone  of  Americanism,  and  during  the 
late  war  proved  their  love  of  their  country  and  the 
country  of  their  forefathers  by  their  activities  in 
behalf  of  the  Government  and  soldiers. 

Ira  B.  Walb  grew  up  in  LaGrange  county,  spent 
his  first  years  in  railroad  contracting  work,  but  is 
now  numbered  among  the  very  substantial  and 
active  business  men  of  LaGrange,  where  he  is  treas- 
urer and  manager  of  the  LaGrange  Hardware 
Company. 

He  was  brought  to  LaGrange  County  when  an 
infant.  His  birth  occurred  at  Grafton  in  Hunting- 
don County,  Pennsylvania,  December  12,  1876,  son 
of  Reuben  B.  and  Susanna  (Norris)  Walb.  His 
father  was  a native  of  Berks  County  and  his  mother 
of  Grafton,  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in 
that  state,  where  the  father  followed  the  teaming 
business  for  several  years.  They  moved  to  La- 
Grange County,  Indiana,  in  1878,  and  located  in  Clay 
Township,  where  Reuben  Walb  bought  the  farm 
where  he  still  lives.  He  has  been  a prosperous 
farmer  there  for  over  forty  years,  and  has  160  acres 
under  a perfect  state  of  tillage  and  cultivation.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church,  and  he  is  a republican.  Their  five  children 
are  all  living:  Ira  B.,  being  the  oldest;  Clyde  A.  is  a 
well-known  business  man  of  LaGrange ; Bertha  P. 
is  a graduate  of  high  school  and  of  a school  in  Chi- 
cago, and  is  now  a deaconess  at  Chicago ; Vera,  wife 
of  Irvin  Cook,  of  LaGrange  County;  and  Ray,  a 
graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  now 
managing  the  home  farm. 

Ira  B.  Walb  was  reared  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
LaGrange  County  and  from  the  district  school  en- 
tered the  LaGrange  High  School,  of  which  he  is  a 
graduate.  For  a time  he  was  a teacher  and  then 
went  to  work  for  the  Baltimore  and  Ohio  Railroad 
at  Garrett,  Indiana,  and  later  as  file  clerk  and  assist- 
ant chief  clerk  in  the  general  superintendent’s  office. 
He  possessed  too  much  initiative  and  enterprise  to 
remain  long  under  the  confining  discipline  of  a rail- 
road office,  and  finally  embarked  his  modest  capital 
and  experience  and  engaged  in  the  dredging  business 
in  Arkansas  and  Missouri.  He  followed  contracting 
work  in  those  states  for  about  five  years.  In  1914, 
returning  to  LaGrange  County,  he  acquired  a half 
interest  in  the  LaGrange  Hardware  Company,  and 
is  now  active  manager  and  treasurer  of  the  com- 
pany. The  firm  does  a large  business,  reaching  out 
to  all  the  communities  of  LaGrange  County. 

In  1912  Mr.  Walb  married  Maude  Self.  They 
were  married  in  the  South,  where  her  father  is  an 
extensive  land  owner,  having  about  1,500  acres.  Mrs. 
Walb  owns  an  interest  in  100  acres  in  the  South. 
They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church.  Mr.  Walb  is  affiliated  with  the  Lodge  and 
Chapter  of  Masonry  at  LaGrange  and  in  politics  is 
a republican. 

Harvey  Warren  Chase  Morley,  editor  of  the 
Angola  Herald  since  1908,  and  founder  and  man- 
ager of  the  Farmers  and  Merchants  Insurance 
Agency,  Incorporated,  at  Angola,  has  had  a much 
wider  range  of  experience  and  service  than  falls 
to  the  lot  of  most  men  under  forty-five. 

He  was  born  at  Marshall,  Michigan,  February 
26,  1876.  His  father,  Jasper  Morley,  a son  of 
Harvey  Morley,  before  coming  to  Michigan  lived  at 
Wayland  in  Steuben  County,  New  York,  and  dur- 
ing the  Civil  war  was  a member  of  the  One  Hun- 
dred and  Eighty-Eighth  New  York  Volunteers. 
The  mother,  Martha  Lucelia  Chase,  was  a daughter 
of  Ira  Warren  Chase,  also  of  Wayland,  Steuben 


County,  New  York,  and  a soldier  of  the  Civil  war, 
in  which  he  saw  service  as  a member  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Eighty-Ninth  Volunteer  Regiment. 
Through  earlier  ancestors  she  was  eligible  to  mem- 
bership in  the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. 

Harvey  Morley  spent  his  boyhood  days  in  a 
small  village.  He  had  good  influences  at  home, 
but  aside  from  the  privilege  of  attending  a district 
school  in  Ashland  Township,  Newaygo  County, 
now  Grant  Postoffice,  Michigan,  the  source  of 
higher  aspirations  and  larger  benefits  had  to  come 
from  himself  and  his  own  efforts.  At  the  age  of 
fourteen  years  and  four  months  he  left  home  and 
went  to  Grand  Rapids,  Michigan.  For  a time  he 
worked  in  the  mailing  rooms  and  carried  morning 
papers  for  the  Grand  Rapids  Herald.  The  editor 
of  the  Herald  was  William  Alden  Smith,  now 
United  States  senator  from  Michigan.  He  also 
ran  an  elevator  during  the  noon  hour  and  from! 
seven  to  eleven  in  the  evening  was  elevator  oper- 
ator in  the  Hermitage  Hotel.  The  manager  of  that 
hotel,  John  Moran,  loaned  him  the  money  to  attend 
the  Grand  Rapids  Business  College  and  obligingly 
waited  for  the  last  installment  for  several  years. 
Thus  young  Morley  was  getting  in  touch  with,  life, 
and  particularly  his  early  connection  with  the 
Grand  Rapids  Herald  had  a permanent  influence 
on  all  his  subsequent  plans  and  endeavors. 

In  1892  he  went  to  Wayland,  New  York,  the 
home  of  his  ancestors,  and  lived  with  an  uncle, 
working  for  his  board.  The  winter  of  1892-93 
found  him  in  San  Francisco,  working  as  office  boy 
for  his  brother.  He  also  spent  a short  time  in  the 
mailing  room  of  the  San  Francisco  Examiner. 
This  was  William  Randolph  Hearst’s  original  news- 
paper. He  also  spent  several  months  on  the  “Mid- 
way” at  the  California  Midwinter  Exposition,  work- 
ing with  William  N.  Selig,  then  a magician,  now 
the  millionaire  motion  picture  manufacturer.  After 
a few  months  on  the  coast  he  was  back  at  Grant, 
Michigan,  but  was  soon  on  the  road  again,  this 
time  going  to  Fort  Worth,  Texas,  where  he  sold 
tailor  made  clothing.  Continuing  his  explorations 
of  the  Southwest,  he  reached  the  City  of  Mexico, 
and  worked  for  a time  on  El  Financiero  Mexicana 
and  the  Mexican  Herald.  Mr.  Morley  went  to 
Chicago  in  1895,  made  a tour  with  his  brother, 
demonstrating  the  then  new  X-ray  machine,  and 
after  it  burned,  with  the  great  Chicago  Coliseum, 
where  it  was  on  exhibition,  he  returned  to  Mich- 
igan, worked  on  a farm  at  Bailey,  and  soon  after- 
ward became  an  employee  of  the  Newaygo  County 
Democrat  at  Newaygo.  In  October,  1898,  he  estab- 
lished the  Independent  at  Grant,  and  conducted 
that  and  other  Michigan  newspapers  for  about  ten 
years.  He  sold  the  Grant  Independent  in  Decem- 
ber, 1908,  and  then  bought  the  Angola  Herald. 

The  Angola  Herald,  established  in  January,  1876, 
has  enjoyed  a larger  circulation,  influence  and 
greater  prestige  both  as  a newspaper  and  business 
proposition,  it  is  generally  conceded,  during  the 
eleven  years  under  his  ownership  than  at  any 
other  time  in  its  history.  As  a newspaper  man  Mr. 
Morley  has  owned  at  various  times,  frequently  two- 
at  a time,  the  Grant  Independent,  the  Grant  Herald, 
(consolidated  with  the  Independent),  the  White 
Cloud  Eagle  and  some  years  later  the  Star  at 
White  Cloud,  which  he  sold  for  consolidation  with 
the  Eagle  and  the  Newaygo  County  Democrat, 
these  papers  all  in  Michigan,  and  in  Indiana  the 
Albany  Chronicle  and  the  Ashley  Times. 

While  at  Grant,  Michigan,  Mr.  Morley  was  in 
the  insurance  business,  and  soon  after  coming  to 
Angola  he  resumed  his  relations  with  general  in- 
surance. In  September,  1919,  he  brought  about 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


381 


the  incorporation  of  the  Farmers  & Merchants 
Insurance  Agency,  with  more  than  thirty  of  An- 
gola’s business  men  as  officers  and  stockholders. 
The  Agency  now  has  the  business  of  several  for- 
mer agencies  consolidated,  and  is  one  of  the  most 
progressive  concerns  of  its  kind  in  Northeast 
Indiana. 

Mr.  Morley  did  some  effective  work  as  a civilian 
during  the  late  war.  He  was  chairman  of  the 
Steuben  County  War  Chest,  county  chairman  of 
the  Four-Minute  Men,  county  chairman  of  the 
Speakers  Bureau  in  Liberty  Loans,  member  of  the 
executive  committee  of  the  Red  Cross  for  Steuben 
County,  member  of  the  County  Council  of  Defense, 
and  in  1919  he  succeeded  Fred  Snyder  as  county 
chairman  of  the  War  Savings  Stamp  Committee  of 
Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Morley  is  a sound  democrat  in  his  political 
views  and  affiliations,  and  is  present  democratic 
county  chairman.  He  recalls  with  a good  deal  of 
satisfaction  that  the  Village  of  Grant  and  the 
Township  of  Ashland,  where  he  lived  in  Michigan, 
though  normally  republican  two  to  one,  gave  him, 
as  a democrat,  good  majorities  several  times  for 
the  offices  of  clerk  and  treasurer.  In  fraternal  mat- 
ters Mr.  Morley  confesses  himself  a “good  ‘jiner’ 
but  a poor  lodge  man.”  He  is  a member  of  the  Odd 
Fellows,  Elks,  Knights  of  Pythias,  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  Red  Men.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion in  1914  he  has  been  president  of  the  Angola 
Rotary  Club.  Mrs.  Morley  and  children  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

December  24,  1900,  at  Newaygo,  Michigan,  Mr. 
Morley  married  Edna  Bonner  Cox,  daughter  of 
Nichols  and  Eliza  (Hartshorn)  Cox,  the  latter  a 
native  of  Findlay,  Ohio.  Her  father  came  to 
America  from  England  when  a mere  boy.  Mrs. 
Morley  was  a teacher  in  the  public  schools  of 
Newaygo  County  prior  to  her  marriage.  They 
have  three  children,  Bayne  Alvord,  born  April  24, 
TQ03,  Fred  Warren,  born  June  14,  1906,  and  Esther 
Eliza,  born  March  20,  1911.  The  two  older  children 
are  natives  of  Grant,  Michigan,  and  the  daughter, 
of  Angola. 

Oscar  H.  Taylor.  His  long  and  active  life  Os- 
car H.  Taylor  has  spent  altogether  in  northeastern 
Indiana,  where  he  has  rendered  service  as  a 
teacher  and  farmer,  and  for  many  years  as  a pri- 
vate banker  at  the  Village  of  Hamilton. 

Mr.  Taylor  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of 
DeKalb  County,  January  20,  1853,  a son  of  John 
and  Sarah  A.  (McEnterfer)  Taylor.  His  parents 
were  both  natives  of  Stark  County,  Ohio,  his  fa- 
ther born  in  1826  and  his  mother  in  1832.  John 
Taylor  arrived  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  in 
1846,  with  his  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  Taylor. 
The  Taylor  family  bought  1,60  acres  of  wild  land 
in  Franklin  Township,  and  in  1847  moved  their 
home  to  this  farm.  The  grandmother,  Elizabeth 
Taylor,  died  there  in  1863,  and  two  years  later 
John  Tavlor,  Sr.,  went  to  eastern  Iowa  and  later  to 
Carroll  County  in  the  same  state,  where  he  died  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-seven.  John  .Taylor, 
Jr.,  was  twenty  years  old  when  he  came  to  In- 
diana, and  some  years  later  he  acquired  eighty 
acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  also  bought  the  inr 
terests  of  the  other  heirs  in  the  remaining  eighty. 
His  individual  labors  largely  contributed  to  the 
clearing  of  the  land  and  he  lived  there,  seeing  his 
efforts  prosper,  until  his  death  in  1902.  His  widow 
passed  away  in  1908.  He  was  a republican  without 
political  aspirations,  and  his  wife  was  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  Their  children 
were:  Oscar  H. ; Ellen,  wife  of  John  T.  Wilcox, 


of  Edgerton,  Ohio;  and  Ida  M.,  wife  of  H.  K. 
Leas,  of  Waterloo,  Indiana. 

Oscar  H.  Taylor  spent  his  early  life  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Franklin  Township.  Partly  by  his 
own  efforts  he  secured  a good  education,  attend- 
ing public  and  select  schools,  and  later  he  entered 
the  old  Valparaiso  Normal  in  the  second  year  of 
its  existence.  He  spent  nearly  three  years  in  the 
normal,  which  is  now  the  great  Valparaiso  Univer- 
sity. He  qualified  as  a teacher  at  the  age  of  six- 
teen, and  his  first  term  was  taught  in  the  same 
school  where  he  himself  had  been  a pupil.  Alto- 
gether he  taught  for  eleven  years,  and  in  only 
four  districts.  He  was  also  interested  in  farming, 
and  in  1882  bought  the  Boyer  farm  in  DeKalb 
County  of  236  acres.  He  still  owns  that  fine  place, 
though  for  the  past  fifteen  years  his  energies  have 
been  chiefly  devoted  to  banking. 

Mr.  Taylor  in  1905  bought  the  private  bank  of 
Oliver  P.  Learned  at  Hamilton.  It  is  now  known 
as  the  Hamilton  Bank,  but  Mr.  Taylor  is  its  sole 
owner,  his  three  sons  having  also  been  interested 
with  him  in  its  management. 

Mr.  Taylor  is  a republican,  and  during  his  resi- 
dence in  DeKalb  County  he  filled  the  office  of 
trustee  of  Franklin  Township  four  years.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Grange  and  his  wife  is  a Methodist. 

April  25,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Libbie  Leas,  a 
native  of  Steuben  County  and  a daughter  of  John 
and  Susan  Leas.  Her  parents  were  early  settlers 
in  Steuben  County,  where  her  mother  died  in  1881 
and  her  father  in  1900.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Taylor  have 
three  sons.  John  Leas,  the  oldest,  was  educated 
in  the  public  schools  of  Franklin  Township,  De- 
Kalb County,  and  at  Valparaiso  University,  taking 
the  full  course  in  the  department  of  business  and 
commerce.  He  married  Blanche  Jacobs  and  has 
two  sons,  named  Oscar  A.  and  Willis  H.  Benna 
B.  Taylor,  who  was  educated  similarly  ,<o  his 
brother,  married  Edna  M.  Oberlin.  They  had  one 
son,  Harry  P.,  who  was  killed  in  April,  1918,  when 
five  and  a half  years  old.  The  third  son,  Russell 
H.,  graduated  from  the  Hamilton  High  School  and 
completed  his  educational  training  at  Valparaiso 
University,  and  was  a bookkeeper  in  his  father’s 
bank  for  about  two  3'ears,  when  he  joined  the 
army  and  saw  eight  months  of  service  in  the  ord- 
nance department. 

Perry  A.  Long.  Some  broad  acres  well  cultivated 
constitute  a fund  of  real  prosperity  in  these  modern 
times.  One  of  the  enviable  men  in  this  position  in 
Noble  County  is  Perry  A.  Long,  who  has  the  good 
fortune  to  live  on  a farm  in  Noble  Township  where 
he  was  born.  This  is  situated  in  section  28,  and  dur- 
ing his  own  lifetime  he  has  contributed  much  to  its 
improvement  and  development  as  a high  class  twen- 
tieth century  farm. 

Mr.  Long  was  born  there  August  9,  1867,  son  of 
Uriah  and  Lucinda  (Zumbrun)  Long,  the  former  a 
native  of  Knox  County  and  the  latter  of  Montgom- 
ery County,  Ohio.  The  Zumbrun  and  Long  fam- 
ilies moved  from  Ohio  to  Whitley  County,  Indiana, 
where  Uriah,  and  Lucinda  grew  up  and  were  mar- 
ried. They  then  came  to  Noble  County  and  settled 
in  the  midst  of  the  woods  in  section  36  of  Noble 
Township.  Uriah  was  one  of  the  industrious 
pioneers  and  in  the  course  of  years  had  the  timber 
cleared  away,  the  low  ground  ditched,  and  most 
of  his  acreage  under  thorough  cultivation.  He  and 
his  wife  were  members  of  the  Church  of  the  Breth- 
ren, and  in  politics  he  followed  the  republican  party. 
There  were  nine  children,  the  following  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Jacob,  of  Fort  Wayne;  Perry  A.; 

Julia,  wife  of  Josiah  Hazen ; William,  of  Hillsdale 


382 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


County,  Michigan;  and  Sarah,  wife  of  Judson  Swi- 
hart,  of  Goshen,  Indiana. 

Perry  A.  Long  as  a boy  attended  district  school, 
and  learned  in  a practical  manner  the  management 
of  the  farm,  which  he  now  owns.  He  completed  his 
education  in  the  college  at  Mount  Morris,  Illinois, 
and  then  returning  home  went  to  work  on  the  farm. 

August  ig,  1892,  he  married  Elnora  Humbarger. 
She  was  born  in  Whitley  County,  Indiana.  Since 
their  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Long  have  lived  at 
their  present  farm  of  eighty  acres.  He  is  also  a 
stockholder  in  the  Wolf  Lake  State  Bank,  is  a re- 
publican, and  with  his  family  attends  the  Church 
of  the  Brethren. 

He  and  his  wife  have  six  children : Herbert  T., 

a graduate  of  the  common  schools,  is  married  and 
lives  in  Whitley  County;  Elma,  who  finished  her 
education  in  North  Manchester  College,  lives  at 
home ; Domer,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools ; 
Martha,  a high  school  graduate ; and  Hazel  and 
Orville,  both  students  of  the  common  schools. 

Joseph  J.  Carpenter.  The  years  1917  and  1918 
gave  another  red,  white  and  blue  flag  to  our  coun- 
try, and  it  is  worthy  to  hang  beside  the  Star 
Spangled  Banner,  for  its  service  stars  represent  the 
spirit  of  this  generation  and  the  eagerness  of  our 
young  men  to  offer  their  lives  that  liberty  might 
continue.  Proud  indeed  are  the  parents  whose  loyal 
young  sons,  utterly  regardless  of  self,  responded 
promptly  to  the  call  of  their  country  and  entered 
the  service  to  fight  during  the  struggle  between 
democracy  and  autocracy.  The  Carpenter  family 
of  Steuben  County  sent  three  sons  as  volunteers 
in  the  great  war,  now  ended,  and  their  bravery  is 
recorded  on  the  pages  of  their  country’s  history. 
These  sons,  Clair  I.,  William  B.  and  John  W.,  are 
a credit  to  their  parents,  Joseph  J.  and  Nellie  J. 
(Barr)  Carpenter,  and  Steuben  County,  as  well  as 
to  the  country  which  gave  them  birth. 

Joseph  J.  Carpenter,  their  father,  has  been  a 
resident  of  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  since  1882,  but 
he  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  December 
3,  1854,  a son  of  John  Carpenter,  a grandson  of 
Thomas  Carpenter  and  a great-grandson  of  John 
Carpenter,  the  last  named  being  a native  of  Vir- 
ginia and  the  hero  of  an  adventure  with  the  In- 
dians, the  “Huns”  of  the  American  settlers  of  early 
days.  While  looking  for  his  two  horses  wandering 
at  will  in  the  woods,  John  Carpenter  was  surprised 
by  a band  of  Indians,  who  captured  him  and  took 
him  for  a distance  of  150  miles  into  the  wilderness, 
across  the  Ohio  River.  While  still  several  days’ 
journey  from  the  Indian  village  where  it  was  pro- 
posed to  offer  him  as  a sacrifice,  John  Carpenter 
managed  to  escape,  taking  with  him  his  two  horses 
and  the  leather  strap  with  which  his  hands  had 
been  bound  the  latter  still  being  cherished  as  a 
valued  heirloom  of  the  Carpenter  family.  Making 
his  way  back  through  the  dense  forests,  Mr.  Car- 
penter reached  the  Ohio  River  just  one-half  mile 
from  the  point  where  the  Indians  had  crossed  with 
him  a few  days  before,  a somewhat  remarkable  feat, 
which  showed  that  his  knowledge  of  woodcraft  was 
considerable.  He  was  one  of  the  nioneers  of  Mari- 
etta, Ohio,  and  it  is  supposed  that  his  son,  Thomas, 
born  there  in  a rail  pen,  was  the  first  white  boy 
to  come  into  the  world  on  the  north  banks  of  the 
Ohio  River.  John  Carpenter,  the  son  of  Thomas 
Carpenter  and  father  of  Joseph  J.  Carpenter,  was 
born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and  his  wife, 
Sarah  (Casey)  Carpenter,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
County  of  the  same  state.  After  marriage  they 
located  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio,  and  engaged  in 
farming,  and  there  he  died  in  1892  and  she  in  1904. 


Their  children  were  as  follows:  William,  Hannah, 
Poe,  Ellen,  John,  Doma,  Joseph  J.  and  Susan. 

hollowing  his  marriage  in  1882  Joseph  J.  Car- 
penter came  to  Steuben  County,  and  for  nine  years 
thereafter  he  conducted  a livery  business  at  Pleas- 
ant Lake,  but  then  sold  it  and  in  1891  went  back 
to  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1897  he  returned  to 
Steuben  County,  and  until  February,  1908,  was  en- 
gaged in  farming  in  Salem  Township,  but  then  sold 
his  farm  and  went  to  Michigan,  which  state  con- 
tinued his  home  until  December,  1909,  when  he 
moved  to  Virginia  and  made  that  his  home  for  two 
years.  Once  more  he  made  the  change  to  Steuben 
County,  and  here  he  has  since  remained,  being  oc- 
cupied with  cultivating  his  forty-acre  farm  in  Steu- 
ben Township,  in  section  22.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Car- 
penter have  the  following  children : Claude  L., 

Nina  M.  Clair  I.,  William  B.  and  John  W.  Mr. 
Carpenter  is  well  known  as  a Mason  and  belongs 
to  the  local  lodge  of  his  order. 

Clair  I.  Carpenter  enlisted  in  the  Canadian  army 
as  a No.  1 machine  gunner,  Fifty-Second  Battalion, 
at  Winnepeg,  Canada,  April  2,  1918,  and  sailed  for 
England,  landing  at  Liverpool.  He  was  trained  at 
Seaford,  and  took  the  six  months’  training  for 
sniping  and  machine  gun  operation  in  four  months, 
being  sent  to  France  July  10,  1918,  with  the  rank 
of  corporal.  He  went  immediately  into  the  line,  and 
over  the  top  on  the  morning  of  July  13,  being  in 
line  service  continuously  until  October  3,  when  he 
was  wounded  and  gassed,  with  seventeen  shrapnel 
wounds  and  burned  with  mustard  gas,  all  at  the 
same  time,  in  the  siege  of  Cambrai.  The  shell  that 
wounded  him  killed  five  of  his  crew.  Clair  I.  Car- 
penter is  a well  built,  extremely  intelligent  young 
man,  and  has  an  enviable  record  as  a soldier.  In 
spite  of  his  bravery,  it  is  difficult  to  get  him  to 
talk  about  his  achievements,  but  once  his  modesty 
is  overcome  he  can  relate  his  experiences  very  en- 
tertainingly, showing  a grasp  of  conditions  that  is 
remarkable.  He  has  some  curious  trophies  taken 
from  a German  soldier  whom  he  took  prisoner.  On 
December  2,  1918,  he  left  the  hospital,  and  he  re- 
ceived his  final  discharge  February  28,  1919. 

William  B.  Carpenter  enlisted  in  the  Ninth  Bal- 
loon Squadron,  October  16,  1917,  following  which 
he  was  trained  for  two  months  at  Fort  Omaha, 
Nebraska,  and  four  months  at  Newport  News,  Vir- 
ginia, sailing  from  that  port  for  France  June  29, 
1918,  and  arriving  at  Bordeaux,  France,  July  12, 
1918.  He  had  about  three  months’  service  at  St. 
Mihiel  and  Argonne.  Prior  to  his  enlistment  he 
was  in  Company  B,  Indiana  National  Guard,  In- 
fantry Division,  and  saw  service  on  the  Mexican 
border  in  1916. 

John  W.  Carpenter  enlisted  November  27,  1917, 
in  the  Aerial  Squadron,  following  which  he  was 
trained  for  six  months  at  the  aviation  field  at  San 
Antonio,  Texas,  and  then  transferred  to  the  One 
Hundred  and  Fourth  Engineers’  Train.  Upon  his 
arrival  in  France  he  was  put  in  a hospital  for  a few 
weeks,  but  is  now  a member  of  Company  H,  Fourth 
Engineers’  Train,  Fourth  Division,  Army  of  Occu- 
pation. 

Carl  S.  Willard,  assistant  cashier  of  the  La- 
Grange  State  Bank,  is  a lawyer  by  profession,  and 
has  been  closely  identified  with  the  professional,  pub- 
lic and  business  affairs  of  this  county  for  a number 
of  years. 

lie  was  born  at  Pleasant  Lake,  Steuben  County, 
Indiana,  February  13,  1877,  son  of  Ransom  J.  and 
Susan  (Horner)  Willard,  the  former  a native  of 
New  York  State  and  the  latter  of  Hancock, County, 
Ohio.  Ransom  Willard  came  to  Indiana  when  two 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


383 


years  old,  and  his  wife  came  in  early  girlhood.  After 
their  marriage  they  settled  near  Hudson,  Indiana, 
and  two  years  later  went  to  Kansas  and  on  their 
return  to  Indiana  settled  at  Pleasant  Lake,  where 
Ransom  Willard  was  a builder  and  contractor.  He 
also  operated  a chair  factory  at  Pleasant  Lake.  He  is 
still  living  ar  Ontario  in  LaGrange  County.  He 
saw  eighteen  months  of  active  service  as  a Union 
soldier  during  the  Civil  war  in  the  Seventy-Fourth 
Indiana  Volunteer  Infantry.  He  has  served  a& 
commander  of  his  Grand  Army  Post  and  is  a repub- 
lican. He  and  his  wife  had  three  children : Ulysses, 
a graduate  of  high  school  and  business  college,  now 
a bookkeeper  for  the  State  Bank  of  Lima,  Indiana; 
Carl  S ; and  Lloyd  E.,  agent  for  the  Grand  Rapids 
and  Indiana  Railroad  at  Nottawa,  Michigan. 

Carl  S.  Willard  was  seven  years  old  when  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Ontario  in  LaGrange  County,  and  he 
received  his  earlv  training  in  public  schools  and  later 
attended  the  LaGrange  High  School.  For  two  years 
he  was  manager  of  the  Home  Telephone  Company, 
and  from  1911  to  1915  was  County  Auditor  of  La- 
Grange County.  In  the  meantime  he  had  diligently 
pursued  the  study  of  law  and  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  in  1915.  He  was  associated  with  Sidney  K. 
Gamard  until  the  latter’s  death  in  November,  1916. 
After  that  he  continued  an  individual  practice  until 
July  1,  1917,  when  he  accepted  his  present  post  ot 
responsibility  as  assistant  cashier  of  the  LaGrange 
State  Bank. 

In  1900  Mr.  Willard  married  May  E.  Scott,  who  is 
a graduate  of  the  Lima  High  School  and  for  three 
terms  was  a popular  teacher.  They  have  five  chil- 
dren : Ransom  A.,  C.  Dey,  Joseph  J.,  S.  Louise  and 
Pyllis  M.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Presby- 
terian Church.  Mr.  Willard  is  affiliated  with  Merid- 
ian Sun  Lodge  No.  76,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons, 
and -is  its  present  master  and  has  filled  that  post  for 
three  years.  He  is  also  a Chapter  and  Council 
Mason  and  is  past  chancellor  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge.  In  politics  his  affiliations  are  repub- 
lican. 

David  M.  Latta.  Members  of  the  Latta  family 
have  been  prominently  identified  with  LaGrange 
County  since  pioneer  days.  A fine  farm  developed 
by  them  in  the  pioneer  times  is  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  David  M.  Latta,  located  in  Clay  Town- 
ship. 

On  this  farm  David  M.  Latta  was  born  November 
28,  1856.  His  grandparents  were  Ephraim  and 
Diantha  (McFadden)  Latta,  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  migrated  from  Westmoreland  Coun- 
ty of  that  state  about  the  year  1826  and  located  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio.  There  he  founded  the  town 
which  he  called  Lattasburg,  and  their  children  there 
grew  to  manhood  and  womanhood.  Their  nine  chil- 
dren were  named  William,  Ephraim,  David,  Silas, 
John,  Polly,  Sarah,  Mary  and  Tabor. 

Silas  Latta,  father  of  David,  was  born  in  West- 
moreland County,  Pennsylvania,  April  25,  1821,  and 
it  was  when  he  was  about  five  years  of  age  that  his 
parents  migrated  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  He  grew 
to  manhood  there.  In  1841  he  was  married  to  Sarah 
Franks,  and  in  1845,  after  a short  sojourn  in  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio,  they  migrated  to  Clay  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  While  living  in  a little 
log  hut  the  first  township  election  was  held  in  their' 
house,  and  in  1846  a few  of  the  neighbors  hired  a 
teacher,  and  a summer  school  was  held  in  the  barn 
on  the  place  where  they  resided.  December  9,  1847, 
they  purchased^  title  to  their  first  actual  home,  the 
place  of  Levi  Knott,  which  has  remained  in  the  fam- 
ily ever  since.  Silas  Latta  was  a man  of  sterling 
worth  to  the  public  and  held  many  prominent  posi- 


tions of  trust  and  held  an  unexpired  commission 
from  Governor  Ashbel  P.  Willard  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  March  2,  i860.  His  wife,  Sarah  Franks,  was 
born  October  9,  1821,  in  Bullrush  Township,  Hardy 
County,  Virginia,  and  died  May  12,  1906,  at  the  ad- 
vanced age  of  eighty-four  years,  seven  months  and 
three  days.  She  was  the  sixth  of  twelve  children. 
The  first  was  born  May  20,  1810 ; and  the  last  one  to 
pass  away  died  May  21,  1910.  Thus  it  will  be  seen 
the  children  lived  100  years  and  one  day  from  the 
birth  of  the  first  to  the  death  of  the  last.  Her  father, 
Isaac  Franks,  was  born  in  Hampton  County,  Vir- 
ginia, March  12,  1785,  and  died  in  his  ninety-sixth 
year  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  Sarah  (Harris) 
Franks,  her  mother,  was  born  in  Hardy  County, 
Virginia,  May  9,  1791,  and  died  in  her  ninety-fifth 
year  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  Grandfather 
Franks  was  a veteran  in  the  War  of  1812.  The 
Lattas  annually  hold  a reunion  in  various  parts  of 
this  and  other  states,  with  a membership  of  about 
300.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Silas  Latta  were  among  the 
founders  of  the  Bethel  Church  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  denomination.  Silas  Latta  and  wife  had 
eight  children.  Ephraim,  the  oldest,  enlisted  August 
12,  1863,  in  the  Seventh  Indiana  Cavalry,  in  Com- 
pany H,  served  until  mustered  out  at  Austin,  Texas, 
February  18,  1866,  and  died  May  23,  1901 ; Isaac  died 
December  22,  1913 ; Mary  A.  is  the  wife  of  Orlando 
Slack;  Hannah  is  the  wife  of  William  Chrystler; 
John  F.  died  April  12,  1912;  William  S.  and  David 
M.  are  both  living;  and  Sarah  Jane  died  May  6,  1912, 
the  wife  of  Eugene  Chrystler. 

David  M.  Latta  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  district  schools,  and  for  over  forty  years 
has  been  successfully  farming  the  old  homestead  in 
Clay  Township.  He  owns  115  acpes,  located  in  sec- 
tion 15,  and  for  several  years  has  divided  the  man- 
agement of  the  farm  with  his  son,  who  lives  in  a 
separate  home  nearby  the  old  place. 

March  27,  1889,  Mr.  Latta  married  Catherine  A. 
Koontz,  daughter  of  Harrison  and  Minerva  Koontz. 
Their  only  child  is  Silas  Harrison  Latta,  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  management  of  the  farm. 
Silas  Harrison  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Shipshewana.  He  married 
Verna  May  Snyder,  and  they  have  two  children, 
Catherine  E.  and  Merna  Ruth.  Mr.  David  Latta 
and  wife  also  reared  from  the  age  of  two  and  a half 
years  Nellie  Harding. 

Robert  G.  Renner,  a resident  of  Northeastern 
Indiana  for  over  three  quarters  of  a century,  was 
a Union  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  two  of  his 
sturdy  grandsons  “went  over  the  top”  in  the  recent 
great  World  war.  Mr.  Renner  has  been  a prom- 
inent citizen  of  the  Hamilton  community  for  many 
years,  and  is  widely  known  as  one  of  the  pioneer 
prohibition  advocates,  having  joined  the  party  and 
having  been  closely  affiliated  with  the  cause  for 
over  thirty-five  years,  working  in  the  interests  of 
temperance  when  its  advocates  were  subjected  to 
a great  deal  of  ridicule  and  violent  opposition. 

Mr.  Renner  was  born  at  Lewisburg,  Union 
County,  Pennsylvania,  July  25,  1839,  a son  of  John 
and  Julia  (Bowersox)  Renner.  His  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1803  and  his  mother  in 
Germany  in  1809.  They  were  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania and  in  1843  came  to  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, and  settled  in  Otsego  Township,  in  section 
31.  John  Renner  bought  forty  acres  of  land  there, 
and  with  the  exception  of  two  yTears  spent  in  De- 
Kalb  County  he  lived  on  the  farm  until  his  death 
in  1889.  His  wife  died  at  the  home  of  her  son  in 
Hamilton  in  1892.  John  Renner  was  a democrat 
and  a member  of  the  Lutheran  Church.  They  had 


384 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


six  children:  James  W.,  deceased;  David  H. ; 

Robert  G. ; Margaret  J.,  deceased;  John  P.,  ot 
Angola;  and  Roseana. 

Robert  G.  Renner  was  four  years  old  when 
brought  to  the  woods  of  Steuben  County,  and  he 
grew  up  in  a rather  pioneer  community,  attending 
such  district  schools  as  were  available  and  learning 
the  lessons  of  industry  on  the  home  farm.  He  left 
home  to  join  the  Union  army  in  October,  1862, 
enlisting  in  Company  B of  the  Twenty-Ninth  In- 
diana Infantry.  He  was  in  service  until  July  31, 
1863.  About  a year  after  his  release  from  the  army 
he  married,  and  six  months  later  he  took  his  bride 
to  a farm  in  sections  29  and  30  in  Otsego  Township. 
He  owned  105  acres  there  and  improved  it  with 
good  buildings  and  cultivated  crops  for  twenty 
years  or  more.  In  1882  he  moved  to  the  village  of 
Hamilton  in  order  to  give  his  children  better  edu- 
cational facilities.  Since  then  he  has  owned  much 
land  in  and  adjoining  that  village,  and  still  has  six 
acres  surrounding  his  home  and  nine  acres  just  out- 
side the  village. 

Mr.  Renner  was  one  of  the  two  men  in  Steuben 
County  who  voted  for  the  prohibition  candidate, 
St.  John,  for  president,  thirty-five  years  ago.  He 
has  been  a radical  in  that  movement  ever  since, 
and  no  one  has  rejoiced  more  than  he  in  the  pres- 
ent nation-wide  victory  of  temperance.  He  was 
affiliated  with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic, 
■and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

May  r,  1864,  Mr.  Renner  married  Miss  Louisa 
Greenamyer.  She  was  born  near  Wooster,  Ohio, 
October  1,  1847,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Caroline 
(Alberson)  Greenamyer.  In  1849  the  Greenamyer 
family  came  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  settling- 
one  mile  west  of  Hudson.  Her  parents  spent  their 
last  years  at  Butler,  where  her  father  died  Novem- 
ber 30,  1878,  and  her  mother  February  11,  1875. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Renner  have  been  married  over  fifty- 
five  years  and  a number  of  their  grandchildren  are 
now  mature  men  and  women.  Their  oldest  son, 
William,  born  February  5,  1865,  is  in  the  insurance 
business  at  Hamilton.  He  married  Lucinda  Lemen, 
and  has  four  children,  named  Osyth,  Harold,  Ger- 
hold  and  Grace.  Samuel,  who  was  born  December 
25,  1866,  is  a farmer  in  Michigan,  married  Catherine 
Brown,  and  thev  have  a large  family  of  children. 
Valma,  Alma,  Robert,  Albert,  Irma,  Zoe,  Helen, 
Charles  and  Roscoe,  all  still  living  except  Charles. 
The  sons  Robert  and  Albert  were  both  with  the 
Expeditionary  Forces  in  France  and  both  were  at 
the  battle  front  and  rendered  active  service,  and 
Robert  was  a victim  of  a gas  attack.  John,  the 
third  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Renner,  lives  at  Hamil- 
ton and  married  Doll  Bailey,  but  has  no  children. 
Effie,  born  December  13,  1872,  is  the  wife  of  Will 
Helms,  hotel  proprietor  at  Hamilton.  They  have 
two  children,  Reba  A.  and  Maurice.  Charles,  the 
youngest  child,  was  born  February  1,  1881,  and 
married  Anna  Mortorff  of  Steuben  County. 

Louis  Edward  Penner.  Since  he  attained  the 
years  of  discretion  and  manhood  Louis  Edward  Pen- 
ner has  been  devoted  to  the  great  and  important 
business  of  farming.  He  owns  a good  farm  in 
York  Township  of  Steuben  County,  and  is  one  of 
that  locality’s  most  substantial  citizens. 

He  was  born  in  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania, 
December  5,  1870,  but  has  spent  all  his  life  since 
early  infancy  in  Indiana.  His  parents  were  Martin 
and  Elizabeth  (Drenning)  Penner,  both  of  whom 
are  still  living  in  Steuben  County.  Martin  Penner 
was  born  in  Maryland  in  1837  and  his  wife  in  Bed- 
ford County,  Pennsylvania,  a daughter  of  John 


Drenning.  Martin  Penner  moved  from  Bedford 
County,  where  he  was  a farmer  in  1872,  to  Steuben 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  and  for  many  years 
was  actively  engaged  in  farming  there.  He  and  his 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
Their  children,  nine  in  number,  were  Louis  Ed- 
ward, John,  Kate,  Clayton,  Frank,  Eula,  Mabel, 
Clarence  and  Harry. 

Louis  Edward  Penner  acquired  his  early  educa- 
tion in  the  district  schools  of  Steuben  Township 
and  did  his  first  independent  farming  in  Jamestown 
Township.  He  sold  his  property  there  in  1911  and 
then  bought  ninety-six  acres  in  sections  12  and  7 
of  York  Township.  For  the  past  eight  or  nine  years 
this  farm  has  been  the  scene  of  his  earnest  activi- 
ties and  progressive  labors  as  a farmer  and  stock- 
raiser.  He  has  also  acquired  an  adjoining  twenty 
acres.  Mr.  Penner  also  follows  the  profession  of 
auctioneer,  and  his  services  are  in  great  demand 
in  crying  sales.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights 
of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Fremont. 

September  27,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Cora  M. 
Warner,  a daughter  of  George  and  Melissa  Warner. 
They  have  five  children,  Wilbur,  Frances,  Roland, 
Clinton  and  Russell.  The  daughter  Frances  upon 
graduating^  from  the  eighth  grade  was  awarded  a 
gold.  medal  for  having  the  highest  standing  in  her 
studies. 

John  Barrows.  At  a time  when  America  is  hon- 
oring its  old  soldiers  with  renewed  affection  and 
significance  there  is  special  appropriateness  in  the 
personal  record  of  John  Barrows,  a veteran  of  the 
great  Civil  war  who  for  over  half  a century  since 
the  termination  of  that  trouble  has  been  identified 
with  the  agricultural  community  of  Steuben  and  La- 
Grange  counties.  But  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability he  is  now  living  retired  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Barrows  was  born  in  Vermont  July  22,  1845,  of 
old  New  England  ancestors.  His  father,  Brewster 
Barrows,  was  born  March  15,  1805.  On  April  12, 
1827,  he  married  Rachel  Barnard,  who  was  born  in 
Vermont  August  28,  1806.  Brewster  Barrows,  who 
was  a son  of  Pero  Barrows,  came  with  his  wife  and 
seven  children  from  Vermont  in  pioneer  times.  They 
had  ten  children  at  the  time,  but  the  three  oldest 
daughters  remained  in  the  East  and  followed  their 
parents  several  years  later.  Brewster  Barrows  set- 
tled in  Millgrove  Township,  where  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  but  about  ten  years  later  sold  that 
place  and  moved  to  Greenfield  Township  in  La- 
Grange  County.  He  lived  in  Greenfield  Township, 
where  he  owned  160  acres,  until  his  death  on  No- 
vember 17,  1882.  His  wife  died  September  9,  1874. 
The  names  of  his  children  and  the  date  of  their  births 
were:  Hannah  K.,  February  11,  1828;  Mary  J., 

January  5,  1830;  Nathaniel,  October  28,  1831;  Har- 
riet L.,  April  13,  1834;  Martha  L.,  June  6,  1836; 
Blake  E.,  September  5,  1838;  Angenette,  January  27, 
1841;  Susan  L.,  January  26,  1843;  John  B.,  July  22, 
1845;  and  Amelia,  Aprii  11,  1848. 

Mr.  John  Barrows  was  brought  to  Indiana  when  a 
small  child,  and  he  acquired  some  of  his  education 
at  Orland  but  most  of  it  in  Greenfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County.  He  was  four  months  past 
eighteen  years  of  age  when  on  November  22,  1863, 
he  enlisted  in  Company  C of  the  Twelfth  Indiana 
Cavalry.  He  was  with  the  army  just  two  years  to  a 
day,  receiving  his  honorable  discharge  on  November 
22,  1865.  He  went  into  the  army  about  the  time 
General  Sherman  was  undertaking  his  great  campaign 
around  Chattanooga  and  Atlanta,  and  had  .the  duty 
of  acting  as  patrol,  guarding  Sherman’s  line  of  sup- 
plies from  Nashville,  Tennessee,  to  Huntsville,  Ala- 


Taken  August,  1864,  at  Huntsville,  Alabama 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


385 


bama.  His  regiment  patroled  all  the  country  between 
Huntsville  and  Murfreesboro  during  the  summer  of 
1864.  Mr-  Barrows  was  with  his  regiment  in  all  its 
service  until  he  was  mustered  out. 

After  the  war  he  returned  to  Greenfield  Township 
and  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  farming  in 
this  neighborhood  until  1911,  at  which  time,  on  ac- 
count of  physical  disabilities,  he  retired  to  enjoy 
a well  earned  competence.  Since  then  he  has  lived 
in  Millgrove  Township.  He  owns  252  acres,  160 
acres  in  Greenfield  Township  which  was  his  father’s 
farm,  and  92  acres  in  Millgrove  Township  adjoining 
it  but  just  across  the  county  line.  Mr.  Barrows  is  a 
member  of  the  Grand  Army  Post  at  Angola. 

On  November  30,  1869,  he  married  Maranda  Gill- 
more.  She  was  born  November  1,  1850,  daughter 
of  Ambrose  and  Catherine  (Khuns)  Gillmore.  To 
their  union  were  born  five  children : William  A., 

on  November  11,  1870;  George  H.,  July  25,  1875; 
Effie,  who  was  born  December  7,  1880,  and  died 
December  18  of  the  same  year ; Harriett  Pearl,  born 
June  26,  1882,  the  wife  of  Benjamin  Twichell;  and 
Orley,  born  May  24,  1884. 

Earl  Tuttle.  While  the  call  of  the  soil  is  recog- 
nized to  be  a powerful  one,  it  is  but  seldom  that  it 
is  strong  enough  to  take  a man  from  the  triumphs 
of  theatrical  life,  place  him  amid  rural  surround- 
ings and  keep  him  contented  with  his  lot,  still  such 
things  do  take  place,  as  is  proven  in  the  case  of 
Earl  Tuttle,  now  a prosperous  farmer  of  Steuben 
Township,  but  formerly  well  known  in  the  world 
of  amusement.  He  is  a native  of  his  present  town- 
ship, having  been  born  in  section  28,  Steuben  Town- 
ship, Steuben  County,  Indiana,  November  8,  1866. 
Mr.  Tuttle  is  a son  of  Chester  V.  and  Tillie  (Belles) 
Tuttle,  and  grandson  of  Lemmon  Tuttle. 

Lemmon  Tuttle  was  born  in  New  York  State  in 
1813,  and  while  still  a boy  was  taken  to  Ohio  by  his 
parents.  In  1838  he  came  to  Indiana,  and  two  years 
later  settled  in  Steuben  Township,  Steuben  County, 
where  he  entered  fifty  acres  of  Government  land, 
to  which  he  later  added  by  purchase  forty  acres 
additional.  At  that  time  all  of  this  land  was  in 
a wild  condition,  but,  like  the  other  pioneers  of  the 
region,  he  patiently  went  to  work,  broke  the  land, 
planted  it,  and  continued  to  develop  it  as  long  as 
he  lived.  All  of  the  buildings  on  the  property  were 
erected  hy  him,  and  when  he  died  in  June,  1881,  the 
farm  was  greatly  enhanced  in  value.  His  wife,  who 
bore  the  maiden  name  of  Filora  Gould,  was  born 
in  Cayuga  County  New  York,  in  1818,  a daughter 
of  Kiah  and  Mehitable  (Sturges)  Gould,  and  died 
December  25,  1880.  Lemmon  Tuttle  and  his  wife 
had  the  following  children:  Lorana,  Emeret,  Ches- 

ter V.,  Frank  M.,  Alptha,  Adesta,  who  died  in 
1880,  and  Sylvester,  Arad  and  Byron,  all  of  whom 
died  in  infancy.  Lemmon  Tuttle  was  an  expert 
woodsman,  and  made  his  way  on  foot  through  the 
woods  from  Clyde,  Ohio,  to  his  destination  in  In- 
diana. 

Chester  V.  Tuttle,  son  of  Lemmon  Tuttle  and 
father  of  Earl  Tuttle,  was  born  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship in  July,  1847.  In  1863  he  enlisted  in  the  Sev- 
enth Indiana  Cavalry  for  service  during  the  Civil 
war,  and  was  assigned  to  the  Department  of  the 
Mississippi,  and  participated  in  a number  of  the 
important  battles  of  that  front,  proving  himself  a 
gallant  and  courageous  soldier.  At  the  close  of  the 
war  Mr.  Tuttle  located  at  Pleasant  Lake,  Indiana, 
where  he  carried  on  a mercantile  establishment  for 
some  years  under  the  style  of  Chadwick  & Com- 
pany, and  he  also  owned  a fine  farm  of  eighty  acres 
of  land  in  section  26,  on  which  he  resided,  being 
one  of  the  substantial  men  of  Steuben  Township. 

Vol.  11—25 


His  wife  was  born  at  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  a daughter  of  George  and  Caroline  (Brid* 
inger)  Belles.  Chester  V.  Tuttle  and  his  wife  had 
children  as  follows:  Earl,  Carl,  Worfhy  and  Harry. 
In  1888  Mr.  Tuttle  was  elected  treasurer  of  Steuben 
County,  assuming  the  responsibilities  of  that  office 
in  1889,  and  discharging  them  very  capably  for  two 
terms'.  After  the  termination  of  his  second  term  of 
office  he  retired  to  Pleasant  Lake,  where  he  resided 
until  his"  death,  which  occurred  December  7,  1902. 
His  widow  survives  him  and  makes  her  home  at 
Pleasant  Lake.  Mr.  Tuttle  was  well  known  as  a 
Mason  and  Odd  Fellow. 

Earl  Tuttle  attended  the  schools  of  Pleasant  Lake, 
and  from  childhood  exhibited  such  decided  talent 
that  he  was  encouraged  to  develop  it,  and  when  a 
young  man  he  entered  the  amusement  world  as  a 
member  of  the  Holten  show,  playing  baritone  and 
violin.  After  one  season  with  this  organization  he 
was  with  the  Bentley  show  for  two  seasons,  and 
then  for  the  succeeding  seasons  traveled  with  the 
Bob  Hunting  circus.  His  next  theatrical  experi- 
ence was  secured  with  Josh  Sprusbey’s  show,  with 
which  he  traveled  for  three  seasons.  In  1901  Mr. 
Tuttle  was  married  to  Lula  Cogswell,  a daughter 
of  George  and  Martha  (Ritter)  Cogswell,  and  set- 
tled on  his  present  farm,  and  at  the  same  time  drove 
a mail  route  for  one  year.  He  then  decided  to 
give  all  of  his  time  to  the  cultivation  of  his  135- 
acre  farm,  on  which  he  carries  on  farming  and 
stockraising,  and  his  success  has  justified  his  choice, 
although  those  who  realize  his  talents  feel  that  his 
profession  lost  a valuable  member  when  he  returned 
to  his  inherited  calling.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tuttle  have 
two  children,  Sol  A.  and  Chester.  Mr.  Tuttle  is  an 
Odd  Fellow  by  inheritance  and  preference.  From 
1914  to  1919  he  served  very  faithfully  as  assessor 
of  Steuben  Township,  and  deserves  his  standing  as 
one  of  the  capable  and  representative  men  of  his 
native  county. 

Mathew  C.  Hilterbrant.  While  his  neighbors 
in  Bloomfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County  have 
known  him  for  a number  of  years  as  a substantial 
and  successful  farmer  and  public  spirited  citizen, 
Mathew  C.  Hilderbrant  as  a matter  of  fact  had 
many  struggles  and  adversities  to  contend  with  as 
a youth. 

He  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  November 
3,  1859,  a son  of  Isaac  and  Lucinda  (Critchet) 
Hilterbrant.  His  mother  was  born  in  Lucas  County, 
Ohio,  and  died  when  only  thirty-seven  years  of  age. 
The  father  was  born  in  Lancaster  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1819,  and  as  a boy  of  fifteen  drove  from 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  over  the  mountains  to  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio.  He  grew  up  there  in  the  home 
of  his  parents,  and  remained  a resident  of  Ohio 
until  1878. 

On  October  23,  1878,  Isaac  Hilterbrant,  his  wife 
having  died  in  Ohio,  arrived  in  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana.  All  his  children,  nine  in  number,  were 
born  in  Ohio.  Four  died  in  infancy  and  the  others 
are:  Mary,  Mrs.  Albert  Stauffer,  of  New  London, 
Ohio ; Alma,  Mrs.  Will  McConnell,  of  Detroit,  Mich- 
igan ; Frank,  who  when  last  heard  from  was  in 
Escanaba,  Michigan ; Mathew  C. ; and  Maggie,  Mrs. 
Cornelius  Andress,  of  Columbus,  Ohio. 

- Mathew  C.  Hilterbrant  was  about  eighteen  years 
old  when  he  came  with  his  father  to  LaGrange 
County.  He  had  in  the  meantime  acquired  a fair 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state. 
His  father  located  a part  of  the  land  now  owned  by 
his  son,  having  twenty  acres.  The  father  and  son 
came  here  with  little  capital,  and  they  were  greatly 
handicapped  in  the  work  of  clearing  the  land  and 
making  a farm  by  reason  of  the  absence  of  a woman 


386 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  the  home.  They  did  the  housework  and  cooked 
their  own  meals  in  addition  to  clearing  away  the 
timber  and  brush  and  raising  crops.  There  was 
considerable  reward  for  their  labors  before  the 
father  died.  He  was  a Lutheran  in  religious  affili- 
ations. 

Mathew  C.  Hilterbrant  remained  on  the  home 
farm  until  his  father’s  death  and  has  since  increased 
his  holdings  to  130  acres  and  has  a complete  group 
of  modern  farm  buildings.  For  the  past  fifteen 
years  he  has  done  much  in  the  way  of  live  stock 
breeding  and  keeps  full-blood  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 
Mr.  Hilterbrant  also  engaged  in  the  general  lumber 
business  in  1881,  and  for  fourteen  years  he  sawed, 
bought  and  sold  lumber  in  Northern  Indiana  and 
Southern  Michigan,  though  always  keeping  his  home 
on  the  farm. 

In  1885  he  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Royer,  who  was 
born  in  LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of  Joseph 
Royer.  To  their  marriage  were  born  three  children: 
Ralph  B.,  who  conducts  a news  stand  at  LaGrange; 
Mabel,  who  is  Mrs.  Hoyt  Fuller  and  lives  on  the 
farm  with  her  father;  Madge,  wife  of  Aaron 
Marker,  a farmer  of  Bloomfield  Township.  Mr. 
Hilterbrant  is  a member  of  the  Calvary  Evangelical 
Church,  and  for  many  years  has  been  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Amos  J.  Hostetler,  M.  D.  One  of  the  most  skill- 
ful physicians  and  surgeons  of  LaGrange  County  is 
Dr.  Amos  J.  Hostetler,  who  has  been  in  practice  here 
for  nearly  twenty  years.  He  has  a large  professional 
business  in  and  around  LaGrange  and  has  also  ex- 
erted himself  as  a citizen,  particularly  in  auxiliary 
activities  during  the  war. 

He  represents  a very  old  American  family.  He  is 
descended  from  Jacob  Hostetler,  who  was  born  in 
1704  and  died  in  1776.  Jacob  married  a Miss  Lor- 
entz.  Their  son,  John  Hostetler,  came  to  America 
at  the  age  of  three  years,  settling  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  the  families  lived  for  many  generations.  John 
married  Catherine  Hetzler.  In  the  next  generation 
was  a son  also  named  John,  who  was  born  in  1752, 
near  Hamburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  married  Barbara 
Miller.  John  Hostetler,  third  of  the  name,  was  born 
June  23,  1782,  and  died  March  2,  1856.  He  married 
Magdalena  Lehman,  born  October  18,  1787. 

Moses  J.  Hostetler,  grandfather  of  Doctor  Hos- 
tetler, was  born  June  9,  1812,  and  died  April  17, 
1894.  He  married  Elizabeth  Mast,  who  was  born 
May  1,  1822,  and  died  August  9,  1889. 

Moses  M.  Hostetler,  father  of  the  doctor,  was 
born  March  21,  1844,  and  died  January  29,  1903.  He 
married  Mary  Ann  Mehl.  During  the  father’s  life- 
time the  family  lived  in  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and 
from  there  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  lo- 
cating on  a farm  at  Emmatown. 

Dr.  Hostetler  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  May 
2,  1867,  and  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools,  and  he  taught  public  school  for  six 
years.  Later  he  took  his  medical  course  in  Wooster 
Lhiiversity  medical  department,  at  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
and  in  1893  he  graduated  from  the  Indiana  Univer- 
sity medical  department  at  Indianapolis,  Indiana. 
Later  he  took  post-graduate  work  in  the  Post  Gradu- 
ate School  of  Medicine  in  New  York  City,  and  for 
one  term  was  an  interne  in  an  Indianapolis  hospital. 
For  twelve  years  he  practiced  at  Shipshewana  in 
LaGrange  County,  and  has  had  a busy  and  success- 
ful career  in  the  City  of  LaGrange  since  1906. 

June  30,  1888,  he  married  Ella  May  Smith.  Their 
only  child,  Mae,  was  born  May  29,  1889,  and  died 
in  infancy.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Hostetler  have  taken  two 
children  to  rear  in  their  home.  One  is  Alta  Seybert, 
who  after  graduating  from  high  school  was  a teach- 


er and  is  now  the  wife  of  Ort  Seigler.  The  second 
adopted  daughter  is  Lucile  Hostetler,  a daughter 
of  Doctor  Hostetler’s  brother  Milo.  She  is  now  a 
senior  in  the  LaGrange  High  School. 

Doctor  Hostetler  is  a member  of  the  official  board 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a director 
in  the  State  Bank  of  LaGrange  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Lodge,  Chapter  and  Council  of  Masons,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  and  Woodmen 
of  the  World.  In  politics  he  is  a republican.  He 
has  prospered  in  his  profession  and  owns  consider- 
able real  estate,  including  the  building  where  he  has 
his  offices. 

During  the  war  Doctor  Hostetler  was  chairman  of 
the  Advisory  Board,  also  chairman  of  the  Civilian 
Relief  Committee,  and  a member  of  the  LaGrange 
County  Chapter  of  the  American  Red  Cross.  He  is 
secretary  of  the  LaGrange  County  Medical  Society. 

John  R.  Thompson  has  spent  his  life  close  to  the 
state  line  between  Indiana  and  Michigan,  and  his 
grandfather  settled  in  Steuben  County  more  than 
half  a century  ago.  His  own  career  has  been 
chiefly  identified  with  banking,  and  he  was  one  of 
the  organizers  and  is  now  cashier  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Fremont. 

He  was  born  in  Branch  County,  Michigan,  De- 
cember 19,  1889,  a son  of  Alexander  and  Alice 
(Ellis)  Thompson.  His  grandparents  were  Wil- 
liam and  Harriet  (Ferguson)  Thompson,  who  came 
from  Ohio  to  Indiana  in  1863.  William  Thompson 
died  in  1890,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  his  wife 
in  1900.  Their  family  consisted  of  Alexander, 
Mary,  Hattie  and  John  F.  Alexander  Thompson 
was  born  in  Ohio  in  1847,  and  was  sixteen  years 
old  when  brought  to  Steuben  County.  In  1865  he 
joined  a company  of  Union  soldiers  and  served 

until  the  close  of  the  struggle.  After  the  war  he 

returned  to  Steuben  County  and  married  in  Michi- 
gan Miss  Alice  Ellis,  who  was  born  in  that  state 
in  1858.  He  then  settled  on  a farm  near  Ray, 

Indiana,  and  now  lives  on  the  farm  his  father 

selected  in  1863.  He  is  a republican  and  served 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  formerly  a mem- 
ber of  the  Presbyterian  Church  but  is  now  affil- 
iated with  the  Methodist  denomination.  He  and 
his  wife  had  six  children:  Effie,  deceased;  Madge; 

Irene;  Ross  A.;  John  R. ; and  Kenneth,  deceased. 

John  R.  Thompson  was  reared  at  the  Village  of 
Ray,  attended  public  schools  there,  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College  at  Angola  and  acquired  his  early 
banking  experience  as  assistant  cashier  in  the  Bank 
of  Ray.  He  was  there  four  years,  and  coming  to 
Fremont  he  helped  organize  the  First  State  Bank, 
and  was  its  first  cashier.  Three  years  later  he 
assisted  in  organizing  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Fremont,  in  1915,  and  has  since  been  its  cashier, 
and  in  that  office  has  been  mainly  responsible  for 
the  growth  and  prosperity  of  this  institution. 

Mr.  Thompson  is  a republican  and  is  affiliated 
with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  at  Fremont. 
September  5,  1917,  he  married  Miss  Ruth  Vana- 
man,  of  DeKalb  County.  Their  one  son  is  named 
John  R.,  Jr.,  and  was  born  July  21,  1918. 

Edward  M.  George,  serving  his  second  term  as 
county  assessor  of  Steuben  County,  has  for  many 
years  been  busied  with  farming  and  public  affairs, 
and  his  record  is  one  that  appropriately  belongs  in 
this  history  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

Mr.  George  was  born  in  Steuben  Township,  three 
miles  west  of  Pleasant  Lake,  September  20,  1862, 
only  child  of  Sylvenus  and  Martha  (Harpham) 
George.  His  paternal  grandfather,  Jerry  George, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


387 


was  a native  of  Ohio  and  settled  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship about  1852.  He  died  in  1897,  the  father  of  a 
large  family. 

Sylvenus  George,  who  was  born  in  Ohio,  grew  up 
in  Steuben  Township  and  from  early  life  was  a 
farmer.  He  died  in  1863,  a few  months  after  the 
birth  of  his  only  child,  Edward.  His  wife,  Martha 
Harpham,  was  born  in  Steuben  Township,  a daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Margaret  (Gillanders)  Harpham. 
John  Harpham  was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England, 
in  1810,  and  came  to  the  United  States  at  the  age  of 
twenty-six.  He  married  at  Rochester,  New  York,  in 
1843,  Margaret  Gillanders,  who  was  born  in  the 
north  of  Ireland  in  1821  and  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1841.  The  year  of  his  marriage  John  Harp- 
ham moved  to  Steuben  County,  locating  in  section  17 
of  Steuben  Township.  He  acquired  no  acres  and 
made  one  of  the  best  farms  of  that  locality.  He 
had  come  west  by  steamboat  as  far  as  Cleveland  and 
then  made  the  rest  of  his  journey  to  Steuben  County 
by  stage  coach.  John  Harpham  lived  to  a ripe  old 
age.  His  children,  seven  in  number,  were  Martha, 
Joseph,  John,  Mary  Jane  (who  died  in  childhood), 
Samuel,  Anna  and  George. 

Mrs.  Sylvenus  George,  after  the  death  of  her  first 
husband,  became  the  wife  of  Lewis  Fifer.  She  died 
in  October,  1910,  the  mother  of  five  children  by 
her  second  marriage:  Elva,  Lenora,  John,  Orlando 

and  Jessie. 

Edward  M.  George  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  district  schools  of  Steuben  Township,  at- 
tended high  school  at  Angola,  then  taught  school 
one  year,  and  has  made  farming  a source  of  his 
prosperity  and  his  chief  business  since  early  man- 
hood. He  was  a farmer  in  Otsego  Township  for 
several  years,  in  1895  moved  to  Steuben  Township, 
2 miles  southeast  of  Pleasant  Lake,  and  in  1899 
moved  to  his  present  place  of  115  acres  in  section 
7 of  the  same  township.  He  also  owns  a farm  of 
eighty  acres  in  section  1 of  Salem  Township.  He 
moved  to  Pleasant  Lake  in  the  fall  of  1919,  where 
he  owns  property. 

July  3,  1884,  Mr.  George  married  Emma  Avery, 
daughter  of  Jesse  W.  and  Eliza  (Shumaker)  Avery, 
member  of  a well  known  family  of  Steuben  County, 
one  member  of  which  is  Seth  S.  Avery.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  George  have  two  children.  Dessie  Dale  mar- 
ried Leo  Koons  and  has  two  children,  Georgia  and 
Virginia.  Elsie  May  is  the  wife  of  Robert  Slick, 
and  their  children  are  Clair,  Louis  and  Dorothy. 

Mr.  George  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows  at  Angola,  also  the  Rebekahs,  the 
Masonic  Chapter  at  Angola,  the  Lodge  of  Moose 
and  the  Gleaners  at  Pleasant  Lake. 

His  experience  as  a public  official  began  as  as- 
sessor of  Steuben  Township,  an  office  which  he 
filled  faithfully  for  six  years.  In  1914  he  was 
chosen  county  assessor,  and  his  first  term  deserved 
his  re-election,  which  came  in  1918. 

William  H.  Freed.  Members  of  the  Freed  fam- 
ily came  from  Ohio  to  Northeast  Indiana  at  the 
beginning  of  the  Civil  war,  and  have  been  among 
the  progressive  citizens  and  farmers  of  Steuben 
County.  William  H.  Freed  has  been  a hard  work- 
ing and  industrious  farmer  in  Steuben  Township 
the  greater  part  of  his  life. 

He  was  born  in  that  township  July  22,  1861,  a son 
of  Anthony  and  Elizabeth  (Bender)  Freed  and  a 
grandson  of  Peter  Freed.  His  grandfather  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  and  his  father  in  Stark  County, 
Ohio.  Anthony  Freed  came  to  Steuben  County 
early  in  1861,  a few  months  before  the  birth  of  his 
son,  and  bought  the  farm  that  his  son  Joseph  now 
occupies.  He  cleared  up  a large  part  of  the  land, 
owned  130  acres,  and  died  there  in  1882.  His  widow 


survived  until  1905.  They  were  members  of  the 
Mennonite  Church.  Their  children  were  eleven  in 
number,  named  Peter,  Nancy,  Adaline,  Angeline, 
William  H.,  Daniel  (who  died  in  childhood), 
Lauretta,  John,  David,  May  and  Joseph. 

William  H.  Freed  acquired  his  early  education  in 
the  public  schools  of  Steuben  Township  and  then 
worked  on  the  home  farm  until  he  was  past  his 
majority.  In  1884  he  married  Della  Sunday,  daugh- 
ter of  Andrew  and  Mary  Sunday,  of  a family  whose 
record  in  Steuben  County  is  elsewhere  recorded. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Freed  bought  the  twenty 
acres  adjoining  the  old  homestead  and  has  since 
added  forty  acres,  and  for  twenty  years  has  worked 
hard  to  cultivate  and  improve  the  land  and  has 
put  up  all  the  buildings.  He  is  a member  of  the 
United  Brethren  Church. 

Mr.  Freed  and  wife  have  four  children:  Nellie, 

Harold,  Ralph  and  Lucile.  Harold  married  Arlie 
Lininger.  Nellie’s  first  husband  was  Lewis  Fred- 
erick, and  by  that  marriage  she  had  two  children, 
Opal  and  Aline.  After  the  death  of  Mr.  Frederick 
she  became  the  wife  of  Earl  Sams,  and  has  one 
daughter,  Ida. 

Fred  W.  Harris  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County  November  8,  1866.  He  grew 
up  there  to  years  of  manhood,  and  after  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a century  of  successful  homesteading 
and  other  business  activities  in  the  State  of  Nebraska 
he  returned  to  his  native  county  to  renew  his  asso- 
ciations with  the  old  community.  For  the  past  ten 
years  he  has  owned  a substantial  farm  property  in 
Lima  Township,  and  is  well  satisfied  to  regard 
Northeast  Indiana  as  his  permanent  home. 

Both  his  parents  and  all  his  ancestors  lived  in 
England  for  generations.  His  father  was  Thomas 
Harris  and  his  grandfather,  William  Harris.  William 
Harris  and  wife  spent  all  their  lives  in  England. 
Thomas  Harris  married  Anna  Wheeler,  whose 
father,  Henry  Wheeler,  came  to  America  at  the 
same  time  with  Thomas  and  Anna  Harris  and  is 
remembered  by  some  of  the  old  settlers  of  La- 
Grange  County,  where  he  had  a farm  of  forty 
acres  in  Greenfield  Township.  He  was  a blacksmith 
by  trade  and  conducted  a shop  on  his  farm. 

Thomas  Harris  and  wife  were  married  in  Eng- 
land and  came  to  America  in  August,  1866,  going 
direct  to  the  vicinity  of  Brighton  in  LaGrange 
County.  Thomas  Harris  was  first  employed  on  the 
farm  of  William  Anderson.  He  had  become  versed 
in  the  various  arts  of  farming  and  animal  husbandry 
in  England,  and  was  especially  skillful  in  the  shear- 
ing of  sheep.  He  had  won  several  prizes  in  compe- 
tition in  his  native  country.  As  LaGrange  County 
fifty  years  ago  was  the  center  for  a considerable 
sheep  industry,  he  had  abundant  opportunity  to  prac- 
tice his  art  there.  For  twenty-five  years  he  rented 
the  Crandall  farm  in  Greenfield  Township  and  also 
farmed  other  land  nearby.  Thomas  Harris  and  wife 
finally  left  LaGrange  County  and  joined  their  chil- 
dren in  Nebraska,  where  he  died  in  1916  and  his 
wife  in  1918.  They  had  five  children,  all  still  living, 
named : J.  Sidney,  Fred  W.,  Lula,  Charles  and  Frank, 
the  last  two  twins.  The  first  two  are  residents  of 
LaGrange  County,  while  the  others  are  in  Nebraska. 

Fred  W.  Harris  acquired  his  early  education  in 
LaGrange  County.  He  was  twenty-one  years  of  age 
when  he  and  his  brother  Sidney  started  for  Ne- 
braska. They  identified  themselves  with  a com- 
paratively pioneer  community  at  Ansley  in  Custer 
County.  He  took  up  a homestead  of  160  acres  on 
the  prairie,  proved  up  and  developed  that  as  a farm 
and  made  it  his  home  for  twenty-two  years.  Even- 
tually he  had  240  acres.  His  brother  Charles  after- 
ward joined  him,  as  did  also  their  father,  and  the 


388 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


three  of  them  together  owned  720  acres  in  one 
body.  Their  improvements  were  high  class  and  in 
later  years  they  did  an  extensive  business  raising 
and  feeding  stock. 

Mr.  Harris,  though  absorbed  in  his  business  in 
Nebraska,  kept  in  touch  with  his  home  community 
back  in  LaGrange  and  in  1892  returned  to  Indiana 
and  in  February  married  Miss  Kate  Fair.  She  was 
born  in  Bloomfield  Township,  daughter  of  Noah 
Fair,  member  of  one  of  the  best  known  families 
of  the  county.  Mr.  Harris  took  his  bride  back  to 
the  farm  in  Nebraska.  In  1894  he  and  his  wife 
and  son  returned  to  visit  Indiana,  and  chose  the  old 
fashioned  prairie  schooner  as  their  means  of  return 
rather  than  a railroad  journey.  They  drove  all  the 
way  to  Indiana,  and  in  1895  they  went  back  to 
Nebraska  in  the  same  vehicle,  taking  along  Mr. 
Harris’  parents.  Mr.  Harris  remained  in  Nebraska 
until  1910,  when  he  sold  out  his  property  there  and 
bought  the  160  acre  farm  in  Lima  Township  where 
he  lives  today.  While  in  Nebraska  he  held  offices 
in  his  school  district  and  as  road  supervisor,  and 
has  been  a road  official  in  LaGrange  County.  He 
still  retains  his  affiliation  with  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  at  Ansley,  Nebraska. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harris  have  four  children:  Walter 
T.,  Lulu  M.,  Sidney  H.  and  Ruby  M.,  all  in  the 
home  circle.  The  son  Walter  was  a soldier  during 
the  World  war. 

John  Heaton  Rerick  was  born  near  Dayton,  Tip- 
pecanoe County,  Indiana,  February  4,  1830,  at  the 
farm  home  of  his  parents,  Henry  and  Juliana  Rerick. 
Henry  Rerick  was  a native  of  Cayuga  County,  New 
York,  and  pioneering  later  into  Indiana,  was  mar- 
ried in  Tippecanoe  County  to  the  daughter  of  Isaac 
Lamb,  who  became  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Saint 
Joseph  County,  whither  Henry  Rerick  and  his  fam- 
ily followed  in  1835  and  made  their  home  on  Sump- 
tion’s Prairie.  Henry  Rerick  was  the  son  of  John 
Rerick,  born  in  New  York  State  in  1783,  and  who 
died  in  the  United  States  service  at  Fort  Niagara 
in  the  War  of  1812.  John  Rerick  was  the  son  of 
Henry  Rerick,  of  American  birth  and  English  de- 
scent, born  in  New  York  State  in  1737. 

John  H.  Rerick  was  reared  in  the  pioneer  clear- 
ings. He  taught  school  in  Saint  Joseph  and  Elkhart 
counties  after  he  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  He 
studied  at  South  Bend  in  preparation  for  the  medical 
profession  and  entered  the  class  of  1853  in  the  medi- 
cal department  of  the  University  of  Michigan.  In 
the  year  of  his  graduation  he  was  married  to  Eliza- 
beth Green.  He  began  his  practice  at  Fort  Wayne  in 
1854,  the  year  of  the  cholera  epidemic.  A son,  Louis, 
was  born  to  him  there,  but  both  mother  and  child 
died  within  the  year.  Leaving  Fort  Wayne,  he  be- 
gan the  practice  at  Elkhart  and  was  married  there, 
May  1,  1856,  to  Marianette,  daughter  of  Rowland 
and  Elizabeth  (Defrees)  Devor.  In  the  fall  of 
1859,  Doctor  Rerick  and  his  wife  and  eldest  child 
located  at  LaGrange,  their  home  thereafter.  In  i860 
he  became  associated  with  Howard  M.  Betts  in  the 
drug  business  in  addition  to  his  practice. 

He  was  one  of  the  four  delegates  of  Allen  County 
to  the  anti-Nebraska  convention  at  Albion  which 
nominated  Samuel  Brenton  for  Congress  in  the  old 
Tenth  District,  and  he  was  one  of  the  organizers 
of  the  republican  party  which  followed,  and  aided 
in  the  election  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  When  Lincoln 
called  for  troops  Doctor  Rerick  drew  up  the  first 
enlistment  paper  in  LaGrange  County.  He  enlisted 
and  drilled  with  the  Dawson  Company,  Thirtieth 
Regiment,  and  was  commissioned  by  Governor  Mor- 
ton as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  Forty-Fourth  Regi- 
ment. At  camp  in  Fort  Wayne  he  examined  all  the 
men  for  enlistment  in  that  regiment.  He  was  with 


the  regiment  throughout  the  war  and  was  promoted 
to  surgeon,  with  the  rank  of  major,  and  for  some 
time  was  brigade  surgeon.  He  rendered  1 dis- 
tinguished service  on  the  field  in  the  great  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Stone  River  and  Chickamauga.  At  Stone 
River  he  worked  on  the  field  under  fire  until  over- 
come with  exhaustion,  and  the  effects  of  this  caused 
him  great  suffering  during  the  remainder  of  his  life 
His  name  is  mentioned  in  the  roll  of  honor  of  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga.  After  a service  of  over  four 
years  Doctor  Rerick  returned  to  LaGrange  and  re- 
sumed his  practice,  but  his  health  was  broken  In 
1857  he  bought  the  LaGrange  Standard,  which,  ex- 
cept for.  an.  interval,  1869  to  1872,  he  continued  to 
own  until  his  death.  He  was  nominated  for  county 
clerk  by  the  republicans  in  1868  and  was  elected  and 
reelected  in  1872.  During  the  Harrison  administra- 
tion he  was  postmaster  at  LaGrange. 

He  was  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  from  boyhood  and  active  in  Sunday  school 
work.  He  was  a pioneer  in  the  anti-saloon  move- 
ment, and  active  in  every  phase  of  that  reform.  He 
made  many  addresses  in  this  and  adjoining  counties 
on  various  community  topics.  He  was  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  Northern  Indiana  Editorial  Asso- 
ciation. He  compiled  and  published  rosters  of  the 
soldiers  of  the  county  and  saw  to  it  that  stones  were 
provided  for  the  graves  of  the  dead.  In  1880  he 
published  a history  of  the  Forty-Fourth  Regiment 
From  1882  to  1887  he  was  the  partner  of  J.  S.  Con- 
logue  in  the  ownership  of  the  Kendallville  Standard. 
He  was  one  of  the  founders  and  president  of  Island 
Park  Assembly  in  the  years  of  its  fame.  After 
many  years  of  usefulness  Doctor  Rerick  passed  away 
January  21,  1911.  He  was  survived  until  the  next 
year  by  his  wife  and  their  three  sons,  Rowland 
Henry,  John  Defrees  and  Carl  Hubert,  are  still 
living. 

Frank  W.  Baker,  a farmer  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances near  Angola  in  Pleasant  Township,  rep- 
resents a family  that  has  been  identified  with 
Northeast  Indiana  since  about  1850,  most  of  the 
time  in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Frank  W.  Baker  was  born  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship February  16,  1866,  a son  of  Edward  and  Susan 
(Sandall)  Baker.  His  parents  were  both  natives 
of  England,  his  father  born  in  1821  and  his  mother 
September  24,  1826.  They  were  married  January 
21,  1847,  and  the  first  two  of  their  children  were 
born  in  England.  April  n,  1850,  they  took  passage 
at  an  English  port  and  on  the  14th  of  May  arrived 
in  New  York  City.  Their  first  settlement  was  in 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  they  had  their  home 
at  Applemanburg  about  eight  years.  Edward  Baker 
then  bought  a farm  from  Philo  Nichols  in  Jackson 
Township,  near  Otter  Lake,  later  sold  that  and 
in  1865  moved  to  Pleasant  Township  of  Steuben 
County.  Here  he  bought  eighty  acres,  cleared  it 
up  and  for  a time  his  family  lived  in  a log  house. 
Edward  Baker  spent  his  life  usefully  and  honorably, 
and  died  with  the  respect  of  a large  community  in 
1909.  His  wife  passed  away  May  4,  1899.  He  was  a 
republican  voter,  remained  true  to  the  faith  of  the 
Church  of  England,  while  his  wife  became  affiliated 
with  the  Christian  Church  at  Angola.  They  had 
seven  children:  Mary  Jemimah;  Mary  Ann,  who 

died  in  La  Grange  County  at  the  age  of  four 
years ; Susie,  widow  of  Chester  Crain,  of  Steuben 
County;  Naomi,  wife  of  James  North,  of  LaGrange 
County;  Mary,  widow  of  Alexander  Halstead;  Ed- 
ward James,  of  Jackson  Township  in  Steuben 
County;  and  Frank  W. 

Frank  W.  Baker  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Steuben  County,  acquired  a good  education  in 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


389 


the  local  schools,  and  on  reaching  manhood,  having 
no  capital  and  no  land  of  his  own,  he  went  to 
work  as  a farm  hand.  His  first  purchase  of  land 
was  fifteen  acres.  Later  he  bought  forty  acres  in 
Jackson  Township,  and  successive  years  have 
brought  him  a slowly  accumulating  prosperity.  In 
1906  he  acquired  seventy-two  acres  two  miles  west 
of  Angola,  where  he  lives  today.  This  farm  was  for- 
merly owned  by  his  wife’s  father,  Jacob  Wolf.  Mr. 
Baker  is  doing  a good  business  as  a general  farmer 
and  stock  raiser.  He  is  a republican  in  politics 
and  attends  the  Christian  Church.  He  is  affiliated 
with  the  Odd  Fellows  Lodge  at  Angola. 

July  3,  1892,  Mr.  Baker  married  Miss  Loma  Wolf. 
She  was  born  in  Steuben  County  January  9,  1870, 
a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  (Menges)  Wolf. 
Her  parents  were  both  born  in  Ohio,  and  were 
married  in  1866,  after  they  came  to  Steuben  County. 
They  settled  in  York  Township,  where  Jacob  Wolf 
had  eighty  acres,  and  on  selling  this  property 
moved  to  Kansas  and  spent  six  years  in  the  Sun- 
flower state.  Returning  to  Steuben  County,  he 
located  in  Steuben  Township,  rented  a farm  for  a 
time,  and  then  bought  the  farm  in  Pleasant  Town- 
ship. Mrs.  Baker’s  mother  ldied  in  1906,  at  the  age 
of  sixty-four,  and  her  father  is  now  eighty-three 
years  of  age.  In  the  Wolf  family  were  four  chil- 
dren : Cora  A.,  wife  of  Peter  Crowl ; Mrs.  Baker ; 
Alice,  who  died  in  1894;  and  Peter,  living  in  Michi- 
gan. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  have  four  accomplished 
daughters.  Blanche  L.,  the  oldest,  born  October  4, 
1894,  is  a graduate  of  high  school  and  the  Tri-State 
Normal  College,  had  a teacher’s  license  for  three 
years  and  taught  school,  and  is  now  the  wife  of 
Ray  D.  Hosack.  Lola  Alice,  born  September  9, 
1897,  also  took  the  high  school  and  Tri-State  Nor- 
mal courses.  Cora  Gladys,  born  July  18,  1902,  is 
a student  in  the  Angola  High  School,  as  is  also 
the  youngest  daughter,  Mildred  Berdina,  who  was 
born  March  10,  1904. 

Lewis  Ritter.  In  several  localities  of  Steuben 
County  the  name  Ritter  has  been  impressed  by  many 
years  of  residence,  active  participation  in  community 
effort  and  the  improvement  of  land  and  homes. 

One  of  the  old  Ritter  farms  is  in  Steuben  Town- 
ship, now  occupied  by  Lewis  Ritter,  who  was  born 
on  the  farm  April  22,  1880.  He  is  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Mary  (Lucas)  Ritter  and  a grandson  of  Joseph 
and  Eva  Ritter.  Joseph  Ritter  came  to  Steuben 
County  from  Ohio  at  an  early  day.  He  and  his 
wife,  Eva,  had  nine  children : Andrew,  Corleus, 

Thomas,  Hiram,  Jacob,  Maria  (who  died  in  child- 
hood), Della,  Ellen  and  Nettie.  After  the  death  of 
his  first  wife  Joseph  Ritter  married  Mrs.  Welthy 
Lucas,  and  by  that  union  had  one  child,  George. 

Jacob  Ritter,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  March  20, 
1855,  married  Mary  Lucas,  who  was  born  in  DeKalb 
County,  Indiana.  January  19,  1858,  a daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Welthy  Lucas.  Jacob  Ritter  when  a 
young  man  began  farming  the  old  homestead  where 
his  son  Lewis  now  lives,  and  was  busily  engaged 
with  his  work  there  until  1906,  when  he  and  his 
wife  moved  to  Angola  and  are  now  retired  residents 
of  that  city.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  They  have  two  children.  Lewis  and  Gary.’ 
Gary  married  Byrd  Erwin,  and  their  family  consists 
of  Garold,  Velma  and  Virginia. 

Lewis  Ritter  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
schools  of  Steuben  Township  and  when  a young 
man  farmed  for  two  years  near  Fox  Lake,  lived 
in  Angola  a year  and  a half,  and  in  March,  1907, 
succeeded  his  father  as  manager  of  the  old  home- 
stead. He  rents  the  place  of  120  acres  and  is  rap- 


idly making  his  way  to  independence  and  pros- 
perity as  a farmer  and  stockman. 

December  14,  1901,  Mr.  Ritter  married  Maude 
Erwin,  a daughter  of  Edward  and  Eliza  (Mclntiver) 
Erwin.  They  have  two  children,  Marcellus  and 
Irene.  Mr.  Ritter  and  wife  attend  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church. 

Capt.  Lawrence  Gates,  an  honored  veteran  of 
the  Civil  war  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  First 
National  Bank  of  Angola,  was  born  in  Germany 
April  25,  1839,  and  received  his  early  education  there 
and  then  came  to  America.  He  arrived  at  Angola  in 
1853  and  had  some  further  education  in  the  schools 
at  Nevada  Mills  in  Steuben  County.  He  worked  as 
a clerk  in  Angola  until  1862,  when  he  volunteered 
in  Company  H of  the  Seventy-Fourth  Indiana  In- 
fantry. For  his  meritorious  service  he  was  pro- 
moted to  first  lieutenant  and  later  to  captain,  and 
served  until  May  15,  1865.  He  was  in  the  battles 
of  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge  and  in  the 
Atlanta  campaign.  Two  weeks  after  the  fall  of  At- 
lanta he  lost  a leg  during  a railroad  wreck.  After 
the  war  Captain  Gates  engaged  in  the  dry  goods 
business  at  Angola,  and  was  one  of  the  local  busi- 
ness men  who  organized  the  First  National  Bank. 
He  held  the  post  of  director  as  long  as  he  was  con- 
tent to  serve.  In  recent  years  he  has  busied  him- 
self with  a fire  insurance  agency.  He  is  a Repub- 
lican and  cast  a vote  in  i860  for  Abraham  Lincoln 
and  Oliver  Morton.  He  was  first  city  clerk  of 
Angola  after  the  incorporation  of  the  town.  He  is 
a past  grand  patriarch  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd  Fellows,  and  he  and  his  family  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  Church. 

In  1865  he  married  Miss  Martha  Sowle,  of  Steu- 
ben County.  She  died  in  1868.  On  March  28,  1869, 
he  married  Miss  Tina  M.  Elya,  who  was  born  in 
Steuben  County  in  1849.  They  have  four  children, 
three  of  whom  are  living  at  Cleveland  and  all  are 
married.  Their  names  are  Milla,  Fred  C.,  Harry  L. 
and  Louis  A.  Milla  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  W.  H.  Lane, 
who  served  in  the  Medical  Corps  with  the  rank  of 
captain  in  France. 

Llyoll  E.  Ai.spaugh.  Members  of  three  genera- 
tions of  the  Alspaugh  family  have  been  factors  in 
the  life  and  affairs  of  LaGrange  County  for  over 
fifty  years.  Llyoll  E.  Alspaugh  owns  one  of  the 
good  farm  homes  of  Greenfield  Township  and  has 
spent  practically  all  his  life  in  that  township. 

He  was  born  there  August  6,  1873,  a son  of  Peter 
and  Martha  J.  (Swihart)  Alspaugh,  both  natives 
of  Ohio,  and  a grandson  of  Philip  and  Mary  Ann 
Alspaugh.  His  grandparents  were  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, lived  m Southern  Ohio  for  some  years,  and 
in  the  fall  of  1854  settled  on  a farm  in  Johnson 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  south  of  Valentine. 
This  farm  is  now  the  Charles  Wolf  farm.  Philip 
Alspaugh  cleared  up  and  improved  that  place  and 
lived  there  until  his  death  in  August,  1880.  His 
widow  survived  him  to  a ripe  old  age  and  died 
at  the  home  of  her  son  Peter.  Peter  Alspaugh  was 
one  of  six  children,  Matilda,  Catherine,  Reuben, 
Peter,  Edward  and  Oliver,  all  now  deceased. 
Reuben  lost  his  life  while  a Union  soldier  in  the 
Civil  war.  Peter  Alspaugh  was  born  in  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  April  21,  1841,  and  was  thirteen 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  LaGrange  County. 
He  had  a common  school  education,  and  at  the  age 
of  twenty,  on  October  14,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany H of  the  44th  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was 
a participant  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Pitts- 
burg Landing,  siege  of  Corinth,  Perryville  and 
Stone  River.  At  Stone  River,  also  known  as  Mur- 
freesboro, he  was  wounded  in  the  leg  on  Decern- 


390 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


her  31,  1862,  and  was  granted  his  honorable  dis- 
charge September  9,  1863.  On  November  11,  1866, 
he  married  Miss  Martha  J.  Swihart,  daughter  of 
Daniel  and  Sarah  Swihart,  whose  connection  with 
LaGrange  County  has  been  noted  at  length  on  other 
pages.  In  1868  Peter  Alspaugh  bought  eighty  acres 
in  Greenfield  Township.  He  had  previously  lived 
on  a rented  farm  on  Pretty  Prairie.  He  increased 
his  farm  to  150  acres,  and  improved  it  with  good 
buildings.  He  died  March  25,  1913,  at  the  age 
of  seventy-four.  His  first  wife  died  February  3, 
1881,  aged  thirty-five.  She  was  an  active  member 
of  the  Methodist  Church.  Their  two  children  were 
Luila,  who  was  born  February  6,  1869,  and  died 
in  May,  1888,  and  Llyoll.  In  1883  Peter  Alspaugh 
married  Phoebe  E.  Hand. 

Llyoll  E.  Alspaugh  attended  school  in  the  country 
districts  and  also  at  Howe,  and  lived  at  home  with 
his  father  until  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age. 
He  came  to  his  present  farm  in  the  fall  of  1901, 
and  owns  a hundred  eighty  acres  devoted  to  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  He  has  done  much  to  im- 
prove the  property,  increase  the  fertility  of  the  soil, 
and  the  farm  has  probably  doubled  in  value  under 
his  ownership. 

Mr.  Alspaugh  and  family  are  members  of  the 
Progressive  Brethren  Church.  He  married,  Sep- 
tember 17,  1901,  Miss  Lena  Sigrist,  a native  of  La- 
Grange  County  and  a daughter  of  A.  H.  Sigrist. 
Mr.  Alspaugh’s  father  helped  organize  the  creamery 
at  Howe  and  Mr.  Alspaugh  is  still  interested  in 
that  local  industry  and  is  also  a stockholder  in 
the  Pretty  Prairie  Telephone  Company.  He  has 
the  old  Bible  of  the  Alspaugh  family,  dated  1649. 

Charles  H.  Sheets,  one  of  the  progressive  men  of 
Steuben  County,  divides  his  time  between  farming 
and  acting  as  agent  for  the  Standard  Oil  Company 
at  Angola,  maintaining  his  residence  in  this  city. 
He  was  born  at  Millersburg,  Monroe  County,  Ohio, 
March  27,  1858,  a son  of  Henry  Sheets  and  grand- 
son of  Henry  Sheets.  The  elder  Henry  Sheets  was 
born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1835,  and  located  at  Pittsburgh,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  became  a tool  dresser  and  maker, 
having  learned  the  blacksmithing  trade  in  his  native 
land.  He  remained  at  Pittsburgh  the  remainder  of 
his  life.  Henry  Sheets  was  married  to  Mary  Stov- 
ell,  also  a native  of  Bavaria  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Michael,  Jacob  and  Henry. 

Henry  Sheets,  the  younger,  father  of  Charles  H. 
Sheets,  was  born  in  Bavaria,  Germany,  December 
25,  1834,  and  consequently  was  only  a baby  when 
his  parents  came  to  the  United  States.  He  was 
reared  at  Pittsburgh,  where  he  attended  the  pub- 
lic schools.  In  1854  he  was  married  tb  Magdeline 
Peters,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Elizabeth  Peters, 
and  they. became  the  parents  of  the  following  chil- 
dren: William,  who  is  a farmer  of  Pleasant  Town- 
ship; Charles,  whose  name  heads  this  review;  Tillie; 
Elmer,  who  is  a farmer  of  Pleasant  Township; 
Herman,  who  married  Elsie  Wood,  of  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana,  and  has  two  children,  Magdeline  and  Elsie 
Lucille;  Fred,  who  is  a merchant  of  Crooked  Lake, 
Indiana;  and  Eugene,  who  lives  at  home,  owns 
twenty  cottages  on  Crooked  Lake,  and  about  the 
same  number  of  boats,  operating  the  Long  Beach 
Resort.  In  i860  Henry  Sheets  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  and  located  on  a farm  in  Steuben 
Township,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  for 
five  years,  but  left  it  to  locate  on  his  present  farm 
in  Pleasant  Township.  In  1893  he  retired  and 
moved  to  Angola,  where  he  and  Mrs.  Sheets  lived 
in  comfort  until  the  death  of  the  latter  July  3,  1916, 
when  Mr.  Sheets  returned  to  the  farm  and  now 
makes  his  home  with  his  children. 


Charles  H.  Sheets  grew  up  in  Pleasant  Township, 
and  was  accorded  the  advantages  offered  by  its 
schools  and  the  Angola  High  School.  Until  1884 
he  was  engaged  in  farming  in  conjunction  with  his 
father,  but  in  that  year  came  to  Angola,  where  he 
established  himself  in  a transfer  business,  and  also 
carried  the  mail  to  and  from  the  trains.  In  connec- 
tion with  his  transfer  business  he  dealt  in  ice,  and 
his  operations  were  extensive.  During  1900  he  in- 
vested in  ninety  acres  of  land  opposite  the  Angola 
Fair  Grounds,  adding  to  this  farm  until  he  had  180 
acres  of  land,  and  he  also  owns  sixty-six  acres  of 
land  in  another  part  of  Pleasant  Township.  From 
the  time  he  bought  his  land  until  the  present  Mr. 
Sheets  has  superintended  its  operation,  hiring  the 
necessary  men  to  do  the  work,  and  is  a breeder 
of  high  bred,  fine  wool  sheep,  and  handles  and 
feeds  a large  amount  of  other  stock.  In  1904  Mr. 
Sheets  sold  his  transfer  and  ice  business,  as  his 
other  interests  had  become  too  heavy  for  him  to 
continue  it.  Since  April  11,  1887,  he  has  been  the 
representative  at  Angola  for  the  Standard  Oil  Com- 
pany. 

On  November  17,  1887,  Mr.  Sheets  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Emma  L.  Longabaugh,  a daughter  of 
Joseph  Longabaugh,  a native  of  Allegheny  County, 
Pennsylvania,  who  in  1862  came  to  Angola,  Indiana. 
A tailor,  he  worked  at  his  trade  upon  first  coming 
to  Angola,  but  within  a few  years  started  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  connection  with  a tailoring 
establishment.  Still  later  he  sold  these  two  lines 
of  business  and  was  engaged  in  handling  produce 
until  his  death  in  1894.  Joseph  Longabaugh  was 
married  to  Miranda  Milner,  a native  of  Columbi- 
ana County,  Ohio,  who  died  April  23,  1915.  They 
had  the  following  children : Emma  L.,  who  is  Mrs. 
Sheets ; Lena,  who  married  Robert  Shephard ; Mary, 
who  married  Martin  Miser ; William  A. ; and  Eliz- 
abeth, who  married  Robert  Rae.  Mrs.  Longabaugh 
was  a consistent  member  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sheets  have  one  son,  Henry  Har- 
court,  who  was  born  January  24,  1902.  He  is  now 
attending  the  Angola  High  School,  and  is  a very 
bright  pupil.  Mrs.  Sheets  belongs  to  the  Congrega- 
tional Church.  In  his  fraternal  relations  Mr.  Sheets 
maintains  membership  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 
He  is  recognized  as  the  very  soul  of  probity  and 
uprightness,  and  in  all  of  his  ventures  he  has  main- 
tained a high  standard  of  business  ethics,  which 
won  for  him  unqualified  confidence  and  thorough 
respect. 

Wilber  H.  Hill  is  one  of  the  men  who  have  made 
a success  of  farming  in  Noble  County,  and  the 
success  with  which  he  has  managed  his  private  af- 
fairs has  gained  him  the  confidence  and  respect  of 
his  fellow  citizens  and  brought  him  into  active 
relations  with  county  affairs.  He  is  now  serving 
as  one  of  the  county  commissioners,  representing 
the  Northern  District  in  Noble  County. 

Mr.  Hill  resides  on  his  farm  in  section  17,  Wayne 
Township,  two  and  a half  miles  northwest  of  Ken- 
dallville.  He  was  born  in  the  same  township  May 
19.  i860,  son  of  Nicholas  and  Mary  (Kinney)  Hill. 
His  father,  a native  of  Wuertemberg,  Germany, 
came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  at  the 
age  of  seventeen.  At  that  time  they  located  on  a 
farm  in  Wayne  Township  of  Noble  County,  and 
the  grandyarents  spent  all  their  lives  there.  Many 
Kinney  was  born  in  Ohio  and  came  to  Indiana  be- 
fore her  marriage.  Nicholas  Hill  and  wife  had 
nine  children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living:  Mary, 

unmarried;  Avilla  C.,  wife  of  William  Wright,  of 
Kendallville ; Orange  L.,  on  the  old  homestead  in 
Wayne  Township;  Wilber  H. ; Charles  R.,  of  Rich- 


£ 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


391 


mond,  Indiana;  and  Albert  S.,  a farmer  in  Wayne 
Township. 

Wilber  H.  Hill  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  common  schools  and  lived  with  his  par- 
ents until  he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  In  1882 
he  went  to  Michigan,  and  was  in  that  state  five  years, 
part  of  the  time  in  the  lumber  woods  and  also  em- 
ployed in  salt  works.  On  March  18,  1886,  he  mar- 
ried in  Noble  County  Carrie  L.  Hunt.  Mrs.  Hill 
was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  July  1,  1865. 

After  their  marriage  they  lived  a year  in  Mich- 
igan and  on  returning  to  Noble  County  took  up 
farming  as  renters.  For  fifteen  years  they  rented 
land,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time,  in  1902,  they 
bought  their  first  farm,  seventy-two  acres,  paying 
$800  down.  Since  then  their  prosperity  has  much 
increased,  and  in  1917  they  bought  another  place  of 
120  acres,  and  now  have  a complete  and  highly 
improved  farm. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hill  have  three  children : Archie, 

born  September  11,  1889,  is  a graduate  of  the  Hunt- 
ington Business  College,  is  married  and  lives  on  a 
farm  in  Wayne  Township;  Ralph  D.,  a graduate  of 
the  common  schools,  married  Leota  Loucks,  and 
they  live  with  his  father ; and  Cecelia,  who  is  now 
in  clerical  work  for  the  Government  at  Battle  Creek, 
Michigan. 

Mrs.  Hill  is  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  at  Wayne  Center.  Fraternally 
he  is  affiliated  with  Kendallville  Lodge  No.  276, 
Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  Council, 
and  is  a Knight  of  Pythias  and  a Maccabee.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican,  and  besides  his  present 
office  as  county  commissioner,  to  which  he  was 
elected  in  1916,  he  served  four  years  as  trustee  in 
Wayne  Township. 

Alva  J.  Kimmel,  M.  D.  The  esteem  for  Dr.  Alva 
J.  Kimmel  at  Hudson  is  easily  understood,  being 
based  upon  more  than  three  decades  of  careful, 
efficient  and  skillful  work  as  a physician.  He  has 
been  more  than  a professional  man,  has  been  a 
kindly  neighbor  and  sympathizing  friend  to  the 
community,  and  has  earned  many  rewards  besides 
those  expressed  in  material  terms. 

Doctor  Kimmel  was  born  at  Fostoria,  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  June  9,  1857,  a son  of  Michael  and 
Rebecca  (Longnecker)  Kimmel,  and  grandson  on 
the  paternal  side  of  Jacob  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Mow- 
ery)  Kimmel,  and  on  the  maternal  side  of  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Fisher)  Longnecker. 

Rebecca  Longnecker  was  born  in  Seneca  County, 
Ohio.  Michael  Kimmel  was  a native  of  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania,  grew  up  there  and  when 
about  eight  moved  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and 
some  ten  years  later  to  Seneca  County.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  having  enlisted  in  the  spring 
of  1862  in  Company  K of  the  One  Hundred  and 
First  Ohio  Infantry.  He  served  a little  less  than  a 
year,  being  discharged  on  account  of  disability 
caused  by  typhoid  fever.  In  1870  he  brought  his 
family  to  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County, 
Indiana,  bought  a farm  and  lived  in  that  township 
until  his  death  in  1883.  His  widow  is  still  living. 
The  old  farm  in  LaGrange  County  is  now  owned 
by  Doctor  Kimmel.  This  farm  contains  100  acres, 
and  Doctor  Kimmel  proposes  to  make  it  his  home 
when  he  retires  from  the  burden  of  professional 
life.  Doctor  Kimmel  was  the  oldest  in  a family  of 
seven  children,  the  others  being  Harriett  Catherine, 
deceased;  Cecelia  Ann,  who  died  in  her  infancy; 
Emma  J. ; Noah  E. ; Mary  Anna,  deceased;  and 
Charles  W. 

Alva  J.  Kimmel  was  thirteen  years  old  when  he 


came  to  Indiana.  In  the  meantime  he  had  attended 
schools  at  Fostoria,  Ohio,  and  he  took  his  medical 
work  in  the  Miami  Medical  College,  now  the  Med- 
ical Department  of  the  University  of  Cincinnati.  He 
was  graduated  with  the  M.  D.  degree  in  1886,  and  in 
the  same  year  located  at  Hudson,  where  all  his 
work  as  a professional  man  has  been  done.  His 
practice  has  extended  all  over  the  community  sur- 
rounding Hudson.  Ever  since  the  Wabash  Railroad 
was  built  at  that  point  he  has  been  consulting  and 
local  physician  and  surgeon  for  the  railroad  and  for 
a quarter  of  a century  has  served  as  health  officer 
of  Hudson. 

Doctor  Kimmel  married  Sarah  Luella  Cox,  a 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Barbara  Ann  Cox.  They 
had  two  children,  Vesta  Bell,  wife  of  William  I. 
Lower,  and  Arthur  A.,  who  met  his  death  by  drown- 
ing at  the  age  of  seventeen. 

Doctor  Kimmel  is  affiliated  with  the  Steuben 
County  Medical  Society  and  the  Indiana  and  Amer- 
ican Medical  associations,  and  is  a charter  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Hudson. 

Samuel  M.  Eash,  M.  D.  LaGrange  County  and 
particularly  the  community  around  Shipshew'ana  has 
a Sijeat  deal  of  respect  for  and  confidence  in  the 
abilities  and  experience  of  Dr.  Samuel  M.  Eash  as  a 
physician  and  surgeon.  He  has  practiced  medicine 
at  Shipshewana  for  nearly  thirty  years  and  in  that 
time  has.  made  himself  a factor  for  real  influence 
and  service  in  the  community. 

He  was  born  in  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  March  9,  1864,  a son  of  Levi  and  Mary 
(Yoder)  Eash.  He  is  a grandson  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Harshberger)  Eash,  both  natives  of 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania.  John  Eash  was  a 
Pennsylvania  farmer,  in  1845  moved  with  his  fam- 
ily to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  and  after  farming 
there  until  1859  made  his  home  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County.  He  lived  in  that  town- 
ship until  his  death.  His  children  were  ten  in  num- 
ber, named  Carolina,  Susan,  Mary,  Dora,  Elizabeth, 
Levi,  Jacob  N.,  Joseph  N.,  John  M.  and  Isaac  N. 
The  only  one  now  living  is  Isaac. 

Levi  Eash,  father  of  Doctor  Eash,  was  born  in 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  December  13,  1839. 
His  wife,  Mary  Yoder,  was  born  in  Holmes  County, 
Ohio,  a daughter  of  Yost  and  Nancy  (Hostetler) 
Yoder.  They  were  married  in  Holmes  County  and 
they  came  to  LaGrange  County  at  the  same  time 
as  John  Eash  and  family.  Levi  Eash  spent  a long 
and  active  career  as  a farmer.  Fie  was  the  first 
member  of  the  Mennonite  Church  to  hold  an  office 
in  LaGrange  County,  filling  the  position  of  assessor 
of  Newbury  Township  six  years.  In  March,  1882, 
he  moved  to  the  LaGrange  County  Farm  as  its 
superintendent,  and  was  with  that  institution  until 
his  death  on  December  12,  1883.  His  widow  sur- 
vived him  until  July,  1916.  They  had  a family  of 
seven  children  : Amanda,  wife  of  Christian  S.  Eash  ; 
Nancy,  who  is  the  wife  of  Simon  C.  Yoder  and 
lives  in  Oregon ; Catherine,  deceased  wife  of  Sam- 
uel T.  Kauffman;  Susan,  who  married  Abner  Yoder 
and  lives  in  Oregon ; Samuel  M. ; Mary  Jane,  who 
is  the  wife  of  Levi  D.  Yoder  and  lives  in  Oregon; 
and  Lewis  Franklin,  present  deputy  sheriff  of  St. 
.Joseph  County,  Indiana. 

Dr.  Samuel  M.  Eash  received  his  first  instruction 
in  the  Davis  schoolhouse  in  Newbury  Township 
and  later  attended  the  LaGrange  High  School. 
When  only  a boy  he  made  up  his  mind  to  become 
a physician,  and  with  a steady  purpose  toward 
that  end  he  acquired  the  means  for  his  education 
by  teaching  school  for  five  years.  In  1888  he 
graduated  from  the  Medical  Department  of  Wooster 


392 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


University  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  and  did  his  first 
practice  at  Shore  in  Newbury  Township.  The 
winter  of  1889-90  he  spent  at  Topeka,  Indiana, 
and  since  February,  1890,  has  carried  the  burdens 
of  a successful  physician  at  Shipshewana.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  County  Medical  Society  and  the  In- 
diana State  Medical  Association,  is  affiliated  with 
the  Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Shipshewana  and  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  LaGrange. 

November  24,  1889,  Doctor  Eash  married  Amanda 
Schrock,  a daughter  of  Jesse  and  Susan  (Luke) 
Schrock.  They  have  two  children,  Irma  and  Charles 
S.  Charles  was  commissioned  a second  lieutenant 
of  infantry  on  August  11,  1918,  later  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  field  artillery,  and  was  in  active  train- 
ing with  that  branch  of  the  army  at  the  time  of 
the  signing  of  the  armistice.  Since  the  war  he  has 
continued  his  studies  in  the  Indiana  State  University 
at  Bloomington. 

Albert  Everitt.  While  the  life  experiences  of 
Albert  Everitt  have  not  covered  a great  deal  of  ter- 
ritory, his  life  has  been  no  less  useful  and  pur- 
poseful. He  is  one  of  the  successful  farmers  of 
Otsego  Township,  a man  of  high  standing  in  his 
community,  is  a member  of  a good  family  himself 
and  has  some  bright  and  promising  children  grow- 
ing up  to  share  in  the  work  of  the  world.. 

Mr.  Everitt  was  born  on  the  farm  which  he  now 
owns  September  14,  1874,  a son  of  Elias  and  Mar- 
garet (Teegardin)  Everitt.  He  is  a grandson  of 
Jacob  D.  and  Betsy  (Bush)  Everitt.  Jacob  D. 
Everitt  was  born  February  27,  1807,  and  died  May 
30,  1852,  and  his  wife.  Betsy,  was  born  February  12, 
1806,  and  died  December  16,  1868..  They  were  mar- 
ried in  Erie  County,  New  York,  December  30,  1828, 
and  settled  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio.  Elias  and 
Margaret  Everitt  were  natives  of  Ohio.  They  were 
married  February  14,  1861,  and  about  1864  came  to 
Steuben  County  and  settled  in  the  woods  of  Otsego 
Township,  clearing  up  land  until  they  had  a large 
farm  of  230  acres.  Elias  Everitt  was  twelve  years 
old  when  his  father  died  in  Allen  County,  Ohio,  and 
he  made  the  best  possible  use  of  his  individual  re- 
sources and  opportunities.  He  died  June  29,  1902, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  The  mother  lost  her  life 
in  1911  in  a railroad  accident  at  Hamilton,  Indiana, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-five.  Her  parents  were  Aaron 
and  Katie  Ann  (Thorpe)  Teegardin,  who  were 
numbered  among  the  pioneers  of  Otsego  Township. 
Aaron  Teegardin  died  in  1895  and  his  wife  in  1898. 
Elias  Everitt  was  a democrat  in  politics  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  and  his 
wife  had  six  children:  Frank,  deceased;  Walter, 

who  owns  part  of  the  old  homestead;  Jasper; 
Charles,  deceased;  Albert;  and  Nina,  deceased. 

Albert  Everitt  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
secured  his  education  in  the  nearby  country  schools. 
He  owns  112  acres  of  the  homestead  and  has  done 
much  to  improve  and  increase  its  facilities  as  a good 
farm.  He  built  a grain  and  hog  house  and  has 
shown  a great  deal  of  intelligence  in  managing  his 
business  as  a farmer.  He  is  a democrat  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

November  10,  1897,  Mr.  Everitt  married  Miss 
Leona  Degaugh.  She  was  born  in  Wexford  County, 
Michigan,  July  20,  1881,  a daughter  of  Frank  and 
Clara  (Mabie)  Degaugh,  who  later  became  resi- 
dents of  Richland  Township,  Steuben  County.  The 
four  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Everett  are:  Arden, 
born  May  28,  1899 ; Paul,  born  August  8,  1905 ; 
Orpheus,  born  May  15,  1911 ; and  Evelyn,  born 
January  3,  1917. 

Arthur  Wellington  Stoner,  a farmer  of  Bloom- 
field Township,  LaGrange  County,  spent  twenty 


years  as  a homesteader  and  farm  developer  in  the 
State  of  Minnesota,  but  was  born  and  reared  in 
LaGrange  County  and  represents  some  pioneer 
names  in  the  history  of  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township  in  i860,  a 
son  of  John  and  Maria  (Martin)  Stoner,  the  former 
a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  New  Jersey. 
His  maternal  grandfather,  Daniel  Martin,  came  from 
New  Jersey  to  Indiana  at  a very  early  date  and 
acquired  a tract  of  raw  land  in  Johnson  Township, 
on  the  banks  of  the  lake  always  afterward  known 
as  Martin  Lake.  He  cleared  and  improved  a farm, 
and  both  he  and  his  wife  died  there.  John  Stoner 
came  to  LaGrange  County  when  a young  man.  He 
was  a local  Methodist  minister,  was  a farmer  and 
also  active  in  local  affairs.  He  served  at  one  time  as 
a trustee  of  Clay  Township.  He  and  his  wife  had 
two  children : Arthur  W.  and  Andrew  Elmer.  The 
latter  died  in  1881. 

Arthur  Wellington  Stoner  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  and  had  good  educational  opportunities.  He 
left  the  LaGrange  High  School  six  months  before 
graduating  on  account  of  an  affliction  of  the  eyes. 
Afterward  he  followed  farming  in  the  county  un- 
til 1891,  when  he  went  out  to  Pipestone  County, 
Minnesota,  and  acquired  160  acres.  He  located 
there  in  1892  and  went  through  all  the  processes 
of  developing  new  land  in  a new  community  and 
laid  the  basis  of  his  prosperity  while  in  the  North- 
west. He  improved  his  farm  with  good  buildings, 
lived  there  twenty  years,  and  as  a citizen  was  chair- 
man of  the  School  Board  and  a justice  of  the  peace 
in  his  township. 

Mr.  Stoner  sold  his  Minnesota  farm  and  on 
November  20,  1912,  returned  to  LaGrange.  In  the 
previous  August  he  had  bought  the  farm  he  now 
owns  in  Bloomfield  Township,  comprising  eighty 
acres.  He  is  still  active  as  a farmer. 

In  1903  Mr.  Stoner  married  Miss  Anna  Belle 
Dewater.  She  was  born  near  Fawn  River,  Mich- 
igan, a daughter  of  Roswell  Dewater  and  Pheba 
A.  (Upson)  Dewater,  early  settlers  of  Johnson 
Township,  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stoner 
have  two  children : Thelma  Marie  and  Doris  Audra. 
Both  are  still  at  home.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Church. 

Edward  Millis,  a venerable  LaGrange  citizen, 
has  spent  more  than  three  quarters  of  a century  in 
this  county,  and  the  record  impressed  on  his  early 
memory  pertains  to  affairs  of  the  decades  of  the 
forties  and  fifties. 

He  was  born  in  Talbot  County,  Maryland,  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1831,  son  of  Levin  and  Ruth  (Leonard) 
Millis.  His  parents  were  also  natives  of  Maryland. 
Their  three  children  were  Margaret  Ann,  Edward 
and  Ann  Catherine.  By  his  first  wife  Levin  Millis 
had  five  children,  named  John  Wesley,  Elizabeth, 
Levin,  Lydia  Ann,  and  Sarah  Esther. 

In  1837,  when  Edward  Millis,  was  six  years  old, 
the  family  moved  to  Wayne  County,  Indiana,  and 
two  years  later  settled  in  Springfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County,  where  Levin  Millis  lived  on  a 
farm  until  his  death  on  August  2,  1840.  His  wife 
died  March  9,  1874. 

Edward  Millis  had  only  the  advantages  of  the 
schools  near  home  and  those  were  of  a pioneer 
type.  He  learned  the  duties  of  farming  and  found 
in  that  his  chief  vocation.  March  28,  1855,  he  mar- 
ried Eleanor  M.  Griffin.  She  was  born  in  Niagara 
County,  New  York,  July  6,  1835,  daughter  of  Rob- 
ert and  Mary  (Pollman)  Griffin.  Her  parents  were 
both  natives  of  England,  her  father  coming  to  this 
country  in  1829  and  her  mother  in  1834.  The  Grif- 
fin family  settled  in  LaGrange  County  in  1841,  and 
the  following  year  moved  to  Steuben  County,  where 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


393 


Mr.  Griffin  died  the  same  year.  His  widow  passed 
away  in  1856.  Edward  Millis  in  1856  bought  a farm 
in  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange  County,  sold  it 
after  four  and  a half  years  and  returned  to  Spring- 
field  Township,  where  he  acquired  seventy  acres. 
By  subsequent  additions  he  became  owner  of  210 
acres  in  sections  23  and  24.  In  1879  he  left  the 
farm  and  went  to  LaGrange  for  the  purpose  of 
giving  his  children  better  school  advantages.  In 
1882  he  moved  back  to  the  farm,  but  in  1886  bought 
property  in  LaGrange  and  was  a resident  of  that 
city  until  the  death  of  his  wife  in  1896.  Then  for 
a time  he  made  his  home  partly  in  town  and  partly 
in  the  country  and  on  May  12,  1897,  he  married 
Mrs.  Catherine  Ryan,  widow  of  Robert  Ryan.  They 
then  lived  on  the  Ryan  farm  for  seventeen  years, 
until  Mrs.  Millis  passed  away  in  1914.  Since  then 
Mr.  Millis  has  returned  to  LaGrange  and  has  ac- 
quired other  property  in  the  county  seat.  He  is  a 
republican  and  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church. 

The  children  by  his  first  marriage  were  five  in 
number,  the  oldest  dying  in  infancy.  Emma  E. 
died  at  the  age  of  three  years.  Frank  E.  Millis  was 
born  November  20,  i860,  graduated  from  the  La- 
Grange High  School  in  1881,  from  DePauw  Uni- 
versity in  1887,  and  spent  one  year  as  an  instructor 
in  DePauw.  He  then  completed  his  studies  in 
Johns  Hopkins  University  and  in  1893  was  awarded 
the  Doctor  of  Philosophy  degree  by  Cornell  Uni- 
versity. He  became  a well  known  educator  and 
for  several  years  he  was  also  connected  with  the 
Astronomical  Department  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. He  died  August  1,  1903.  In  1891  he  mar- 
ried Mary  Lockwood,  a native  of  Petersburg,  Mich- 
igan, where  she  was  born  December  8,  1862.  Frank 
E.  Millis  and  wife  had  five  children:  Louise,  who 
died  February  6,  1919,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six, 
the  wife  of  Guy  Duncan  and  the  mother  of  two 
children,  Jean  and  Mary;  Edward,  born  July  28, 
1894,  who  served  as  a first  lieutenant  on  the  Mex- 
ican border  and  went  overseas  early  in  1917  and 

served  in  France  until  1919;  Rowland,  born  Au- 
gust 21,  1896,  who  became  a second  lieutenant  and 
was  in  about  the  same  service  as  his  brother ; Har- 
old, born  October  7,  1900,  died  at  the  age  of  seven 
years ; and  Frances,  born  February  5,  1904. 

Marion  M.  Millis,  the  fourth  of  Mr.  Millis’  fam- 
ily, was  born  September  14,  1862.  She  is  the  wi- 
dow of  Charles  H.  Gravit,  of  a family  elsewhere 
referred  to  in  this  publication.  Lois  M.  Millis  was 
born  May  3,  1864,  and  on  December  22,  1886,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Wilbur  Main.  They  now  live 

at  Auburn  and  have  two  children : Hazel,  born 
April  16,  1888,  wife  of  Nathan  Hord  and  the  moth- 
er of  two  children,  Mildred,  born  September  24, 
1909,  and  Emile,  born  May  19,  1913;  and  Frank, 
born  April  9,  1894,  married  Irene  Crager. 

Ralph  Ousterhout  is  the  present  county  clerk 
of  Steuben  County.  He  was  called  to  his  duties  at 
the  court  house  in  Angola  as  a result  of  the  elec- 
tion of  1916,  and  for  many  years  has  been  identi- 
fied with  the  progressive  farming  section  of  Salem 
and  Jackson  townships. 

He  was  born  in  Salem  Township  October  4,  1857, 
a son  of  John  N.  and  Sarah  (Haines)  Ousterhout. 
His  father  was  born  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  in 
October,  1825,  and  his  father  died  the  same  year. 
In  1843  he  and  his  brother  James  came  to  Steuben 
County  and  bought  160  acres  in  Salem  Township. 
In  the  spring  of  1851  John  N.  Ousterhout  moved 
to  Iowa,  bought  a farm  and  worked  at  his  trade 
as  a carpenter.  His  first  wife,  Nancy  Hammond, 
died  in  Iowa,  leaving  two  children,  Sarah  A.,  who 
married  John  Slick  and  now  lives  in  Michigan,  and 


Samuel  E.,  of  Elkhart,  Indiana.  John  N.  Ouster- 
hout returned  to  Steuben  County  in  1853,  and  after 
selling  his  land  in  Salem  Township  engaged  in  saw- 
milling. He  sold  his  mill  in  1857,  then  bought  land 
in  Salem  Township,  and  in  1859  bought  the  farm 
where  he  spent  the  rest  of  his  busy  career,  in  sec- 
tion 34  of  Jackson  Township.  He  improved  this 
land  from  the  wilderness  condition. 

This  farm,  now  owned  by  Ralph  Ousterhout,  has 
a building  upon  it  which  is  one  of  the  interesting 
relics  of  pioneer  days.  The  white  wood  compris- 
ing the  frame  timbers  was  originally  in  what  was 
known  as  the  Block  Church,  built  by  the  Metho- 
dists in  section  3 of  Jackson  Township  and  used 
by  that  denomination  and  the  Presbyterians  many 
years  as  a house  of  worship.  John  N.  Ousterhout 
bought  the  building  in  i860  and  remodeled  it  as  his 
own  home.  John  N.  Ousterhout  was  elected  jus- 
tice of  the  peace  of  Jackson  Township  in  i860  and 
later  was  again  elected  and  served  three  terms  in 
that  office.  He  was  a first  lieutenant  in  a local 
militia  company  known  as  the  Flint  Legion  during 
the  Civil  war.  In  politics  he  was  an  active  repub- 
lican. 

His  second  wife,  Sarah  Haines,  was  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1829,  daughter  of  Thomas  Haines,  who 
came  to  Steuben  County  in  1843.  She  was  the 
mother  of  six  children : Viola,  wife  of  Adelbert 

R.  Wood,  of  Salem  Township;  Ralph;  Cora,  wife 
of  Loren  W.  Clay,  of  Angola;  Sarah  V.,  wife  of 
W.  Scott,  of  Pontiac,  Michigan ; Lillie  M.,  wife  of 
William  Morrison,  of  Salem  Township;  and  Alta, 
who  is  unmarried  and  lives  with  her  brother  Ralph. 
John  N.  Ousterhout  died  January  5,  1901,  and  his 
wife  on  January  8,  1902.  He  was  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  Order,  being  at  one  time  master  of  the 
lodge  at  Salem  and  afterward  a member  of  Flint 
Lodge. 

Ralph  Ousterhout  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Jackson  Township,  attended  the  public  schools,  and 
now  owns  the  old  homestead  of  160  acres,  and  also 
fifty  acres  in  Salem  Township.  He  is  a successful 
farmer,  and  it  was  his  record  as  a good  business 
man  and  capable  citizen  that  caused  the  people  of 
Steuben  County  to  repose  their  confidence  in  him 
when  they  elected  him  county  clerk  in  1916.  He  is 
a member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Flint,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Salem,  and  the  Lodge  of  Moose  at  An- 
gola. He  attends  and  supports  the  Congregational 
Church  at  Angola.  Mr.  Ousterhout  is  unmarried. 

Amro  Avery.  ' Good  and  desirable  mental  quali- 
ties are  not  the  only  inheritances  which  are  handed 
down  from  father  to  son,  for  very  often  the  sec- 
ond generation  shows  a decided  inclination  for  the 
calling  of  the  first,  and  adopting  it  achieves  com- 
mendable success.  In  no  line  of  activity  is  this  more 
clearly  marked  than  in  that  of  farming,  for  here  this 
love  of  the  soil  comes  down  through  many  years, 
and  survives  the  entrance  into  other  work,  bring- 
ing men  back  into  the  rural  regions  after  years 
spent  in  the  more  congested  communities.  It  is, 
fortunate  that  this  is  true,  especially  at  this  critical 
period  in  the  world’s  history  when  as  never  before 
there  is  such  a crying  need  of  food.  The  men  of 
America  are  responding  patriotically  in  this  direc- 
tion as  they  have  in  all  others,  and  the  rich  farm- 
ing lands  of  Indiana,  as  of  those  of  the  other 
states  of  the  Union,  are  bringing  forth  banner  crops 
under  the  capable  and  experienced  direction  of 
some  of  the  best  agriculturalists  of  the  country. 
One  of  these  representative  citizens  of  the  northeast- 
ern part  of  the  state  is  Amro  Avery  of  Steuben 
Township,  Steuben  County,  born  in  this  township 


394 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


August  I,  1857,  a son  of  that  estimable  man,  the 
late  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery. 

No  history  of  this  region  would  be  complete  with- 
out extended  mention  of  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery 
and  his  wife,  Eliza  (Shumaker)  Avery.  Jesse  Whit- 
comb Avery  was  born  at  Big  Island,  Marion  County, 
Ohio,  February  18,  1833,  and  died  at  his  home  in 
Otsego  Township,  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  April 
28,  1912,  aged  seventy-nine  years,  two  months  and 
ten  days.  He  was  the  only  son  of  John  H.  and 
Maria  (Whitcomb)  Avery,  and  the  only  child  to 
survive,  the  other  one,  a daughter,  dying  in  infancy. 
When  a little  child  he  was  brought  to  Otsego  Town- 
ship by  his  paternal  grandmother,  Mrs.  Sarah  (Fall) 
Avery,  who  arrived  in  this  neighborhood  in  the 
fall  of  1836.  He  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his 
mother  when  he  was  two  years  old  and  his  father 
when  he  was  but  five.  The  Avery  family  was  of 
English  descent,  and  was  established  in  this  country 
many  years  ago.  His  grandfather,  on  the  maternal 
side,  Major  Benjamin  Whitcomb,  was  a resident  of 
the  American  Colonies  prior  to  the  Revolutionary 
war,  in  which  he  served  with  distinction,  and  be- 
cause of  those  services  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  was 
entitled  to  a life  pension  from  the  Government,  but 
never  received  it. 

The  paternal  grandfather  of  Jesse  Whitcomb 
Avery  was  Samuel  Avery,  and  after  his  demise  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Sarah  (Fall)  Avery,  came  to  Marion 
County,  Ohio,  from  Maine,  bringing  her  son,  John 
Hutcherson,  and  her  three  daughters,  Amanda, 
Dolly  and  Sarah,  and  in  1836  the  little  party  came 
still  further  west  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  Mrs. 
Avery’s  little  grandson,  Jesse  W.,  then  being  one 
of  its  members.  After  her  arrival  in  Steuben 
County  Mrs.  Avery  was  married  to  George  Quick, 
and  they  had  two  sons,  Avery  and  Henry.  She 
was  a sister  of  the  mother  of  Aaron  Taylor,  an- 
other representative  man  of  Steuben  County.  Of 
the  daughters  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  (Fall)  Avery, 
Amanda  Avery  was  married  to  Alexander  Britton, 
and  they  had  two  daughters,  Betsy  and  Emily;  Sarah 
Avery  was  married  to  John  K.  Van  Fleet,  and  they 
had  eight  children,  Joshua,  Samuel,  John,  Elizabeth, 
Anna,  Ruth,  Malvina  and  Thomas ; and  Dolly  Avery 
was  married  to  David  Chard,  and  they  had  the  fol- 
lowing children : George,  Sarah,  Susan,  Amanda, 

Lydia  and  Rhoda. 

The  father  of  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery,  John 
Hutcherson  Avery,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife, 
Maria  (Whitcomb)  Avery,  when  she  was  only 
twenty-five  years  of  age,  from  dropsy  superinduced 
by  child  birth,  married  her  sister  Louisa,  and  when 
he  passed  away  in  1840,  of  spasmodic  colic  at  his 
home  in  Marion  County,  Ohio,  she  inherited  his 
money,  his  son  receiving  as  his  share  an  outlawed 
quitclaim  deed  to  real  estate  in  Dearborn  Township, 
Kennebec  County,  Maine,  and  the  west  half  of 
section  18,  township  36  north  range  14  east,  Steuben 
County,  Indiana. 

On  February  19.  1854.  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  was 
married  to  Eliza  Shumaker,  born  in  Hardy  County, 
West  Virginia,  December  5,  1833,  died  November 
19,  1915,  aged  eighty-one  years,  eleven  months  and 
fourteen  days,  at  which  time  she  was  the  only  sur- 
vivor of  the  nine  children  born  to  her  parents, 
Michael  and  Elizabeth  (Myers)  Shumaker.  These 
children  were  as  follows:  Lydia,  who  married  John 

Baker;  Sarah,  who  married  first  John  Mills  and 
second  Henry  Secoir;  John,  who  married  Amanda 
Chard;  Katie;  Rosana;  Amanda,  who  married 
Aaron  Taylor;  George,  who  married  Katherine 
Lininger  and  later  Mary  Bland ; Eliza,  who  married 
Jesse  W.  Avery;  and  Betsy,  who  married  Henry 
Secoir  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  her  sister 
Sarah.  As  will  be  seen  by  these  records  the  Avery 


and  Shumaker  families  intermarried  in  several  in- 
stances. Michael  Shumaker,  father  of  Mrs.  Avery, 
had  a brother,  John  Shumaker,  and  he  had  five 
children,  namely:  Margaret,  Rachael,  John,  James 

and  Harvey.  "His  sister,  Mrs.  Mary  (Shumaker) 
McClain,  had  two  children,  George  and  Dorcas.  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  (Myers)  Shumaker,  mother  of  Mrs. 
Avery,  died  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in  1863. 

The  Shumaker  family  moved  from  West  Vir- 
ginia to  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  then  in  1845 
started  for  the  Rock  River  in  Illinois,  but  Mr.  Shu- 
maker was  taken  ill  when  the  little  party  reached 
Steuben  County  and  died  a few  days  later  in  a 
little  log  schoolhouse  in  which  refuge  had  been 
taken.  This  cabin  was  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Frank  Jackson,  but  then  the  property  of  Peter  Rus- 
sell. With  the  death  of  the  father  the  Shumaker 
family  abandoned  their  project  of  reaching  Illinois, 
and  located  in  Steuben  County.  For  many  years 
all  the  children  had  to  work  hard,  the  daughters 
performing  many  tasks  usually  left  for  the  men  of 
the  family,  but  they  seemed  to  flourish  under  their 
labors,  and  grew  up  strong  and  healthy.  Mrs. 
Avery  was  noted  for  her  strength,  endurance  and 
the  rapidity  with  which  she  would  drop  corn,  being 
able  to  keep  up  with  the  horse,  a somewhat  unusual 
accomplishment.  She  dug  ginseng  and  other  roots 
for  medicinal  purposes,  picked  berries  and  of  course 
was  an  expert  in  all  household  tasks.  While  thus 
making  herself  so  useful,  she  did  not  neglect  her 
mental  development,  but  whenever  the  opportunity 
offered  would  walk  2R2  miles  to  school  held  in  a log 
cabin,  and  oftentimes  in  the  evening  would  walk 
back  in  order  to  participate  in  the  spelling  matches 
held  in  those  days,  at  which  she  was  many  times 
the  champion. 

She  and  Jesse  Whitcomb  Avery  were  schoolmates, 
were  born  in  the  same  year,  and  were  sweethearts 
from  childhood.  They  began  their  married  life  on 
the  farm  his  father  had  entered  from  the  Govern- 
ment many  years  before,  and  lived  on  it  until  he 
died,  a period  of  nearly  sixty  years.  On  it  their 
seven  children  were  born  and  reared  to  useful  ma- 
turity. These  children  were  as  follows : Edward, 

Amro,  Seth  S.,  Mary,  who  is  deceased,  Emma,  Lida 
and  Jesse  Whitcomb,  who  is  also  deceased.  Very 
domestic  in  her  tastes,  Mrs.  Avery  was  wrapped  up 
in  her  husband,  her  children  and  her  home,  never 
leaving  the  latter  during  the  last  nine  years  of  her 
life,  although  her  children  and  grandchildren  en- 
deavored to  make  her  an  honored  inmate  of  their 
several  family  circles.  She  possessed  numerous 
desirable  womanly  qualities,  being  cheerful,  good 
natured,  charitable,  just  and  forgiving  and  never 
showing,  and  probably  but  seldom  feeling,  anger. 
Her  life  was  a beautiful  one,  and  she  exemplified 
in  it  the  highest  of  Christian  characteristics.  Her 
husband  was  a fitting  mate  for  her  and  he,  too, 
set  an  example  his  descendants  can  do  no  better 
than  to  emulate.  Although  left  an  orphan  at  so 
tender  an  age  and  thus  bereft  of  a father’s  watch- 
ful care,  he  grew  up  possessed  of  the  highest  ideals, 
and  shaped  his  life  according  to  them.  In  the  train- 
ing of  his  children  he  insisted  upon  the  importance 
of  education  and  character  building,  and  practiced 
honesty,  sobriety  and  fair  dealing  as  well  as  taught 
these  virtues.  For  forty-seven  years  he  was  an 
honored  member  of  the  order  of  Odd  Fellows,  be- 
longing to  the  lodge  at  Angola,  and  when  he  died 
this  fraternity  had  charge  of  the  funeral  services, 
of  which  C.  W.  McCord  was  the  officiating  clergy- 
man. Fie  was  laid  to  rest  in  Circle  Hill  Cemetery, 
and  when  in  1915  his  aged  wife  went  to  join  him 
in  the  better  land,  her  remains  were  placed  by  his 
side  in  the  same  “City  of  the  Dead.”  It  is  a very 
interesting  fact  that  these  family  records  are  com- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


395 


piled  from  the  recollections  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Avery 
by  their  son  Seth  S.  Avery,  who  put  them  in  definite 
form  while  his  parents  were  still  in  possession 
of  their  faculties,  during  1905. 

Growing  up  in  a Christian  household  under  the 
tender  and  wise  guardianship  of  his  parents,  Amro 
Avery  attended  the  district  schools  of  Otsego  Town- 
ship, and  later  the  Angola  High  School.  For  several 
years  after  attaining  his  majority  he  was  engaged  in 
farming  in  Otsego  Township,  and  then  went  into 
Steuben  Township  and  carried  on  the  same  calling 
for  two  years.  Moving  to  York,  Ohio,  he  was 
engaged  in  a mercantile  business  at  that  place, 
and  then  returned  to  agriculture,  which  he  followed 
in  Steuben  Township  on  rented  land.  In  1916  he 
bought  sixty-five  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  and 
Otsego  townships,  which  is  well  improved,  his  res- 
idence being  in  the  former  township,  but  the  greater 
part  of  the  land  is  across  the  township  line  in  Otsego 
Township. 

In  1890  Mr.  Avery  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Clara  McMillan,  a daughter  of  John  McMillan,  and 
she  died  October  13,  1917,  leaving  him  one  daughter, 
Hazel  M.,  who  was  born  February  23,  1894.  Another 
daughter,  Neva  May,  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  Avery  has 
inherited  in  addition  to  his  love  of  farming  other 
desirable  qualities  from  his  admirable  parents,  and 
has  so  lived  his  life  as  to  be  a credit  to  them  and 
their  training.  He  is  held  in  respect  in  his  neigh- 
borhood as  a man  of  integrity  and  high  principles, 
and  he  deserves  the  prosperity  to  which  he  has 
attained.  Through  her  ancestor  Maj.  Benjamin 
Whitcomb,  Miss  Hazel  M.  Avery  is  eligible  to  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  she 
can  proudly  trace  back  to  Mrs.  Polly  (Whitcomb) 
Sappington  and  Mrs.  Stephen  Kent,  daughters  of 
Major  Whitcomb  and  sisters  of  Mrs.  Maria  (Whit- 
comb) Avery,  her  paternal  great-grandmother. 

Charles  H.  Iveplinger  has  been  a resident  of  La- 
grange County  over  half  a century,  and  more  than 
thirty  years  ago  he  became  an  independent  land 
owner  and  farmer  and  has  ever  since  been  pro- 
gressively identified  with  the  community  of  Green- 
field Township. 

Mr.  Keplinger  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 
Ohio,  July  12,  1857,  a son  of  Elias  and  Emily 
(Hoverstock)  Keplinger.  His  father  was  born  in 
Virginia  in  October,  1815.  The  Keplinger  family 
moved  to  Lima,  LaGrange  County,  in  the  fall  of 
1865  and  Elias  Keplinger  bought  fifty  acres  in  that 
township.  Later  he  bought  seven  acres  more  and 
had  a complete  small  farm  of  fifty-seven  acres, 
where  he  lived  out  his  productive  years  and  died 
in  1899.  He  was  a republican  in  politics.  His  first 
wife  died  soon  after  coming  to  LaGrange  County, 
the  mother  of  Catherine,  Mary,  Charles,  and  Etta. 
Elias  Keplinger  married  for  his  second  wife  Lydia 
Middaugh,  but  had  no  children  by  that  union. 

Charles  H.  Keplinger  was  eight  years  old  when 
brought  to  LaGrange  County,  and  he  grew  up  and 
acquired  his  education  in  Lima  Township.  He  had 
little  capital  to  start  with,  but  subsequently  he 
bought,  fifty-six  acres  in  Greenfield  Township  and 
has  since  increased  his  holdings  to  seventy-six 
acres,  representing  one  of  the  good  general  farms 
in  that  locality.  He  has  remodeled  the  house  and 
added  to  the  barn  and  has  a complete  equipment- 
for  all  his  needs.  Mr.  Keplinger  is  a republican  in 
politics. 

In  1886  he  married  Miss  Clara  B.  Swihart,  who 
was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  May  3,  i860,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  (Summers)  Swihart. 
This  is  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families  of 
LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Keplinger  have 
one  son,  Raymond  C.,  who  was  born  June  13,  1897. 


He  attended  public  school  at  Brighton,  and  mar- 
ried Anna  Brown  and  has  one  daughter,  Freda 
Juanita. 

Orley  Barrows,  a son  of  the  veteran  Union 
soldier  and  retired  farmer,  John  Barrows,  whose 
career  is  sketched  on  other  pages,  is  one  of  the 
successful  younger  farmers  of  Steuben  and  La- 
Grange counties.  His  farm  lies  along  the  line  be- 
tween these  two  counties,  his  residence  being  in 
Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  in  the  same  locality  May  24,  1884, 
and  acquired  his  education  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship and  also  in  Millgrove  Township.  He  learned 
farming  under  his  father  and  in  1906  took  up  an 
independent  career,  renting  the  old  homestead.  He 
now  has  the  responsibility  of  a large  place  of  270 
acres,  and  does  a successful  business  as  a general 
farmer  and  stock  raiser. 

In  1904  he  married  Ella  Fair,  a daughter  of 
Christopher  and  Amanda  Fair.  Their  children  are 
Weir,  Omar,  Emril,  Archie,  Axson  and  Ronald. 

Judge  Emmet  A.  Bratton,  whose  long  services 
as  a lawyer  and  judge  make  him  a conspicuous 
figure  in  the  history  of  Steuben  County,  was  born 
in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  July  16,  1855,  a son  of 
Ira  and  Deborah  W.  (Thomas)  Bratton. 

His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania, 
his  father,  born  March  12,  1829,  and  his  mother 
December  23,  1831.  Ira  Bratton  was  a son  of 
James  and  Isabella  Bratton,  his  mother  dying  in 
Pennsylvania.  James  and  Hannah  Bratton,  the  lat- 
ter his  second  wife,  moved  to  Northwestern  Ohio 
in  early  days  and  entered  Government  land  in  Wil- 
liams County.  He  located  there  in  1842,  and  lived 
on  his  land  until  his  death  in  i860.  By  his  first 
marriage  he  had  four  children,  George  W.,  who 
lived  until  about  ninety  years  of  age,  died  in  Ne- 
braska; Keziah,  Caroline  and  Ira.  James  Bratton 
was  an  anti-slavery  democrat  and  a Presbyterian. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  Judge  Bratton  were 
Moses  and  Prudence  (Worthington)  Thomas,  who 
on  moving  from  Pennsylvania  first  located  in  Craw- 
ford County,  Ohio,  and  in  1842  also  established 
homes  in  Williams  County,  where  they  lived  until 
the  death  of  Moses  in  1848  and  the  death  of  his  wife 
in  1878.  The  latter  was  a Quaker,  while  Moses 
was  a Methodist. 

Ira  Bratton  acquired  his  early  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio,  was  a 
farmer  by  occupation  and  died  on  the  old  Williams 
County  farm  of  his  father  July  18,  1882.  His  widow 
afterward  came  to  Angola.  They  were  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church  but  in  Angola  she 
became  affiliated  with  the  Congregational  Church. 
Their  children  were : Alcinus,  an  attorney  at 

Hastings,  Nebraska,  and  for  twenty-five  years  city 
clerk;  Judge  Emmet  A.;  Clara  T„  wife  of  M.  M. 
Gawood,  of  Angola;  Jennie,  deceased,  wife  of  F. 
L.  Hoverstock;  Elvada,  wife  of  D.  C.  Kimmel,  of 
Flint,  Michigan ; Dellah  M„  wife  of  George  M. 
Ryder,  of  Oklahoma ; Alma  L.,  wife  of  F.  L.  Pow- 
ers, of  St.  Paul,  Minnesota. 

Emmet  A.  Bratton  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Ohio,  attended  one  term  of  high  school  in  Angola, 
became  a teacher  and  through  his  own  efforts  paid 
his  way  for  two  years  in  Hillsdale  College.  He 
then  returned  to  Angola  and  studied  law  in  private 
offices  and  in  1880  entered  the  University  of  Mich- 
igan, graduating  from  the  law  department  in  March, 
1881.  He  then  formed  a partnership  with  Stephen 
A.  Powers  under  the  name  Powers  & Bratton.  After 
1884  he  was  associated  with  D.  R.  Best  under  the 
name  of  Best  & Bratton.  In  the  early  years  of 
his  practice  he  served  as  deputy  prosecuting  attor- 


396 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


ney  and  then  for  two  terms  was  elected  prosecuting 
attorney,  also  served  as  city  clerk  and  treasurer,  and 
in  other  local  positions  of  trust.  In  1893  Charles 
A.  Yotter  became  a member  of  the  firm,  and  as 
Best,  Bratton  and  Yotter  it  continued  until  1904. 
In  that  year  Mr.  Bratton  was  elected  circuit  judge, 
and  gave  an  efficient  administration  of  his  duties 
on  the  bench  until  1910.  In  January,  1911,  he  re- 
sumed practice  in  partnership  with  William  E. 
Heckenlively,  under  the  name  Bratton  & Hecken- 
lively,  which  still  continues. 

Judge  Bratton  is  affiliated  with  the  lodge,  chap- 
ter and  council  of  York  Rite  Masons,  is  a member 
of  both  branches  of  Odd  Fellowship,  a member  of 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  of  the  Christian  Church. 

February  14,  1883,  he  married  Miss  Della  Rice, 
a native  of  Steuben  County  and  daughter  of  a 
prominent  physician,  Dr.  Cornelius  D.  Rice.  ’Mrs. 
Bratton  died  January  27,  1914.  On  August  23,  1917, 
Judge  Bratton  married  Jennie  M.  Golden. 

Judge  Bratton  has  three  children.  Aria,  who  fin- 
ished her  education  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege at  Angola,  was  formerly  a teacher  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Ben  L.  Averill,  of  Painesville,  Ohio, 
and  the  mother  of  two  daughters,  Virginia  B.  and 
Mary  Lou.  Lulu  Bratton,  who  graduated  in  music 
at  the  Tri-State  College,  taught  school  and  is  now 
the  wife  of  Paul  G.  Preston  and  has  two  sons, 
Wendell  Arthur  and  Robert  Asher.  Rev.  Mr.  Pres- 
ton has  served  as  chaplain  at  the  Marine  Barracks 
at  Paris  Island,  South  Carolina.  The  son  of  Judge 
Bratton  is  Cornelius  Rice.  He  is  a graduate  of  high 
school  and  the  Tri-State  College  and  served  a year 
and  a half  in  the  Medical  Corps  with  the  army. 

Peter  R.  Dirrim.  Dirrim  is  one  of  the  names 
that  occur  most  frequently  in  the  annals  both  early 
and  modern  of  DeKalb  County  and  also  of  parts  of 
Steuben  County.  Peter  R.  Dirrim,  a native  of  De- 
Kalb  County,  has  spent  the  greater  part  of  his 
life  as  a practical  farmer  on  the  old  Dirrim  home- 
stead in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  County. 

He  was  born  in  Franklin  Township  of  the  former 
county  October  12,  1851.  He  is  a son  of  Isaac 
and  Eleanor  (Wycoff)  Dirrim,  and  a grandson  of 
Richard  Dirrim.  Various  members  of  the  Dirrim 
family  are  referred  to  elsewhere  in  this  publica- 
tion. Isaac  Dirrim  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio, 
and  his  wife  was  a native  of  that  state,  a daughter 
of  Peter  Wycoff.  Isaac  Dirrim  came  to  DeKalb 
County  and  located  in  Franklin  Township,  in  the 
same  community  where  his  brother  William  H. 
Dirrim  lived.  He  cleared  a farm,  put  up  buildings, 
and  in  1858  moved  to  the  place  now  occupied  by 
his  son  Peter  in  Otsego  Township  of  Steuben  Coun- 
ty, where  he  acquired  about  200  acres.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  and  stock  raiser  and  a man  of 
good  influence  in  his  community.  He  was  a member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  He  and  his  wife 
had  a large  family  of  eleven  children : Elizabeth, 
who  died  unmarried;  Sarah,  deceased  wife  of  Joseph 
Oberlin ; Liza  Ann,  who  was  married  to  Alfred 
Kepler;  Hannah,  deceased  wife  of  David  W.  Ober- 
lin ; Eveline,  who  married  George  H.  Casper ; Wil- 
liam Cyrus,  who  spent  his  life  in  Kansas ; Lovina, 
wife  of  Hiram  Enzor;  Peter  R. ; Martha,  deceased 
wife  of  Benjamin  Myers;  Mary  E.,  who  first  mar- 
ried James  Hagerty  and  later  E.  A.  Prawl ; Ida 
Frances,  deceased  wife  of  Frank  Albright. 

Peter  R.  Dirrim  received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Otsego  Township.  He  began  as- 
sisting his  father  on  his  present  farm  in  section 
35  when  a youth,  and  during  his  individual  manage- 
ment and  ownership  has  erected  all  the  substantial 
buildings  on  the  land.  He  owns  130  acres,  twenty- 


two  of  which  are  in  Franklin  Township  of  De- 
Kalb County. 

February  24,  1872,  Mr.  Dirrim  married  Hannah 
Myers,  daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  (Slentz) 
Myers.  Her  father  was  also  one  of  the  early  set- 
tlers of  Franklin  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dirrim 
have  three  children:  Cyrus  B.,  Frank  Eugene  and 
Birt.  Frank  Eugene  married  Mabel  Henselman  and 
has  five  children,  named  Carrol,  Alice,  Clarence, 
Donald  and  Harold.  Birt  is  one  of  the  progressive 
young  farmers  of  this  part  of  Indiana,  owns  sixty 
acres  of  land  in  section  1 of  Franklin  Township, 
and  also  handles  his  father’s  farm.  He  is  a member 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  Birt  Dirrim  married 
Audra  V.  Dirrim  and  has  one  child,  Cecil. 

Edward  T.  Harding,  member  of  one  of  the  ear- 
liest families  to  locate  in  LaGrange  County,  was 
born  in  Lima  Township  September  7,  1852,  son  of 
Micajah  and  Lydia  (Kellehan)  Harding. 

His  father  was  born  in  New  York  State  Novem- 
ber 20,  1812,  a son  of  Micajah  and  Betsey  Harding, 
who  were  very  early  settlers  of  Lima  Township. 
Micajah  Harding,  Jr.,  arrived  in  LaGrange  County 
September  7,  1832,  and  settled  on  a farm  in  Lima 
Township,  on  Lima  Prairie,  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  in  1854.  He  married  Lydia  Kellehan, 
who  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Ohio,  November 
7,  1814,  and  her  parents  settled  in  Van  Buren 
Township  of  LaGrange  County.  She  died  in  1880. 
They  had  eight  children,  named  Stephen,  John, 
who  died  in  infancy,  Wesley,  who  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  Sylvester,  Louisa,  Lucy,  Edward  and 
Rebecca. 

Edward  T.  Harding  grew  up  in  Lima  Township, 
had  a public  school  education,  and  for  three  years 
owned  a farm  of  forty  acres  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, after  which  he  returned  to  Lima  Township 
and  worked  the  old  homestead  and  in  1886  moved 
to  his  present  place,  where  he  has  since  farmed. 
For  twenty  years  he  has  made  a practice  of  putting 
up  a large  supply  of  ice.  He  also  owns  four  cot- 
tages on  Twin  Lakes,  these  cottages  being  on  his 
farm.  Mr.  Harding  is  a republican  in  politics. 

In  1874  he  married  Miss  Ella  Schultz,  a daughter 
of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Ruhl)  Schultz,  who  came 
to  LaGrange  County  in  1868  from  Erie  County, 
Pennsylvania.  Her  father  was  a carpenter  by  trade, 
and  while  living  on  a farm  in  Lima  Township  put 
up  many  houses  around  Lima.  He  died  in  1893,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-one,  and  his  wife  in  1908,  aged 
eighty-six.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harding  had  four  chil- 
dren : Clyde,  who  is  married  and  has  a daughter, 

Gladys  May ; Leroy,  who  died  when  two  and  a 
half  years  old;  Jesse,  who  has  three  daughters, 
named  Gwendolin,  Erma  and  Greta;  and  Robert, 
unmarried. 

Otis  L.  Ballou  is  one  of  the  oldest  members  of 
the  LaGrange  County  bar  and  has  enjoyed  many 
of  the  best  dignities  and  honors  of  his  profession. 

He  was  born  in  Saratoga  County,  New  York, 
August  31,  1849,  a son  of  Pardon  D.  and  Cath- 
erine (Bonesteel)  Ballou.  The  family  is  of  French 
origin,  and  all  the  Ballous  in  this  country  trace 
their  origin  to  two  brothers  who  came  to  the  Amer- 
ican colonies  many  generations  ago.  Otis  L.  Bal- 
lou was  reared  from  early  boyhood  in  the  home 
of  his  parents  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio.  He  grad- 
uated from  the  Kingsville  Academy  in  1868.  On 
February  28,  1869,  he  married  Julia  M.  Curtis. 
Only  recently,  in  1919,  they  quietly  celebrated  the 
golden  wedding  anniversary  marking  fifty  years  of 
marriage  companionship. 

The  year  of  his  marriage  Mr.  Ballou,  accom- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


397 


panied  by  his  wife  and  his  parents,  moved  to  La- 
Grange  County.  Here  for  several  years  he  com- 
bined farming  and  teaching  school.  He  was  also 
diligently  studying  law,  having  access  to  the  library 
of  Andrew  Ellison.  He  was  admitted  to  the  bar 
in  1872  but  did  not  begin  actual  practice  until  June, 
1875.  In  1878  he  formed  a partnership  with  George 
A.  Cutting.  He  has  now  rounded  out  more  than 
forty  years  of  work  as  a lawyer,  and  his  career 
has  been  marked  with  many  successes  both  as  an 
advocate  and  as  a counsel. 

Mr.  Ballou  has  always  been  a democrat  in  his 
political  affiliations.  He  has  lived  in  a republican 
county,  yet  as  a young  man  he  served  as  county 
commissioner,  and  for  nine  years  as  a member  of 
the  School  Board,  the  longest  consecutive  term  en- 
joyed by  any  citizen  of  LaGrange.  When  Judge 
J.  D.  Ferrell  died  court  was  in  session,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  law  the  county  clerk,  county  re- 
corder and  county  treasurer  had  the  duty  of  select- 
ing and  appointing  a judge  to  fill  the  immediate 
vacancy.  Otis  L.  Ballou  was  the  recipient  of  that 
honor,  and  as  the  appointment  came  from  republi- 
can county  officials  he  regards  this  as  the  greatest 
honor  he  has  ever  received.  He  held  the  office 
until  the  governor  filled  it  by  appointment  of  Fran- 
cis Dewitt  Merritt.  Judge  Ballou  was  presidential 
elector  of  Indiana  in  1802  and  in  the  electoral 
college  the  vote  was  cast  for  Cleveland  and  Stev- 
enson. He  was  also  a member  of  the  State  Senate 
in  1913  and  1915  and  has  served  one  term  on  the 
Board  of  Town  Trustees.  He  owns  a good  farm 
in  LaGrange  County  and  valuable  business  and  resi- 
dence property  in  LaGrange.  He  spends  a con- 
siderable part  of  his  time  in  the  country,  super- 
vising his  farm  interests,  yet  he  is  still  actively  en- 
gaged in  the  practice  of  the  law. 

Judge  and  Mrs.  Ballou  had  three  children,  Par- 
don D.,  Katie  M.  and  William  C. 

Lorenzo  Burch.  A successful  career  makes  its 
impress  upon  the  manner  and  character  of  the  man 
himself,  and  the  stranger  on  meeting  Lorenzo 
Burch  would  soon  have  revealed  to  him  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  fact  that  Mr.  Burch  has  earned  his  right 
to  live  and  enjoy  all  the  prosperity  that  surrounds 
him  at  his  good  and  thriftily  managed  farm  in  Ot- 
sego Township. 

Mr.  Burch  was  born  in  the  same  township  April 
9,  1867,  and  represents  a family  of  pioneers  in 
Steuben  County.  His  grandfather,  Chester  Burch, 
was  born  in  Vermont  March  22,  1810,  a son  of 
Oliver  and  Anna  Burch.  He  grew  up  in  New  York 
and  in  1831,  in  Ohio,  married  Polly  Davis,  who 
was  born  in  Washington  County,  Ohio,  April  4,  1812. 
Chester  Burch  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  in 
1837,  and  joined  the  few  other  early  settlers  in 
Otsego  Township.  He  acquired  eighty  acres  in  sec- 
tion 10,  and  lived  there  until  his  death  on  January 
26,  1879.  He  was  a very  active  member  of  the  Dis- 
ciples Church. 

One  of  his  seven  children  was  Halbert  C.  Burch, 
who  was  reared  in  Otsego  Township,  served  over 
three  years  as  a Union  soldier  in  the  Civil  war, 
and  was  killed  in  November,  1872,  by  being  thrown 
from  a wagon.  He  married  Mary  Rhinehart,  who 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-two. 

Lorenzo  Burch  was  a son  of  Halbert  and  Mary- 
Burch,  and  was  only  five  years  old  when  his  father 
died.  He  attended  public  school  in  Otsego  and  York 
townships,  and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  began  his 
career  of  independent  farming.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  having  inherited  twenty-three  acres  in 
section  n of  Otsego  Township,  he  took  possession 
and  started  in  to  build  up  his  modest  fortune.  How 


well  he  has  done  his  work  is  seen  in  his  present 
farm  of  over  202  acres,  nearly  all  of  which  he  has 
bought  from  time  to  time  out  of  the  proceeds  of 
his  labors.  He  has  improved  his  land  with  excel- 
lent buildings  and  carried  on  a diversified  farming 
and  stockraising  business.  His  home  is  in  section 
12  of  Otsego  Township. 

In  1888  Mr.  Burch  married  Mina  May  Corey, 
daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  (Teagarden) 
Corey.  Mr.  Burch  has  three  daughters  and  several 
grandchildren.  Ethel,  his  oldest  daughter,  married 
Alva  Myers,  and  her  children  are  Howard,  Merl, 
Raymond  and  Donald.  Edna  is  the  wife  of  Glenn 
Rozell,  and  she  has  two  children,  Charles  and  Mil- 
dred. Fern  married  Etta  Sewell  and  has  a son, 
Kenneth  Earl.  The  mother  of  these  daughters  died 
December  28,  1916.  Mr.  Burch  married  for  his 
present  wife  Mrs.  Mary  Everitt,  daughter  of  Calvin 
Fee.  Mr.  Burch  is  a member  of  the  Christian 
Church  at  Metz  and  is  fraternally  identified  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias,  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  Rebekahs  and  Pythian  Sisters. 

George  W.  Gilbert,  now  living  retired  in  Pleasant 
Lake  after  many  years  of  steady  industry  as  a 
farmer,  represents  one  of  the  oldest  and  most 
honored  families  of  Steuben  Township  in  Steuben 
County. 

His  grandparents,  Samuel  and  Fanny  (Crawford) 
Gilbert,  came  from  Ohio  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana, 
arriving  March  19,  1842,  only  a few  years  after 
the  first  settlers  had  located  in  the  wilderness  here, 
and  Samuel  Gilbert  bought  320  acres  of  wild  land 
in  section  20  of  Steuben  Township.  He  was  born 
in  Genesee  County,  New  York,  in  1799  and  hjs 
wife  was  a native  of  Vermont.  From  New  York 
they  removed  to  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  and  from 
there  to  Indiana.  Samuel  Gilbert  was  in  advanced 
years  when  the  Civil  War  came  on,  but  in  1862  he 
made  arrangements  to  enter  the  Union  army,  had 
enlisted,  but  before  being  mustered  in  died  suddenly 
of  heart  disease.  He  and  his  wife  had  children 
named  Chauncy;  John;  David  S. ; Lester;  Samuel, 
Jr. ; Cornelius ; and  Lucy.  The  last  named  mar- 
ried Calvin  Powers. 

^ John  Gilbert  father  of  George  W.,  was  born  in 
New  York  State  and  married  Ortensia  George,  a 
native  of  Ohio.  John  Gilbert  came  to  Steuben 
County  about  1845  and  located  on  a farm  adjoining 
the  Village  of  Pleasant  Lake,  on  the  bank  of  Long 
Lake.  He  lived  there  the  rest  of  his  life  and  died 
more  than  thirty  years  ago.  He  was  the  owner  of 
120  acres.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  children, 
James,  George,  Vina  and  Sherley. 

George  W.  Gilbert,  who  was  born  in  Pleasant  Lake 
August  10,  1852,  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  at- 
tended school  in  Pleasant  Lake  and  Angola  and 
after  his  education  was  completed  he  lost  no  time 
in  taking  up  his  vocation  as  an  agriculturist.  He 
followed  farming  steadily  until  1912  and  since  then 
has  lived  retired  in  Pleasant  Lake.  Mr.  Gilbert 
became  owner  of  235  acres  of  rich  and  fertile  soil 
in  Steuben  Township.  In  addition  to  the  responsi- 
bilities of  his  farm  he  served  five  years  as  trustee 
of  the  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  Baptist 
Church  and  is  a Mason  in  fraternal  affiliations. 

In  1877  he  married  Sarah  Gaylord,  a daughter  of 
David  W.  and  Jane  (Serle)  Gaylord.  Five  children 
were  born  to  their  marriage : Gertrude ; Charles, 
who  married  Gertrude  Ransburg  and  has  three 
children,  named  Roger,  Elizabeth  and  Lawrence ; 
Donald,  who  is  a first  lieutenant  in  the  American 
army  and  in  the  spring  of  1919  was  still  with  the 
Expeditionary  Forces  in  France;  Gaylord,  who  is 
also  a first  lieutenant  and  who  served  as  chief  of 


398 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


the  Military  Police  at  Louisville,  Kentucky;  and 
Gerald,  who  is  a member  of  the  United  States 
Marines. 

Henry  C.  Elsner  was  one  of  the  prominent  mer- 
chants, business  men  and  public-spirited  citizens  of 
LaGrange  for  many  years,  and  when  he  died  in 
1918  he  had  a worthy  successor  in  his  son,  Fred  H. 
Eisner,  who  is  now  the  responsible  manager  of  the 
large  Eisner  store,  one  of  the  landmarks  in  the 
business  district. 

The  late  Mr.  Eisner  was  born  in  Holstein,  Ger- 
many, October  15,  1866,  and  was  in  his  fifty-second 
year  when  he  died.  His  parents  were  Joachim  and 
Dora  Eisner,  and  he  was  one  of  a number  of  chil- 
dren. Two  of  his  brothers  are  still  business  men 
at  Sweet  Springs,  Missouri,  and  he  also  was  sur- 
vived by  a sister  and  brother  at  Kiel,  Germany. 

He  liad  a splendid  preparation  for  a business 
career,  attending  the  common  schools  and  also  a 
German  university.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1882  and  joined  his  brothers  Frederick  and 
Christian  in  a general  merchandise  business  in  Mis- 
souri. He  was  a resident  of  Sweet  Springs  in  that 
state  for  a number  of  years,  but  in  1902  came  to 
LaGrange,  Indiana.  His  first  location  was  a room 
now  occupied  by  N.  A.  Balch,  but  about  twelve 
years  before  his  death  he  became  owner  of  the 
Rose  white  brick  block  on  South  Detroit  Street,  and 
equipped  his  store  with  a splendid  stock  of  dry 
goods,  clothing  and  shoes.  He  sold  the  clothing  and 
shoe  departments  six  or  seven  years  before  his 
death,  and  the  H.  C.  Eisner  store  is  now  an  exclu- 
sive dry  goods  business. 

He  was  baptized  a Lutheran,  but  after  coming 
to  America  became  a member  of  the  Christian 
church.  He  was  a Knight  Templar  Mason  at  Ken- 
dallville,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  active  in  the 
Eastern  Star  at  LaGrange. 

Besides  his  wife  and  son  Fred  H.,  he  was  sur- 
vived by  two  daughters,  Erna  and  Adell,  both  pub- 
lic school  teachers.  His  son  Ralph  died  in  Cali- 
fornia several  years  ago. 

The  appreciation  in  which  this  sterling  citizen  was 
held  is  concisely  told  in  the  columns  of  a LaGrange 
newspaper  issued  after  his  death.  From  this  arti- 
cle the  following  well  deserved  tributes  are  taken : 

“Mr.  Eisner  was  a strong  man  intellectually,  with 
the  polish  of  education  and  travel.  He  had  trav- 
eled in  every  civilized  country  in  the  world  and  was 
a student  and  a reader,  the  classics  being  his  favor- 
ites, and  he  was  modest  in  his  manner  and  conserva- 
tive in  his  statements.  He  never  intruded  his  friend- 
ship, but  those  who  came  within  the  circle  of  his  lik- 
ing found  him  a most  interesting  and  entertaining 
companion  and  a loyal  comrade. 

“He  was  intensely  interested  in  public  affairs, 
helpfully  partisan  in  most  things,  and  in  politics  a 
republican.  He  was  a member  of  the  LaGrange 
Board  of  Education  one  term  of  three  years,  and 
filled  the  place  with  credit  to  himself  and  benefit  to 
the  community.  He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of 
Corn  School  Week.  He  was  its  vice  president  from 
the  beginning  until  elected  secretary,  holding  the 
latter  position  until  illness  compelled  his  retirement. 
In  this  office  he  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Fred. 

“He  was  successful  in  business,  progressive  in 
spirit,  always  a willing  contributor  in  time  and 
money  to  the  interests  of  his  town  and  county.  He 
was  gifted  in  extemporaneous  speaking.  LaGrange 
has  lost  many  strong  men  in  the  last  four  or  five 
years,  but  no  one  will  be  missed  more  than  this  man. 
He  was  constructive  in  all  that  he  said  and  did, 
charitable  in  his  judgment,  a willing  worker  in  com- 
munity enterprises,  tender  and  true  in  his  family 


relations,  loyal  in  his  friendships  and  unfaltering 
in  his  quiet  but  assured  religious  faith.” 

Fred  H.  Eisner  was  born  in  Sweet  Springs,  Mis- 
souri, July  4,  1892,  and  was  about  nine  years  old 
when  his  father  came  to  LaGrange.  He  finished 
his  education  in  the  local  public  schools,  and  had 
the  benefit  of  thorough  training  and  wide  experi- 
ence to  equip  him  for  his  present  responsibilities  as 
manager  of  the  H.  C.  Eisner  store.  He  spent  four 
years  with  Marshall  Field  & Company  of  Chicago, 
later  for  two  years  was  with  a large  retail  store  at 
Muskogee,  Oklahoma,  the  Graham-Sykes  Company, 
and  was  also  connected  with  Walker  Brothers,  a 
large  retail  store  at  Salt  Lake  City.  A year  or  so 
before  his  father’s  death  he  returned  to  LaGrange 
to  take  active  charge  of  the  business,  and  is  its 
general  manager. 

December  29,  1914,  he  married  Hildegard  Heiner. 
They  have  one  son,  William  Henry,  born  October 
8,  1917.  Mr.  Eisner  is  affiliated  with  Meridian  Sun 
Lodge  No.  76,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.,  La- 
Grange Chapter  No.  102,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  Ken- 
dallville  Council,  Royal  and  Select  Masters,  and 
also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias.  In  politics  he  is 
republican. 

* 

Andrew  Robe  Wyatt,  M.  D.  Since  September, 
1888,  Doctor  Wyatt  has  practiced  as  a physician 
and  surgeon  in  the  City  of  LaGrange.  He  is  one  of 
the  best  known  professional  men  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  while  devoted  to  the  strict  routine  of 
his  professional  duties  his  interests  have  been  iden- 
tified with  everything  affecting  the  welfare  and 
progress  of  his  community. 

Doctor  Wyatt  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  Indi- 
ana, a son  of  John  and  Sarah  Jane  (Robe)  Wyatt. 
His  father  was  born  in  Maryland  April  4,  1811, 
and  his  mother  in  Indiana  October  31,  1820.  John 
Wyatt  when  a boy  went  to  Ohio,  and  later  with 
his  parents,  Nathan  Wyatt  and  wife,  moved  to  De- 
Kalb  County,  Indiana,  where  Nathan  and  wife 
spent  their  last  years.  John  Wyatt  entered  land 
in  1836  in  DeKalb  County,  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  seventy  years  later,  on  July  28,  1906.  His 
wife  passed  away  January  28,  1888.  He  was  a 
strong  and  ardent  republican  in  politics,  and  he 
and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Prot- 
estant Church.  His  wife  had  two  brothers,  James 
Theodore  and  John  Robe,  both  ministers  of  the 
Gospel  with  the  Methodist  Church.  The  former 
preached  the  first  sermon  ever  preached  at  Kala- 
mazoo, Michigan,  and  the  latter  was  a minister  near 
Indianapolis.  Another  brother,  William  Robe,  was 
murdered  by  the  Knights  of  the  Golden  Circle  dur- 
ing Civil  war  times.  Still  another  brother,  An- 
drew Robe,  went  to  Texas  and  when  the  war  came 
on  served  as  a surgeon  with  the  Confederate  army. 

Dr.  Andrew  Robe  Wyatt  grew  up  on  the  old 
homestead  and  had  a public  school  education,  at- 
tended the  Spencerville  High  School,  taught  school 
for  several  years,  and  was  graduated  from  the  In- 
diana Medical  College  in  1882.  He  practiced  at 
Spencerville  with  Doctor  Hull  for  a few  months, 
for  a year  and  a half  lived  at  Cedarville  in  Allen 
County,  and  for  five  years  practiced  at  Rome  City. 
For  twenty-eight  years  Doctor  Wyatt  had  his  offices 
in  the  Lazarus  Rose  Building  at  LaGrange  and 
finally  moved  just  across  the  hall  from  his  former 
quarters.  Doctor  Wyatt  was  a medical  representa- 
tive on  the  local  board  during  the  World  war  and 
examined  about  1,700  volunteers  and  drafted  men 
in  the  county.  He  is  a member  of  the  LaGrange 
County  Medical  Society,  the  Northern  Tri-State 
Society,  the  State  and  American  Medical  asso- 
ciations. He  is  a Royal  Arch  Mason,  member 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


399 


of  the  Knight  Templar  Commandery  at  Kendall- 
ville,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church  and  the  doctor  is  now  and 
has  been  for  twenty-five  years  a member  of  the 
board  of  trustees. 

March  16,  1882,  he  married  Ella  Snyder,  a native 
of  DeKalb  County  and  a daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Malinda  (Dickerhoof)  Snyder.  Doctor  and  Mrs. 
Wyatt  have  one  child,  Grace  Pauline,  widow  of  G. 
C.  Nichols. 

Doctor  Wyatt  has  always  been  an  ardent  repub- 
lican in  politics.  He  was  formerly  a member  of 
the  LaGrange  School  Board  with  Judge  Ferrell  and 
Judge  James  Drake.  He  has  been  a member  of 
the  Library  Board  since  it  was  organized  and  one 
of  the  men  chiefly  responsible  for  that  institution. 
For  several  years  he  also  served  as  county  and 
town  health  officer. 

Doctor  Wyatt  gave  a great  deal  of  attention  to 
operative  surgery,  and  performed  many  very  diffi- 
cult and  critical  abdominal  operations  with  a high 
percentage  of  success.  He  had  the  distinction  of 
performing  the  first  abdominal  operation  ever  per- 
formed by  a local  physician  in  LaGrange  County. 

Gunther  C.  Nichols.  In  a lifetime  measured  by 
few  years  Gunther  C.  Nichols  possessed  the  activi- 
ties, the  kindly  thought  and  charitable  action  of 
which  there  is  no  adequate  human  measure  and 
which  can  only  deserve  and  merit  grateful  memory 
of  the  generation  which  he  served. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  born  on  English  Prairie  in 
Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  March  21, 
1876,  son  of  Charles  G.  and  Ella  (Burnell)  Nichols. 
Of  his  parents  and  other  members  of  the  family 
sufficient  is  said  on  other  pages.  Gunther  C.  Nich- 
ols was  graduated  from  the  Lima  High  School  and 
was  also  a graduate  of  the  University  of  Illinois. 
His  career  was  largely  made  up  of  banking  experi- 
ence. After  coming  home  from  university  he  en- 
tered the  State  Bank  of  Lima,  now  Howe,  an  in- 
stitution owned  by  him  and  his  brothers.  Upon  the 
organization  of  the  LaGrange  State  Bank  in  Octo- 
ber, 1903,  he  was  elected  cashier  and  performed 
the  duties  of  that  office  until  his  death  on  May  26, 
1917- 

In  November,  1906,  he  married  Grace  Pauline 
Wyatt,  a daughter  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  R. 
Wyatt  of  LaGrange.  To  their  marriage  was  born 
one  daughter,  Margaret-Ellen  Nichols.  Mrs.  Nich- 
ols was  born  at  Cedarville  in  Allen  County,  Indi- 
ana, but  has  spent  most  of  her  life  in  LaGrange. 
She  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School 
and  of  the  Western  Seminary  for  Women  at  Ox- 
ford, Ohio.  She  is  a member  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  Mr.  Nichols  was  one  of  its  most  active 
supporters  and  a trustee  of  the  congregation.  He 
was  a member  and  treasurer  of  the  town  school 
board,  and  was  in  his  third  consecutive  term  at 
the  time  of  his  death.  He  was  also  treasurer  of 
his  Lodge  of  Knights  of  Pythias,  was  treasurer  of 
the  Masonic  Chapter,  was  a member  of  the  Eastern 
Star,  was  secretary  and  treasurer  of  the  LaGrange 
Creamery  and  Ice  Company,  and  was  treasurer  of 
the  Corn  School  Week,  a local  institution  in  which 
he  took  great  pride  and  which  he  did  much  to  make 
successful. 

Mr.  Nichols  was  a beautiful  example  of  the  un- 
selfish and  public  spirited  citizen.  Modest  and  un- 
assuming in  his  personal  demeanor,  he  found  means 
of  entering  into  the  lives  of  other  people  and  the 
community  in  a spirit  of  helpfulness  that  was  per- 
haps inadequately  appreciated  until  his  death 
brought  a vivid  realization  of  the  value  he  repre- 
sented to  the  community.  He  was  the  type  of  man 
who  said  little  and  did  much.  He  was  thoughtful, 


considerate,  generous  and  his  career,  though  brief, 
was  the  expression  of  a continuous  purpose  of 
high  mindedness. 

Albert  Preston.  Ever  since  he  came  out  of  the 
Union  army  after  the  Civil  war  Mr.  Preston  has 
devoted  his  time  and  energy  to  farming  and  live- 
stock raising.  For  more  than  forty-five  years  he 
has  been  a resident  of  LaGrange  County,  and  still 
lives  on  his  farm  near  LaGrange,  though  practically 
retired  from  its  responsibilities. 

The  people  of  Northeast  Indiana  have  reason  to 
appreciate  the  sterling  patriotism  of  the  Preston 
family.  For  generations  they  have  been  men  of 
deeds  and  solid  industry,  but  have  been  equally 
valiant  fighters  in  times  of  national  need.  Albert 
Preston  was  born  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  May 
25,  1840,  a son  of  James  Preston,  whose  mother 
was  a McClean,  a descendant  of  the  McCleans 
who  made  the  first  survey,  later  known  as  the 
Mason  and  Dixie  line.  James  Preston  was  born 
in  Beaver  County,  Pennsylvania,  December  9,  1809. 
He  brought  his  family  to  Indiana  in  1853  and  died 
in  LaGrange  County  about  1890.  His  first  wife  was 
Mrs.  Mary  A.  (Matthews)  Preston,  who  was  born 
in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  April  1,  1816.  They 
were  the  parents  of  twelve  children,  several  of 
whom  died  in  infancy  or  early  childhood.  Those 
to  reach  mature  years  were:  John  M.,  who  was  a 

Union  soldier  two  and  a half  years  and  is  now 
deceased ; Mary,  deceased ; Seymour,  who  served 
for  four  years  in  the  Civil  war  and  is  still  living; 
Albert  whose  record  as  a soldier  will  be  noted, 
below ; Samuel,  who  was  in  the  war  one  year  and  is 
now  deceased;  James  McClean,  who  was  for  four 
years  a Union  soldier,  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel 
and  was  a member  of  the  staff  of  General  Gross 
and  later  became  prominent  as  a pioneer  in  Ne- 
braska ; Amanda  and  Nancy,  both  still  living. 

James  Preston  married  for  his  second  wife  Mrs. 
Eliza  (Matthews)  Gould.  By  her  first  husband 
she  had  a son,  Henry  Gould,  who  was  a Union 
soldier  two  and  a half  years.  Thomas  Preston,  a 
son  of  James  Preston  by  his  second  marriage,  is 
still  living. 

While  on  the  subject  of  the  military  record  of 
the  family  it  will  be  interesting  to  note  the  descend- 
ants of  James  Preston  who  took  part  in  the  recent 
World  war.  Their  names  are:  Cecil  Preston, 

Kenneth  Blodgett,  Harry  Preston  and  Maynard 
Preston. 

Albert  Preston  came  to  Indiana  with  his  father 
in  1853,  and  had  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the 
home  farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  until  1859.  In 
the  meantime  he  attended  the  common  schools.  In 
1859  he  _ began  an  apprenticeship  in  the  carpenter’s 
trade  with  John  Q.  Reed  of  LaGrange.  For  sev- 
eral summers  he  worked  as  a carpenter  and  con- 
tinued schooling  in  the  winter.  He  was  just  about 
twenty-one  years  of  age  when  the  Civil  war  broke 
out.  A few  months  later  he  put  down  his  tools 
and  in  August,  1861,  enlisted  in  Company  G,  of  the 
Thirtieth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  mustered  into 
service  September  24th  and  was  with  his  regiment 
in  some  of  the  sternest  fighting  of  the  war  in  the 
Mississippi  Valley.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh, 
Corinth,  Stone  River,  Chattanooga,  and  early  in  the 
campaigns  through  Northern  Georgia  was  wounded 
at  Rocky  Face,  May  9,  1864.  On  account  of  this 
wound  he  was  detailed  as  a commissary  sergeant 
at  General  Gross’  brigade  headquarters  and  re- 
mained on  that  duty  until  mustered  out  at  Indian- 
apolis September  29,  1864.  Thus  for  three  continu- 
ous years  he  assisted  in  the  mighty  task  of  preserv- 
ing the  Union. 


400 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


On  December  14,  1864,  a few  weeks  after  leaving 
the  army,  he  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Moor.  She 
was  born  in  Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  July  15,  1842, 
only  child  of  Andrew  B.  and  Jane  L.  (Thomas) 
Moor.  Her  father  was  also  a native  of  Trumbull 
County,  while  her  mother  was  born  in  Wales. 

Mr.  Preston  brought  his  family  to  his  present 
farm  in  Bloomfield  Township  in  1871.  He  has  been 
a sheep  feeder  for  thirty  years,  and  until  he  retired 
from  farming  about  nine  years  ago  he  operated  on 
the  average  about  150  acres.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Preston  had  five  children.  Effie 
M.,  widow  of  David  Canine,  taught  school  for 
many  years  and  she  and  her  only  son,  Albert  Preston 
Canine,  reside  at  Crawfordsville,  Indiana.  Francis 
A.  Preston,  formerly  a traveling  salesman  who  now 
lives  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  married  Frances  Allison, 
of  Indianapolis,  and  their  two  children  are  Eliza- 
beth and  Judith.  Alice  L.  Preston  is  the  wife  of 
Dr.  William  Cook,  of  South  Bend,  and  is  the 
mother  of  two  daughters,  Mary  and  Lois  Josephine. 
Mary  Isabelle  Preston  died  September  30,  1877, 
aged  three.  The  fifth  of  the  children  is  Lois,  widow 
of  John  H.  McKibben,  and  she  has  two  children, 
Eloise  and  Frank  Preston. 

Thomas  S.  Wickwire  has  been  a lawyer,  banker, 
business  man,  farmer  and  identified  with  so  much 
of  importance  in  the  affairs  of  Angola  and  Steuben 
County  that  the  present  generation  at  least  need 
no  introduction  to  his  name  and  career.  The  Wick- 
wires  are  in  fact  a prominent  old-time  family  of 
Steuben  County.  His  father  was  a big  man  of 
affairs  in  his  day  and  the  son  has  done  much  to 
broaden  and  increase  the  associations  with  the  name. 

Mr.  Wickwire  was  born  in  the  Benjamin  Brown 
Building  on  North  Main  Street,  at  the  corner  of  the 
Public  square,  in  Angola,  January  30,  1854,  and  is  a 
son  of  George  W.  and  Rebecca  (Hanna)  Wickwire. 
His  father  married  for  his  first  wife  Loretta  Lem- 
mon. George  W.  Wickwire  arrived  in  Indiana  and 
joined  the  pioneer  community  of  Steuben  County 
in  1835.  His  first  place  of  settlement  was  three  and 
a half  miles  east  of  Angola,  where  he  secured  a tract 
of  Government  land.  As  his  fortune  increased  he 
invested  in  other  land  until  at  the  time  of  his  death 
he  owned  about  3,000  acres.  He  did  a large  busi- 
ness buying  and  selling  land,  chiefly  on  his  own  ac- 
count. His  first  wife  died  while  on  the  farm  east 
of  Angola,  the  mother  of  three  children,  Laura, 
George  R.  and  Loretta  A.  George  W.  Wickwire 
then  married  Rebecca  Hanna,  who  was  a native  of 
Ohio.  By  that  union  there  were  seven  children : 
Catherine,  Thomas  S.,  Lydia  Josephine,  Charles  W., 
Garry  N.,  Nellie  Maud,  and  Wilma  W.  George  W. 
Wickwire,  who  was  born  in  New  York  State  in 
1815,  became  a whig  in  political  affiliation,  later  a 
republican,  and  prior  to  the  Civil  war  was  a strong 
anti-slavery  man.  He  was  a charter  member  of 
Angola  Lodge  of  Masons  and  also  a charter  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  and  one  of  its  first 
officers. 

Thomas  S.  Wickwire  received  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  Angola,  including  high 
school,  and  took  up  the  study  of  law  in  a local 
office.  Three  years  later  he  entered  DePauw  Uni- 
versity at  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  graduated  in  the 
law  course  in  1892.  A member  of  the  bar  since  1890, 
he  practiced  in  Ashley  as  well  as  Angola,  but  has 
found  many  important  business  interests  competing 
for  his  time  as  a lawyer.  He  served  about  twenty 
years  as  deputy  prosecuting  attorney.  Mr.  Wick- 
wire owns  a fine  farm  of  i6o)4  acres  in  section  17 
of  Pleasant  Township,  and  he  has  made  that  a 
model  place  in  the  agricultural  environment  of 


Steuben  County.  His  own  residence  at  Angola  is 
probably  the  finest  house  in  the  city.  It  is  con- 
structed of  cobblestone.  He  also  owns  store  build- 
ings at  Ashley  and  a cottage  on  the  banks  of 
Crooked  Lake. 

Mr.  Wickwire  has  long  been  one  of  the  leading 
republicans  of  Steuben  County.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  State  Senate  through  the  three  ses- 
sions of  1905,  1907  and  1908.  He  was  author  of  the 
bill  to  preserve  the  lakes  of  Indiana  from  drain- 
age. He  also  secured  the  passage  of  a law  abolish- 
ing all  bucket  shops  in  Indiana.  Mr.  Wickwire  was 
a delegate  to  the  Republican  National  Convention 
in  1908. 

In  Masonry  he  is  affiliated  with  the  York  Rite 
at  Angola  and  with  the  Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at 
Indianapolis,  is  a Mystic  Shriner,  a member  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Angola,  and  is  a past  noble 
grand  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows. 

Mr.  Wickwire  organized  the  Angola  Bank,  which 
was  later  reorganized  as  the  Angola  Bank  and  Trust 
Company.  He  also  founded  the  Ashley  Bank  and 
was  its  president,  and  the  Ashley  Building  and  Land 
Company,  of  which  he  was  also  president. 

December  16,  1877,  Mr.  Wickwire  married  Miss 
Lizzie  Craig,  of  Steuben  County.  She  died  in  1879. 
After  her  death  Mr.  Wickwire  left  Steuben  County 
and  spent  two  years  in  the  Northwest.  During 
that  time  he  helped  build  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, and  was  also  employed  in  the  removal  of  the 
Indians  from  the  Little  Missouri  River  and  Yellow- 
stone River.  He  also  spent  some  time  in  California 
before  his  return  to  Steuben  County.  In  1884  he 
married  Miss  Martha  Meese,  of  Van  Wert,  Ohio. 

Alfred  A.  Wade,  Sr.  A resident  of  La  Grange 
County  over  fifty  years,  Alfred  A.  Wade,  Sr.,  is 
widely  known  not  only  for  his  activities  as  a busi- 
ness man  and  citizen,  but  also  for  the  notable  record 
made  by  his  children  in  various  professions  and 
pursuits.  From  the  standpoint  of  continuous  work 
and  service,  Mr.  Wade  is  one  of  the  oldest  mer- 
chants in  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  at  Leeds,  England, 
August  11,  1849,  a son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  (Wil- 
liamson) Wade.  Llis  father  was  born  in  York- 
shire July  3,  1823,  and  his  mother  in  Leeds,  where 
she  died  when  a young  woman.  The  grandfather 
was  John  Wade,  who  spent  his  life  in  England,  but 
three  of  his  brothers,  Richard,  Robert  and  Thomas 
Wade,  came  to  the  United  States  and  were  pioneers 
of  Northern  Indiana  about  1832.  Richard  Wade, 
father  of  the  La  Grange  County  merchant,  after  the 
death  of  his  wife  brought  his  family  to  America, 
lived  at  Palmyra,  New  York,  for  one  year,  and 
then  came  West  to  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  where 
he  had  his  home  for  six  years,  and  in  1865  located 
at  Mongo,  Indiana,  where  he  engaged  in  the  tailor- 
ing business.  In  1886  he  moved  to  Lima,  where  he 
died  May  19,  1892. 

Alfred  A.  Wade,  Sr.,  spent  a considerable  portion 
of  his  early  boyhood  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan, 
where  he  attended  public  school.  He  was  fifteen 
years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Indiana,  and  for  a 
short  period  he  was  a student  in  the  Orland  Semi- 
nary. He  began  his  experience  as  a merchant  in 
1873  with  the  firm  of  Wade  & Hawk.  In  1882  he 
bought  out  his  partner,  and  continued  the  business 
until  August  17,  1885,  when  he  removed  to  Lima 
and  has  been  a merchant  there  continuously  for 
nearly  thirty-five  years.  Mr.  Wade  is  a charter 
member  of  Howe  Lodge  No.  698,  Free  and  Ac- 
cepted Masons,  and  has  been  secretary  of  the  lodge 
since  it  was  organized.  He  also  became  a charter 
member  of  Lima  Lodge  No.  142,  Knights  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


401 


Pythias,  when  it  was  organized  in  1886,  and  for  over 
twenty  years  has  been  its  master  of  finance.  He 
and  his  family  are  all  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church. 

On  September  8,  1874,  Hr.  Wade  married  Emily 
Eleva  Chase.  She  died  January  15,  1884,  the  mother 
of  three  children:  Richard  L.,  who  died  in  infancy; 
Frank  C.,  a physician  at  Howe,  Indiana;  and  Alfred 
A.  Jr.,  also  a physician  practicing  at  Howe. 

March  19,  1885,  Mr.  Wade  married  Miss  Sarah 
Eliza  Hawk,  daughter  of  Christopher  Louis  and 
Sarah  J.  (Wyckoff)  Hawk,  of  a prominent  and 
widely  known  family  in  Northeast  Indiana.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Wade  became  the  parents  of  four  children. 

Roscoe  H.,  the  oldest,  was  born  April  14,  1886, 
was  educated  in  the  Howe  Military  School,  gradu- 
ating in  1906,  and  in  1909  graduated  in  the  law  de- 
partment of  the  Indiana  State  University.  He 
spent  nine  years  as  collection  and  sales  manager 
of  the  Rumely  manufacturing  business  of  LaPorte, 
Indiana,  and  is  now  in  the  New  Business  Depart- 
ment of  the  Continental  Guarantee  Corporation  of 
New  York  City.  He  married  Birdella  Dagg,  of 
Kansas  City. 

Sarah  Elizabeth  Wade,  who  was  born  September 
3,  1888,  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe  High  School, 
took  music  and  art  courses  in  the  Thomas  Normal 
Training  School  of  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  for  one 
year  taught  at  Eaton,  Indiana,  three  years  in  the 
Howe  High  School  and  one  year  at  Rome  City. 
She  is  now  the  wife  of  Leroy  Edwin  Zuck  and 
they  have  three  sons  named  Edwin  Wade,  Paul 
Daniel  and  John  Alfred. 

Roderic  Paul  Wade,  born  January  4,  "1891,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Howe  Military  School  and  finished 
his  work  at  Harvard  University  in  1913.  For  five 
years  he  was  an  instructor  in  the  Howe  Military 
School,  and  in  June,  1918,  joined  the  aviation 
branch  of  the  American  army,  sailed  on  July  31st, 
landed  in  England  August  15th,  and  on  August  24th 
was  sent  to  Scotland,  where  he  was  assigned  duties 
until  the  armistice.  December  1,  1918,  he  sailed  for 
home,  reaching  this  country  on  the  nth,  and  was 
discharged  December  28th  and  reached  home  the 
30th.  On  January  19th,  1919,  he  went  to  work  as 
correspondent  for  the  Guaranty  Banking  Corpora- 
tion of  Chicago,  and  now  has  charge  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Discounts. 

Anna  E.  Wade,  youngest  of  the  children,  was 
born  May  19,  1893,  and  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe 
High  School  and  of  the  University  of  Indiana  with 
the  class  of  1914.  She  taught  one  year  at  Sturgis, 
Michigan,  three  years  in  the  Howe  High  School, 
and  the  last  year  was  principal.  Since  June,  1918, 
she  has  had  charge  of  the  department  of  restricted 
funds,  and  has  been  staff  assistant  to  the  Comp- 
troller at  the  Red  Cross  headquarters  in  Washing- 
ton. 

Alfred  A.  Wade,  M.  D.  Since  he  began  practice 
at  Howe  in  1909  in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Dr. 
F.  C.  Wade,  Alfred  A.  Wade,  Jr.,  has  accepted 
and  utilized  the  larger  opportunities  presented  to  a 
man  of  first  class  ability  in  his  profession. 

He  was  born  at  Mongo,  Indiana,  February  9,  1883, 
son  of  Alfred  A.  and  Emily  Eleva  (Chase)  Wade. 
When  he  was  three  years  old  his  parents  moved 
to  Howe,  where  he  attended  both  the  public  schools 
and  the  Howe  Military  School,  of  which  he  is  a 
graduate  with  the  class  of  1903.  In  the  fall  of  1905 
he  entered  the  Detroit  College  of  Medicine,  gradu- 
ating in  1909.  He  has  since  taken  post-graduate 
work  in  Harvard  University  and  Boston.  In  1909 
he  formed  his  present  partnership  as  Drs.  Wade  & 
AVade. 

Doctor  Wade  is  a republican,  is  affiliated  with 

Vol.  11—2  6 


the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Howe,  the  Scottish  Rite 
bodies  at  Fort  Wayne  and  the  Mystic  Shrine,  and  is 
also  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America  at  Howe.  August 
31,  1911,  he  married  Miss  Zelta  Venita  Beecher,  a 
daughter  of  Dr.  Arthur  C.  Beecher  of  LaGrange. 
They  have  three  children : Ainsworth  Carlton,  born 
June  25,  1912;  Frank  Chase  II,  born  August  28, 
1914 ; and  Alice  Vivian,  born  August  7,  1916. 

Hewlett  Davis.  In  the  substantial  development 
of  LaGrange  County  since  1837  no  one  family  has 
taken  a more  active  or  useful  part  than  that  of 
Hezekiah  Davis,  and  in  Hewlitt  Davis,  president 
of  the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  Shipshewana,  is 
found  a worthy  representative  of  this  sturdy  old 
stock. 

Hewlitt  Davis  was  born  in  Newbury  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  July  2,  1871,  in  which 
township  his  grandparents,  Amos  and  Susannah 
(L’eb)  Davis,  had  settled  on  land  secured  from  the 
government  in  1837.  While  Grandfather  Davis  de- 
veloped and  improved  his  land,  he  was  recognized 
as  a leader  among  his  pioneer  neighbors  because  of 
his  superior  education  and  upright  character,  and 
they  put  him  in  authority  as  a judge  of  court.  It 
is  recorded  of  him  that  he  was  one  of  the  found- 
ers of  the  Presbyterian  Church  here,  was  a strong 
advocate  of  temperance  and  one  of  the  pronounced 
abolitionists  of  his  day.  His  death  was  occasioned 
by  a fall.  His  widow  survived  into  advanced  age. 
They  had  ten  children,  namely:  Mahala,  Nancy, 
Asenath,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  Margaret,  Mary,  Heze- 
kiah, Joseph  L.  and  James. 

Hezekiah  Davis,  father  of  Hewlitt  Davis,  was 
born  in  1825  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
twelve  years  old  when  he  accompanied  his  parents 
to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  where  he  spent  his 
entire  subsequent  life.  He  became  a man  of  im- 
portance, not  only  because  of  business  capacity,  but 
on  account  of  his  sterling  traits  of  character,  which 
led  him  to  use  his  wealth  in  furthering  many  worthy 
enterprises,  and,  when  bearing  the  responsibilities 
of  public  office,  to  labor  conscientiously  for  the  pub- 
lic welfare.  His  first  farm  was  secured  in  New- 
bury Township  in  1851,  to  which  he  added  until 
at  the  time  of  his  death,  in  1891,  he  owned  1,400 
acres  and  was  an  extensive  feeder  of  stock.  He 
was  the  founder  of  the  town  of  Shipshewana  in 
1888,  and  in  1889  he  organized  a private  bank  and 
continued  its  president  until  his  death.  For  twenty 
years  he  was  a county  commissioner  and  was  presi- 
dent of  the  board  at  the  time  the  courthouse  was 
built,  and  it  was  largely  due  to  his  business  capacity 
that  the  county  was  not  unduly  taxed.  In  the  early 
days  when  religious  bodies  desired  to  meet  the  only 
available  places  would  be  in  the  houses  of  the  mem- 
bers or  in  the  small  building  provided  as  school- 
houses.  This  condition  made  such  an  appeal  to 
Hezekiah  Davis  that  he  .not  only  built  two  churches, 
mainly  at  his  own  expense,  but  insured  the  salary 
of  a preacher  for  the  first  year.  He  had  been 
reared  a Presbyterian  but  in  later  life  became  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1851  Hezekiah  Davis  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Sarah  R.  Reynolds,  who  was  born  in  1832  in 
St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan,  the  first  white  child. 
Her  father,  Samuel  Reynolds,  located  in  that  coun- 
tv with  his  family  in  1831,  but  later  removed  to  In- 
diana and  settled  first  in  Newbury  and  afterward  in 
Springfield  Township,  where  he  and  his  wife  died 
in  1877.  The  Reynolds  children  were  as  follows : 
John,  Charles,  Samuel,  Frank,  Sarah,  Lottie  and 
Mary  Jane,  the  last  named  becoming  the  wife  of 
Joseph  L.  Davis,  brother  of  Hezekiah  Davis.  To 
Hezekiah  Davis  and  his  wife  seven  children  were 


402 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


born,  namely : Emma,  Samuel  G.,  Eugene,  Niles, 
Warren  H.,  Leonora  G.  and  Hewlitt.  The  princi- 
ples of  the  republican  party  found  a strong  advo- 
cate in  Hezekiah  Davis. 

Hewlitt  Davis  attended  the  public  schools  and 
after  completing  the  high  school  course  at  Le- 
Grange  he  entered  a business  college  at  Toledo, 
Ohio,  where  he  completed  a commercial  course. 
He  then  became  associated,  in  1893,  with  his  moth- 
er in  the  conduct  of  a private  bank,  he  being  cash- 
ier and  his  mother  president,  which  relationship 
continued  until  Mr.  Davis  organized  the  Farmers’ 
State  Bank  in  October,  1907,  of  which  he  has  been 
president  ever  since. 

On  June  1,  1911,  Mr.  Davis  was  united  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Carrie  L.  Rogers,  who  is  a daughter 
of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Rogers,  respected  residents 
of  Shipshewana,  and  they  have  two  children:  Sarah 
R.  and  Herbert  R.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Davis  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Mr.  Davis 
owns  800  acres  of  fine  land  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship, on  which  general  farming  and  stockraising  is 
carried  on.  In  his  political  identification  he  is  a 
republican  and  proud  of  his  American  citizenship. 

Sidney  Slabauch,  representing  one  of  the  old 
and  substantial  families  of  Noble  County,  has 
acquired  a good  home  in  the  agricultural  district  of 
Perry  Township,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of 
influence  and  action  in  that  locality.  His  home  is 
in  section  15,  a mile  and  a half  north  of  Ligonier. 

He  was  born  on  his  father’s  farm  in  the  same 
township  and  county  May  5,  1871,  son  of  Christian 
E.  and  Catherine  (Bowsher)  Slabaugh.  Of  his 
father,  who  is  still  a resident  of  Noble  County,  more 
is  said  on  other  pages.  Sidney  was  the  oldest  of 
four  children,  and  has  spent  practically  all  his  life 
in  Perry  Township,  where  he  acquired  his  education 
in  the  local  schools.  He 'lived  at  home  and  helped 
work  the  home  place  until  twenty-one,  and  then  en- 
tered into  a formal  arrangement  of  salary  and  other 
working  conditions  with  his.  father,  which  continued 
for  three  years  longer. 

On  November  8,  1894,  he  married  Lillie  Sackett, 
who  was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  a 
daughter  of  Stephen  Sackett.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sla- 
baugh after  their  marriage  engaged  in  farming  in 
Perry  Township,  and  have  lived  on  several  different 
places.  Finally  they  bought  sixty-two  acres  in- 
cluded in  their  present  home  and  also  ninety  acres 
further  north  in  the  same  township.  Mr.  Slabaugh 
is  a general  farmer  and  stockraiser  and  has  other 
business  interests,  including  stock  in  the  Citizens 
Bank  and  the  Farmers’  Co-operative  Elevator  in 
Ligonier.  He  is  a democrat  and  is  affiliated  with 
the  Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Chancy  David  Stuicey.  Three  generations  of 
the  Stukey  family  have  played  their  part  well  in 
Greenfield  township,  LaGrange  county.  As  farmers 
they  have  made  virgin  soil  productive,  have  cleared 
and  improved,  and  carried  on  their  diversified  inter- 
ests with  profit  to  themselves  and  credit  to  their 
community. 

Chancy  David  Stukey  represents  the  second  gen- 
eration of  the  family  and  was  born  in  Greenfield 
township  February  10,  1864.  He  is  a son  of  Chris- 
tian and  Sarah  (Schrock)  Stukey,  the  former  a na- 
tive of  Ontario,  Canada,  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
The  paternal  grandfather  Stukey  was  the  founder 
of  the  family  in  Canada,  and  after  his  death  there 
his  widow  married  again  and  with  her  son  Chris- 
tian and  three  of  his  brothers  and  sisters  moved  to 
Ohio.  Christian  Stukey  was  educated  in  Ohio,  and 
when  a single  man  came  to  Clinton  township,  Elk- 
hart county,  Indiana.  There  at  the  age  of  twenty- 


eight  he  married  Sarah  Schrock,  whose  father, 
Peter  Schrock,  was  a minister  of  the  Mennonite 
-^church  and  died  in  Ohio.  Christian  Stukey  was 
born  November  7,  1825,  and  about  1858  he  located 
in  Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  He 
bought  88  acres  in  section  14.  This  land  had  some 
improvements. . In  the  spring  of  1864  he  moved  to 
the  160  acre  farm  where  his  son  Chancy  now  lives. 
He  continued  his  industrious  career  on  that  land 
until  death.  He  and  his  wife  had  three  children : 
Elizabeth,  who  died  as  Mrs.  Ely  D.  Yoder.  Ade- 
line, wife  of  Daniel  Agley,  of  Greenfield  Township; 
and  Chancy  David. 

Chancy  David  Stukey  attended  the  country 
schools,  graduating  from  the  Lima  High  School 
in  1888  and  for  two  years  was  a teacher  in  his 
home  township.  After  his  marriage  he  bought  a 
farm  near  the  old  homestead,  remained  there  eleven 
years,  and  since  then  has  owned  and  occupied  a 
farm  of  160  acres  which  his  father  did  much  to 
improve.  He  has  remodeled  some  of  the  substantial 
buildings  put  there  by  his  father.  His  sons,  consti- 
tuting the  third  generation  of  the  family,  are  actively 
associated  with  him  in  farming,  and  together  they 
own  another  160  acres  and  are  engaged  in  the  busi- 
ness of  raising  full  blood  Shorthorn  cattle  and  Bel- 
gian horses. 

Mr.  Stukey  married  in  1892  Miss  Mary  Lehmer, 
a native  of  Greenfield  Township  and  a daughter  of 
Isaac  Lehmer.  Isaac  Lehmer  is  remembered  not 
only  as  an  early  settler  of  Greenfield  Township, 
but  as  inventor  of  one  of  the  first  traction  engines. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  .Stukey’ s three  sons  are : Frank  L., 
Lee  C.  and  Lynn  I.  The  family  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Church. 

E.  E.  Housel,  proprietor  of  a fine  farm  at  St. 
John  in  Butler  Township  of  DeKalb  County,  is  the 
only  son  of  the  late  Jared  Housel,  long  a promi- 
nent old  soldier  and  farmer  of  DeKalb. 

Jared  F.  Housel  was  , born  at  Farmington  in 
Trumbull  County,  Ohio,  September  6,  1836,  a son 
of  Absalom  and  Rhoda  (Allen)  Housel.  When  he 
was  eleven  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Wells 
County,  Indiana,  and  from  there  in  1857  he  came 
to  DeKalb  County.  After  several  years  of  farming 
he  was  called  away  to  the  serious  business  of  war, 
enlisting  on  September  25,  1861,  in  Company  K of 
the  44th  Indiana  Infantry.  He  reached  the  front 
with  his  command  in  the  following  December,  and 
took  part  in  some  of  the  following  operations  of 
the  Army  of  the  Tennessee.  At  the  battle  of  Shi- 
loh on  April  6,  1862,  he  was  wounded  in  the  right 
thigh  and  was  confined  in  a hospital  at  Evansville, 
Indiana,  until  November  of  the  same  year.  He  was 
then  discharged  and  on  account  of  disability  re- 
turned home.  Not  long  afterward  he  resumed 
farming,  and  was  actively  identified  with  the  agri- 
cultural interests  of  Butler  Township  for  many 
years.  In  1882  he  became  postmaster  of  DeKalb, 
and  several  times  was  honored  with  places  of  trust 
and  responsibility.  He  was  a steadfast  republican 
in  politics  and  served  the  people  of  the  community 
of  DeKalb  or  St.  John  as  postmaster  for  twenty- 
seven  years.  He  was  a member  of  the  Grange 
and  active  in  the  United  Brethren  Church. 

On  April  19,  1864,  soon  after  his  recovery  from 
his  army  service,  Jared  F.  Housel  married  Drucilla 
Reever.  She  was  a daughter  of  Michael  and  Re- 
becca Reever  and  was  born  in  Frederick  County, 
Maryland,  in  1834.  Jared  F.  Housel  died  March 
18,  1909,  and  his  wife  February  6,  1917. 

Elza  E.  Housel,  only  son  of  his  parents,  was  born 
in  Butler  Township  March  4,  1868,  and  has  always 
lived  on  the  old  farm.  He  owns  two  hundred 
acres.  He  received  his  education  in  the  common 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


403 


schools.  On  April  12,  1894,  Mr.  Housel  married 
Sadie  A.  Snyder.  She  died  June  29,  1918,  the  moth- 
er of  six  children : Esther,  at  home ; Hazel,  wife  of 
Hiram  Cool ; Vernie  and  Russell  W.,  both  high 
school  students;  Mary  C.  and  Victor  Wayne.  Mr. 
Housel  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  with  the  Order  of  Moose.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

Rev.  R.  W.  Page  is  one  of  the  leading  ministers 
of  Northeast  Indiana,  and  for  many  years  has  given 
his  able  services  to  the  Merrian  Christian  Church 
in  Noble  County. 

He  was  born  in  Clinton  County,  Ohio,  June  8, 
1858,  and  since  boyhood  has  had  to  depend  upon  his 
own  resources,  yet  has  accomplished  a wonderful 
amount  of  service  and  good  to  others  and  to  the 
cause  which  he  represents.  His  parents  were  James 
R.  and  Maria  (Hardesty)  Page.  His  father  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry  and  was  a blacksmith  by  trade, 
having  a shop  at  Westboro,  Ohio.  From  there  he 
enlisted  as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  he  lost  his  life  in  that  struggle.  He 
left  his  widow  with  eight  small  children,  seven  sons 
and  one  daughter,  and  she  afterward  moved  with  her 
family  to  Marion,  Indiana. 

Rev.  Mr.  Page  had  to  become  self  supporting  and 
contribute  to  the  upkeep  of  the  family  at  the  age 
of  eight,  years.  He  acquired  a liberal  education  in 
Marion,  Indiana,  and  since  reaching  manhood  has 
been  a constant  student  and  searcher  of  the  Word, 
and  is  a man  of  much  information  in  books  as 
well  as  of  men  and  affairs. 

While  living  in  Grant  County,  Indiana,  he  was 
converted  and  becarhe  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Protestant  Church.  He  studied  two  years  and  en- 
tered the  ministry  of  this  church,  preaching  for 
three  years.  Later  he  joined  the  Christian  denomi- 
nation, and  after  two  years  of  theological  training 
was  ordained  in  February,  1889.  He  has  held  a 
number  of  important  charges,  including  Bluffton  and 
the  Six  Mile  Church,  and  has  had  two  periods  of 
service  in  the  Merrian  Christian  Church  in  Noble 
County.  The  first  time  he  was  its  pastor  for  eight 
yedrs,  then  followed  an  interval  of  work  in  Foun- 
tain and  Boone  counties  for  five  years.  He  has 
now  been  connected  in  his  third  term  with  the 
Merrian  Christian  Church  for  six  years. 

October  7,  1876,  Rev.  Mr.  Page  married  Marjr  J. 
Coppock,  who  was  born  in  Grant  County,  Indiana, 
and  received  her  education  in  the  schools  of  Marion. 
The  following  children  have  been  born  to  their  mar- 
riage : Bert  A.,  who  married  Winnie  Setter,  of 

Wabash  County,  and  lives  at  Bluffton ; William  N., 
of  Butler,  Indiana;  Eva  E.,  wife  of  Ambrose  E. 
McKinney,  of  Whitley  County;  Blanche  H.,  wife 
of  Harry  Chalfont;  Effie  F.,  wife  of  Ord  Ott,  of 
Fort  Wayne ; Beulah  Eileen,  wife  of  Arthur  Hire ; 
and  Jessie  N.,  who  is  still  at  home. 

Rev.  Mr.  Page  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Or- 
der, the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Improved  Order  of  Red 
Men.  He  is  a member  of  the  Encampment  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  of  Marion  Canton  No.  5 of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a past  grand  and  past 
chief  patriarch.  In  politics  he  is  a republican. 

John  E.  Lang,  representing  one  of  the  oldest 
families  of  Noble  County,  is  secretary-treasurer  of 
Raber  & Lang  Manufacturing  Company,  one  of  the 
firms  that  is  doing  much  to  raise  Kendallville’s 
reputation  as  a manufacturing  center. 

Mr.  Lang  was  born  at  Kendallville,  December  15, 
1881,  son  of  Julius  P.  and  Lena  (Smith)  Lang. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Brooklyn,  New  York, 
a son  of  Julius  Lang,  Sr.  Julius  Lang,  Sr.,  was  an 


early  resident  of  Noble  County,  served  at  one  time 
as  county  treasurer,  and  founded  the  firm  of  J.  P. 
Lang  & Sons,  shoe  merchants  at  Kendallville.  After 
his  death  this  business  was  continued  by  his  sons 
and  is  now  conducted  under  the  name  Henry  Lang. 
The  Lang  family  is  of  remote  German  extraction. 
As  a family  they  were  members  of  the  German  Lu- 
theran Church.  Julius  Lang  had  one  son  and  one 
daughter.  The  daughter,  Elizabeth,  is  the  wife  of 
Louis  Holzer,  of  Kendallville. 

John  E.  Lang  spent  all  his  life  in  Kendallville. 
He  is  a graduate  of  the  high  school  and  after  leav- 
ing school  was  employed  in  different  capacities  as 
a clerk  with  the  firm  of  Flint  & Walling  for  eight 
years.  He  then  entered  his  present  business  as  a 
partnership,  and  in  1908  the  firm  was  incorporated. 
O.  P.  Raher  is  president,  John  E.  Lang,  secretary 
and  treasurer,  and  R.  L.  Raber,  superintendent. 

In  1905  Mr.  Lang  married  Miss  Maude  Raber,  a 
graduate  of  the  Waterloo  High  School.  Mrs.  Lang 
is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He 
is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  276,  Ancient  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Chapter  No.  64,  Royal  Arch  Ma- 
sons, Council  No.  50,  Royal  and  Select  Masters. 
In  politics  he  is  a republican,  represents  the  Fourth 
Ward  in  the  city  council  and  is  a member  of  the 
Rotary  Club. 

Henry  J.  Platt  was  for  many  years  a business 
man  of  LaGrange,  and  as  proprietor  of  the  Platt 
Monumental  Works,  now  owned  by  his  widow,  de- 
veloped a business  second  in  size  and  importance 
to  none  of  its  kind  in  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  Akron,  Ohio,  July  15,  1851.  Soon 
after  his  birth  his  parents  moved  to  Jones- 
ville,  Michigan,  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  he  came 
to  LaGrange.  Here  as  an  employe  of  Jacob  New- 
man he  became  a finished  and  skillful  stone  cutter 
and  acquired  a knowledge  of  the  monument  busi- 
ness. Later  he  and  his  brother-in-law,  Robert 
Hays,  bought  the  Newman  establishment,  and  the 
firm  of  Platt  & Hays  was  formed,  but  for  many 
years  Mr.  Platt  individually  owned  the  industry  and 
established  it  on  such  sure  footing  that  it  contin- 
ues to  enjoy  the  prestige  of  its  former  owner.  Mrs. 
Platt  is  herself  a splendid  business  woman,  and 
keeps  the  works  in  their  accustomed  channel  of 
prosressiveness  and  prosperity.  Mr.  Platt  died  at 
LaGrange  March  20,  1915. 

April  5,  1877,  he  married  Phoebe  Hays.  Their 
home  life  was  one  of  ideal  happiness  and  their  com- 
panionship continued  unmarred  for  nearly  forty 
years.  In  that  time  six  children  were  born,  four, 
Grace,  Vibra,  Charles  and  Lydia,  dying  at  an  early 
age.  The  two  now  living  are  Myra  and  Lora. 
Myra  is  the  wife  of  Franz  W.  Frurip,  and  they 
have  two  children,  Franz  Platt  and  Leland  Hays. 
Lora  is  the  wife  of  J.  Vawter  Rowan,  of  Indiana- 
polis, and  to  their  marriage  were  born  three  chil- 
dren, Henry  Platt,  John  Vawter  and  James  Platt. 
Henry  Platt  is  deceased. 

The  late  Henry  J.  Platt  as  a business  man  ad- 
hered to  a routine  of  absolute  integrity  in  all  his 
transactions,  and  that  was  only  a reflection  of  his 
generous  character.  He  was  a Knight  Templar  and 
Scottish  Rite  Mason,  a member  of  the  Mystic 
Shrine,  and  was  also  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  the  Modern  Woodmen 
of  America.  For  several  years  he  was  a member 
of  the  Board  of  Town  Trustees  of  LaGrange,  and 
during  that  official  service  he  worked  without  ceas- 
ing in  behalf  of  permanent  paving  for  the  city 
streets.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were  active  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

Mrs.  Phoebe  (Hays)  Platt  was  born  in  Johnson 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  October  9,  1859,  a 


404 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


daughter  of  David  and  Lydia  (Ferguson)  Hays. 
Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
Her  father  was  born  in  Washington  County  June 
30,  1813.  and  her  mother  on  September  18,  1816. 
They  were  married  in  Ohio  April  18,  1839,  and  in 
1853  came  to  LaGrange  County,  buying  a farm  near 
Oliver  Lake.  About  1874  they  moved  to  LaGrange, 
where  David  Hays  was  connected  with  the  grain 
firm  of  Wills  & Clugston  and  manager  of  the  ele- 
vator. He  died  at  LaGrange  July  2,  1881,  at  the 
age  of  sixty-eight.  His  widow  survived  him  until 
December  13,  1904.  Soon  after  her  death  the  old 
Hays  homestead  in  LaGrange  was  sold.  David 
Hays  was  a republican,  and  while  living  in  Johnson 
Township  served  as  township  trustee  and  later  was 
a member  of  the  school  board  at  LaGrange.  He 
had  become  affiliated  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  the  age  of  eighteen  and  for  twenty-five  years 
was  a ruling  elder.  He  and  his  wife  were  charter 
members  of  one  of  the  churches  of  that  denomi- 
nation in  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hays 
had  eight  children:  Mary  Jane,  who  died  in  child- 
hood; William,  who  died  during  the  Civil  war; 
Crosby,  who  died  at  Tacoma,  Washington,  in  1890; 
Sarah  Ellen,  who  died  in  1912,  the  wife  of  Isaac 
Van  Kirk ; Levi  Ferguson ; Robert  F.,  who  died  in 
1902 ; Phoebe  Ann,  Mrs.  Platt ; and  Alice  A.,  who 
died  in  infancy. 

Orlo  R.  Werker  is  one  of  the  younger  genera- 
tion of  farmers  in  Noble  County  and  has  assumed 
many  of  the  responsibilities  and  burdens  carried 
by  his  father  for  so  many  years.  He  lives  on  the 
old  Werker  homestead  a mile  west  of  Kimmell  and 
three  miles  east  of  Cromwell. 

He  was  born  on  that  farm  August  21,  1892,  son 
of  Yangulph  and  Clara  A.  (Schlabach)  Werker. 
His  father  was  a native  of  Germany  and  his  mother 
was  born  in  Ohio.  The  Schlabach  family  have  long 
been  prominent  in  Noble  County,  locating  there  in 
i860.  Yangulph  Werker  and  wife  were  married  in 
that  county  and  were  the  parents  of  seven  children : 
Charles;  William,  of  Iowa  City,  Iowa;  Melvin  L., 
of  Kimmell;  Wallace,  of  Sparta  Township;  John, 
of  Montana;  Orlo;  and  Harvey,  of  Fort  Wayne. 

Orlo  R.  Werker  has  spent  all  his  life  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  as  a boy  attended  the  district 
schools.  He  married  Effie  E.  Naggart,  who  was  also 
born  in  Sparta  Township.  They  have  two  children: 
Georgia  Y.  and  Lewis  R.  The  family  are  members 
of  the  Sparta  Christian  Church. 

Mr.  Werker  is  affiliated  with  Cromwell  Lodge 
No.  408,  Knights  of  Pythias,  and  is  a democrat.  He 
is  making  a success  as  a farmer  and  stockraiser, 
and  has  the  management  of  120  acres. 

John  J.  Kauffman.  As  the  present  county  as- 
sessor of  LaGrange  County,  for  many  years  a mer- 
chant, public  official,  business  man  and  farmer,  John 
J.  Kauffman  will  be  readily  recognized  as  one  of 
the  best  known  citizens  of  this  part  of  Northeast 
Indiana. 

He  was  born  near  the  city  of  Johnstown,  Penn- 
sylvania, July  27,  1856,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Susan 
(Miller)  Kauffman,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  grandfather,  Jonas  Kauffman,  left  that  section 
of  Pennsylvania  and  with  some  of  his  family  settled 
in  Kent  County,  Michigan,  about  1864.  Jonas  lived 
there  until  his  death  about  six  years  later.  His 
first  wife  had  died  in  Pennsylvania,  and  he  mar- 
ried for  his  second  wife  Martha  Miller,  who  died 
about  1885.  The  maternal  grandfather  of  the  county 
assessor  was  Jacob  Miller,  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
who  came  to  Newbury  Township  of  LaGrange 
County  in  1864  and  died  there  in  1874. 

Jacob  and  Susan  Kauffman  moved  from  Pennsyl- 


vania in  1863,  when  their  son  John  J.,  was  seven 
years  old,  and  located  on  a farm  in  Newbury  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County.  Jacob  Kauffman  was  a 
blacksmith  by  trade.  In  1873,  aften  ten  years  of 
residence  in  LaGrange  County,  he  moved  with  his 
family  to  Cedar  County,  Missouri.  He  and  his  wife 
had  fourteen  children,  ten  of  whom  reached  man- 
hood and  womanhood,  and  nine  of  them  went  to 
Missouri.  He  lived  in  that  state  until  his  death 
in  1897,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three.  His  wife  died 
in  Missouri  in  1891,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight.  Both 
were  members  of  the  Brethren  Church. 

John  J.  Kauffman  acquired  his  early  education 
in  the  public  schools  of  LaGrange  County.  He 
was  eighteen  years  old  when  the  family  went  to 
Missouri,  and  he  lived  there  with  them  about  two 
years.  He  then  returned  to  LaGrange  County,  and 
was  the  only  member  of  the  family  to  come  back 
to  Northeast  Indiana.  Mr.  Kauffman  has  a 
brother,  Joseph,  living  at  Tacoma,  Washington. 
His  brothers  Eune  and  Charles  are  successful  fruit 
ranchers  near  Selma  in  Fresno  County,  California, 
and  both  are  married  and  have  families.  Another 
brother,  Moses,  is  living  near  Preston,  Kansas.  The 
only  sister  is  Mrs.  Joseph  Reitz,  of  Kansas  City, 
Missouri.  Two  other  brothers,  Henry  and  Amos, 
are  residents  of  Cedar  County,  Missouri,  Henry 
owning  part  of  the  old  homestead.  Jacob  and 
Levi  both  died  about  1901,  Jacob  leaving  a Targe 
family,  while  Levi  was  unmarried. 

In  1883  Mr.  John  J.  Kauffman  established  the 
first  store  at  Shore,  Indiana.  He  was  in  business 
there  about  four  years,  then  for  two  years  mer- 
chandised at  LaGrange,  and  in  1889  went  to  Ship- 
shewana,  where  he  was  a successful  and  leading 
business  man  until  1909.  In  that  year  he  bought 
a farm  in  Clay  Township,  where  he  has  since  re- 
sided. From  November  15,  1897,  to  November  1, 
1902,  Mr.  Kauffman  was  postmaster  of  Shipshe- 
wana.  The  incumbent  of  that  office  was  selected 
by  popular  vote  among  the  patrons  of  the  office, 
and  Mr.  Kauffman  was  preferred  among  four  can- 
didates. He  was  elected  county  assessor  in  1918. 

Mr.  Kauffman  married  Florence  A.  (Sparks) 
Merriman,  daughter  of  Thomas  Sparks,  one  of  'the 
early  settlers  of  Newbury  Township,  who  married 
a Miss  Nelson.  Mrs.  Kauffman’s  parents  moved 
out  to  Oklahoma  when  the  Cherokee  strip  was 
opened  in  the  early  ’90s,  and  they  lived  there 
until  their  death,  the  mother  in  1908  and  the  father 
in  1911.  Mr.  Kauffman  has  a son,  John  C.  Kauff- 
man, who  is  a farmer  near  Chenoa,  Illinois,  and 
is  married  and  has  three  children. 

Since  about  1894  Mr.  Kauffman  has  been  an 
auctioneer  by  profession.  For  some  years  he  was 
also  a traveling  salesman,  for  two  years  represent- 
ing the  Deering  Harvester  Company. 

Charles  A.  Kunce  is  senior  member  of  the  firm 
Kunce  & Minnick,  automobile  dealers  and  garage 
proprietors  at  LaGrange.  Mr.  Kunce  has  been  a 
farmer,  business  man  and  public  official  in  La- 
Grange County  for  many  years,  and  is  one  of  the 
best  known  citizens  of  Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born,  near  Helmer  in  Salem  Township 
of  Steuben  County  February  5,  1874.  His  father, 
the  late  George  R.  Kunce,  was  born  in  Hunting- 
ton  County,  Indiana,  August  23,  1842,  son  of  Henry 
and  Susanna  (Rhemes)  Kunce,  the  former  born  in 
Pennsylvania  August  29,  1803,  and  the  latter  in  the 
same  state  June  28,  1807.  Henry  Kunce  was  one 
of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Huntington  County,  In- 
diana, going  there  from  Perry  County.  Ohio.  He 
and  his  wife  had  a family  of  eleven  children : John, 
born  April  18,  1827 ; Andrew,  born  February  7, 
1829;  Julia  Ann,  born  December  20,  1830;  Jacob, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


405 


born  April  15,  1833,  and  was  killed  as  a Union  sol- 
dier in  1863 ; Elizabeth,  born  August  3,  1835 ; Henry, 
born  February  11,  1838,  served  with  his  brother 
Jacob  in  the  Civil  war  and  afterward  returned 
home ; Thomas,  born  May  26,  1840 ; George  R., 
born  August  23,  1842;  Emanuel  B.,  born  February 
10,  1845;  Amos  W.,  born  May  19,  1847;  and  Su- 
sanna E.,  born  December  7,  1850. 

George  R.  Kunce  grew  up  in  Huntington  Coun- 
ty, and  with  his  brothers  shared  in  the  toils  and 
labors  of  a pioneer  farm.  He  was  noted  for  his 
physical  strength  and  was  a man  of  great  industry 
all  his  life.  September  29,  1864,  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  F of  the  Garrison  Guards, 
which  was  an  unassigned  part  of  the  32d  Regiment 
of  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  on  military  duty  until 
discharged  May  8,  1865.  In  1872  George  R.  Kunce 
settled  in  Steuben  County  and  in  1879  moved  to 
LaGrange  County,  and  lived  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship until  his  death  on  September  2,  1919.  In  1887 
he  bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  that  township,  and 
on  January  18,  1890,  bought  an  additional  fifty- 
two  and  a half  acres.  His  first  wife  was  Hattie 
Smith,  and  the  one  child  of  that  union,  Della,  is 
now  Mrs.  Cornell,  of  Huntington,  Indiana.  His 
second  wife,  whom  he  married  in  1872,  was  Amy 
Glasgo,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  and  was  reared 
from  childhood  in  Steuben  County.  She  died  in 
Kansas.  She  was  the  mother  of  two  children : 
Charles  A. ; and  Lottie,  now  Mrs.  Chalmers  of 
Larned,  Kansas.  In  1881  George  R.  Kunce  married 
Savilla  (Bumpus)  Paulus.  There  were  no  children 
of  that  marriage,  but  his  wife  had  a daughter  by 
her  first  husband,  now  Mrs.  Maud  Hockensmith, 
of  Huntington. 

Charles  A.  Kunce  was  five  years  old  when  his 
father  moved  to  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  in  1879,  and  he  grew  to  manhood  and  lived 
in  that  township  until  he  was  thirty-four.  Then  for 
several  years  he  engaged  in  farming  but  in  1908 
left  the  farm  and  became  a merchant  at  Brushy 
Prairie.  He  was  in  business  there  about  two  and 
a half  years,  when  he  sold  out,  and  on  July  3,  1911, 
came  to  LaGrange  and  engaged  in  the  livery  busi- 
ness. He  continued  furnishing  a high  class  livery 
service  from  the  county  seat  until  1916.  At  that 
date  he  entered  the  garage  business  and  in  1917 
sold  his  livery.  From  1916  for  one  year  he  had 
the  agency  for  the  Overland  car.  For  the  past  two 
years  his  firm  has  been  local  distributors  for  the 
Ford  cars.  The  business  was  first  the  LaGrange 
Auto  Company,  its  partners  being  B.  S.  Walters, 
R.  N.  Walters,  G.  Latty  and  Charles  A.  Kunce. 
Later  Long  & Price  bought  all  the  interests  except 
those  of  Mr.  Kunce,  and  the  firm  then  became 
known  as  the  LaGrange  Sales  and  Service  Com- 
pany. Mr.  Kunce  sold  his  interest  during  his  can- 
didacy for  sheriff  of  LaGrange  County.  He  was 
appointed  deputy  sheriff  under  Charles  A.  Min- 
niclc,  his  present  partner  in  business.  Later  he  and 
Mr.  Minnick  bought  out  the  automobile  business 
and  the  firm  is  now  Kunce  & Minnick. 

Mr.  Kunce  is  a republican  and  has  wielded  con- 
siderable influence  in  local  politics.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Ancient  Order  of  Gleaners. 

February  14,  1897,  he  married  Effa  Galloway. 
She  was  born  at  Auburn  in  DeKalb  County  Sep-  , 
tember  8,  1875,  a daughter  of  Samuel  T.  and  Ma- 
tilda  J.  (Wyatt)  Galloway.  Her  mother  is  a sister 
of  Doctor  Wyatt  of  LaGrange.  Her  father  was 
born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  July  27,  1846,  while 
her  mother  was  born  in  DeKalb  County  April  15, 
1849.  Samuel  T.  Galloway  was  a son  of  Thomas 
and  Mary  A.  (Tarney)  Galloway,  the  former  a 
native  of  Scotland  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  Thomas 


Galloway  and  seven  brothers  came  from  Scotland 
and  settled  in  Ohio,  Thomas  locating  in  Ashland 
county,  where  he  married  and  where  he  lived  until 
his  death  about  1878.  His  widow  spent  her  last 
years  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Kunce’s  ma- 
ternal grandfather  was  John  Wyatt,  a pioneer  of 
DeKalb  County  who  entered  government  land  and 
became  widely  known  as  a farmer  and  public  spir- 
ited citizen.  He  died  in  1906,  at  the  venerable  age 
of  ninety-five.  Mrs.  Kunce’s  father  went  to  De- 
Kalb County  when  a young  man,  was  married  there, 
and  for  a number  of  years  was  a carpenter  and 
contractor  living  at  Auburn.  Later  he  established 
his  home  at  Orland,  where  he  continued  in  the  con- 
tracting business,  and  subsequently  was  a farmer 
in  Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County.  March 
20,  1902,  he  came  to  LaGrange  and  bought  the  Clov- 
erdale  Feed  Barn,  continuing  that  business  for  sev- 
eral years.  He  also  built  a fine  home  at  LaGrange 
and  did  other  building  in  and  around  that  city. 
Mr.  Galloway  died  in  1916  and  Mrs.  Kunce’s  moth- 
er is  now  living  at  South  Bend.  Mrs.  Kunce  was 
one  of  eight  daughters,  six  of  whom  are  still  liv- 
ing: Mintie,  wife  of  Howard  Adams;  Vinnie  B., 
wife  of  Joseph  Wehrly;  Effa,  Mrs.  Kunce;  Mamie, 
who  died  at  the  age  of  seven  months;  Lena,  wife 
of  Charles  Munger,  of  Los  Angeles,  California; 
Beulah,  who  died  when  eight  years  old ; and  Bertha 
and  Bernice,  twins,  both  living  with  their  mother 
at  South  Bend. 

The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kunce  are  three 
in  number.  Glada  Marie,  born  in  March,  1899, 
graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High  School  in  1918, 
and  is  now  continuing  her  studies  in  Purdue  Uni- 
versity. Samuel,  who  was  born  December  15,  1902, 
is  a senior  in  the  LaGrange  High  School.  The 
youngest  of  the  family  is  Margaret,  born  October 
9,  1909. 

Charles  R.  Stage  represents  one.  of  the  older 
families  of  Noble  County.  His  grandfather  came 
here  in  pioneer  times  and  acquired  and  developed 
a large  amount  of  new  and  raw  land.  Charles  R. 
Stage  is  still  living  on  part  of  that  original  home- 
stead, three  and  a quarter  miles  northeast  of  Ligo- 
nier. 

He  was  born  there  November  13,  1866,  a son  of 
Theron  D.  Stage  and  a grandson  of  Benjamin  F. 
Stage.  The  grandfather  was  a native  of  Ohio  and 
on  coming  to  Indiana  entered  land  from  the  Gov- 
ernment and  gradually  increased  his  holdings  until 
he  owned  about  800  acres.  He  died  in  Perry  Town- 
ship at  a good  old  age,  honored  and  respected.  In 
politics  he  was  a whig.  Theron  Stage  was  born 
and  reared  on  the  old  Stage  homestead  in  Noble 
County  and  spent  all  his  life  there.  He  died  at 
the  age  of  fifty-one.  He  was  a republican  and  was 
honored  with  several  township  offices. 

Charles  R.  Stage  was  the  only  son  of  his  parents. 
He  acquired  a good  education  in  the  district  schools 
and  the  Ligonier  High  School  and  for  several  years, 
lived  in  Chicago,  where  he  was  employed  and  was 
also  in  business  for  himself.  He  returned  home  at 
the  death  of  his  father,  and  has  since  been  owner 
and  manager  of  the  farm.  He  has  done  much  in 
improving  the  grades  of  livestock  and  is  a breeder 
of  the  Polled  Aberdeen  Angus  cattle,  his  herd  being 
headed  by  Sergeant  of  Angelhurst.  He  also  has 
good  grades  of  Holstein  cattle  and  other  stock.  Mr 
Stage  is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers’  Co-operative 
Elevator  in  Ligonier. 

In  1893  he  married  Miss  Edith  Cochran,  who  was 
born  and  reared  in  Perry  Township,  a daughter  of 
William  A.  Cochran.  They  have  two  children: 
Glenn  T.,  who  is  now  attending  school  at  Ligonier; 


406 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


and  Eleanor,  who  was  born  in  1910.  Mr.  Stage  is 
a republican  in  politics. 

Charles  S.  Nichols  from  the  standpoint  of  ex- 
perience and  service  is  the  second  eldest  banker 
of  LaGrange  County.  For  about  a quarter  of  a 
century  he  has  been  identified  as  cashier  and  presi- 
dent with  the  State  Bank  of  Howe. 

He  is  a member  of  an  old  and  prominent  family 
of  the  county.  He  was  horn  November  14,  1865, 
at  the  Nichols  homestead  in  Greenfield  Township. 
The  property  is  still  in  the  family.  His  parents 
were  Charles  G.  and  Ella  (Burnell)  Nichols.  His 
paternal  grandfather,  Drusus  Nichols,  was  born  in 
Connecticut  and  at  an  early  day  came  to  Indiana 
and  became  owner  of  the  Mongo  Mills  and  Dis- 
tillery and  was  also  a merchant  there.  Charles  G. 
Nichols  was  born  in  Connecticut  in  1838,  and  was 
the  only  child  of  his  parents.  He  was  well  educated, 
at  first  at  Mongo,  later  at  Notre  Dame  University 
at  South  Bend,  and  finally  in  the  LaGrange  County 
Collegiate  Institute.  He  was  a man  of  extensive 
interests,  represented  by  400  acres  of  land  in  Green- 
field Township.  He  specialized  in  the  breeding  and 
raising  of  road  horses.  For  many  years  he  was 
township  assessor  and  for  one  term  county  asses- 
sor. In  politics  he  was  a republican,  and  he  and 
his  wife  were  active  in  the  Episcopal  Church. 
Charles  G.  Nichols  died  at  Howe  in  1892. 

He  married  in  Greenfield  Township  Miss  Ella 
Burnell,  who  was  born  in  that  township  and  died 
in  1903.  Her  parents  were  Samuel  and  Mary 
(Mason)  Burnell,  who  settled  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship about  1831.  Samuel  Burnell  as  one  of  the 
pioneers  took  up  a tract  of  government  land  on 
English  Prairie,  and  owned  240  acres  there,  known 
as  the  Burnell  Farm.  He  also  had  other  lands  and 
was  a man  of  great  enterprise  and  ability.  He 
died  at  Lima  January  7,  1889.  In  the  Burnell  fam- 
ily were  three  children:  Ella;  Jennie,  wife  of 

Charles  F.  Gunther;  and  John,  deceased.  Charles 
G.  Nichols  and  wife  had  six  children.  Drusus  B., 
who  died  in  1891,  married  Jennie  Shipman,  and 
they  had  three  children,  named  James  H.,  Drusus 
and  Marion.  Mary  S.  Nichols  is  unmarried,  and 
she  and  her  brother  Charles  S.  live  together. 
Charles  S.  was  the  third  in  age.  Samuel  B.  is 
fourth.  Frank  M.  died  August  12,  1915.  He  mar- 
ried Rachel  Kenyon,  and  had  two  children,  Charles 
Kenyon  and  Frank  Morse.  Gunther,  the  youngest 
of  the  family,  died  May  26,  1917.  His  wife  was 
Grace  Wyatt,  and  they  had  one  child,  Margaret 
Ellen. 

Charles  S.  Nichols  grew  up  on  the  home  farm 
in  Greenfield  Township,  attended  country  schools, 
the  high  school  at  Howe,  and  graduated  from  a 
business  college  at  Three  Rivers,  Michigan.  About 
1893  he  entered  the  service  of  the  bank  at  Howe, 
of  which  his  grandfather,  Samuel  Burnell,  was  one 
of  the  organizers.  On  April  1^,1896,  he  and  his 
mother  bought  out  the  other  interests  in  the  bank, 
and  his  mother  was  its  president  until  her  death  in 
1903,  with  Mr.  Nichols  cashier.  Since  the  death 
of  his  mother  Mr.  Nichols  has  been  president  of 
the  bank. 

He  and  his  brother  Samuel  also  own  the  old 
Nichols  homestead  and  have  increased  this  prop- 
erty until  they  have  500  acres  on  English  Prairie, 
located  in  Greenfield  and  Springfield  townships. 
They  are  extensive  feeders  of  sheep  and  cattle. 
Both  brothers  are  thirty-second  degree  Scottish 
Rite  Masons  and  Shriners  and  are  members  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge. 

William  H.  Swihart.  A number  of  circum- 
stances make  appropriate  a brief  review  and  per- 


manent record  of  the  career  of  William  H.  Swihart 
in  this  publication.  Mr.  Swihart  is  proprietor  of 
the  Oakland  Farm  in  Greenfield  Township  of  La- 
Grange County,  and  is  one  of  the  leading  agricul- 
turists and  land  owners  in  that  part  of  the  state. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  south  of 
Fort  Wayne,  January  30,  1855,  a son  of  Daniel  and 
Sarah  (Summers)  Swihart.  His  father  was  born 
in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  in  1819,  was  married 
in  that  state,  and  during  the  fifties  settled  in  Allen 
County,  Indiana.  When  William  H.  Swihart  was 
about  a year  old  his  father  moved  to  the  vicinity  of 
South  Bend,  bought  a farm,  but  after  a year  went 
to  Terre  Coupee  Prairie  and  three  years  later  came 
to  LaGrange  County,  buying  200  acres  in  Greenfield 
Township.  This  was  the  Joseph  Roop  farm.  The 
father  remained  a resident  there  until  his  death 
in  1892.  He  and  his  wife  had  eleven  children,  named 
Jonathan,  Elizabeth,  Martha,  Susan,  Joseph,  Frank, 
Nancy,  William  II.,  Laura,  Clara  and  Samuel. 

As  a member  of  such  a large  household  William 
H.  Swihart  had  at  an  early  age  to  look  out  for  him- 
self. He  has  spent  most  of  his  life  in  LaGrange 
County,  attended  the  public  schools  there  and  has 
been  a farmer  from  his  early  experience.  He 
finally  bought  eighty  acres  of  the  old  homestead,  and 
since  then  successive  purchases  have  added  to  his 
generous  estate.  He  bought  eighty  acres  of  Sam- 
uel Miller,  fifty-two  acres  of  the  McKenzie  estate, 
140  acres  of  the  John  Anderson  estate,  where  he 
now  lives,  and  finally  sixty-five  acres  of  the  Wil- 
liam Anderson  estate.  These  varied  possessions 
aggregate  435  acres,  and  the  buildings  and  equip- 
ment' are  thoroughly  modern.  He  built  a large 
barn  in  1899  and  a modern  country  home  in  1906. 
For  thirty-five  years  Mr.  Swihart  has  been  a sheep 
feeder,  furnishing  for  the  market  from  one  to  three 
carloads  at  a time.  He  also  keeps  pure  bred  Duroc 
swine.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics.  His  parents 
were  Dunkards  and  gave  liberally  to  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Dunkard  Church  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship. 

December  25,  1876,  Mr.  Swihart  married  Miss 
Susannah  Schrock,  a daughter  of  Eli  and  Eliza 
(Gerber)  Schrock,  early  settlers  of  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty. Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swihart  have  two  children,  Dyoll 
and  Delia.  The  latter  died  at  the  age  of  three 
months.  Dyoll  was  born  July  27,  1878,  attended 
country  schools,  the  high  schools  at  Brighton  and 
Howe,  and  since  early  manhood  has  been  a farmer. 
He  rents  his  father’s  place.  Dyoll  Swihart  married 
Adelia  Dague.  Their  four  children  are  Donald, 
Maynard,  Stewart  and  Ledger. 

John  C.  Van  Aman,  while  one  of  the  newer  citi- 
zens of  LaGrange  County,  has  distinguished  him- 
self by  his  push  and  enterprise  as  a farmer,  and  has 
a farm  that  is  widely  known  for  its  improvements 
and  fine  livestock.  This  farm  is  in  Bloomfield 
Township. 

Mr.  Van  Aman  was  born  in  Wood  County,  Ohio, 
February  3,  1888,  a son  of  Frank  and  Alta  (Lyle) 
Van  Aman.  His  father  was  born  in  Seneca  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  in  1861,  and  his  mother  in  Fayette  Coun- 
ty of  the  same  state  in  1863.  They  lived  on  a farm 
in  Wood  County  for  some  years  and  later  went  to 
Henry  County,  Ohio.  Frank  Van  Aman  is  a dem- 
ocrat in  politics  and  was  a trustee  of  Richfield 
Township  in  Henry  County,  Ohio,  is  affiliated  with 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  a mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  Frank 
Van  Aman  and  wife  had  a large  family  of  children, 
namely:  Emma,  wife  of  George  McGee,  of  Perrys- 
burg,  Ohio ; Pearl,  wife  of  Charles  Harris,  of 
Deshler,  Ohio;  Robert,  of  Angola;  John  C.  Thur- 
man, who  lives  in  Canada ; Gardner,  Clair  and  Lu- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


407 


die,  at  home;  and  Ruth,  who  was  the  sixth  in  age, 
wife  of  Rollo  Thompson  of  Fremont,  where  he  is 
cashier  of  the  National  Bank. 

John  C.  Van  Aman  acquired  most  of  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  schools  of  Henry  County,  Ohio. 
At  the  age  of  twenty  he  moved  to  DeKaib  County, 
Indiana,  and  in  1912  went  to  Essex,  Ontario,  Can- 
ada, and  for  three  years  was  a renter  and  then 
bought  a farm.  He  soon  afterward  sold  and  in 
the  spring  of  1916  returned  to  DeKaib  County  and 
in  the  fall  of  that  year  bought  his  present  place  in 
Bloomfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  Mr. 
Van  Aman  has  116  acres  and  in  a few  years  has 
given  the  farm  many  improvements.  He  probably 
has  the  largest  silo  in  LaGrange  County,  a struc- 
ture 16x45  feet  and  with  a capacity  of  250  tons. 
He  is  a breeder  of  pure  bred  Duroc  Jersey  hogs 
and  in  1918  was  awarded  first  prize  for  his  herd  of 
Durocs. 

Mr.  Van  Aman  is  a democrat.  His  wife  is  a 
Catholic  and  he  was  reared  a Methodist.  January 
25,  1913,  he  married  Mary  A.  Simon,  who  was  born 
in  Fulton  County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  Simon,  of  that  county.^  Her  father  died 
in  1911  and  her  mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Aman  have  three  children : Francis  S.,  born 
January  25,  1914;  Helen,  born  July  17,  1915;  and 
John  C.,  Jr.,  born  January  2,  1919. 

James  P.  Bolton,  an  honored  survivor  of  the 
Civil  war,  has  for  fifty  years  been  a resident  of 
Swan  Township  of  Noble  County,  and  has  made 
his  presence  there  productive  of  benefit  to  the  en- 
tire community.  He  is  a practical  farmer,  and  is 
still  giving  his  supervision  to  his  land. 

Mr.  Bolton  was  born  in  Canada,  March  1,  1844, 
son  of  George  and  Jane  (Shotton)  Bolton.  His 
parents  were  natives  of  Newcastle,  England,  and 
were  married  and  four  of  their  children  were  born 
in  England.  George  Bolton  was  a tailor  by  trade. 
On  immigrating  to  America  he  first  settled  at 
Quebec,  later  at  Montreal,  and  for  several  years 
conducted  a tailor  business  at  Brockville,  Canada. 
About  1847  he  moved  to  Jefferson  County,  New 
York,  and  in  1854  went  into  the  sparsely  settled 
country  of  Wisconsin,  locating  in  Dodge  County. 
He  worked  at  his  trade  there  about  eight  years. 

James  P.  Bolton  was  a boy  when  his  parents 
made  these  different  removals,  and  he  finished  his 
education  in  Wisconsin.  At  the  age  of  eighteen,  in 
1862,  he  volunteered  his  services  in  Company  A 
of  the  Twenty-First  Wisconsin  Infantry.  He  was 
mustered  in  at  Oshkosh  and  for  nearly  three  years 
was  in  active  service  with  his  regiment  in  the  armies 
of  the  west.  Part  of  the  time  he  was  under  the 
command  of  General  Buell.  He  was  in  the  battle 
of  Perryville,  Kentucky,  in  the  first  Nashville  cam- 
paign, in  the  battle  of  Stone  River,  and  continued 
a dutiful  and  brave  soldier  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  arrived  home  in  June,  1865,  and  in  Octo- 
ber of  the  same  year  came  to  Noble  County,  In- 
diana. After  his  marriage  he  located  on  a farm  in 
Swan  Township,  and  has  lived  continuously  in  one 
house  there  for  half  a century. 

January  1,  1868.  Mr.  Bolton  married  Miss  Lucy 
A.  Broughton.  She  was  born  just  across  the  road 
from  her  present  home  on  August  18,  1847,  daugh- 
ter of  Samuel  Broughton,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
in  Noble  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bolton  had  five 
children:  Nina  E.,  wife  of  William  Pfleightner 

Ellis  D.,  who  married  May  Bricker,  and  lives  in 
Swan  Township;  Amy,  wife  of  George  Fitzsimmons; 
Carl  married  Myrtle  Strong;  and  John  W.,  a resi- 
dent of  Avilla,  married  Ada  Drocock. 

Mr.  Bolton  owns  a well  improved  farm  of  forty 
acres.  He  is  a member  of  the  advisory  board  of  his 


township,  is  a republican,  belongs  to  the  Grand 
Army  Post  of  Kendallville  and  is  affiliated  with 
Avilla  Lodge  No.  460  of  the  Masonic  Order. 

Henry  Coney  has  been  a resident  of  LaGrange 
County  fifty  years,  and  though  he  has  made  a num- 
ber of  changes  these  changes  have  all  constituted 
progressive  steps  in  his  advancement  to  success  as 
a farmer.  Mr.  Coney  is  now  associated  with  two 
of  his  sons  in  farming  in  Springfield  Township. 

He  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan, 
July  31,  1859,  a son  of  John  and  Susanna  (Pant) 
Coney.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Lincoln- 
shire, England,  where  the  father  of  John  Coney 
owned  a small  farm  on  the  east  coast.  John  and 
Susanna  Coney  after  their  marriage  and  after  the 
birth  of  several  children  came  to  America  in  1859 
and  located  where  their  son  Henry  was  born  in 
Michigan.  In  1868  they  moved  to  Milford  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  and  located  in  the  midst  of 
the  heavj'  woods.  John  Coney  lived  to  clear  and 
improve  a tract  of  eighty  acres  here.  He  and  his 
wife  had  thirteen  children.  Those  to  reach  mature 
years  were  named  Robert,  Anna,  William,  Fannie, 
Rebecca,  who  became  the  wife  of  Henry  Neff  and 
is  now  deceased,  John,  Henry  and  Mary,  who  is  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Randall.  Those  who  died  in  early  child- 
hood in  England  were  named  Robert,  Henry,  John, 
Elizabeth  and  Fannie. 

Henry  Coney  was  nine  years  old  when  his  parents 
located  in  LaGrange  County,  and  he  finished  his 
education  while  making  himself  useful  to  his  father 
on  the  old  homestead.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he 
became  a farm  hand  and  subsequently  bought  twenty 
acres  of  his  father’s  place.  He  built  a house  and 
lived  there  several  years,  later  moved  to  Spring- 
field  Township,  near  Brushy  Prairie,  where  he 
owned  ten  acres,  subsequently  had  forty-five  acres 
in  the  southwest  corner  of  Springfield  Township, 
and  then  followed  a period  of  eleven  years  in  which 
he  was  a farm  renter.  Mr.  Coney  bought  his  pres- 
ent place  of  eighty  acres  in  1915,  two  of  his  sons 
being  associated  with  him  in  the  purchase.  This 
farm  is  south  of  Brushy  Prairie.  The  Cioneys  are 
well  known  breeders  of  Duroc  Jersey  hogs. 

In  February,  1879,  Mr.  Coney  married  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Pant.  She  was  born  in  England,  a daughter 
of  Henry  and  Fannie  (Blow)  Pant,  who  came  to 
this  country  when  their  daughter  Mary  Ann  was 
about  fourteen  years  of  age.  That  was  in  1874. 
From  Canada,  their  first  location,  they  moved  to 
LaGrange  County,  where  the  parents  of  Mrs.  Coney 
spent  the  rest  of  their  lives,  and  they  died  at  Mount 
Pisgah  in  Milford  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coney 
had  six  children:  Charles,  who  died  in  infancy; 

Susan,  Mrs.  Charles  Sowers,  of  Coldwater,  Mich- 
igan ; Robert  and  Thomas,  both  associated  with  their 
father  on  the  farm ; Clyde,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
eighteen  months;  and  flildred.  Mrs.  Coney  joined 
the  Methodist  Church  when  fourteen  years  old. 

George  P.  Smith  was  for  twenty  years  a suc- 
cessful farmer  and  for  thirteen  years  has  been  iden- 
tified with  the  business  community  at  LaGrange, 
where  he  is  one  of  the  leading  men  of  affairs  not 
only  in  commercial  enterprise  but  also  in  public 
movements. 

' Mr.  Smith  was  born  on  the  old  George  Holmes 
farmin  Johnson  Township  July  31,  1863,  a son  of 
Harrison  and  Margaret  Ann  (Brown)  Smith. 

Harrison  Smith,  an  old  resident  and  prominent 
farmer  of  Clear  Spring  Township,  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty, Indiana,  was  born  October  17,  1816,  in  Shen- 
andoah County,  Virginia.  He  was  the  second  child 
of  a family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters.  His 
parents  were  Phillip  and  Mary  (Metz)  Smith. 


408 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Phillip  Smith  was  of  German  descent,  was  a native 
of  Shenandoah  County,  Virginia,  and  was  born  in 
1792  and  was  a shoemaker  by  trade.  Phillip  Smith’s 
father,  the  grandfather  of  Harrison  Smith,  was 
named  Adam  Smith.  He  was  a native  of  Shenan- 
doah County,  Virginia,  was  a shoemaker  by  trade 
in  his  early  life  but  later  became  an  innkeeper.  Adam 
Smith  married  Mary  Branen  September  30,  1788, 
during  his  service  as  a soldier  in  the  Revolutionary 
war.  His  military  record  is  as  follows — “Adam 
Smith  served  in  the  Revolutionary  war  as  a private, 
enlisting  March  16,  1776,  in  Captain  Michael  Bow- 
yer’s  Company,  12th  Virginia  Regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  James  Wood.  The  records  show  that 
about  May,  1778,  this  regiment  was  incorporated 
with  the  4th  and  8th  Virginia  regiments  and  was 
designated  the  4th,  8th  and  12th  Virginia  regiments 
until  about  September,  1778,  and  the  designation  of 
the  company  changed  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  Charles 
Flemming’s  Company  and  later  to  Captain  Andrew 
Wiggin’s  Company.  His  name  last  appears  on  a 
company  muster  roll  dated  December  9,  1779.  The 
date  of  his  discharge  from  service  is  not  shown.’’ 

Phillip  Smith  died  1828,  in  the  prime  of  life, 
leaving  a widow  and  seven  small  children.  His 
wife,  Mary  Metz  Smith,  was  a weaver  by  trade 
and  it  was  by  her  trade  she  largely  maintained  the 
family.  She  died  in  1842.  Harrison  Smith  was 
only  twelve  years  old  when  his  father  died,  and 
as  the  estate  was  limited  and  he  was  compelled  to 
assist  his  mother  in  providing  for  the  remainder  of 
the  family,  he  was  compelled  to  work  from  home 
on  a very  small  salary  and  for  this  reason  his  edu- 
cation was  limited.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  hired 
out  by  the  year,  receiving  $15,  his  clothes  and  win- 
ter schooling  of  three  months.  In  1835,  with  his 
mother  and  brothers  and  sister,  he  removed  to 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1838  he  and  his  broth- 
er John  began  farming  on  their  own  responsibility. 
February  26,  1841,  he  married  Margaret  Ann 

Brown,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Hannah  (Flinn) 
Brown.  Margaret  Ann  Smith,  was  born  May  25, 
1825,  in  Culpeper  County,  Virginia,  and  moved  to 
Licking  County,  Ohio,  together  with  her  parents 
when  three  years  old.  The  family  moved  from 
Ohio  to  LaGrange  County  in  1859,  H pioneer  times. 
Peter  Brown  was  a shoemaker  by  trade.  He  lived 
to  the  venerable  age  of  ninety-two  while  his  wife 
survived  to  the  age  of  eighty-nine.  In  the  Brown 
family  were  five  children:  Mary,  wife  of  James 
Devlin;  Peter;  Anna,  wife  of  Albert  Skeer;  Mar- 
tin ; and  Margaret  Ann. 

Harrison  Smith  moved  to  LaGrange  County,  In- 
diana, in  the  fall  of  1857.  He  lived  the  first  year 
in  the  Town  of  LaGrange  and  in  the  spring  of 
1858  moved  on  the  old  George  Holmes  farm  on 
Jordon  Street  in  Johnson  Township,  and  it  was  on 
this  farm  he  lived  several  years.  During  the  Civil 
war  he  moved  ten  miles  east  and  lived  three  years 
on  the  George  Greenfield  farm  and  Nicolas  B.  New- 
man farm,  and  in  1867  became  the  superintendent 
of  the  LaGrange  County  Infirmary,  which  was  lo- 
cated five  miles  south  of  LaGrange.  He  had  charge 
of  this  institution  for  six  years.  In  1873  he  bought 
the  Curtis  J.  Harding  farm  in  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship and  it  was  on  this  farm  he  spent  the  remainder 
of  his  life.  He  died  January  5,  1901.  His  wife 
passed  away  in  1908.  They  were  active  members 
of  the  Baptist  Church  at  LaGrange  and  he  was  one 
of  the  trustees  when  the  church  was  built.  Har- 
rison Smith  and  wife  had  a family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren: Melissa,  wife  of  Thomas  Ansel;  John  Wes- 
ley, who  died  when  about  ten  years  old ; Hannah, 
who  married  Charles  Mills ; Mary,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy; Maggie,  wife  of  Samuel  Helmer,  of  Buf- 
falo, Minnesota;  William  S. ; James  S. ; Isaac  New- 


ton; Harrison  Milton;  Ella;  Peter  Brown;  and 
George  P.  Smith,  who  is  the  youngest  of  the  fam- 
ily. 

Mr.  Smith  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm  in 
Clear  Spring  Township.  He  attended  district 
schools,  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  had  sev- 
eral normal  courses,  after  which  he  taught  for  two 
years.  In  April,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Belle 
McKibben,  a daughter  of  John  McKibben,  an  early 
settler  of  LaGrange  County. 

After  his  marriage  Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  farm- 
ing on  what  was  known  as  the  Hiram  Gardner 
farm.  He  and  his  wife  bought  this  place  in  1887 
and  remodeled  the  house,  made  many  improve- 
ments, and  carried  on  a prosperous  business  as  an 
agriculturist  until  1906.  They  still  own  the  farm 
of  hi  acres.  In  1906  Mr.  Smith  moved  to  La- 
Grange and  in  the  same  year  bought  the  building 
supply  business  of  Robert  Wigton.  He  carries  on 
that  business  today. 

He  is  a democrat  in  politics,  a member  of  the  La- 
Grange Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows,  has  filled  all  the 
chairs,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  They  have  two  chil- 
dren, Viva  and  Herman  Harrison.  Viva,  who  was 
born  April  30,  1890,  attended  public  school  in  John- 
son Township,  the  LaGrange  High  School,  where 
she  graduated  in  1909,  also  took  work  in  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola  and  taught  for  two  terms. 
In  1912  she  became  the  wife  of  C.  M.  Johnson,  and 
they  have  one  daughter,  Mary  Louise,  born  August 
8,  1914.  The  son,  Herman  Harrison  Smith,  was 
born  May  21,  1903,  and  is  now  a junior  in  the  La- 
Grange High  School. 

Mr.  Smith  was  one  of  the  leaders  in  LaGrange 
in  all  war  campaigns.  He  was  chairman  of  the  La- 
Grange County  Labor  Reserve  and  for  his  good 
work  in  that  position  has  a certificate  signed  by  the 
secretary  of  agricultural  at  Washington.  Mr.  Smith 
built  a beautiful  home  at  317  West  Spring  Street 
in  1909. 

William  McCoy  is  one  of  the  oldest  residents 
of  Green  Township  of  Noble  County,  and  has  put 
in  half  a century  of  industrious  and  productive 
years  as  a farmer  there.  He  is  still  living  on  his 
old  homestead,  the  south  half  of  the  southeast  quar- 
ter of  section  14. 

Mr.  McCoy  was  born  in  Beaver  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, February  8,  1838,  member  of  an  old  and 
prominent  family  of  Western  Pennsylvania.  His 
parents  were  Isaac  and  Sarah  (Woods)  McCoy. 
Isaac  McCoy  was  a son  of  James  and  Rachel  (May- 
ner)  McCoy.  James  McCoy  was  born  in  Scotland 
and  came  to  the  colonies  and  fought  as  an  Amer- 
ican soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  war.  He  spent 
the  rest  of  his  life  in  Pennsylvania.  Isaac  McCoy 
also  lived  all  his  years  in  Beaver  County.  He  was 
a democrat  and  later  a republican.  He  was  twice 
married.  By  his  first  wife  there  were  fifteen  chil- 
dren, and  five  by  the  second.  There  are  two  still 
living  of  the  first  group  and  one  of  the  second.  The 
first  two  are  John  and  William  McCoy. 

William  McCoy  was  fourteenth  among  his 
mother’s  large  family.  He  grew  up  on  a farm  and 
had  a common  school  education,  and  lived  in  his 
home  locality  until  he  came  to  Indiana. 

July  21,  1864,  he  married  Harriet  P.  Irons,  of 
Beaver  County,  Pennsylvania,  where  she  was  born 
August  26,  1843.  For  eight  months  after  their  mar- 
riage Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  lived  on  the  old  McCoy 
farm  and  on  March  17,  1866,  arrived  in  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  the  land  where  they 
now  live  in  peace  and  prosperity.  Mr.  McCoy  put 
in  many  years  of  hard  work,  clearing  away  the 
woods,  ditching  and  draining,  and  is  largely  re- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


409 


sponsible  for  the  perfect  tillage  and  valuable  im- 
provements which  his  farm  now  has. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  had  eleven  children,  two  of 
whom  died  in  infancy.  The  nine  still  living  are : 
James  W.,  who  married  Rebecca  Bear  and  lives  in 
Allen  Township  of  Noble  County;  Scott,  of  Swan 
Township;  Margaret  J.,  wife  of  Frank  Hanlon,  of 
Green  Township;  Murray  A.,  of  Whitley  County, 
Indiana;  Milo  A.;  Sarah  J.,  wife  of  Ira  Krieg; 
Rosa,  wife  of  David  Richard ; Dessie  E.,  wife  of 
Edward  Richard ; Pearl  E.,  wife  of  Charles  Sum- 
mers, of  Green  Center. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McCoy  are  active  members  of  the 
Hopewell  Presbyterian  Church,  and  he  has  served 
his  church  as  a deacon.  In  politics  he  is  a repub- 
lican. 

Samuel  Porter  Williams.  As  many  of  the  in- 
fluences most  distinctive  and  effective  in  shaping 
the  destiny  of  Northern  Indiana  have  radiated  from 
the  old  and  historic  community  of  Lima,  so  it  is 
possible  to  assert  that  from  no  one  personal  char- 
acter did  more  of  those  influences  proceed  than  from 
the  late  Samuel  Porter  Williams,  whose  long  life 
was  one  of  extreme  usefulness,  honor  and  import- 
ance. 

He  was  born  January  20,  1814,  at  Lebanon,  Con- 
necticut, of  the  best  New  England  antecedents,  a 
son  of  Solomon  and  Martha  (Baker)  Williams. 
His  parents  spent  all  their  lives  in  Connecticut.  Mr. 
Williams  was  born  in  the  same  house  which  was 
the  birthplace  of  William  Williams,  a brother  of  his 
grandfather  and  a signer  of  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. A noteworthy  ancestor  in  the  maternal 
line  was  Major  Baker,  who  served  with  gallantry 
and  honor  in  the  Revolutionary  struggle. 

Samuel  Porter  Williams  acquired  his  education  in 
Connecticut.  He  was  only  eighteen  years  of  age 
when  he  obeyed  that  impulse  common  to  so  many 
aspiring  young  easterners  and  came  to  the  great 
Middle  West  then  just  opened  up  to  settlement  and 
civilization.  In  1832  he  arrived  at  White  Pigeon, 
Michigan,  then  the  seat  of  the  Government  Land 
Office  for  Michigan  Territory  and  one  of  the  points 
from  which  a large  part  of  the  colonists  coming 
from  the  East  diverged  to  their  new  homes.  The 
year  1852  was  also  signalized  by  the  Black  Hawk 
Indian  war.  The  following  year,  1833,  Samuel 
Porter  Williams  was  in  what  is  now  Chicago,  and 
was  at  old  Fort  Dearborn  when  the  treaty  with  the 
Indians  was  signed.  Mr.  Williams  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  at  White  Pigeon.  In  April,  1836, 
he  bought  a tract  of  land  adjoining  the  original  plat 
of  old  Lima,  now  the  Town  of  Howe.  On  the  5th  of 
that  month  he  bought  another  parcel  of  land  and  on 
the  12th  still  another,  giving  him  132  acres.  The  price 
he  paid  for  all  this  land  was  $1,920.  A portion  of 
this  was  laid  out  as  an  addition  to  the  town,  and 
the  following  year,  1837,  he  became  a permanent 
resident  of  Lima. 

In  that  year  he  formed  a partnership  with  Thomas 
Gale  and  bought  a general  stock  of  merchandise  in 
New  York,  the  value  of  which  was  $20,000.  This 
was  for  that  time  an  immense  consignment  of  goods. 
To  get  it  West  was  a problem  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary difficulty  in  the  absence  of  railroads.  It  was 
shipped  to  Buffalo  by  the  Hudson  River  and  Erie 
Canal,  thence  around  the  Great  Lakes  to  Michigan  . 
City,  Indiana,  and  from  that  point  teams  and  wagons 
brought  it  over  the  roads  to  Lima.  The  freight  bill 
alone  was  $3,000.  With  this  stock  of  goods  they 
established  what  was  at  that  time  one  of  the  largest 
general  stores  in  Northern  Indiana.  In  1839  Mr. 
Williams  bought  out  his  partner’s  interest,  and  con- 
tinued alone  until  1853,  when  he  sold  out  to  the  firm 
of  Jewett  & Rawles.  Between  the  years  1848-55  he 


also  operated  a branch  store  at  Blandinsville  in  Mc- 
Donough County,  Illinois. 

Most  of  the  citizens  of  the  present  generation  who 
remember  this  dignified  figure  associate  his  name 
and  activity  with  banking.  In  1853  with  John  B. 
Howe  he  established  a private  bank  at  Lima.  This 
was  the  first  bank  between  Fort  Wayne  and  South 
Bend.  Later  it  became  a branch  of  the  State  Bank 
of  Indiana  and  later  still  operated  under  a national 
charter  and  finally  assumed  its  present  character  as  a 
private  institution.  Through  these  various  changes 
Mr.  Williams  continued  his  financial  and  to  some 
extent  his  managing  interests  until  about  a year  be- 
fore his  death. 

It  would  be  impossible  to  give  a list  of  all  his 
activit'es  which  were  of  direct  or  indirect  benefit  to 
the  community.  He  organized  and  was  the  chief 
stockholder  of  the  National  Bank  of  LaGrange,  the 
institution  over  which,  after  his  death,  his  daughter 
Katherine  presided  as  chief  executive.  He  was  also 
a director  in  several  other  banks  in  Northern  In- 
diana and  Southern  Michigan. 

Successful  in  business,  he  had  the  broad  outlook 
of  genuine  philanthropy  and  did  much  to  stimulate 
education,  morality  and  religion.  In  1854  he  founded 
a girls  seminary  at  Howe,  an  institution  that  ex- 
isted for  twelve  years,  after  which  the  building  and 
equipment  were  sold  to  be  used  as  a public  school. 
He  was  also  a director  of  the  LaGrange  Collegiate 
Institute  at  Ontario  and  for  thirty  years  was  a mem- 
ber of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  Wabash  College, 
Indiana,  an  institution  to  which  he  gave  $20,000.  He 
also  contributed  largely  to  the  building  and  main- 
tenance of  the  Presbyterian  Church  at  Lima.  The 
Christian  principals  which  guided  Mr.  Williams’  life 
were  wrought  into  his  character  in.  early  years  by 
godly  parents.  One  sister  became  a missionary  to 
Syria.  His  brothers  were  also  active  Christian  men. 

It  was  largely  due  to  the  influence  of  Mr.  Williams 
that  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railway  was 
built  through  Howe.  He  was  an  active  member  of 
the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  both  at  La- 
Grange and  Lima.  He  served  in  the  Indiana  Legis- 
lature in  1856-57  and  in  1847  he  was  a delegate  to  the 
River  and  Harbor  Convention  at  Chicago,  and  was 
twice  a delegate  to  republican  national  conventions. 

His  life  of  achievement  came  to  a close  with  his 
death  on  March  31,  1897,  when  eighty-three  years  of 
age.  In  1839  he  married  Lydia  Ann  Hume,  who 
died  in  1842,  the  mother  of  one  daughter,  Rebecca, 
who  became  the  wife  of  Rev.  H.  L.  Van  Nuys,  of 
Goshen,  Indiana,  and  died  in  1869.  In  1843  Mr. 
Williams  married  Isabel  Jane  Hume,  a native  of 
Delaware  County,  New  York.  To  this  union  were 
born  six  children : Emily,  who  died  in  infancy ; 

Mary,  who  became  the  wife  of  S.  T.  Cooper,  of 
Howe,  and  is  deceased;  Ella,  widow  of  Ira  W. 
Nash,  of  Goshen ; Solomon  Baker,  who  died  in  in- 
fancy, and  Katherine  and  Jane,  both  of  whom  occupy 
the  old  home  of  their  father  at  Howe. 

John  B.  Gochenaur.  The  removal  of  John  B. 
Gochenaur  and  his  family  to  Bloomfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County  thirty  years  ago  was  a dis- 
tinct addition  to  the  industrial  and  civic  resources 
of  that  locality.  Mr.  Gochenaur  was  a practical  and 
thoroughgoing  farmer,  has  shown  much  enterprise 
in  managing  his  own  affairs,  and  has  always  been 
allied  with  every  public  spirited  movement  in  his 
township. 

Mr.  Gochenaur  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
November  1,  1853,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Christina 
(Schrock)  Gochenaur.  His  father  was  born  in 
Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  December  1,  1824. 
The  mother  was  horn  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  in 
September,  1824.  Jacob  Gochenaur  moved  from 


410 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Pennsylvania  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  with  his 
parents  and  later  he  went  to  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  married  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death 
in  1896.  His  wife  passed  away  in  1902.  They  had 
seven  children : Emaline,  Elizabeth,  who  died  young, 
John  B.,  David,  who  died  in  childhood,  Amos,  of 
Mongo,  Indiana,  Ezra,  of  Kansas,  and  Amanda,  of 
Wayne  County,  Ohio. 

John  B.  Gochenaur  was  reared  in  his_  native  coun- 
ty, attended  public  school  there,  and  in  1877  mar- 
ried Miss  Elizabeth  Yoder.  She  was  born  in  Wayne 
County,  Ohio,  September  2,  1853,  a daughter  of 
Emanuel  and  Elizabeth  (Miller)  Yoder.  Her  fa- 
ther died  in  Ohio  in  1874.  Mrs.  Yoder  came  with 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gochenaur  to  LaGrange  County  and 
lived  with  them  until  her  death  in  1901.  It  was  in 
the  fall  of  1880  that  Mr.  Gochenaur  located  on  his 
present  farm  in  Bloomfield  Township.  At  that  time 
he  bought  forty  acres  and  has  since  extended  his 
domain  to  sixty  acres.  The  farm  has  a good  quali- 
ty of  improvements  and  has  been  the  productive 
source  of  Mr.  Gochenaur’s  prosperity. 

He  and  his  wife  have  three  daughters,  Lulu,  the 
oldest,  is  a graduate  of  the  Howe  High  School  and 
the  Indiana  State  Normal  and  for  seven  terms  in 
succession  taught  the  Brushy  Prairie  School  and 
later  was  a teacher  at  Angola  and  LaGrange.  She 
is  now  the  wife  of  Alvah  A.  Moore  and  has  a 
daughter,  Helen  Elizabeth.  Amanda  Gochenaur  fin- 
ished her  education  in  the  Mongo  High  School  and 
is  a graduate  of  music  at  the  Tri-State  College. 
She  married  Albert  W.  Kelley,  and  they  have  a 
son,  John  Walter.  Bessie,  the  youngest  of  the 
daughters,  was  educated  at  Mongo  and  Brushy 
Prairie,  is  also  a graduate  of  music  at  Tri-State 
College,  and  is  the  wife  of  Milton  Garlets.  They 
have  three  sons,  Charles  J.,  Monroe  W.  and  John  P. 

Lewis  Summers.  During  thirty  years  of  resi- 
dence in  Green  Township  of  Noble  County  a large 
community  has  come  to  know  and  esteem  Lewis 
Summers  and  family,  recognizing  in  them  some  of 
the  best  citizens  and  in  Mr.  Summers  himself  a 
man  of  industry,  ability  and  of  thorough  public 
spirit. 

Mr.  Summers,  whose  farm  home  is  the  north  half 
of  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  22  in  Green 
Township,  close  to  the  village  of  Green  Center,  was 
born  in  Eel  River  Township  of  Allen  County,  In- 
diana, December  25,  i860.  He  is  a son  of  Ambrose 
and  Rachel  (Harter)  Summers,  the  former  a native 
of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio.  The  sum- 
mers and  the  Harter  families  came  to  Northeast- 
ern Indiana  at  an  early  date  and  settled  in  the  same 
neighborhood,  though  the  former  lived  in  Allen 
County  and  the  latter  in  Noble  County.  Ambrose 
Summers  and  Rachel  Harter  were  married  there, 
and  then  located  in  Allen  County,  where  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  working  at  his  trade  as  a blacksmith. 
He  was  a republican  in  politics.  There  were  six 
children  in  the  family:  Lewis;  Elizabeth,  wife  of 

Henry  Fisher;  Lucinda,  wife  of  V.  P.  Matthews; 
and  Albert  and  Edward,  all  of  whom  live  in  the 
Churubusco  neighborhood. 

Lewis  Summers  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  in 
Eel  River  Township  and  had  an  education  supplied 
by  the  district  schools.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
left  home  and  went  to  work  on  farms  by  the  month, 
and  in  Noble  County  on  October  28,  1886,  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Clara  B.  Shambaugh.  Mrs.  Summers  is 
a daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  (McKinley) 
Shambaugh.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Summers  immediately 
after  their  marriage  began  farming  near  where  they 
now  live,  and  have  ever  since  Seen  residents  of 
Green  Township.  They  have  a valuable  farm  of 
1 19  acres. 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Summers  have  two  children. 
Charles  F.  married  Pearl  McCoy.  Bessie  is  a grad- 
uate of  the  common  schools  and  the  wife  of  Ira 
J.  Black,  of  Green  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sum- 
mers also  have  eight  grandchildren.  They  were 
among  the  early  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church  in  their  neighborhood,  and  in  politics  Mr. 
Summers  is  a republican. 

Claud  Dewey  Kingsbury.  The  genial  proprietor 
of  the  Kingsbury  Hotel  at  Howe  is  a veteran  land- 
lord, and  has  devoted  practically  his  entire  life  to 
the  indispensable  service  of  providing  for  the  wants 
of  the  traveling  public.  His  father  was  in  business 
before  him  at  Howe,  and  the  Kingsbury  family  have 
probably  kept  hotels  longer  than  can  be  credited 
to  any  other  one  family  along  the  route  of  the 
Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railroad. 

Mr.  C.  D.  Kingsbury  was  born  at  Dewey’s  Corn- 
ers in  Jamestown  Township  of  Steuben  County,  No- 
vember 17,  1858,  a son  of  Nathaniel  R.  and  Lucinda 
(Dewey)  Kingsbury.  The  Dewey  family  were  very 
early  settlers  in  Steuben  County.  The  paternal 
grandfather,  Capt.  Ira  Kingsbury,  was  a native  of 
Coventry,  Connecticut,  served  in  the  War  of  1812, 
and  it  is  said  that  he  made  the  first  grain  cradle 
used  in  Herkimer  County,  New  York.  He  spent 
his  last  days  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio. 

Nathaniel  R.  Kingsbury  was  born  in  Herkimer 
County,  New  York,  July  11,  1813,  while  his  wife  was 
born  in  Niagara  County  in  the  same  state,  December 
26,  1819.  They  were  married  in  Sheffield,  Ashtabula 
County,  Ohio,  in  September,  1836,  and  about  1858 
they  settled  in  Steuben  County.  Later  they  removed 
to  the  vicinity  of  Mendon,  Michigan,  still  later  to 
Vicksburg,  Michigan,  and  while  in  Michigan  Nathan- 
iel Kingsbury  engaged  in  the  hotel  business.  In 
1863  he  settled  at  Lima,  now  Howe,  and  kept  a 
hotel  there  for  several  years,  but  in  1867  was  identi- 
fied with  the  management  of  a hotel  at  LaGrange 
for  some  six  months.  He  then  moved  on  to  the 
farm  now  owned  by  Harlie  Hern,  and  spent  a season 
or  so  in  agriculture.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Lima, 
and  not  long  afterward  his  son  Claud  Dewey  became 
associated  with  him  in  the  hotel  business,  and  the 
father  continued  active  in  that  line  until  his  death 
on  January  28,  1886.  His  wife  died  January  30, 
1898. 

They  had  a family  of  seven  children.  Greenlee, 
Deir  oldest,  was  born  March  17,  1838,  and  died  in 
1915.  Caroline  was  born  in  Ashtabula  County, 
February  6,  1840,  and  died  January  27,  1842. 

Martha  was  born  September  7,  1842,  also  in  Ashta- 
bula County,  and  died  in  Alabama,  August  27,  1894. 
T eslie  was  born  February  3,  1846,  in  Ashtabula 
County,  and  died. at  Albion,  Indiana.  Charles  Ray 
was  bom  at  Plvmouth,  Ashtabula  County,  Decem- 
ber 25,  1852,  and  died  at  Lajunta,  Colorado,  January 
31,  1917.  The  sixth  of  the  family  was  James  Lee, 
who  was  born  Mav  3,  185s,  in  Plymouth,  Ohio,  and 
is  a rancher  near  Portland,  Oregon. 

Claud  Dewey  Kingsbury,  youngest  of  the  famiR, 
snent  his  early  life  in  Steuben  and  LaGrange  coun- 
ties, also  in  Michigan,  and  acquired  most  of  his 
education  in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  at  Lima. 
He  was  a boy  when  he  began  taking  responsibilities 
in  association  witli  his  father  in  the  hotel,  and  after 
his  father’s  death  he  continued  the  Kingsbury  House 
at  Howe,  giving  an  uninterrupted  service  under  his 
personal  direction  for  over  thirty  years.  He  owns 
both  the  hotel  and  other  property,  is  a republican 
in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with  the'  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

January'  20,  1882,  he  married  Emma  Adams,  of 
Bristol,  Washington  Township,  Elkhart  County. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


411 


They  have  a daughter,  Frances,  now  the  wife  of 
Clarence  Schaeffer,  a son  of  James  Schaeffer. 

William  E.  Van  Auken,  a son  of  Jacob  H.  and 
Nancy  (Strawway)  Van  Auken,  of  sainted  mem- 
ory. has  spent  his  life  chiefly  as  a successful  farmer 
in  Steuben  County,  and  in  his  individual  career  has 
earned  and  deserved  the  respect  which  has  long 
been  paid  to  members  of  the  Van  Auken  name. 

He  has  lived  in  Steuben  County  since  early  in- 
fancy, having  been  brought  here  in  i860.  He  was 
born  in  Ohio  December  23,  1858.  His  parents  set- 
tled on  a farm  in  Steuben  Township,  comprising 
157  acres,  and  his  father  cleared  up  most  of  that 
land.  Later  he  sold  it  to  his  son  Frank,  and  he 
spent  his  last  days  at  Pleasant  Lake,  where  he  died 
October  6.  1882.  The  good  mother  passed  away 
July  19,  1878. 

Jacob  H.  Van  Auken  was  born  on  a farm  in  Pike 
County,  Pennsylvania,  August  13,  1810.  His  father 
was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812.  Jacob  was  the 
youngest  of  a large  family  of  children,  and  at  the 
age  of  five  years  was  left  homeless.  He  attended 
country  schools  in  New  Jersey,  with  his  feet  clad 
in  rags  during  the  winter  time.  He  was  a diligent 
student  and  afterward  mastered  the  art  of  survey- 
ing. He  taught  in  Pennsylvania,  and  one  of  his 
pupils  was  Nancy  Strawway.  In  March,  1831,  they 
were  married,  and  their  happj'  relationship  con- 
tinued for  nearly  fifty  years,  until  her  death.  Soon 
after  their  marriage  they  started  for  southwestern 
Michigan,  but  on  account  of  the  Blackhawk  In- 
dian war  stopped  in  Portage  County,  Ohio.  Jacob 
Van  Auken  taught  village  school  and  worked  a lit- 
tle farm.  From  Portage  County  they  moved  to 
Cuyahoga  County  and  in  the  fall  of  i860  came  to 
Pleasant  Lake  in  Steuben  County  and  bought  the 
homestead  around  which  so  many  of  the  family  as- 
sociations still  gather.  Jacob  Van  Auken  was  often 
confronted  with  poverty,  having  a large  family  to 
rear  and  maintain,  but  his  courage  and  industry  en- 
abled him  to  keep  his  face  bravely  to  the  front.  He 
was  a skilled  broom  maker  as  well  as  a surveyor. 
In  1840  he  was  one  of  the  surveyors  in  Northern 
Michigan.  At  one  time  he  had  assisting  him  in  his 
work  a boy  he  called  Jim,  and  who  afterwards  was 
better  known  as  James  Garfield,  President  of  the 
United  States.  Jacob  Van  Auken  was  a follower  of 
Thomas  Jefferson  in  politics,  and  his  extensive  read- 
ing and  study  made  him  a liberal  in  religion. 

His  wife,  Nancy  Strawway,  was  born  in  New 
Jersey,  the  daughter  of  . an  iron  miner,  and  she  too 
spent  her  girlhood  in  near  poverty,  rising  above  her 
circumstances  by  sheer  force  of  will  and  a great 
native  intelligence  and  perfection  of  character.  In 
the  early  days  of  her  married  life  she  had  to  per- 
form the  never  ending  toil  of  the  mother  of  num- 
erous children,  and  her  entire  life  was  consecrated 
to  the  high  ideals  of  service  for  others.  She  was 
born  November  22,  1814,  was  married  March  3,  1831, 
and  died,  as  above  noted,  July  19,  1878.  She  was 
the  mother  of  sixteen  children,  and  was  comforted 
in  her  last  hours  by  the  presence  of  children  and 
many  grandchildren.  The  record  of  her  children  is 
as  follows:  Sarah  Jane,  born  in  1832,  and  died  in 

1832;  Calvin  R.,  born  in  1833,  killed  at  a railway 
crossing  in  July,  1910;  James  H.,  born  in  1837,  died 
in  October,  1906;  Horace  N.,  born  in  1839,  died  in 
July,  1914;  Maria,  born  in  1841,  died  in  October, 
iqi'8;  Nancy,  born  in  1842,  died  in  1845;  Phoebe 
Elizabeth,  born  in  1843,  died  in  February,  1917; 
Mary  Jane,  born  in  1845,  and  is  still  living  at  West- 
gate,  California;  Amos  B.,  born  in  1847,  and  killed 
by  lightning  in  1874;  David  E..  born  in  1848,  and 
died  in  September,  1889;  Frank  B.,  born  in  1850,  died 


in  November,  1915;  Jacob  J.,  born  in  1852,  died  in 
November,  1905;  Nannie,  born  in  1854,  died  in  1856; 
Leah  Catherine,  born  in  1856,  died  the  same  year ; 
William  E.,  born  in  1858;  and  Perry  D.,  born  in  1861, 
and  died  in  1865. 

William  E.  Van  Auken  was  one  of  the  eleven 
children  of  his  parents  to  reach  manhood  and 
womanhood.  He  has  stood  at  the  grave  of  seven  of 
his  brothers  and  sisters.  He  grew  up  on  the  old 
homestead  in  Steuben  County,  attended  the  district 
schools,  the  Angola  High  School,  and  the  Valparaiso 
Normal,  and  for  several  years  was  a teacher.  In 
October,  1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louise,  the 
only  daughter  of  George  and  Elizabeth  Hurtt,  of 
Defiance,  Ohio.  When  she  was  but  three  years  of 
age  her  mother  was  called  to  her  heavenly  home, 
followed  by  her  father  only  two  years  later,  leaving 
her  a homeless  orphan  at  the  tender  age  of  five 
years.  Someone  has  said  “God  has  only  permitted 
to  live  a few  people  who  are  good  enough  to  be 
foster  mothers,”  but  one  of  these  was  truly  found 
in  the  person  of  Mrs.  Elisha  Avery,  of  Pleasant 
Lake,  an  aunt  of  the  little  girl,  who  tenderly  reared 
her  to  womanhood. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Auken  had  two  children : 
Grace,  a graduate  of  the  Fremont  High  School,  a 
former  teacher,  and  now  holds  a government  posi- 
tion in  Washington,  District  of  Columbia;  and  Vella, 
who  attended  the  Fremont  High  School  and  for 
eleven  years  was  a teacher  in  the  Steuben  County 
schools.  She  is  now  the  wife  of  Fred  W.  Lott,  a 
prosperous  lumber  and  coal  merchant  of  Milford, 
Kosciusko  County.  In  the  spring  of  1884  he  moved 
to  Jamestown  Township,  where  he  had  purchased 
ninety  acres  of  the  farm  where  he  has  lived  and 
worked  and  prospered  for  thirty-five  years.  He 
subsequently  sold  ten  acres  of  the  original  place,  but 
by  the  purchase  of  an  additional  twenty-four  acres 
has  104  acres  with  good  improvements.  His  resi- 
dence was  burned,  but  was  rebuilt.  His  place  is 
known  as  Pebble  Brook  Farm,  and  is  on  rural  route 
Number  3 out  of  Fremont. 

Mrs.  Van  Auken  died  on  March  18,  1914,  and  in 
November,  1917,  Mr.  Van  Auken  married  Mrs. 
Theodosia  Day,  of  Hudson. 

Mr.  Van  Auken  died  on  August  27,  1919.  A long 
procession  of  his  life-long  friends  followed  his  still 
form  from  his  pleasant  farm  home  in  Jamestown 
Township  to  the  old  cemetery  at  Fremont,  where  it 
was  laid  to  rest  beside  that  of  his  wife,  Louise. 

Mr.  Van  Auken  was  a democrat  without  aspira- 
tions for  political  office,  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  at  Fremont,  and  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 

Rama  D.  Simmons.  The  Simmons  family  have 
been  identified  with  Perry  Township  of  Noble 
County  for  over  sixty  years.  A capable  representa- 
tive o.f  the  family  is  Rama  D.  Simmons,  a practical 
and  progressive  farmer  living  in  section  32  of  Perry 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  that  locality  May  6,  1872,  son 
of  Adam  and  Elizabeth  (Klick)  Simmons.  Adam 
Simmons,  who  was  born  in  Washington  County, 
Pennsylvania,  January  8,  1828,  was  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Frances  Simmons,  who  when  Adam  was  a boy 
they  moved  to  Stark  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1856 
Adam  came  to  Perry  Township  in  Noble 
County.  He  was  a successful  farmer,  took  an 
active  part  in  local  affairs,  especially  church 
and  all  religious  causes,  and  enjoyed  the  thor- 
ough respect  and  esteem  of  a large  community 
until  his  death  on  May  30,  1895.  On  April  25, 
1871,  he  married  Elizabeth  Klick,  who  died  No- 
vember 17,  1910.  They  were  charter  members  of  the 


412 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Christian  Church  in  their  locality,  and  Adam  Sim- 
mons was  a choir  leader  in  the  church  and  Sunday 
school.  In  politics  he  was  a republican. 

There  were  seven  children  in  the  family.  Those 
still  living  are:  Rama  D. ; Frank  B.,  a farmer  in 

Perry  Township;  Harry  W.,  also  a Perry  Town- 
ship farmer;  Carl  W.,  of  Memphis,  Tennessee; 
Mable,  wife  of  Ray  A.  Wolfe,  of  Ligonier;  and 
Laura  B.,  a graduate  of  the  Ligonier  High  School. 

Rama  D.  Simmons  owns  120  acres  of  land  and  is 
also  a stockholder  in  the  Citizens  State  Bank  of 
Ligonier.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

John  F.  Mitchell  is  one-  of  the  oldest  locomotive 
engineers  in  the  service  of  the  Baltimore  & Ohio 
Railroad,  and  is  also  one  of  the  oldest  residents  of 
the  railroad  colony  in  Garrett.  He  has  handled  prac- 
tically every  type  of  engine  used  in  American  rail- 
roading since  the  time  of  the  Civil  war,  and  out  of 
his  individual  experience  he  could  give  an  authentic 
history  of  practical  railroad  operation. 

Mr.  Mitchell  was  born  on  the  Isle  of  Jersey  in  the 
English  Channel,  March  10,  1852,  son  of  Nicholas 
and  Amelia  (Hillier)  Mitchell.  His  parents  were 
also  natives  of  Jersey  and  in  1858  brought  their 
family  to  the  United  States,  settling  at  Sandusky, 
Ohio.  Nicholas  Mitchell  was  a ship  carpenter  by 
trade  and  had  been  an  officer  in  the  British  Navy. 
He  followed  his  trade  at  Sandusky  the  rest  of  his 
life.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Estab- 
lished Church  of  England.  In  their  family  were  two 
children,  Nicholas  and  John  F.  The  former  lives 
at  the  old  Mitchell  homestead  in  Sandusky  and  is  a 
boss  in  the  fertilizing  works  in  that  city. 

John  F.  Mitchell  had  a grammar  school  educa- 
tion at  Sandusky.  His  early  aspirations  were  for 
railroading  and  he  satisfied  his  desires  at  first  as  a 
news  butch,  selling  papers,  apples  and  oranges  on 
the  trains.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was  advanced 
to  the  honor  and  responsibility  of  locomotive  fire- 
man and  four  years  later  was  made  an  engineer.  At 
that  time  he  was  the  youngest  engineer  on  the  road 
and  having  been  in  the  service  fifty-one  years,  he  is 
now  one  of  the  oldest  active  railroad  men  in  the 
country. 

Mr.  Mitchell  came  to  Garrett  in  1874  and  has  been 
a resident  of  that  railroad  town  for  forty-five  years. 
Thirty-five  years  ago  he  bought  ten  acres  of  land 
where  he  now  lives.  Later  he  added  ten  acres  more 
and  also  had  a farm  of  forty  acres.  He  has  since 
sold  all  his  real  estate  except  his  home,  including 
two  cottages. 

Mr.  Mitchell  married  Ella  Babbott.  She  died  in 
1916,  the  mother  of  two  children,  William  F.  and 
Jane.  Both  are  graduates  of  the  Garrett  High 
School  and  William  is  superintendent  of  the  Moler 
Car  Works  at  Paterson,  New  Jersey.  Jane  is  the 
wife  of  Mr.  Boden,  of  Haleyville.  Mr.  Mitchell 
married  for  his  present  wife  Mrs.  Emma  Hess,  of 
Willard,  Ohio.  By  her  first  marriage  she  has  four 
children,  Louis,  Elizabeth,  Marie  and  George,  each 
having  a business  or  college  education.  Mr.  Mitchell 
is  a member  of  the  Brotherhood  of  Locomotive 
Engineers  and  is  affiliated  with  Garrett  City  Lodge 
of  Masons,  while  politically  he  is  a republican. 

John  Spaulding  Merritt,  Jr.,  secretary  of  the 
Lima  Creamery  Company  at  Howe,  has  been  an  ex- 
tensive farm  owner  and  operator  for  a number  of 
years  in  LaGrange  County,  and  both  he  and  his 
family  connections  are  widely  known  and  have  been 
'people  of  prominence  in  this  part  of  Northeast  In- 
diana. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Merritt  homestead  in 
LaGrange.  June  1,  1875,  son  of  John  S.  and  Antoin- 
ette H.  (Snoulding)  Merritt.  His  father  was  born 


in  Onondaga  County,  New  York,  May  6,  1823,  and 
when  a child  accompanied  his  mother  to  Cass  Coun- 
ty, Michigan.  His  father,  Samuel  Merritt,  died  in 
New  York.  His  mother  was  Nancy  W.  (Satterly) 
Merritt.  John  S.  Merritt,  Sr.,  on  December  1, 
1847,  married  Sarah  Bull.  The  only  child 
of  that  marriage  was  Francis  Dewitt  Mer- 
ritt, who  was  born  in  1849  and  came  to 
LaGrange  in  i860.  He  studied  law  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  Michigan,  became  a member  of  the  La- 
Grange bar  in  1879,  was  in  partnership  with  Judge 
James  Drake  and  had  a high  place  among  the  law- 
yers of  LaGrange  County  until  his  death  in  October, 
1914.  He  was  president  of  the  LaGrange  Town 
Board,  served  as  prosecuting  attorney  four  years, 
and  for  two  terms  was  a members  of  the  Legisla- 
ture, acting  as  speaker  of  the  House  during  his  first 
term  and  being  a candidate  for  that  office.  For  one 
year  he  was  judge  of  the  Circuit  Court,  appointed  by 
Governor  Durbin  as  successor  to  Judge  Joseph  D. 
Ferrell.  Judge  Merritt  married  Marjorie  Rice,  and 
bis  second  wife  was  Nellie  Vail.  He  left  no  chil- 
dren. 

John  S.  Merritt,  Sr.,  married  for  his  second  wife 
Antoinette  H.  Spaulding,  who  was  born  August  16, 
1835,  a daughter  of  Judge  Thomas  and  Sabra 
(Proctor)  Spaulding.  Her  father  was  born  in 
Massachusetts  in  1801  and  her  mother  in  New 
Llampshire  in  1800.  Thomas  Spaulding  for  several 
years  peddled  merchandise  in  Vermont,  but  in  1827 
moved  to  Wayne  County,  New  York,  where  he  en- 
gaged in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  patent  medi- 
cines. He  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  in 
1835,  and  after  a brief  return  back  to  Wayne  County, 
settled  here  permanently  in  1836,  purchasing  a large 
tract  of  land  in  Lima  Township.  In  1837  he  moved 
his  family  to  the  farm  and  became  extensively  en- 
gaged in  farming  and  speculating.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  directors  of  the  First  Bank  at  Lima,  and 
he  also  served  as  associate  judge  of  LaGrange 
County  at  a time  when  the  County  Court  was  made 
up  of  a chief  or  presiding  judge  and  two  associates. 
The  Spaulding  children  were  Oscar  J.,  Wesley  J., 
Marietta,  Antoinette  H.  and  Lois  A. 

The  career  of  Oscar  J.  Spaulding  requires  some 
special  reference  here.  In  1861  he  enlisted  as  a 
private  in  Company  K of  the  Seventy-Eighth  New 
York  Infantry,  and  was  soon  fighting  on  Virginia 
soil.  After  six  months  he  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant  and  finally  rose  to  the  rank  of  colonel, 
commanding  a regiment  during  the  later  part  of  the 
war.  He  was  in  thirty-six  engagements  and  was 
twice  wounded.  Following  the  war  he  became  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  and  owned  335  acres  of  im- 
proved land  in  Lima  Township.  Colonel  Spaulding 
married  Mary  A.  Tyler,  on  September  27,  1844.  She 
was  born  in  Michigan,  July  24,  1826,  a daughter  of 
Isaac  and  Eleanor  (Knapp)  Tyler,  who  were  early 
settlers  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan.  Oscar 
Spaulding  and  wife  had  four  children  : Mona  E., 

Jonathan  L.,  DeAlton  F.  and  Florence  A. 

John  Spaulding  Merritt,  Jr.,  was  the  third  of  three 
children  born  to  his  father  and  mother.  The  oldest 
was  Mary  Adella,  who  was  born  February  20,  1858, 
and  died  September  25,  1918.  She  was  married  to 
John  W.  Hanan,  and  her  son  Frank  was  born  July 
19,  1881,  and  on  December  18,  1915,  married  Lottie 
B.  Slack.  Marietta,  the  other  sister  of  Mr.  Merritt, 
was  born  June  12,  1866,  and  on  October  28,  1886,  be- 
came the  wife  of  Willis  Deal.  Her  daughter,  An- 
toinette, was  born  September  7,  1889,  and  is  the  wife 
of  Fred  W.  Sears  and  has  one  child,  Charles  Willis 
Sears,  born  June  20,  1908.  George  P.  Deal,  a son 
of  Marietta  Deal,  was  born  April  18,  1893,  married 
Gladys  Duncan,  of  Three  Rivers,  Michigan,  and  has 
a child,  James  Willis,  born  August  11,  1917. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


413 


John  S.  Merritt,  Sr.,  after  coming  to  LaGrange 
County  acquired  a large  farm  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship, and  was  called  from  that  to  the  office  of  sheriff 
in  1866,  serving  one  term.  After  leaving  office  he 
bought  another  farm  adjoining  LaGrange,  and  built 
a fine  brick  residence,  where  he  made  his  home  until 
his  death  in  1894.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 
His  second  wife  and  the  mother  of  the  children 
above  noted  died  January  12,  1884,  and  he  afterward 
married  Mrs.  Harriet  Gilbert,  who  is  now  living  at 
Bellingham,  Washington. 

John  Spaulding  Merritt  spent  his  early  life  at 
LaGrange,  attended  the  high  school  there  and  then 
took  a business  course  at  Indianapolis.  For  several 
years  he  gave  all  his  attention  to  farming.  He  in- 
herited a part  of  the  homestead,  bought  the  Sexauer 
farm  of  113  acres  one  mile  west  of  Howe,  and  later 
the  Walker  farm  of  166  acres  at  Howe.  He  has 
been  secretary  and  manager  of  the  Lima  Creamery 
Company  at  Howe  since  January,  1915. 

He  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  is  a charter 
member  of  Howe  Lodge  No.  698,  of  Masons,  mem- 
ber of  the  Royal  Arch  Chapter  at  LaGrange  and  the 
Scottish  Rite  Consistory  at  Fort  Wayne.  He  is  also 
affiliated  with  Lodge?  No.  142  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  Howe. 

December  8,  1897,  he  married  Bertha  M.  Schaeffer, 
daughter  of  James  Schaeffer,  of  LaGrange  County. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merritt  had  two  children,  James 
Schaeffer  Merritt  and  Margaret  Marian  Merritt,  the 
latter  born  December  7,  1917.  James  Schaeffer  Mer- 
ritt was  born  June  29,  1899,  graduated  from  the 
Howe  Military  School  and  on  August  16,  1918,  en- 
tered the  officers  training  camp  at  Fort  Sheridan, 
Chicago.  September  20,  1918,  at  the  special  request 
of  Doctor  McKenzie,  head  of  the  Howe  Military 
School,  he  was  recalled  to  his  alma  mater  and  be- 
came instructor  in  military  practice. 

Lovzinski  McGuire.  A substantial  and  prosper- 
ous farmer,  a high  minded  citizen  and  a man  well 
entitled  to  all  the  respect  he  enjoys,  Lovzinski  Mc- 
Guire owns  one  of  the  well  improved  farms  of 
Green  Township  in  Noble  County.  The  farm  com- 
prises the  west  half  of  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  2. 

He  has  lived  in  Noble  County  most  of  his  life  but 
was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  August  5,  1852, 
son  of  Benjamin  and  Rachel  (Gladden)  McGuire. 
His  father  was  born  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania, 
April  15,  1824,  and  died  December  30,  1898.  The 
mother  was  born  November  2,  1826,  and  died  Octo- 
ber 26,  1897.  Benjamin  McGuire  went  to  Ashland 
County  in  1835,  and  he  and  his  wife  were  married 
there  March  20,  1845.  They  were  parents  of  ten 
children,  the  following  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Wilson  McGuire,  of  Denver,  Colorado ; O.  M.  Mc- 
Guire, of  Green  Township;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  J.  C. 
Andrew,  of  Ohio;  Lovzinski;  Alva,  of  York  Town- 
ship, Noble  County;  and  Hugh,  who  lives  in  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio. 

Lovzinski  McGuire  grew  up 'in  Ashland  County, 
Ohio,  attended  the  common  schools  and  was  at  home 
until  the  age  of  twenty-one.  On  December  24,  1874, 
he  married  Malinda  Budd.  She  was  born  in  Ash- 
land County,  Ohio,  February  23,  1855,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Clarissa  (Edwards)  Budd,  the  former 
a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  the  latter  of  Ohio! 
Her  parents  were  married  in  Ohio  and  spent  their 
last  years  in  Ashland  County.  Mrs.  McGuire  was 
one  of  ten  children,  and  was  reared  and  educated 
in  Ohio. 

For  some  sixteen  or  eighteen  years  after  their 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGuire  lived  in  Ashland 
County  and  the  greater  part  of  this  time  he  rented 
his  father’s  farm.  In  the  fall  of  1890  he  bought 


a new  home  in  Noble  County,  Indiana,  and  moved 
to  it  in  the  spring  of  1891.  Here  he  has  sur- 
rounded himself  with  most  comfortable  circum- 
stances, having  a farm  of  eighty-three  acres  in  the 
home  place  and  twenty  acres  in  Jefferson  township. 
All  of  it  represents  his  good,  honest  toil  and  earnest 
efforts  to  win  a competency. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGuire  had  three  daughters.  Ida 
is  the  wife  of  Marshall  J.  Engle,  of  Green  Town- 
ship. Grace  is  the  wife  of  Dr.  O.  P.  Franks,  of 
Churubusco.  She  is  a high  school  graduate  and 
was  a teacher  until  her  marriage.  Bertha  is  the  wife 
of  Norman  Bowman,  and  they  live  in  Detroit,  Mich- 
igan. The  McGuire  family  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Summit.  Mr.  Mc- 
Guire is  affiliated  with  Albion  Lodge  No.  97,  Ancient 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  and  is  a democrat  in 
politics.  He  has  been  much  interested  in  local 
affairs  and  has  served  as  justice  of  the  peace  of 
Green  Township. 

Albertus  Campbell.  For  over  seventy  years  the 
Campbell  family  has  been  prominent  in  Smithfield 
Township  of  DeKalb  County.  Albertus  Campbell, 
a grandson  of  the  original  settler  here,  has  followed 
farming  for  many  years,  owns  a farm  of  generous 
proportions  in  Smithfield  Township,  and  is  also  the 
honored  representative  of  the  north  district  of  the 
county  on  the  Board  of  County  Commissioners. 

He  was  born  in  Smithfield  Township,  April  13, 
1871,  a son  of  Edward  and  Mariun  E.  (Childs) 
Campbell. 

His  grandfather  was  Abel  Campbell,  who  was  born 
in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  October  26, 
1807,  and  when  a boy  went  with  his  parents  to  Stark 
County,  Ohio.  In  that  county  on  June  16,  1831,  he 
married  Jane  Taylor,  who  was  born  in  Washington 
County,  Pennsylvania,  May  25,  1812.  In  1836  they 
moved  to  Summit  County,  Ohio,  and  in  May,  1847, 
located  in  section  28  of  Smithfield  Township,  De- 
Kalb  County.  The  family  were  two  weeks  in  mak- 
ing the  journey  to  DeKalb  County  by  wagons  and 
teams.  The  land  on  which  he  settled  had  been  en- 
tered in  1836  by  John  Taylor,  his  wife’s  father. 
Abel  Campbell  took  his  family  into  a small  log 
house,  and  his  labor  cleared  up  about  seventy-five 
acres  and  otherwise  improved  the  farm  before  his 
death  in  November,  i860.  He  was  active  in  whig 
politics,  becoming  a republican  upon  the  organization 
of  that  party,  and  he  died  the  day  after  Lincoln  was 
elected  president. 

Edward  H.  Campbell  was  born  in  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  in  1841,  and  was  a small  boy  when  brought  to 
DeKalb  County.  Later  he  worked  in  the  fields  and 
in  clearing  up  more  land,  and  he  became  a prosper- 
ous farmer,  owning  200  acres  when  he  died.  He 
was  a member  of  the  Masonic  Order  for  fifty  years. 
His  wife  Mariun  E.  Childs,  was  the  daughter  of 
Briekard  Childs,  who  settled  in  DeKalb  County  in 
1847.  Edward  H.  Campbell  and  wife  had  five  chil- 
dren: Frank,  of  Fairfield  Township;  Albertus; 

Elnora,  deceased ; Clark,  who  lives  northeast  of 
Waterloo;  and  Thomas  S.,  of  Waterloo. 

Albertus  Campbell  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
attended  public  schools,  living  with  his  parents  until 
he  was  twenty-five.  On  June  7,  1896,  he  married 
Laura  Walker,  who  was  born  in  Smithfield  Town- 
ship, March  25,  1874,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Susanna 
Walker.  Her  father  for  one  term  was  a county 
commissioner  of  DeKalb  County,  being  elected  on 
the  democratic  ticket.  Eli  Walker  died  in  February, 
1918.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  and  was  affiliated  with  the  Masons 
and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

After  their  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell 
moved  into  a log  house  on  his  father’s  farm,  but  a 


414 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


year  later  he  bought  forty  acres  and  built  a home 
of  his  own.  He  finally  sold  that  place  and  bought 
his  present  farm  of  112.88  acres,  and  is  now  exten- 
sively engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 

He  and  his  wife  had  two  sons,  Edward  F.,  born 
September  6,  1897,  still  at  home,  and  Jeremiah  E., 
born  February  7,  1908.  Mr.  Campbell  is  affiliated 
with  Waterloo  Lodge  No.  307,  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  of  which  he  is  a past  master,  and  with  the 
Knights  of  Pythias. 

Politically  lie  is  a republican,  but  his  record  in 
politics  would  indicate  that  his  personality  is  strong- 
er than  his  party.  DeKalb  County  is  democratic 
normally  by  500.  In  1916  he  was  the  nominee  of 
his  party  for  commissioner  and  the  only  republican 
elected,  and  was  re-elected  November  5,  1918.  He 
had  a majority  of  191  in  1916  and  had  many  votes 
to  spare  in  the  second  election.  He  also  served  four 
years  as  township  assessor.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Campbell 
are  members  of  Waterloo  Chapter  No.  142  of  the 
Eastern  Star,  of  which  he  is  a past  worthy  patron. 

Joseph  Stead  was  a factor  in  the  agricultural 
community  of  LaGrange  County  for  over  fifty  years. 
Though  he  did  his  work  in  a time  when  prices  for 
agricultural  products  were  prevailingly  low,  he  man- 
aged to  prosper,  and  developed  a farm  which  has 
long  been  recognized  as  one  of  the  best  in  the  county, 
and  it  is  now  the  home  of  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Carrie 
S.  Gay,  in  Greenfield  Township. 

Joseph  Stead  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England, 
December  21,  1830.  In  1833,  before  he  was  able 
to  remember  the  journey,  his  parents,  William  and 
Hannah  Stead,  brought  him  to  America  and  settled 
at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  and  subsequently  re- 
moved to  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
where  they  spent  the  rest  of  their  days.  Joseph 
Stead  had  little  opportunity  to  attend  school,  but 
made  the  best  of  his  advantages  and  was  employed 
on  the  home  farm  until  his  marriage.  On  December 
23,  1852,  he  married  Miss  Lydia  Alcott.  He  then 
located  on  a rented  farm  and  six  years  later  moved 
to  the  land  which  he  cultivated  for  nearly  half  a 
century  and  where  he  died  July  28,  1909.  His  wife 
passed  away  October  21,  1908.  She  was  a daughter 
of  Samuel  and  Nancy  Alcott,  of  Marion  County, 
Ohio,  who  came  to  Indiana  in  1836,  locating  in 
Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County.  Samuel 
Alcott  died  in  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County,  and  his  wife  in  Greenfield  Township. 

Joseph  Stead  and  wife  had  three  children,  Annie 
E.,  George  M.  and  Caroline  B.  The  two  older  are 
now  deceased.  Caroline  B.  was  born  in  Green- 
field Township,  at  the  old  homestead,  received 
good  advantages  in  the  local  schools,  the  LaGrange 
High  School  and  the  Tri-State  College,  and  taught 
when  she  was  only  seventeen  years  old.  In  1898 
she  became  the  wife  of  Dennis  Gay. 

Dennis  Gay  was  born  in  Crawford  County,  Ohio, 
December  2,  1871,  a son  of  Benjamin  F.  and  Letitia 
(McDougal)  Gay,  the  former  a native  of  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  born  near  Wooster, 
Ohio.  They  were  married  in  that  state,  and  in 
1883  moved  to  LaGrange  County,  settling  in  Clay 
Township  on  a farm.  For  about  fifteen  years 
Beniamin  Gay  lived  there  and  made  his  enterprise 
notable  in  the  breeding  of  standard  bred  road  horses. 
On  leaving  Clay  Township  he  bought  a place  near 
Coldwater,  Michigan,  and  is  now  living  retired  at 
Sturgis,  Michigan.  He  is  a republican  and  member 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  In  the  Gay  family 
were  four  children:  Dennis,  Alice,  Lulu  and  Jesse. 

Dennis  Gay  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of 
Ohio,  graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High  School 
in  1890  and  for  thirteen  years  was  a successful 
and  popular  teacher.  During  that  time  he  was 


principal  of  the  schools  of  Mongo  and  of  Brighton. 
While  teaching  he  also  engaged  in  farming,  and 
some  years  ago  he  bought  140  acres  in  Greenfield 
Township,  though  he  and  his  wife  always  lived  on 
the  Stead  farm.  After  the  death  of  Joseph  Stead 
Mr.  Gay  and  wife  improved  the  farm  by  the  erec- 
tion of  a large  barn  40  by  96  feet.  Mr.  Gay  was 
a breeder  of  full  blood  jersey  cattle.  He  was  a 
practical  farmer  and  stock  man,  businesslike  in 
all  his  dealings,  and  his  death  on  June  27,  1917, 
was  accounted  a heavy  loss  to  the  community.  Since 
his  death  Mrs.  Gay  has  continued  the  farm  and  live- 
stock business.  Mr.  Gay  was  a republican  and  was 
affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  'Odd  Fel- 
lows at  LaGrange. 

Mrs.  Gay  has  one  son,  Paul  Stead  Gay,  who  was 
born  March  5,  1900.  He  completed  the  work  of 
the  common  schools,  spent  three  years  in  the  Mongo 
High  School  and  graduated  from  the  Angola  High 
School  in  1918.  He  is  a student  of  the  chemical 
engineering  course  in  the  Tri-State  College. 

Elvie  R.  Greenawalt,  a son  of  Samuel  Greena- 
walt,  is  a well  known  farmer  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  and  was  born  on  the  old 
Malion  homestead  there  October  15,  1888. 

In  addition  to  the  advantages  of  the  common 
schools  he  is  a graduate  of  the  Springfield  Township 
High  School  and  spent  two  years  in  the  LaGrange 
High  School.  When  the  Home  Grain  Company 
started  a branch  elevator  at  Berlin  he  was  manager 
for  two  years,  but  for  the  past  four  years  has  rented 
the  Greenawalt  homestead  of  190  acres,  and  is  now 
doing  a prosperous  business  as  a general  farmer  and 
stock  raiser.  He  is  a republican  and  he  and  his  wife 
are  both  active  in  church. 

September  9,  1914,  he  married  Miss  Irda  Harp. 
She  was  born  in  Ohio,  December  29,  1888,  a daughter 
of  John  and  Caroline  Harp. 

Charles  Bowerman,  one  of  the  oldest  men  in 
Steuben  County,  an  octogenarian,  for  forty  years 
has  been  a resident  of  that  county  and  has  a record 
as  a successful  farmer  and  a man  whose  intelli- 
gence and  public  spirit  have  made  him  a valuable 
member  of  the  community. 

Mr.  Bowerman  was  born  in  Seneca  County,  Ohio, 
March  24,  1836,  a son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Ritter) 
Bowerman.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. Jacob  Bowerman  was  born  in  1795  and 
after  his  marriage  lived  in  Seneca  County,  New 
York,  moved  from  there  about  1827  to  Seneca 
County,  Ohio,  and  died  in  that  state  in  1876,  while 
his  wife  passed  away  in  1877.  Jacob  Bowerman  and 
wife  had  a large  family  of  children,  named  Samuel, 
Michael,  Catherine,  John,  Elizabeth,  Henry,  Susan- 
nah, Jacob,  Charles,  Mary  Jane,  Isaac  and  Joshua. 

Charles  Bowerman  grew  up  in  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  and  had  a public  school  education  at  a time 
when  public  schools  were  of  the  pioneer  type.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  bought  eighty  acres  in 
Jackson  Township  of  Steuben  County,  which  is  still 
included  in  his  possessions.  However,  he  did  not 
come  to  the  county  to  live  until  1877.  He  then 
located  on  eighty  acres  south  of  his  present  home, 
and  afterward  bought  the  eighty  acres  in  his  home 
place,  giving  him  160  acres.  He  has  made  many 
valuable  improvements,  and  part  of  the  house  was 
built  by  his  brother  Henry  about  seventy  years  ago. 

In’  1862  Mr.  Bowerman  married  Caroline  Reiter. 
She  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  March  28,  1835,  and 
died  December  25,  1885.  Her  parents  were  Michael 
and  Sarah  Reiter,  the  former  dying  at  Napoleon, 
Ohio,  and  the  latter  in  Seneca  County. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bowerman  had  four  children,  Wil- 
liam Henry,  Alice,  Clara  Dell  and  Arthur.  Alice  is 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


415 


the  wife  of  George  A.  Baker;  Clara  Dell  keeps 
house  for  her  father  and  brother;  Arthur  married 
Dora  Neikirk  and  has  two  children,  Violet  and 
Charles  John. 

William  Henry  Bowerman  was  born  in  Ohio  June 
21,  1863,  and  was  fourteen  years  of  age  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Steuben  County.  He  acquired 
most  of  his  education  in  his  native  county,  though 
also  attending  school  in  Jackson  Township.  He 
has  never  married  and  has  given  the  best  service 
of  his  life  to  handling  the  home  farm,  and  still 
operates  the  160  acres,  and  owns  twenty-five  acres 
just  across  the  road  from  the  Bowerman  homestead. 

Charles  F.  Spero  is  one  of  the  progressive  men 
in  the  agricultural  district  of  Springfield  Township, 
LaGrange  County.  His  home  is  on  rural  route  No.  x 
out  of  Stroh.  Among  other  features  that  indicate 
his  enterprise  his  farm  contains  probably  the  longest 
barn  in  LaGrange  County.  He  is  a stockman  as 
well  as  a general  farmer. 

He  was  born  on  the  old  Spero  homestead  in 
Springfield  Township,  May  31,  1861.  His  father, 
Samuel  Spero,  was  prominent  in  his  day  as  a farmer 
in  Springfield  Township.  The  grandfather  was 
James  Spero,  who  married  Susanna  Stoner,  and 
some  other  members  of  the  Spero  family  are  men- 
tioned elsewhere  in  this  publication.  Samuel  Spero 
was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  October  14,  1832, 
and  at  the  age  of  twenty-four  left  home  and  rented 
a farm  in  Van  Buren  Township  of  LaGrange  County 
for  one  year.  He  then  returned  to  Springfield  and 
bought  eighty  acres  and  kept  his  possessions  in- 
creasing untii  he  had  240  acres.  For  some  time  he 
and  his  family  lived  in  a log  house  and  later  he 
erected  two  dwelling  houses  on  his  farm  and  also 
a good  bank  barn.  He  was  a republican  in  politics. 
An  instance  of  his  good  citizenship  was  his  donating 
$150  to  assist  in  clearing  the  township  draft  during 
the  Civil  war.  Samuel  Spero  married  Frances  Deal, 
daughter  of  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  Deal,  who  came 
from  Marion  County,  Ohio,  to  LaGrange  County  in 
1834.  Samuel  Spero  died  in  1905,  and  his  widow  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-three.  They  had 
eleven  children  and  the  six  to  reach  mature  years 
are  all  living,  namely:  Charles  F. ; Fred,  of  the 

State  of  Washington;  Joseph,  a LaGrange  County 
farmer;  Agnes  E.,  'of  Washington;  and  Ned  and 
Maggie  B„  also  living  in  Washington. 

Charles  F.  Spero  attended  public  schools  as  a 
boy,  and  in  1883,  at  the  age  of  twenty-two,  he 
bought  forty  acres  of  land  in  Steuben  County. 
Twenty  years  later,  in  1903,  he  bought  the  Wol- 
heater  farm  of  eighty-six  acres  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship. This  is  the  farm  which  he  owns  today  and 
where  he  has  placed  some  notable  improvements. 
The  barn  mentioned  above  is  36  feet  wide  and  134 
feet  long.  It  was  erected  in  1914.  Mr.  Spero  is  a 
republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  active  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  He  has  traveled  ex- 
tensively, has  made  two  trips  to  California,  where 
his  family  spent  one  summer,  and  the  winter  of  1918- 
19  he  spent  in  Washington.  For  two  years  he  lived 
at  Mongo,  where  he  engaged  in  selling  stock  food 
and  disposed  of  a total  product  of  47,000  pounds. 

December  21,  1882,  Mr.  Spero  married  Miss  Belle 
Hamilton.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township, 
on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Henry  Wade,  on  October 
6,  1862,  a daughter  of  Frank  and  Abigail  (Carr) 
Hamilton.  Her  father  was  born  in  Talbot  County, 
Maryland,  in  1825,  and  her  mother  in  New  York 
State  in  1827.  Frank  Hamilton  came  to  LaGrange 
County  in  1846,  and  owned  the  farm  whose  present 
proprietor  is  Tasso  Smith,  and  later  had  the  farm 
now  owned  by  Henry  Wade.  In  1864  Frank  Hamil- 
ton moved  to  Jackson  Township  in  Steuben  County 


and  bought  117  acres.  When  he  sold  that  property 
he  bought  forty  acres  near  Crooked  Lake,  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  1896,  his  wife  dying  the  next 
year.  He  was  a republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
active  in  the  Methodist  Church.  In  the  Hamilton 
family  were  six  children:  Martha,  deceased  wife 

of  Henry  Kaler ; Melinda,  wife  of  Edgar  Burdick, 
living  in  California;  William,  Alexander,  of  La- 
Grange County,  who  married  Belle  Poppinno,  and 
their  son  Fred  married  Bertha  Garmier,  and  the 
Garmiers  have  one  child,  Ruth ; Carr  died  in  in- 
fancy; Belle  is  the  wife  of  Charles  F.  Spero;  and 
Homer  is  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spero  had  two  children.  Gladys, 
the  older,  was  born  October  15,  1885,  had  a good 
education  in  local  schools,  is  a graduate  of  the  An- 
gola High  School  and  a graduate  in  music  from  the 
Tri-State  College.  She  is  the  wife  of  Adolph  Seibel, 
of  Delta,  Ohio,  also  a graduate  of  the  Tri-State 
College  and  a post-graduate  of  Columbia  University. 
Mr.  Seibel  was  principal  of  the  Hamilton  and  Pleas- 
ant Lake  schools  and  for  about  three  years  superin- 
tendent of  the  Angola  High  School.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Seibel  are  now  fruit  ranchers  in  the  State  of  Wash- 
ington and  have  a daughter,  Joan  Elizabeth,  born 
January  3,  1914. 

Guy  Spero,  the  only  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
F.  Spero,  was  born  April  13,  1891,  on  the  old  James 
Spero  farm,  is  a graduate  of  the  Springfield  Town- 
ship High  School  and  is  now  an  independent  young 
farmer  owning  a place  of  forty  acres.  He  married 
Lola  Smith,  and  their  one  child  is  Franz  Hamilton, 
born  April  4,  1918. 

Joseph  Horner,  member  of  one  of  the  prominent 
families  of  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
was  born  in  Westmoreland  County,  Pennsylvania, 
August  17,  1850,  a son  of  Eli  and  Catherine 
(Mohler)  Horner.  His  parents  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  In  October,  1866,  thej^  came  to  La- 
Grange County  and  settled  on  a farm  formerly 
known  as  the  William  Hall  farm.  Eli  Horner  be- 
came the  owner  of  more  than  600  acres  of  land  and 
lived  in  LaGrange  County  until  his  death  in  1898, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  His  wife  died  in  1892, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-four.  Their  children  were:  Wil- 
liam, who  died  in  infancy;  Anna;  Elias;  Joseph; 
Catherine  and  Isaiah,  both  deceased ; Emanuel ; Al- 
pheus  ; Milton  ; Irvin  ; Mjnton  ; and  Charles. 

Joseph  Horner  when  two  and  a half  years  old 
went  with  his  parents  to  Ashland  County,  Ohio, 
where  he  grew  up  and  attended  public  school.  He 
was  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  came  to  Indiana, 
and  had  some  further  advantages  in  the  public 
schools  of  LaGrange  County.  In  1880  he  bought 
forty  acres,  later  added  another  forty,  and  has  ex- 
tensively remodeled  the  buildings  and  does  a busi- 
ness as  a farmer  and  stock  raiser..  He  was  a sheep 
feeder  for'  a number  of  years.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Progressive  Brethren  Church. 

July  4,  1880,  Mr.  Horner  married  Lorinda  Hall,  a 
native  of  Springfield  Township,  where  she  was  born 
November  1,  1858,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Mar- 
garet (Pickles)  Hall.  Her  father  was  born  in  Ohio, 
March  23,  x 833,  a son  of  William  and  Lucinda 
(Hull)  Hall.  Her  mother  was  born  in  England, 
October  1,  1833,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Jane 
(Saver)  Pickles.  Richard  Pickles  brought  his  fam- 
ily to  LaGrange  County  in  1835,  settling  in  Green- 
field Township.  As  a stone  mason  and  marble 
worker  he  found  active  employment  and  helped  build 
the  State  Prison  at  Jackson,  Michigan,  where  he 
was  living  when  he  died.  The  Sayer  family  were 
also  early  identified  with  LaGrange  County,  coming 
here  in  1834  and  settling  in  Greenfield  Township. 


416 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


The  children  of  Richard  Pickles  and  wife  were  Mar- 
garet, Jane,  Sarah,  Joseph. 

George  W.  Hall,  father  of  Mrs.  Horner,  came  to 
LaGrange  County  with  his  parents,  was  married  in 
Greenfield  Township,  where  he  bought  and  owned 
several  farms,  and  later  went  to  Noble  County,  own- 
ing a farm  north  of  Kendallville  and  finally  returned 
to  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  and 
lived  .on  a farm  east  of  Mongo  until  the  death  of 
his  wife  in  1880.  He  then  returned  to  Noble  County, 
and  lived  there  until  his  death  in  1906.  Mrs.  Horner 
was  one  of  seven  children,  the  others  being  Mc- 
Kinnon, Martin,  Henry,  Tena,  Hattie  and  William. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Horner  had  three  children : Adella 

married  James  M.  Gibbons,  who  died  June  16,  I9i9> 
and  has  two  children,  Margaret  and  James.  Flor- 
ence is  the  wife  of  William  Wolfe  and  has  a daugh- 
ter, Rachel  Maxine.  The  youngest  is  Cecil  Othello, 
at  home  with  his  parents. 

Willis  J.  Hall,  owner  of  a fine  farm  in  Salem 
Township  of  Steuben  County,  is  a member  of  a 
family  that  has  been  especially  well  known  in  La- 
Grange County  since  pioneer  days. 

His  father,  the  late  Charles  Flail,  came  to  La- 
Grange County  when  all  the  country  was  wild  and 
new  and  bought  land  in  Springfield  Township.  He 
sold  that  and  moved  to  Milford  Township  in  the 
same  county,  acquiring  120  acres  and  increasing  it 
by  the  purchase  of  an  additional  180  acres,  where 
he  spent  a life  of  toil  and  good  management  and 
left  a splendid  farm  at  the  time  of  his  death  in 
1916,  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven.  He  married 
Sophronia  Case,  who  died  in  1876,  the  mother  of 
eight  children,  named  Ida,  Florence,  Ella,  Emma, 
Orcy,  Frank,  Almond  and  Willis  J.  Charles  Hall 
married  for  his  second  wife  Celia  Case,  first  cousin 
of  his  first  wife,  and  daughter  of  Perry  Case.  To 
this  marriage  were  born  Mabel,  Nina,  Leona,  Harry 
and  Leon.  Charles  Hall’s  first  wife  was  a daughter 
of  Randolph  Case,  a pioneer  of  LaGrange  County. 

Willis  J.  Hall,  who  was  born  in  Milford  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County  February  3,  1876,  grew 
up  there  and  acquired  a public  school  education.  In 
early  manhood  he  went  to  the  territory  of  Oklahoma 
and  acquired  eighty  acres,  which  he  developed 
largely  from  its  primeval  state  and  condition.  He 
sold  out  and  returned  to  Steuben  County  in  1901, 
and  since  1908  has  owned  his  present  farm  of  105 
acres  in  Salem  Township.  He  has  remodelled  the 
buildings  and  the  general  arrangement  of  the  farm 
and  has  given  it  greatly  increased  value  and  pro- 
ductiveness. 

Mr.  Hall  is  a republican  in  politics.  In  1902  he 
married  May  Courtright,  daughter  of  Jonathan  M. 
Courtright  of  Salem  Township.  They  have  three 
children,  Josephine,  Burdette  and  Roscoe. 

Yost  C.  Miller,  for  many  years  a prominent 
farmer  of  LaGrange  County,  represents  a line  of 
sturdy  ancestors  of  the  Mennonite  faith  for  several 
generations  residents  in  Pennsylvania,  and  Mr. 
Miller  himself  has  been  a leader  among  the  Menno- 
nites  of  Newbury  Township  for  many  years,  being 
minister  of  the  Shore  Mennonite  Church. 

He  was  born  in  Newbury  Township,  April  28,  1855. 
His  grandfather,  Daniel  Miller,  was  born  April  10, 
1794,  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  spent  his 
life  there  as  a farmer  and  died  April  3,  1835.  He 
married  Mary  Mast,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
county  in  March,  1796.  After  the  death  of  Daniel 
Miller  his  widow  married  Frederick  Swartzendruber, 
and  she  spent  the  last  two  years  of  her  life  in  La- 
Grange County. 

Samuel  D.  Miller,  father  of  Yost  C.,  was  born 
in  Somerset  County,  November  3,  1820.  In  the 


same  county  on  December  21,  1839,  he  married 
Veronica  Baumgardner.  She  was  born  in  Somer- 
set County,  July  23,  1813,  a daughter  of  Peter  and 
Esther  (Yoder)  Baumgardner.  Peter  Baumgardner 
was  a native  of  Switzerland,  and  coming  to  America 
when  a young  man  located  in  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  and  subsequently  lived  in  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana. 

It  was  in  1845  that  Samuel  D.  Miller  came  to 
Indiana.  Two  other  young  men  accompanied  him, 
his  twin  brother,  Valentine  C.,  and  another  brother, 
John  C.  Yoder.  All  of  them  settled  in  the  same 
community.  Samuel  D.  Miller  had  a wife  and  two 
children.  He  set  out  from  Somerset  County  with  a 
wagon  drawn  by  a horse  team,  and  they  were  on 
the  noad  many  weary  days  before  reaching  Indiana. 
Samuel  Miller  rented  a small  farm  on  Elkhart 
Prairie  for  eighteen  months.  In  the  meantime  he 
bought  eighty  acres  in  the  midst  of  the  heavy  woods 
of  Newbury  Township,  LaGrange  County.  He  ar- 
rived in  Indiana  with  only  $150  and  paid  $200  for  his 
land  in  LaGrange  County.  Out  of  his  original  capi- 
tal he  bought  a cow,  stove  and  a few  other  house- 
hold utilities.  After  clearing  a spot  among  the 
trees  he  put  up  a log  cabin,  and  he  took  his  family 
to  that  rude  shelter  in  the  month  of  December.  The 
first  night  they  went  to  sleep  with  bed  quilts  over 
the  door  and  window  openings.  The  horses  were 
tied  to  the  wagon  and  the  cow  to  a tree.  In  that 
typical  pioneer  fashion  the  Millers  began  their  resi- 
dence in  LaGrange  Cbunty.  By  hard  labor  continued 
through  successive  months  and  years  Samuel  D. 
Miller  cleared  up  his  first  tract  of  land  and  then 
bought  eighty  acres  adjoining,  and  had  most  of  it 
in  cultivation  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
March  17,  1900.  His  wife  passed  away  May  29, 
1886.  This  farm  developed  by  Samuel  D.  Miller 
was  afterwards  purchased  by  his  youngest  son,  Yost 
C.,  for  $8,000. 

A brief  record  of  the  children  of  Samuel  D.  Mil- 
ler and  wife  is  as  follows : Sarah,  born  October  6, 

1840,  died  in  childhood;  Joseph  C.,  born  June  12, 
1842;  Daniel  C.,  born  February  6,  1844;  Mary,  born 
April  27,  1846,  the  first  born  in  LaGrange  County, 
the  other  three  being  natives  of  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania;  Elizabeth,  born  December  17,  1847; 
Barbara,  born  October  13,  1849;  Esther,  born  Oc- 
tober 16,  1851 ; Samuel  C.,  born  March  6,  1853 ; and 
Ypst  C.,  born  April  28,  1855. 

Yost  C.  Miller,  who  is  therefore  the  youngest  of 
the  family,  acquired  his  early  education  in  the  dis- 
trict schools  and  began  farming  in  his  native  town- 
ship on  the  old  homestead.  He  farmed  there  con- 
tinuously until  1907,  and  then  moved  to  his  present 
place  of  120  acres  in  sections  15  and  14  of  Newbury 
Township.  For  the  past  two  years  he  has  sur- 
rendered the  heavy  burdens  of  operating  and  man- 
aging this  farm  to  his  son. 

Mr.  Miller  married  Lydia  Mishler  in  1873.  She 
was  a daughter  of  Daniel  and  Leah  (Miller)  Mish- 
ler. Mrs.  Miller  died  March  17,  1901,  after  they 
had  been  married  twenty-eight  years.  In  that  time 
nine  children  were  born,  and  most  of  these  are  now 
married  and  there  are  a number  of  grandchildren. 
Uriah  Y.,  the  oldest,  was  born  February  12,  1874, 
married  Barbara  Mishler  and  has  three  children, 
Ora,  Homer  and  Ralph.  Daniel,  born  October  5, 
1875,  married  Lizzie  Rheinheimer,  who  died  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1903,  the  mother  of  Maude  May  and  Howard. 
Samuel  Y.,  who  was  born  May  13,  1877,  married 
Lovina  Mishler,  and  their  family  consists  of  Willis, 
Charles,  Maud,  John,  Lowell  and  Edith.  Mary  Ann, 
born  April  5,  1879,  is  the  wife  of  Aquila  Schrock 
and  has  a daughter,  Cora.  George  Y.,  born  July  29, 
1885,  married  for  his  first  wife  Lizzie  Hostetler, 
who  died  in  1916,  leaving  Amzie  and  Holly,  and  for 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


417 


his  second  wife  he  married  Sylvia  Miller.  Mahlon 
C.  was.  born  April  i,  1887,  and  married  Bessie  Nel- 
son. Frances  Ella,  born  June  5,  1890,  is  the  deceased 
wife  of  James  Troyer,  by  whom  she  had  a daughter, 
Dorothy.  Perry  Y.,  born  December  9,  1892,  married 
Addie  Cripe.  Irvin  Y.,  the  youngest  of  the  family, 
was  born  April  3,  1898,  and  married  Ida  Mishler. 

March  23,  1903,  Mr.  Miller  married  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
(Brenneman)  Good,  a daughter  of  John  L.  and 
Elizabeth  (Keller)  Brenneman.  By  her  first  mar- 
riage she  has  three  children : David,  who  married 

Bessie  Berry;  Henry,  who  married  Ela  Woods;  and 
John,  who  married  Ruth  Berry. 

Mr.  Miller  has  been  pastor  of  the  Shore  Menno- 
nite  Church  since  he  was  ordained  to  that  position 
December  4,  1892. 

Albert  Anderson,  who  was  born  on  a farm  in 
Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  October  2, 
1857,  and  is  still  living  in  that  locality,  is  a member 
of  one  of  the  first  families  who  settled  in  this  part 
of  Northeast  Indiana. 

His  parents  were  William  and  Elizabeth  (Selby) 
Anderson.  William  Anderson  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1815,  and  in  1827  his  parents,  John  .and  Rebecca 
Anderson,  came  W est,  lived  for  two  years  near 
White  Pigeon.  Michigan,  and  in  1829  located  in  La- 
Grange  County,  where  they  took  up  government 
land  on  Pretty  Prairie.  John  Anderson  became  an 
extensive  land  owner  and  was  a prominent  pioneer 
of  LaGrange  County.  William  Anderson  was  one  of 
a family  of  thirteen  children  and  was  about  four- 
teen years  old  when  he  came  to  LaGrange  County. 
His  enterprise  was  vigorously  displayed  as  a farm- 
er, and  at  one  time  he  owned  700  acres,  including  the 
place  of  eighty  acres  where  his  son  Albert  now 
lives.  He  died  in  1891  and  his  wife  in  1887.  His 
wife  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1825.  Their  children  were 
Mary,  Eliza,  Amos,  James,  Amanda,  Rebecca,  Albert, 
Alonzo  and  Clara. 

Albert  Anderson  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
attended  country  schools  and  the  LaGrange  County 
Collegiate  Institute  and  also  the  Valparaiso  Normal. 
His  career  has  been  spent  on  the  old  farm  of  eighty 
acres.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

November  11,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Nora  Gilbert, 
who  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  in  1866,  a 
daughter  of  Austin  and  Julia  Gilbert.  To  their  mar- 
riage were  born  two  children.  Blanche,  born  August 
16,  1884,  had  a high  school  education  and  is  the  wife 
of  George  Bollman,  of  Sturgis,  Michigan.  Gail,  born 
December  3,  1887,  was  educated  in  high  school,  for 
several  years  was  employed  by  his  brother-in-law, 
George  Bollman,  at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  and  in  1917 
bought  part  of  the  home  farm  of  eighty  acres  from 
his  father.  June  23,  1909,  he  married  Carrie  Alta 
Miller,  and  has  two  children,  Clota  Blanche  and 
Alberta  June. 

John  Almon  Hovarter,  of  Salem  Township  in 
Steuben  County,  has  an  interesting  family  record, 
being  a grandson  of  John  Hovarter,  and  in  the 
maternal  line  of  Leonard  Hartman.  Both  these 
families  were  pioneers  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana, 
and  their  descendants  are  now  widely  scattered 
over  Northeastern  Indiana  and  in  many  other 
states. 

John  Hovarter  and  his  wife,  Nancy  Wyrick,  lived 
for  many  years  in  W ayne  County,  Ohio.  About 
1849  they  moved  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  buy- 
ing eighty  acres  of  land,  and  spending  the  rest  of 
their  days  there.  They  lived  in  a time  of  large 
families,  and  their  own  children  numbered  thirteen, 
as  follows:  Henry,  Nancy  (who  died  in  infancy), 

John,  Christopher,  Jacob,  William,  Lizzie,  Samuel, 


Adam,  Caroline,  David  (who  died  in  childhood), 
Levi  and  Benjamin. 

The  maternal  grandfather,  Leonard  Hartman,  and 
his  wife,  Mary  Martz,  were  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many. They  came  to  the  United  States  before  their 
marriage,  lived  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  and  in  1847 
moved  to  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  Leonard  Hart- 
man was  a very  successful  business  man  and  land 
owner,  began  with  about  200  acres  in  DeKalb  County 
and  later  had  300  acres.  His  first  house  was  built 
of  logs  and  was  in  the  midst  of  the  woods,  deer, 
wolves  and  turkey  abounding  for  several  years. 
Leonard  Hartman  and  wife  had  the  following  chil- 
dren: Catherine,  John,  Susan,  Adam,  Sophia,  Lydia, 
Martha  Elizabeth  and  Solomon  (both  of  whom  died 
in  childhood),  Emma,  Levi,  Joseph  and  Martha. 

Henry  Hovarter,  father  of  John  A.,  was  born  in 
Wayne  County,  Ohio,  November  24,  1835.  He  mar- 
ried Catherine  Hartman,  who  was  born  in  the  same 
county  May  22,  1840.  Henry  Hovarter  grew  to 
manhood  in  DeKalb  County,  attended  the  public 
schools  there,  and  was  married  in  October,  1858.  On 
April  6,  1859,  he  moved  to  the  farm  in  Salem 
Township,  where  his  widow  and  their  son  John  A. 
now  live.  He  bought  160  acres  and  in  1878  improved 
it  with  a fine  brick  house  and  put  up  a good  barn 
in  1881.  He  lived  a life  of  great  industry  and  good 
purpose  and  died  May  15,  1901.  In  politics  he  was 
a democrat,  and  was  very  active  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church,  the  Pleasant  Ridge  Church  of  that 
denomination  standing  on  his  land.  He  and  his  wife 
had  five  children : Isaiah,  who  is  proprietor  of  the 

National  Vault  Works  at  Ashley;  William,  one  of 
the  large  land  owners  and  farmers  in  St.  Joseph 
County,  Michigan;  and  John  Almon,  Jacob  Ira  and 
Emanuel,  all  farmers  in  Salem  Township. 

John  Almon  Hovarter  was  born  on  the  farm 
where  he  lives  today,  February  1,  1865.  He  grew 
up  there,  attended  the  public  schools,  and  has  de- 
voted his  time  to  general  farming  and  the  raising 
of  small  fruits.  He  owns  twenty-five  acres  in  Salem 
township,  other  land  near  Brownsville  and  about' 
fifty  acres  in  Southern  Mississippi.  Mr.  Hovarter, 
who  is  unmarried,  is  a democrat  in  politics  but 
independent  when  casting  his  vote  in  local  elections. 

Claud  H.  Caton  is  a member  of  the  firm  Caton 
Brothers,  furniture  dealers  and  undertakers  at  La- 
Grange, a business  that  they  have  built  up  from  a 
modest  start  twelve  or  thirteen  years  ago  until  they 
are  now  the  leading  firm  of  the  kind  in  LaGrange 
County. 

Mr.  Caton  was  born  in  the  Town  of  LaGrange, 
February  28,  1873,  son  of  Capt.  John  H.  and  Annetta 
(Kingsley)  Caton.  His  father  was  born  at  Fred- 
ericksburg, Maryland,  and  died  March  19,  1916, 
while  the  mother  is  still  living.  Claud  H.  Caton  was 
one  of  five  children,  and  only  he  and  his  brother  are 
now  living.  He  grew  up  jn  LaGrange  County,  at- 
tended public  school  at  LaGrange,  and  for  several 
years  followed  different  lines  of  employment  and 
also  spent  three  years  in  the  West.  On  returning 
to  LaGrange  he  formed  a partnership  with  his 
brother,  and  the  history  of  their  establishment  be- 
gins with  May  16,  1907.  Both  brothers  are  gradu- 
ates of  the  Barnes  School  of  Embalming  at  Chicago. 

In  1910  Mr.  Caton  married  Celia  Steel,  a native 
of  Adams  County,  Indiana.  She  is  well  educated 
and  was  a successful  teacher  before  her  marriage. 
They  have  two  children,  Claudine  and  Volga.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Caton  are  members  of  the  Episcopal 
Church  at  LaGrange.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  In- 
dependent Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  is  a republican  in  politics. 


Vol.  n—  27 


418 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Charles  H.  Beecher,  a veteran  business  man  of 
Lima  Township,  LaGrange  County,  represents  a 
family  of  old  and  substantial  record  in  this  part  of 
Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  at  the  Village  of  Lima,  now  Howe, 
January  18,  1857,  son  of  Alexander  W.  and  Adelaide 
P.  (Acheson)  Beecher.  His  mother  was  a native  of 
Ireland  and  was  six  years  of  age  when  she  came  to 
the  United  States.  Her  father,  Thomas  Acheson, 
settled  in  LaGrange  County  and  had  a farm  near 
Lima.  The  paternal  grandparents  of  Charles  H. 
Beecher  were  Isaac  and  Mary  A.  (Shaw)  Beecher, 
very  early  settlers  of  Lima  Township.  Isaac  Beecher 
had  been  a school  teacher  in  Ohio  and  was  a man 
of  good  education  and  a fluent  linguist.  Alexander 
W.  Beecher  settled  in  Lima  more,  than  seventy  years 
ago,  and  for  some  years  was  a clerk,  conducted  a 
drug  store  from  i860  to  1865,  and  for  a number  of 
years  was  a general  merchant.  He  married  in  Lima 
Township  and  died  in  1902,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
two.  He  was  a republican  in  politics  and  his  wife 
was  a member  of  the  Episcopal  Church.  They  had 
four  children:  Charles  IT,  Edward,  Frances  and 

Catherine. 

Charles  H.  Beecher  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Howe  and  worked  as  a clerk  for 
his  father,  and  then  they  were  in  partnership  for 
several  years.  In  1878  they  built  the  store  at  Lima 
in  which  Air.  Beecher  now  does  business.  The 
father  and  son  sold  out  their  stock  of  merchandise 
in  1887,  and  after  that  for  twelve  years  Charles  H. 
Beecher  lived  in  Sturgis,  Michigan,  where  he  was  a 
merchant  for  several  years  and  for  two  years  was  a 
traveling  man.  Lie  returned  to  Howe  in  1899,  and 
from  1902  to  1912  was  a rural  mail  carrier.  He  re- 
sumed merchandising  at  the  old  stand  in  1915.  He 
also  owns  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  Beecher  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

In  1878  he  married  Miss  Julie  Vial,  who  was  born 
at  Ionia,  Michigan.  They  became  the  parents  of 
three  sons,  Edward  H.,  city  salesman  for  the  Na- 
tional Biscuit  Company  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan; 
William  A.,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  James  A.,  who 
lives  at  Shipshewana,  Indiana.  James  married  Belva 
Farver,  daughter  of  John  Farver,  a prominent  citi- 
zen of  Northeast  Indiana.  James  A.  Beecher  and 
wife  had  three  children:  Francis,  who  was 

drowned;  Julie  Catherine;  and  James  A.,  who  is 
connected  with  the  Oliver  Plow  Company. 

Lee  Henry  Musser,  who  is  a son  of  John  and 
Harriet  (Snyder)  Musser,  the  former  a pioneer  of 
Steuben  County  and  a veteran  of  the  Civil  War 
whose  career  is  told  on  other  pages,  has  spent  his 
life  in  this  county,  and  through  many  years  of  work 
at  his  trade  has  acquired  the  prosperity  represented 
by  one  of  the  good  farms  of  York  Township. 

He  was  born  in  York  Township  December  17, 
1878,  and  grew  up  at  Metz,  where  he  received  his 
schooling  and  learned  the  trade  of  mason.  For 
twenty  years  he  followed  this  trade  with  develop- 
ing skill  and  increasing  experience  and  success,  and 
in  1918,  largely  from  the  proceeds  of  his  years  of 
labor,  he  bought  his  present  farm  of  120  acres  in 
York  Township.  He  is  now  giving  all  his  time 
to  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Musser  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

In  1900  he  married  Miss  Maud  Teegardin,  mem- 
ber of  an  old  and  well  known  family  of  Steuben 
County.  She  was  born  in  Otsego  Township,  July 
4,  1883,  a daughter  of  Jacob  and  Phoebe  (Haughey) 
Teegardin.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Musser  have  six  children : 
Willis,  Wilma,  Cora  Ellen,  Edsel  and  Eva  and  Neva, 
twins. 


Anthony  Edgar  Keagy  has  been  one  of -the  busy 
and  useful  men  of  LaGrange  County  for  many  years, 
and  many  houses,  barns  and  other  structures  testify 
to  his  skill  as  a builder  and  carpenter.  He  has 
lived  on  a farm  for  many  years,  and  is  one  of  the 
prosperous  and  substantial  citizens  of  Greenfield 
Township. 

He  was  born  in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 18,  1852.  Llis  paternal  grandparents  were  John 
and  Margaret  (Mesee)  Keagy.  His  grandfather 
was  a mill  and  store  owner  in  Salisbury,  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Patrick  Keagy  was  two  years 
old  when  his  father  died,  and  later  he  was  bound 
out  to.  Abraham  Buechle,  his  uncle,  and  lived  with 
him  to  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  then  went  to  Berlin, 
Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania,  learning  the  chair 
making  trade.  In  1847  he  moved  to  Ohio,  locating  in 
Coshocton  County.  Patrick  Keagy  was  born  in  No- 
vember, 1822,  and  was  married  in  Ohio  to  Magda- 
lena Long.  She  was  a daughter  of  George  and 
Rebecca  (Keefer)  Long,  both  natives  of  Somerset 
County,  Pennsylvania.  Her  grandfather,  George 
Long,  came  from  Hesse-Cassel,  Germany,  to  Amer- 
ica about  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  landing 
in  Philadelphia  and  settling  at  Southampton,  Vir- 
ginia. George  Long,  Jr.,  died  in  Tuscarawus  Coun- 
ty, Ohio.  Three  of  his  sons,  Reverend  Peter,  Daniel 
and  John,  came  to  LaGrange  County  and  became 
heads  of  families  still  widely  and  prominently  known 
here.  Three  of  the  daughters  also  came  to  La- 
Grange County,  Magdalena,  Mrs.  Patrick  Keagy; 
Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  W.  Price;  and  Ella,  Mrs. 
Levi  Hostetler.  Another  daughter,  Mary  Crites, 
wife  'of  Cyrus  Crites,  also  lived  in  LaGrange  County 
for  a time  but  died  in  Kansas. 

In  1853  Patrick  Keagy  with  the  three  Long  fam- 
ilies moved  to  Marion  Township,  Owen  County, 
Indiana,  and  lived  on  a farm  about  a mile  south  of 
Marion  Mills,  where  his  first  home  was  a log  cabin 
in  the  woods.  Patrick  Keagy  died  May  3,  1883,  the 
father  of  seven  sons  and  three  daughters. 

Anthony  Edgar  Keagy  was  a small  boy  when  he 
went  with  his  parents  to  Owen  County,  Indiana, 
and  he  worked  on  his  father’s  farm.  In  1874  he  lo- 
cated in  LaGrange  County,  where  for  seven  years 
he  gave  all  his  time  to  his  trade  as  carpenter  and 
joiner.  He  lived  at  Mongo  and  other  places  in 
Greenfield  Township  until  1888,  when  he  came  to 
his  present  farm,  comprising  115L2  acres  near 
Greenfield  Mills.  He  has  put  all  the  substantial 
buildings  on  this  land  and  in  his  earlier  years  he 
did  most  of  the  carpenter  and  building  work  in  and 
around  Mongo.  At  present  he  spends  most  of  his 
time  at  his  trade,  while  his  farm  is  worked  by  his 
son-in-law.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Orland  Lodge  No.  541,  and 
was  formerly  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias. 

September  8,  1877,  Mr.  Keagy  married  Miss  Nancy 
E.  Swihart.  She  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Swihart,  member  of  a family 
well  known  in  LaGrange  County.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Keagy  have  four  daughters : Orpha,  Belle,  Mary 

Adella  and  Viva  Bernice.  Orpha  is  the  wife  of 
Frank  Schultz,  of  Mishawaka,  Indiana.  Belle  died 
January  2,  1913,  wife  of  Harley  Anderson.  Mary 
Adella  is  the  wife  of  A.  S.  Hess,  a contractor  and 
builder  at  Gary,  Indiana.  Viva  Bernice  is  the  wife 
of  Jonas  J.  Troyer,  and  they  live  on  the  old  farm. 

Mr.  Keagy  served  nine  years  as  postmaster  of 
Greenfield  Mills,  and  for  the  past  thirty-two  years 
has  officiated  as  a justice  of  the  peace  and  is  one 
of  the  oldest  public  officials  in  the  county.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Progressive  Christian  Church. 

Guy  Harris.  The  family  represented  by  this  well 
known  farmer  and  citizen  of  Greenfield  Township, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


419 


LaGrange  County,  was  among  the  first  in  that  coun- 
ty and  first  in  point  of  enterprise  as  well  as  time  of 
settlement. 

The  farm  where  he  lives  today  was  the  birthplace 
of  Guy  Harris.  He  was  born  there  August  13, 
1854,  a son  of  Simon  and  Frances  (Rowley)  Harris. 
His  mother  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1826 
and  came  with  her  parents,  Ithmar  and  Frances 
Rowley,  to  LaGrange  County  in  1836.  The  Rowley 
family  settled  in  Newbury  Township,  and  later  in 
Lima  Township,  where  her  father  died.  Simon 
Harris  was  born  in  New  York  State  in  1814  and 
came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1834.  He  was  married 
here  and  then  built  a sawmill  west  of  Lima,  one  of 
the  first  in  the  county,  and  later  operated  a sawmill 
at  Ontario.  He  finally  bought  the  120  acres  con- 
stituting the  farm  of  his  son  Guy,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death  in  1856.  His  widow  survived  until 
1881.  They  had  four  children,  Emily,  Orley,  Julia 
and  Guy. 

Guy  Harris  was  only  two  years  old  when  his 
father  died.  He  grew  up  on  the  homestead  farm, 
had  a public  school  education,  and  as  a youth  began 
buying  fur.  For  twenty-five  years  he  was  traveling 
salesman  representing  the  firm  S.  Bash  & Com- 
pany of  Fort  Wayne.  In  the  meantime  he  bought 
out  the  heirs  in  the  old  home  farm  and  has  bought 
and  sold  several  other  farms.  He  is  now  giving  his 
time  to  general  farming.  He  is  a republican  and 
formerly  was  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
and  the  Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks. 

In  1891  he  married  Miss  Minnie  Swain,  of  La- 
Grange County.  They  have  seven  children,  all  liv- 
ing : Hazel,  who  is  married  and  has  a daughter ; 

Charles  Eugene,  Francis,  Elmer,  Theodore,  Rachel, 
and  Mary  Ellen.  The  son  Charles  went  into  the 
army  in  1917,  was  trained  at  Camp  Sherman  and  in 
June,  1918,  went  overseas.  He  was  returned  to  this 
country  July  26,  1919.  The  son  Elmer  was  also 
drafted  but  never  got  across. 

James  H.  Robinson,  a resident  of  Steuben  County 
over  fifty  years,  grew  up  here,  and  the  labors  he 
has  expended  and  his  good  judgment  have  been 
productive  in  building  up  and  acquiring  one  of  the 
best  farms  in  York  Township.  He  is  still  busily  en- 
gaged in  looking  after  his  business  interests. 

Mr.  Robinson  was  born  in  Columbiana  County, 
Ohio,  April  23,  1854,  a son  of  James  and  Mary  Ann 
(Dixon)  Robinson.  His  father  was  also  a native 
of  the  same  county,  and  was  married  in  Ohio  and 
in  1867  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County,  ac- 
quiring 160  acres  of  the  farm  where  his  son  James 
H.  now  lives.  He  and  his  wife  spent  the  rest  of 
their  days  there.  James  Robinson,  Sr.,  was  a re- 
publican and  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  A 
brief  record  of  his  children  is  as  follows : Thomas, 

who  served  as  a Union  soldier  and  from  the  hard- 
ships of  early  life  died  about  six  months  after  his 
honorable  discharge;  Nathan  D.,  who  was  also  in 
the  uniform  of  a Union  soldier  for  three  years  and 
is  now  deceased ; Lucretia,  deceased ; Lydia ; Eliza- 
beth, who  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen;  James  H. ; 
Laura ; and  Emeline. 

James  H.  Robinson  was  thirteen  years  old  when 
he  came  to  Steuben  County,  and  since  then  has  lived 
almost  continuously  on  the  old  homestead  farm.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  Ohio  and  also  in  the  pub- 
lic schools  of  York  Township.  Taking  the  original 
place  of  his  father,  he  has  kept  improving  and 
adding  until  he  now  owns  298J4  acres,  and  besides 
this  has  seventy  acres  in  Richland  Township.  He 
devotes  his  land  to  general  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing. He  has  never  sought  office,  is  a republican  voter 
and  a member  of  the  Christian  Church.  In  1881  he 
married  Miss  Jennie  Lash,  of  Williams  County, 


Ohio.  Mrs.  Robinson  died  September  20,  1908,  when 
they  had  been  married  twenty-seven  years.  Sbe  was 
the  mother  of  two  children.  Lottie,  born  in  1882,  is 
the  widow  of  Leeman  McCool  and  has  two  children, 
Thelma  and  James  Irwin.  The  son  Perry,  born  Jan- 
uar}^  27,  1889,  is  numbered  among  the  progressive 
young  farmers  of  Steuben  County  and  now  has  the 
active  management  of  the  160  acres  constituting  the 
old  Robinson  homestead.  He  is  a republican.  He 
married  Hazel  Gamber,  of  York  Township,  and 
their  two  children  are  George  Russell  and  Gladys 
Velehr. 

Joseph  G.  Scott.  The  Scott  family  through  three 
generations  have  been  identified  with  that  old  and 
interesting  community  of  LaGrange  County  known 
as  Ontario.  One  of  the  important  industrial  institu- 
tions there  for  many  years  was  a woolen  mill,  and  it 
was  owned  and  operated  by  the  Scott  family.  The 
late  Joseph  G.  Scott  was  active  in  the  management 
of  this  mill  for  a number  of  years,  and  spent  the 
greater  part  of  his  active  life  in  that  business.  Sev- 
eral of  his  children  still  live  in  and  around  Ontario, 
while  others  have  found  their  work  and  homes  in 
other  localities  and  other  states. 

Joseph  G.  Scott  was  born  near  Racine,  Wisconsin, 
February  18,  1848,  and  died  at  his  old  home  near 
Ontario,  May  3,  1909.  His  parents,  James  and 
Sarah  (Woodhead)  Scott,  were  born  and  married 
in  England,  and  on  coming  to  America  settled  at 
Racine,  Wisconsin.  James  Scott  was  a wool  manu- 
facturer and  was  connected  with  woolen  mills  in 
several  states.  For  a time  he  lived  in  Ohio,  also  at 
Rome  City,  Indiana,  and  in  1854  moved  to  Ontario 
and  bought  the  old  woolen  mill  there,  equipping  it 
with  new  machinery.  He  was  its  sole  owner  and 
proprietor  for  many  years.  Later  he  moved  to 
Vicksburg,  Michigan,  where  he  died,  and  his  widow 
passed  away  in  Kalamazoo.  They  had  a family  of 
eight  children. 

Joseph  G.  Scott  finished  his  education  in  the  La- 
Grange Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario,  and  then  took 
charge  of  the  woolen  mill  and  continued  its  manage- 
ment until  he  was  elected  county  treasurer.  He  was 
a man  of  high  standing  in  his  community  and  the 
county  at  large,  and  in  1888  was  elected  county  treas- 
urer, an  office  he  filled  for  four  years.  After  leav- 
ing office  he  returned  to  Ontario  and  located  on  the 
farm  of  180  acres,  where  he  lived  until  his  death. 

In  1872  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Jerusha  Hudson. 
She  was  born  at  East  Palmyra,  New  York,  daughter 
of  Isaac  Hudson  and  sister  of  Pliny  E.  Hudson  of 
LaGrange  County.  Mrs.  Scott,  who  is  still  living 
on  the  home  farm,  is  the  mother  of  eight  children. 
Two  of  her  sons  distinguished  themselves  in  the  late 
World  war.  Robert,  the  oldest  of  the  family,  resides 
at  Union  City,  Indiana.  Walter  Ross,  second  in  age, 
lives  at  Ontario,  and  for  more  than  two  years  was 
connected  with  the  army  work  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A., 
spending  one  year  in  American  camps  and  another 
year  in  France.  The  third  of  the  family  is  Mary  E., 
wife  of  Carl  Willard,  of  LaGrange.  James  R.,  next 
in  age,  lives  at  Grant,  Montana,  while  Alice  E.  is 
Mrs.  Ledger  McKibben,  of  Valentine,  Indiana.  Wil- 
liam Arthur  operates  the  home  farm ; Frank  Alton  is 
a resident  of  Sheridan,  Montana,  while  the  youngest 
is  Capt.  Clair  H.,  whose  home  is  at  Ontario. 

Clair  H.  Scott  was  born  April  10,  1892.  He 
graduated  from  the  Howe  Military  School  and  spent 
some  time  in  the  forest  service  of  the  Government 
in  Montana.  In  1912  he  entered  the  University  of 
Indiana,  and  was  a student  in  the  Law  Department 
until  1916.  In  that  year  he  enlisted  as  a private  in 
the  First  Indiana  Infantry,  and  saw  active  service 
on  the  Mexican  border.  He  was  mustered  out  as  a 
sergeant.  He  had  resumed  his  law  studies  and  was 


420 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


graduated  in  law  from  Indiana  University  in  1917. 
In  the  meantime  his  former  military  organization 
had  been  demobilized  and  in  its  stead  Battery  F of 
the  First  Indiana  Artillery  had  re-enlisted  many  of 
his  comrades.  On  April  15,  1917,  Clair  Scott  'was 
commissioned  a first  lieutenant  in  that  organization. 
He  entered  training  camp  the  14th  of  August,  and  as 
part  of  the  150th  Field  Artillery  he  went  overseas 
with  the  famous  Rainbow  Division,  and  before  going 
to.  France  he  was  commissioned  a captain.  He  was 
with  the  150th  Field  Artillery  as  captain  through  all 
the  brilliant  service  in  France  and  returned  with  his 
organization  and  was  honorably  discharged  in  the 
spring  of  1919. 

Charles  A.  Gilbert  is  the  fortunate  and  enviable 
possessor  of  Sunny  Knoll  Farm  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County.  Standing  as  one  of  the 
best  examples  of  a farm  with  modern  improvements 
and  efficient  management  in  the  county,  Sunny  Knoll 
is  the  result  of  many  years  of  hard  work  and  skill- 
ful handling  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Gilbert. 

He  comes  of  a race  of  hard  working  and  thorough 
agriculturists  and  was  born  in  the  township  where 
he  now  resides  September  9,  1854,  a son  of  Austin 
and  Juliette  (Algier)  Gilbert.  His  father  was 
born  near  Mechanicsburg,  Ohio,  October  1,  1816. 
The  mother  was  born  January  19,  1832.  Austin 
Gilbert  was  one  of  the  early  arrivals  in  LaGrange 
County,  coming  in  1834.  He  worked  with  axe 
and  grubbing  hoe  and  cleared  out  some  of  the 
first  trees  and  stumps  for  the  first  crop.  He  also 
made  several  trips  to  Cincinnati  to  buy  horses  at 
auction,  and  several  times  was  back  in  his  native 
state  of  Ohio.  His  first  land  was  bought  in  Bloom- 
field Township,  in  the  southwestern  corner,  where 
he  had  160  acres.  He  traded  that  for  178  acres  and 
gradually  increased  his  property  to  348  acres.  He 
was  a tireless  worker  and  cleared  a large  part  of 
his  land  and  put  up  good  buildings.  He  lived  at 
the  old  home  until  his  death  in  1903,  his  wife  hav- 
ing passed  away  in  1882.  He  was  a republican  in 
politics  and  was  a member  of  the  Regulators.  He 
and  his  wife  had  six  children:  Washington,  born 

November  24,  1849;  Charles  A.,  born  in  1854:  Lydia, 
born  in  1857  and  died  in  1895 ; Seymour,  born  in 
1858  and  died  in  1881 ; Nora,  born  April  4,  1863 ; 
and  Sidney,  born  October  21,  1872. 

Charles  A.  Gilbert  was  educated  in  the  public 
schools  near  his  father’s  home  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  LaGrange  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario. 
When  sixteen  years  old  he  taught  a term  of  school 
in  Milford  Township.  Later  he  improved  his  edu- 
cation by  normal  courses  and  was  a teacher  alto- 
gether for  nine  terms.  In  the  intervals  of  teach- 
ing he  did  farming,  and  for  thirty-one  years  he 
rented  the  old  homestead.  He  then  bought  eighty 
acres  where  he  lives  today  in  Springfield  Township, 
and  has  kept  adding  to  his  holdings  until  he  has 
347  acres.  Mr.  Gilbert  built  a fine  home  at  Sunny 
Knoll  in  .1005.  His  barn  is  one  of  the  best  in  the 
township,  being  47  by  100  feet.  He  keeps  a herd 
of  pure  bred  Holstein  cattle  and  is  also  a large 
sheep  feeder.  Mr.  Gilbert  is  a republican,  but  has 
been  too  busy  with  his  farm  to  mix  in  politics.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  La- 
Grange. 

May  17,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Lovira  Hackett. 
She  was  born  at  Batavia,  Michigan,  January  10, 
1861.  a daughter  of  Minor  and  Eliza  (Sheldon) 
Hackett.  Her  father  was  born  at  Syracuse,  New 
York,  and  her  mother  in  Wisconsin,  in  which  state 
thev  were  married  and  during  the  sixties  moved  to 
LaGrange  County.  Minor  Hackett  was  in  the  meat 
business  for  many  years,  and  while  living  in  Syra- 
cuse, New  York,  delivered  meat  to  lake  vessels.  He 


died  in  1904,  at  the  age  of  eighty-eight,  while  Mrs. 
Gilbert’s  mother  passed  away  in  1901,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-four.  There  were  four  children : Charles, 

William,  Lovira  and  Carrie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gilbert 
had  three  children : Gladys,  who  was  born  in 

1882,  graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High  School, 
married  Edward  Stroup,  and  at  her  death  in  1906 
left  a son,  Gilbert,  who  was  born  December  13, 
1903,  and  has  always  made  his  home  with  his  grand- 
parents at  Sunny  Knoll  Farm.  Bess,  the  second 
daughter,  was  born  in  1883  and  is  the  wife  of  Dr. 
James  Duff,  of  LaGrange.  They  have  one  daughter, 
Bettie,  born  in  1911.  Karl,  born  in  1890,  is  now 
managing  his  father’s  homestead.  He  married  Mil- 
dred Gilhams,  daughter  of  Clarence  Gilhams,  and 
they  have  a son,  James,  born  in  February,  1918. 

Louis  E.  Deal.  There  are  a number  of  facts  con- 
cerning this  well  known  LaGrange  County  citizen 
which  make  a brief  record  of  himself,  his  experience 
and  his  family  worthy  of  record. 

He  was  born  in  Sprinfield  Township,  October  30, 
i860,  a son  of  Harrison  and  Ellen  (Jones)  Deal. 
He  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead  where  he  was 
born,  attended  the  common  schools,  the  LaGrange 
High  School  and  also  the  LaGrange  County  Normal 
and  the  Indiana  State  Normal.  For  four  years  he 
taught  school,  and  as  a man  of  liberal  education  he 
has  passed  on  the  tradition  of  good  mental  equip- 
ment to  his  own  children.  His  principal  business  has 
been  farming.  In  the  spring  of  1885  he  located  on 
the  farm  where  he  now  resides  in  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, four  miles  east  of  LaGrange.  A generous 
prosperity  has  attended  his  efforts  as  a farmer.  He 
now  owns  320  acres  in  Bloomfield  and  ninety  acres 
in  Springfield,  and  for  a number  of  years  has 
handled  live  stock  on  a rather  extensive  scale,  feed- 
ing many  bunches  of  sheep  and  breeding  Percheron 
horses.  He  is  a republican  in  politics,  and  as  the 
present  trustee  of  Bloomfield  Township  was  elected 
to  that  office  in  1918.  He  is  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias  at  LaGrange,  and  with  his  wife  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  For  twenty 
years  he  has  been  superintendent  of  the  Sunday 
school. 

On  September  25,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Ella 
Gage.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  Aug- 
ust 21,  1863,  a daughter  of  Samuel  and  Lydia  (Gil- 
bert) Gage.  Her  maternal  grandfather,  Elias 
Gilbert,  was  a pioneer  of  LaGrange  County.  Samuel 
Gage  and  wife  had  only  one  child  to  grow  to  ma- 
turity, Mrs.  Deal.  Samuel  Gage  died  about.  1868  and 
Mrs.  Deal’s  mother  subsequently  married  Saul 
Spero,  of  Springfield  Township. 

The  four  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Deal  have  an 
interesting  record:  Fred,  the  oldest,  born  Febru- 

ary 10,  1889,  graduated  from  the  LaGrange  High 
School  and  is  associated  with  his  father  on  the  home 
farm,  known  as  the  Sidmore  Farm.  He  married 
Carlie  Grubb,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Albert  G.  Grubb,  of 
LaGrange,  and  their  two  children  are  Albert  Louis 
and  Marion  Parthena.  Veva,  the  second  child,  was 
born  August  18,  1890,  graduated  from  the  LaGrange 
High  School,  attended  the  Tri-State  Normal  and 
Winona  College,  and  in  1914  graduated  from  Indiana 
State  University.  Before  going  to  University  she 
taught  in  Springfield  Township  and  afterward  for 
one  year  was  an  instructor  in  the  Wolcott  High 
School  for  two  years  and  then  for  two  years  taught 
Latin  in  the  West  Lafayette  High  School. 
She  is  the  wife  of  Henry  Phelps,  who  was 
born  in  Webster,  Massachusetts,  March  15,  1893,  is  a 
graduate  of  Worcester  Polytechnic  Institute  and 
did  post-graduate  work  at  Purdue  University.  For 
two  years  he  was  an  instructor  in  electrical  engineer- 


' r 


V. 


i 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


421 


ing  at  Purdue  and  is  now  a telephone  equipment 
engineer  in  research  and  development  work  at  New 
York  City.  The  third  of  the  family  is  Wava,  born 
October  6,  1895,  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School  and  a graduate  of  the  State  University  in 
1918.  She  taught  a year  in  Bloomfield  Township  and 
is  now  a teacher  of  mathematics  in  Hartford  City 
School.  The  youngest  of  the  family  is  Helen  Lucile, 
born  October  4,  1901,  who  graduated  with  the  class 
of  1919  from  the  LaGrange  High  School. 

Girt  L.  Gnagy,  who  has  been  one  of  the  leading 
business  men  of  Hamilton  for  a number  of  years, 
operating  the  local  mills,  also  a garage,  is  a native 
of  DeKalb  County,  and  is  a grandson  of  the  pioneer 
in  that  county,  John  Houlton.  John  Houlton  was 
born  in  Highland  County,  Ohio,  in  1804,  son  of 
Samuel  Houlton,  and  was  in  every  sense  a pioneer 
and  frontiersman.  In  1827  he  went  to  Williams 
County,  Ohio,  where  with  his  brother  he  was  con- 
nected with  the  saw  milling  industry.  In  September, 
1833,  he  came  to  DeKalb  County,  and  in  the  same 
month  built  the  first  house  in  the  county  in  Franklin 
Township.  When  this  house  was  torn  down  in  i860 
the  DeKalb  County  Pioneer  Society  had  a number 
of  canes  made  from  the  logs,  and  some  of  those 
canes  are  no  doubt  carefully  preserved.  John  Houl- 
ton married  shortly  before  coming  to  DeKalb  County 
Sarah  Vee,  who  died  in  July,  1839.  Her  daughter 
Margaret,  born  in  1836,  was  the  first  white  girl 
born  in  DeKalb  County.  In  1839  John  Houlton  mar- 
ried Nancy  Lewis,  daughter  of  Samuel  Lewis.  To 
this  union  were  born  nine  children.  A daughter, 
Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  1869,  was  the  first  wife  of 
Jeremiah  Gnagy.  Her  sister,  Rebecca  Houlton,  later 
became  the  wife  of  Jeremiah  Gnagy. 

Jeremiah  Gnagy  was  born  in  Tuscarawus  County, 
Ohio,  in  1844,  and  spent  most  of  his  life  in  DeKalb 
County.  In  1884  he  moved  to  Hamilton  in  Steuben 
County  and  conducted  a summer  resort  there,  also 
owning  a farm  of  fifty-four  acres  adjoining  the 
village,  and  was  interested  in  village  property.  He 
was  a democrat  and  held  several  township  offices. 
He  died  in  1895.  He  was  active  in  the  Christian 
Church  and  his  widow,  Rebecca.  Houlton  Gnagy, 
was  a member  of  the  same  church.  Rebecca  Gnagy 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  Her  five 
children,  all  living,  are:  Guy,  George,  Girt,  Glen 

and  Gladiolus. 

Girt  L.  Gnagy,  who  was  born  in  DeKalb  County 
October  15,  1879,  has  lived  at  Hamilton  since  he 
was  about  five  years  old.  He  attended  public  schools, 
and  as  a youth  became  a teaming  contractor.  Later 
he  secured  an  interest  in  the  local  water  power  and 
developed  it  and  has  given  Hamilton  its  chief  fa- 
cilities as  a milling  center.  For  the  past  seven  years 
he  has  also  been  interested  in  the  garage  business 
and  is  owner  of  somq  productive  farming  land.  Mr. 
Gnagy  is  a republican,  a member  of  the  Masons, 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Grangers,  and  affiliates  with 
the  Christian  Church. 

April  14,  1906,  he  married  Audry  L.  Sharp,  of 
Steuben  County.  Her  father,  Eugene  Sharp,  is  the 
present  trustee  of  York  Township.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Gnagy  have  one  son,  Lyle,  born  December  24,  1912. 

Joseph  A.  Connelly  is  living  today  in  the  same 
community  where  he  was  born,  Bloomfield  Town- 
ship, and  with  the  exception  of  a few  years  spent 
as  a Nebraska  homesteader  has  resided  there  all  his 
life.  Members  of  the  Connelly  family  have  im- 
proved and  cleared  a great  deal  of  land  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  the  name  is  well  known  and  respected. 

Mr.  Connelly  was  born  October  14,  1859,  son  of 
Joseph  W.  and  Louisa  (Gage)  Connelly.  His 
paternal  grandparents,  Thomas  and  Savilla  Con- 


nelly, came  from  Maryland,  where  Joseph  W.  Con- 
nelly, was  born,  and  only  a year  or  so  after  his  birth 
the  family  located  on  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Charles  Marks  farm  in  Bloomfield  Township. 
Thomas  Connelly  was  a Methodist  preacher,  and 
besides  looking  after  his  farm  his  services  were  in 
great  demand  for  the  marriage  of  many  couples  and 
for  other  occasions.  He  had  160  acres  and  had  it 
cleared  and  improved  before  his  death.  The  ma- 
ternal grandparents  of  Joseph  A.  Connelly  were 
Jacob  and  Anna  Gage,  who  came  from  the  East  and 
were  early  settlers  in  LaGrange  County.  They  lived 
on  the  old  Association  Farm  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship and  later  farmed  in  different  localities.  Jacob 
Gage  was  also  a Methodist  minister. 

Joseph  W.  Connelly  received  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  in  LaGrange  County  and  farmed  his 
father’s  place  in  Broomfield  Township  many  years. 
With  the  exception  of  one  year  on  a farm  in  Iowa, 
he  spent  all  his  active  life  in  Bloomfield  Township, 
where  he  had  at  one  time  eighty  acres,  but  later  sold 
part  of  it.  He  and  his  wife  had  ten  children:  John 
B.,  who  served  two  terms  as  county  treasurer  of  La- 
Grange County ; Martha ; Mary  Roxina,  who  died 
in  infancy;  Joseph  A.;  Byron  and  Hiram,  twins,  the 
latter  deceased;  Savilla;  Orpha  and  Orpheus,  twins; 
and  Charles  Franklin. 

Joseph  A.  Connelly  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
and  had  a common  school  education.  When  he  went 
out  to  Nebraska,  where  he  spent  five  years,  he  took 
up  a 160-acre  homestead,  proved  up  and  sold  out. 
His  location  in  Nebraska  was  in  Blaine  County.  At 
his  present  home  in  Bloomfield  Township  he  has 
eighty  acres  devoted  to  general  farming,  and  he  is 
responsible  for  the  building  and  other  improvements 
possessed  by  the  farm. 

December  10,  1885,  he  married  Miss  Dora  Max- 
well, a native  of  LaGrange  County,  and  a daughter 
of  William  Maxwell.  To  their  marriage  were  born 
two  children,  Grace,  who  died  at  the  age  of  sixteen, 
and  Floyd,  who  is  married  and  lives  on  a part  of  his 
father’s  farm. 

John  Franiclin  Eshelman,  who  for  many  years 
was  a successful  farmer  in  Johnson  Township,  has 
more  recently  'been  identified  with  the  business  af- 
fairs of  the  City  of  LaGrange,  where  he  is  local 
manager  of  the  South  Bend  Creamery. 

He  was  born  in  Johnson  Township,  June  9,  1856, 
a son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Erford)  Eshelman. 
He  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father’s  farm,  had  a 
common  school  education,  and  forty  years  ago  be- 
came an  independent  farmer.  He  still  owns  143 
acres  in  the  north  portion  of  Johnson  Township,  five 
and  a half  miles  from  LaGrange.  While  on  the 
farm  he  handled  livestock,  especially  sheep  and  cat- 
tle. Mr.  Eshelman  moved  to  LaGrange  in  1912  and 
bought  a home  at  321  Grant  Street.  Since  the  fall  of 
1913  he  has  been  manager  of  the  South  Bend  Cream- 
ery Company.  This  company  does  an  extensive  busi- 
ness handling  cream  and  eggs.  Mr.  Eshelman  is  a 
republican,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias 
at  LaGrange,  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  While  living  in 
the  country  they  belonged  to  the  Evangelical  Church. 

January  9,  1877,  Mr.  Eshelman  married  Miss 
Amanda  E.  Teeters.  She  was  born  in  Johnson 
Township  in  1859,  a daughter  of  David  and  Maria 
Teeters,  both  now  deceased.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eshel- 
man are  parents  of  five  children.  Anna  is  the  wife 
of  Claud  C.  Price,  of  Fort  Wayne,  and  has  two  sons, 
Donald  and  Do  we.  Harley  is  the  Wabash  Railroad 
agent  at  Wolcottville,  is  married  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, named  Hugh  and  Frank.  Orley  F.  is  a farmer 
in  Bloomfield  Township  and  married  Ethel  Aldrich, 
a daughter  of  Frank  Aldrich.  Vera  is  the  wife  of 


422 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Erny  Albright  and  has  a daughter,  Marguerite. 
Homer,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  made  a brilliant 
record  in  the  war.  July  29,  19x7,  at  Elkhart,  In- 
diana, he  enlisted  for  the  aviation  corps,  started  to 
camp  the  same  day,  received  his  training  in  Texas, 
and  went  overseas  to  France  with  the  Eighty- 
Eighth  Aviation  Squadron.  He  was  a sergeant,  and 
he  participated  in  five  raids  across  the  Rhine.  June 
26,  1919,  he  returned  to  the  United  States  and  re- 
joined his  home  community  July  15. 

Henry  C.  Wilcox  is  a native  Indianan  and  has 
been  a resident  of  Steuben  County  over  half  a 
century.  He  came  here  an  orphan  boy,  and  had  a 
hard  struggle  to  get  well  started  in  the  world,  but 
for  many  years  has  been  quietly  prospered  and  one 
of  the  most  esteemed  residents  of  Salem  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Wabash  County,  Indiana,  October 
12,  1854,  a son  of  Clark  Lewis  and  Susan  (Cline) 
Wilcox.  His  parents  were  married  at  Fort  Wayne 
in  Allen  County.  His  mother  was  a native  of 
Germany.  Clark  Lewis  Wilcox  at  one  time  owned 
forty  acres  near  the  present  site  of  the  Fort  Wayne 
Court  House.  By  trade  he  was  a millwright  and 
engineer.  He  enlisted  in  the  Civil  war  in  1861  and 
served  throughout  that  struggle.  He  came  home 
from  the  army  practically  blind  and  suffered  so  many 
other  hardships  that  he  died  in  1866.  His  widow 
passed  away  in  DeKalb  County  in  1871.  Their  chil- 
dren were  named  : Indiana,  deceased ; Clark ; Les- 

ter, deceased ; Henry  C. ; Charles  Sylvester,  de- 
ceased; Caroline;  George  W.,  deceased;  and  An- 
drew J. 

After  his  father’s  death  and  when  only  twelve 
years  old  Henry  C.  Wilcox  came  to  Steuben  County 
and  lived  with  his  uncle,  Lester  Wilcox.  He  at- 
tended a few  terms  of  school  at  Pleasant  Lake  and 
learned  the  lessons  of  honest  toil  when  only  a boy. 
When  he  started  out  to  make  his  own  living  he  bor- 
rowed a dollar  and  worked  as  a farm  hand,  later 
rented  land,  and  made  his  first  purchase  of  7)4 
acres,  which  he  subsequently  increased  by  eight 
acres.  On  October  13,  1877,  he  married  Miss  Mary 
E.  Miller,  who  was  born  on  the  farm  where  she 
and  her  husband  now  reside.  She  inherited  forty 
acres,  and  on  that  place  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilcox  lived 
for  forty  years.  Mr.  Wilcox  is  a republican,  and 
served  a term  as  constable  and  for  twelve  years 
was  township  supervisor. 

Mrs.  Wilcox  is  a daughter  of  Richard  A.  and 
Rachel  (Crook)  Miller,  both  natives  of  Ohio.  Her 
father  came  when  a single  man  to  Steuben  County. 
Her  mother  came  here  with  her  parents,  Michael 
and  Catherine  (Slife)  Crook,  who  were  pioneers 
and  settled  on  what  is  known  as  the  Windsor  farm 
and  later  acquired  the  land  where  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wilcox  now  live.  The  Crooks  were  here  at  a 
time  when  the  woods  were  filled  with  wild  game, 
such  as  deer  and  turkey.  Mrs.  Wilcox’  parents 
were  married  in  Steuben  Township  and  later  bought 
forty  acres  in  Salem  Township  and  altogether  had 
about  200  acres  there.  Richard  Miller  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1909,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  The  mother 
of  Mrs.  Wilcox  passed  away  August  7,  1918,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-four.  Of  their  eight  children  four 
died  in  infancy,  and  those  to  grow  up  were  Isaiah  A., 
Mary  E.,  Martha  and  Emma  C. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wilcox  must  be  given  credit  for 
bringing  up  a large  family  of  children,  most  of 
whom  are  still  living  and  are  now  well  established 
and  in  independent  circumstances.  Their  oldest 
child,  Caroline  Elizabeth,  married  for  her  first  hus- 
band Charles  Mayers,  by  whom  she  had  three  chil- 
dren, Etta,  Letha  and  Virgil.  Her  second  husband 
was  John  Ackley,  and  by  that  union  she  has  a son, 


Ansel  Asa.  Rozelma  Wilcox  first  married  W.  More, 
and  had  three  children,  Charles,  Reba  and  Harold, 
and  she  is  the  present  wife  of  W.  Stevens,  by  whom 
she  also  has  three  children,  Vern,  Naomi  and  Ray- 
mond. Edith  Wilcox  is  the  wife  of  Frank  Ulmer 
and  has  two  children,  Esther  and  Gerald.  Della 
is  the  wife  of  Charles  Huffman,  and  their  family 
consists  of  Mildred  and  June.  Myrtie  Wilcox  died 
when  twent3'-one  years  of  age.  Carl,  who  married 
Emma  Hendersen,  has  a son,  John  Henry.  Seldon 
married  Elsie  Freed,  daughter  of  Peter  and  Anna 
Eliza  Freed,  of  Salem  Township,  and  they  have 
four  children,  named  Ruth  G.,  Walter  H.,  Edna  M. 
and  Angeline.  Leona  was  married  to  Ernest  Min- 
ger,  and  is  the  mother  of  three  children,  Waunetta 
L.,  Rollin  W.  and  Wanda  M.  The  ninth  child,  Vesta, 
died  in  infancy.  Emma  L.,  the  youngest,  is  the  wife 
of  Earl  Strawser. 

) 

Simeon  L.  Hanselman.  This  is  the  name  of  one 
of  the  progressive  farmers  of  Greenfield  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  a citizen  who  enjoys  many  warm 
friends  in  that  community. 

Mr.  Hanselman  was  born  in  St.  Joseph  County, 
Michigan,  October  6,  1874,  a son  of  Peter  and 
Julia  Ann  (Duke)  Hanselman.  His  father  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania  January  3,  1846,  and  his 
mother  in  Williams  County,  Ohio,  November  9, 
1848.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  Aaron  and 
Christina  (Reid)  Hanselman,  the  latter  born  in 
1813.  The  Hanselmans  were  pioneers  of  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  coming  from  Pennsylvania  and 
traveling  with  wagons  and  ox  teams.  They  located 
in  Steuben  Township,  where  Aaron  and  wife  spent 
the  rest  of  their  years.  They  were  laid  to  rest  in 
Mt.  Zion  cemetery.  A record  of  their  children 
with  their  births  is  as  follows:  Charles,  1834;  John 

Q.,  1836;  Frank  and  Wesley,  1837;  George,  1839; 
Elizabeth,  1841;  William,  1843;  Peter,  1846;  Eliza- 
beth, 1849;  Daniel,  1854;  and  Aaron  L.,  1856. 

Peter  Hanselman  was  reared  and  educated  in 
Steuben  County,  and  married  in  Williams  County. 
His  wife  was  a daughter  of  Wright  and  Ann  (Ber- 
ridge)  Duke,  the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the 
latter  of  England.  They  spent  many  years  in  Wil- 
liams County,  where  Wright  Duke  died.  His  widow 
spent  her  last  years  with  Simeon  L.  Hanselman  and 
died  at  his  home  in  1900,  at  advanced  age. 

Peter  Hanselman  moved  from  Indiana  to  St. 
Joseph  County,  Michigan,  and  on  April  1,  1880, 
located  in  Greenfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 
His  first  place  there  comprised  thirty-nine  acres, 
and  later  he  moved  to  the  farm  now  managed  by 
his  son  Simeon,  known  as  the  Francis  Farm.  He 
died  there  January  8,  1912,  and  his  widow  still 
occupies  the  old  homestead.  He  was  a republican 
and  a member  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  while 
his  wife  was  a Baptist.  There  were  only  two  chil- 
dren : Simeon  L.  and  Clara,  wife  of  William  Gay. 

Simeon  L.  Hanselman  grew  up  in  LaGrange 
County,  and  since  his  school  days  has  given  his 
time  steadily  t,o  farming,  part  of  the  time  as  a 
farm  worker  for  others  but  since  1909  he  has 
operated  and  rented  the  old  homestead.  He  is  a 
republican  in  politics. 

August  16,  1902,  Mr.  Hanselman  married  Miss 
Della  Toms.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship of  LaGrange  County,  daughter  of  Cornelius 
and  Jane  (Highland)  Toms,  who  came  to  La- 
Grange County  from  Ohio  about  forty-five  years 
ago.  Her  father  died  in  Greenfield  Township  in 
1916,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three,  and  her  mother  in 
1906,  aged  fifty-three.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hanselman 
have  seven  children,  named  Hazel,  Marie,  John, 
Edith,  Carroll,  May  and  Harlow. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


423 


Benjamin  S.  Dorsey.  One  of  the  most  highly 
respected  citizens  of  LaGrange  County  is  Benjamin 
S.  Dorsey,  who  has  lived  in  Bloomfield  Township 
for  many  years,  where  he  is  owner  of  a large  farm. 

He  was  born  in  Allen  County,  Indiana,  December 
15,  1853,  a son  of  Jonathan  and  Mary  Jane  (King) 
Dorsey.  Jonathan  Dorsey  was  born  in  Yorkshire, 
England,  in  1829,  and  was  one  year  old  to  the  day 
when  his  parents,  Benjamin  Dorsey  and  wife,  set  out 
from  England  to  the  United  States.  The  voyage 
was  a long  one  by  sailing  vessel,  and  they  were  six 
months  on  the  ocean.  They  settled  at  Huron,  Ohio, 
where  grandfather  Dorsey  worked  for  some  -years  as 
a shipbuilder,  and  his  son  Jonathan  was  also  em- 
ployed on  the  towpath  up  the  river.  The  family 
finally  moved  to  Allen  County,  Indiana,  at  the  same 
time  with  Thomas  Barnett,  and  settled  on  English 
Prairie.  Benjamin  Dorsey  died  in  Allen  County 
about  1866. 

The  maternal  grandparents  of  Benjamin  S.  Dorsey 
were  Simeon  and  Ann  (Oliver)  King,  who  were 
among  the  first  settlers  in  LaGrange  County,  set- 
tling in  Johnson  Township,  on  what  is  known  as 
the  McKiffin  farm,  and  Mrs.  King’s  brother  was 
buried  on  that  farm.  After  the  Kings  sold  the  land 
they  settled  in  Bloomfield  Township,  on  what  is  now 
the  Minnick  farm,  where  Simeon  King  died. 

Jonathan  Dorsey  after  the  death  of  his  father 
came  to  LaGrange  County  and  went  to  work  for 
Simeon  King.  After  his  marriage  he  returned  to 
Allen  County,  bought  a farm,  and  in  1876  traded  that 
farm  for  250  acres  where  his  son  Benjamin  S.  now 
lives.  He  finally  retired  from  farming  and  moved 
to  Valentine,  where  his  wife  died  in  1896.  She  was 
born  in  LaGrange  County  in  1835.  Jonathan  King 
spent  his  last  days  with  his  son  Benjamin  and  died 
in  1903.  He  was  a stalwart  republican  in  politics, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Church.  They  had  two  children,  Benjamin  S.  and 
Plinna,  the  latter  the  wife  of  Charles  Jackson. 

Benjamin  S.  Dorsey  attended  the  public  schools 
of  Allen  County  and  was  about  twenty-three  years 
old  when  his  father  moved  to  LaGrange  County. 
He  has  always  lived  on  the  old  farm,  and  since  be- 
coming its  owner  has  increased  its  area  to  330  acres. 
He  is  a republican  in  politics.  In  1874  he  married  in 
Allen  County,  Mary  Sowers,  of  that  county. 

Henry  B.  Jordan.  A life  of  signal  purpose  and 
concentrated  devotion  to  his  work  as  a farmer,  his 
duties  as  a citizen,  and  the  responsibilities  of  his 
home,  came  to  a close  with  the  death  of  Henry  B. 
Jordan  on  October  28,  1915. 

Mr.  Jordan,  who  spent  most  of  his  life  in  Steuben 
County,  was  born  in  Newfane  Township,  at  a vil- 
lage once  called  Charlotte,  now  Newfane,  in  Nia- 
gara Countv,  New  York?  January  9,  1843.  His  par- 
ents were  David  and  Alvira  (Ware)  Jordan,  who 
moved  to  New  York  from  Pennsylvania  and  in  1852 
came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  David  Jordan 
had  served  in  the  Mexican  war  and  received  a tract 
of  government  land  for  his  services.  He  became 
a large  land  owner  and  in  Steuben  County  lived  in 
Pleasant  and  Scott  townships.  He  died  at  Angola 
April  5,  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  His  widow 
passed  away  in  1886,  aged  seventy-three.  David 
Jordan  was  three  times  married  and  had  six  chil- 
dren by  each  wife. 

Henry  B.  Jordan  acquired  his  early  education 
chiefly  in  Steuben  County  and  always  followed  farm- 
ing. He  began  with  eighty  acres  in  Fremont  Town- 
ship, and  out  of  his  increasing  means  invested  in 
other  land  until  he  had  284  acres  and  two  lots  in 
the  city  of  Angola.  For  many  years  he  gave  par- 
ticular attention  to  the  breeding  of  Merino  sheep. 
He  was  a republican,  had  no  desire  to  figure  as  a 


public  official,  and  was  very  much  interested  in  the 
Masonic  Order.  All  his  sons  are  Masons,  and  his 
widow  and  one  daughter  are  members  of  the  East- 
ern Star.  He  had  attained  the  thirty-second  degree 
in  the  Scottish  Rite  at  Fort  Wayne  in  April,  1914, 
only  about  a year  before  his  death.  He  was  also 
a charter  member  of  the  Angola  Lodge  of  Knights 
of  Pythias. 

Henry  B.  Jordan  married,  February  11,  1872,  Miss 
Ada  Freligh.  Mrs.  Jordan,  who  represents  an  old 
and  prominent  family  of  Steuben  County,  was  born 
in  the  City  of  Angola  April  20,  1851,  a daughter 
of  George  and  Abigail  (Squier)  Freligh.  Her  father 
came  to  Steuben  County  when  seventeen  years  of 
age,  was  a shoemaker  by  trade,  and  for  a number 
of  years  was  proprietor  of  a shoe  store  at  Angola. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Latta)  Freligh, 
who  followed  him  to  Steuben  County  and  spent 
their  last  years  on  a farm  in  Pleasant  Township. 
John  Freligh  died  when  past  eighty  years  of  age 
and  his  wife  also  died  in  advanced  years.  Abigail 
Squier,  mother  of  Mrs.  Jordan,  was  a daughter  of 
Dean  and  Jane  (Wiles)  Squier,  the  latter  a native 
of  England  and  brought  to  the  United  States  when 
nine  years  old.  Dean  Squier  moved  from  New 
York  to  Ohio,  where  he  died,  and  his  widow  subse- 
quently came  to  Steuben  County.  George  and  Abi- 
gail Freligh  had  five  children,  Ada,  Ervin,  Carrie, 
one  that  died  in  infancy  and  Clyde. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jordan  had  seven  children.  Cary 
T.,  who  finished  his  education  in  the  Tri-State  Nor- 
mal College,  is  a successful  farmer  and  married 
Jennie  Clark,  by  whom  he  has  three  children,  Marie, 
Alma  and  Kathleen.  Mrs.  Jordan  has  one  great- 
grandchild. Her  granddaughter  Alma  Jordan  mar- 
ried Gerald  Vose  and  has  a daughter,  Wilma.  Fred 
Jordan  also  educated  in  the  Tri-State  College  at 
Angola,  married  Blanche  Tarr,  who  died  in  1905, 
leaving  three  children,  Hazel,  Harold  and  Lowell. 
Leon  married  Iva  Peavy  and  has  a son,  Wayne. 
Bert  W.  married  Lola  Hall,  and  their  children  con- 
sist of  Howard,  Elizabeth,  Ronald,  Doris,  Phyllis 
and  Marada.  Jessie,  a graduate  of  the  Fremont 
High  School,  is  the  wife  of  Charles  Bailey.  Bart, 
who  finished  his  education  in  the  Tri-State  College, 
married  for  his  first  wife  Ada  O’Keefe  and  had 
one  child,  Weltha;  and  his  second  wife  is  Lila 
Taylor.  Dean,  the  youngest  of  the  family,  since 
completing  his  education  in  the  public  schools  has 
been  managing  the  home  farm.  He  married  Anna 
Wiggins. 

Harry  A.  Martin  is  head  of  the  firm  Martin  & 
Company,  with  offices  in  several  towns  of  Northern 
Indiana,  and  with  a business  in  general  real  estate 
and  farm  lands  that  covers  Indiana,  Ohio,  Mich- 
igan and  Illinois.  This  is  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete organizations  of  its  kind  in  the  middle  west. 

Mr.  Martin,  who  as  a result  of  long  experience 
has  acquired  an  almost  encyclopedic  knowledge  of 
real  estate  values,  was  born  in  Richland  County, 
Ohio,  in  1868,  a son  of  Frank  and  Lydia  (Baker) 
Martin.  His  mother  was  a sister  of  the  late  James 
Baker,  widely  and  favorably  knibwn  as  a prominent 
manufacturer  of  Kendallville,  Indiana.  Frank  Mar- 
tin was  born  in  Morrow  County,  Ohio,  in  1837, 
while  his  wife  was  born  at  Galion,  Ohio,  in  1842. 
After  their  marriage  at  Galion  they  settled  on  a 
farm  in  Richland  County  and  in  1879  sold  their 
Ohio  property  and  moved  out  to  Washington  Coun- 
ty, Iowa.  Frank  Martin  bought  320  acres  of  land 
in  the  county  at  $38  an  acre.  His  son  Seymour 
Martin  now  lives  on  that  old  homestead  and  al- 
together owns  1,300  acres  of  land  in  this  very  fer- 
tile section  of  Iowa.  The  old  homestead  bought 
forty  years  ago  is  now  estimated  to  be  worth  $400 


424 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


an  acre.  Frank  Martin  in  1881  returned  east  and 
settled  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  buying  a farm 
of  200  acres  in  Fairfield  Township.  He  was  busy 
with  its  improvement  and  development  and  lived 
there  until  his  death  in  1904.  His  wife  passed  away 
in  1917.  He  was  a democrat  in  politics  and  voted 
with  much  regularity  until  Bryan  became  a can- 
didate on  the  free  silver  issue  in  1896,  at  which  time 
he  turned  his  allegiance  to  the  republican  doctrine. 
He  was  a member  of  the  Dunkard  Church  while 
his  wife  was  a Quaker.  Harry  A.  Martin’s  mother 
is  of  Sdotch  descent,  her  grandfather  having  come 
from  Scotland  and  settled  in  Virginia  when  her 
own  father  was  about  two  years  old.  Frank  Mar- 
tin and  wife  had  seven  children : Seymour,  of 

Washington  County,  Iowa;  Frank,  of  Wolcottville ; 
lone,  who  married  Edward  Zimmerman  and  died 
February  1,  1918;  Harry  A.;  Homer,  of  LaGrange; 
Willard,  who  owns  sixty  acres  of  the  old  Martin 
homestead  in  DeKalb  County;  and  Allen,  who  has 
100  acres  of  the  same  homestead. 

Harry  A.  Martin  owing  to  the  change  of  resi- 
dence made  by  his  parents  as  above  indicated  re- 
ceived his  early  education  in  three  states.  He  at- 
tended the  common  schools  of  Ohio  to  the  age  of 
eleven,  then  for  twp  years  in  Iowa,  and  finished 
his  schooling  in  Fairfield  Township  of  DeKalb 
County.  He  also  acquired  a practical  knowledge 
of  farming,  and  for  a time  was  associated  with 
Welt  Brothers  selling  buggies.  He  found  his  con- 
genial field  and  best  scope  for  his  talents  in  1901, 
when  he  entered  the  real  estate  business  at  Mongo, 
Indiana.  He  also  established  an  office  at  LaGrange, 
also  one  at  Howe,  and  for  ten  years  was  in  partner- 
ship with  Hubert  Smith.  Later  Edward  Zimmer- 
man, his  brother  Homer  Martin,  John  L.  Hagland 
and  Edward  Lacey  were  associated  with  him.  The 
firm  has  always  been  known  as  Martin  & Company. 
Another  partner  was  Mr.  Albert  F.  Powell,  ex- 
county assessor.  The  present  personnel  of  the 
company  is  Harry  A.  Martin,  Homer  B.  Martin  and 
Edward  Zimmerman.  Mr.  Martin  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge. 

In  1888  he  married  Sarah  I.  Kisell,  who  was 
born  in  Whitley  County,  Indiana,  August  21,  1872. 
They  have  an  interesting  family  of  seven  children : 
Clarence,  who  married  Bernice  Wonders;  Lydia, 
who  is  the  wife  of  Cecil  Cook  and  has  a son,  Leo; 
Ruth,  wife  of  Earl  Grubaugh,  assistant  postmaster 
of  LaGrange,  and  she  is  the  mother  of  two  children, 
Pauline  and  Herbert ; Mary,  wife  of  Earl  Cattell, 
a resident  of  Detroit;  Willard  J.,  who  was  a mem- 
ber of  Company  36  in  a replacement  division  with 
the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  in  France ; 
Harry,  a sophomore  in  the  LaGrange  High  School ; 
and  John,  who  died  in  infancy. 

Roherles  Merriman.  A citizen  of  LaGrange 
County  whose  life  career  has  brought  him  in  pleas- 
ant contact  with  many  of  his  fellow  citizens  is 
Roherles  Merriman,  a native  of  the  county  and  a 
resident  on  one  farm  for  over  half  a century. 

Mr.  Merriman  was  born  in  Clay  Township,  Oc- 
tober 3,  1847,  a.  son  of  George  and  Desire  (Bur- 
roughs) Merriman.  His  father  was  born  in  Ohio 
in  1816  and  his  mother  in  New  York  State  in  1825. 
His  grandfather  was  John  Merriman,  who  was  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  LaGrange  County,  living  here 
among  the  Indians  in  Clay  Township,  where  he  took 
up  Government  land.  At  one  time  he  owned  400 
acres.  He  was  very  active  in  politics  and  held  a 
number  of  local  offices  and  was  a member  of  the 
regular  Baptist  Church.  He  died  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven.  He  had  a large  family  of  about  ten 
children. 

George  Merriman  came  to  Indiana  on  horseback 


from  Ohio,  and  as  a carpenter  helped  build  the  rail- 
road depot  at  Sturgis,  Michigan.  He  witnessed  the 
arrival  of  the  first  train  in  that  town.  In  the  early 
days  he  hauled  grain  to  Fort  Wayne  and  sold  wheat 
at  50  cents  a bushel.  Later  he  settled  on  the  eighty 
acres  given  him  by  his  father,  and  acquired  a large 
farm,_  most  of  which  his  children  inherited.  He 
died^  in  1899  and  his  wife  in  1897.  He  was  a re- 
publican, and  he  and  his  wife  were  Baptists.  They 
had  children  named  Roherles,  William,  Eber,  Hud- 
son and  George. 

Roherles  Merriman  attended  school  in  Clay  Town- 
ship, and  is  still  living  on  the  farm  of  fifty  acres 
which  has  been  in  his  possession  for  half  a century. 
He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

June  10,  1869,  Mr.  Merriman  married  Amanda 
Brindley,  a daughter  of  John  Brindley,  of  La- 
Grange County.  Mrs.  Merriman  died  in  1894,  the 
mother  of  the  following  children:  Alton,  who  mar- 
ried Edith  McMannes  and  has  two  children,  Glenn 
and  Losen ; Grace,  who  is  married  and  lives  in  Cali- 
fornia; Blanche  and  Burton,  both  deceased;  Zoe, 
who  is  married ; and  Lena,  deceased.  In  1913  Mr. 
Merriman  married  Jennie  Airgood,  widow  of  Albert 
Airgood,  by  whom  she  had  six  children. 

Mearl  D.  Watters.  Land  in  Jamestown  Town- 
ship in  Steuben  County  which  was  cleared  and  cul- 
tivated by  his  father  is  now  being  capably  managed 
and  farmed  by  Mearl  D.  Watters,  one  of  the  best 
known  and  most  progressive  citizens  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Watters  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township 
November  18,  1870,  and  is  a son  of  James  and  Mary 
M.  Henney  Watters.  James  Watters  was  born 
in  Lincolnshire,  England,  May  3,  1844,  a son  of 
James  and  Elizabeth  (Cooper)  Watters,  who  came 
to  America  about  1852,  spent  a short  time  in  Buffalo, 
New  York,  then  went  west  to  White  Pigeon,  Michi- 
gan, later  went  to  Ohio,  and  in  1866  settled  in 
Steuben  County,  on  a farm  of  forty  acres  in  Fre- 
mont Township,  to  which  later  was  added  thirty 
acres.  This  old  farm  is  now  owned  by  George  Wat- 
ters, a son  of  James  and  Elizabeth.  James  Watters, 
Sr.,  died  in  Fremont  about  1887,  and  his  wife  about 
1884.  Their  children  were  Mary,  Thomas,  Sarah 
Jane,  Elizabeth,  James,  William,  Morris,  George, 
Phillip  and  Samuel. 

Mary  M.  Henney,  wife  of  James  Watters,  Jr.,  was 
a daughter  of  Daniel  and  Anna  (Housman)  Henney, 
the  former  a native  of  Ohio  and  the  latter  of  Penn- 
sylvania. The  Henney  family  also  came  to  Steuben 
County  in.  1866,  settling  on  a farm  of  forty  acres  in 
York  Township.  Daniel  Henney  was  a blacksmith 
by  trade.  He  and  his  wife,  who  spent  their  last 
years  in  Steuben  County,  had  the  following  children : 
Mary  M.,  Elizabeth,  John  H.,  Rachel,  Alice,  Cath- 
erine, Irene  and  Daniel  W.  Daniel  Henney  was 
born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  February  2,  1819,  and 
his  wife  in  Center  County,  Pennsylvania,  in  1818. 
They  were  married  in  Summit  County,  Ohio,  in 
1842,  and  he  died  August  20,  1892,  and  his  wife  Jan- 
uary 23,  1911. 

When  James  and  Mary  Watters  came  to  Steuben 
County  they  lived  for  a time  in  Fremont  Township 
and  later  bought  eighty  acres  in  Jamestown  Town- 
ship now  owned  by  their  son  Mearl  D.  The  father 
put  up  good  buildings,  and  managed  the  farm  suc- 
cessfully for  about  thirty  years.  In  1909  he  retired 
to  the  Village  of  Fremont,  where  his  death  occurred 
in  June,  1918,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four.  His  widow 
is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-five.  On  the  old 
farm  October  5,  1916,  they  celebrated  their  golden 
wedding  anniversary,  and  their  marriage  companion- 
ship continued  for  two  years  longer.  James  Watters 
was  a democrat  in  politics  and  he  and  his  wife  were 
very  prominent  in  the  Methodist  Church.  They 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


425 


had  four  children : Annie  E. ; Charles,  who  died 

August  2,  1869,  at  the  age  of  one  year,  six  months 
and  ten  days ; Mearl ; and  Cora. 

Mearl  D.  Watters  grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  at- 
tended the  public  schools  and  spent  one  year  in  the 
Tri-State  Normal  College,  and  since  completing  his 
education  has  devoted  his  time  and  energies  to  farm- 
ing. In  June,  1918,  he  bought  the  homestead  of 
eighty  acres.  He  is  on  very  familiar  ground  at 
this  farm,  since  he  helped  his  father  clear  away 
the  woods  and  put  up  some  of  the  buildings.  In 
politics  he  is  a democrat,  is  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Lodge  and  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Fremont,  and  has 
always  joined  heartily  in  any  movement  for  the 
general  benefit  of  his  Community.  He  is  a stock- 
holder in  the  First  State  Bank  of  Fremont  and  is 
a stockholder  in  the  Fremont  Cooperative  Store. 

In  1909  he  m'arried  Miss  Edith  Gritman,  of  Fre- 
mont, a daughter  of  Henry  and  Isabel  Gritman. 
Her  mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watters 
have  one  son,  Leon  James,  born  March  1,  1911. 

George  W.  Truby,  of  Bloomfield  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  was  born  in  Huntington  County, 
Indiana,  October  31,  1856,  a son  of  Rev.  David  M. 
and  Mary  (Smutz)  Truby.  His  parents  were  both 
born  in  Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio,  his  father  in 
1825  and  his  mother  in  1826.  They  were  married 
in  Ohio  and  then  settled  in  Wells  County,  Indiana, 
and  in  1861  moved  to  Steuben  County  and  from 
there  in  1864  to  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange 
County.  The  father  developed  and  cleared  what 
is  known  as  Pleasant  Hill  Farm.  He  was  a min- 
ister of  the  Dunkard  Church,  and  labored  unself- 
ishly in  that  cause  many  years.  He  preached  in 
Michigan,  Ohio  and  Indiana,  and  for  many  years 
served  the  English  Prairie  Church  near  his  home 
in  Bloomfield.  He  was  a republican.  He  and  his 
wife  died  in  1894,  he  in  August  and  she  in  April. 
Their  children  were  named  Jacob,  Mary,  David, 
Sarah,  Emily,  Joseph  and  George  W. 

George  W.  Truby  was  eight  years  old  when  he 
came  with  his  parents  to  LaGrange  County.  As 
a boy  he  did  a man’s  work  in  clearing  the  land 
and  piling  brush.  Later  he  bought  a farm  in 
Bloomfield  Township,  and  when  he  sold  that  he 
went  to  Arkansas.  After  eleven  months  in  that 
state  he  returned  t)o  Indiana  and  bought  the  farm 
he  owns  today  in  Bloomfield  Township.  He  has 
cleared  most  of  this  land  for  cultivation  and  has 
good  buildings.  His  farm  consists  of  eighty  acres. 
He  is  a republican,  and  both  his  wives  have  been 
Methodists. 

October  31,  1880,  he  married  Hannah  Slack,  who 
was  born  in  LaGrange  County,  a daughter  of  Abram 
Slack.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Truby  had  five  children: 
Turah,  wife  of  George  L.  Schadle ; George  Lester, 
who  was  an  enlisted  man  at  the  Great  Lakes  Train- 
ing Station  and  received  his  honorable  discharge 
in  July,  1919;  Hazel,  wife  of  Charles  Routsong 
and  the  mother  of  four  children,  named  George 
W..  Ruth,  Retha  and  Lois ; Eva  and  Neva,  who 
died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  children 
died  May  25,  1911.  December  18,  1912,  Mr.  Truby 
married  Mrs.  Minnie  (Brown)  Yergin,  widow  of 
Oscar  Yergin  and  a daughter  of  Peter  and  Julia 
(Hill)  Brown,  early  settlers  of  LaGrange  County. 
Her  father  died  in  1909,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one, 
and  her  mother  was  born  December  12,  1844,  and 
is  seventy-five  years  old.  Mrs.  Truby  by  her  first 
husband  had  the  following  children:  Wilmer,  of 

Elkhart.  Indiana;  Mary,  wife  of  F.  O.  Gibson  and 
the  mother  of  two  children,  Paul  and  Helen ; Basil, 
who  trained  as  a soldier  at  Camp  Lewis,  Washing- 
ton, and  in  August,  1918,  went  overseas  to  France 
and  was  connected  with  Unit  No.  93  at  the  Base 


Hospital  in  Paris,  being  still  in  overseas  service ; 
Ivan,  who  served  as  a private  in  Company  G,  of 
the  Three  Hundred  and  Eighth  Infantry  and  re- 
ceived a wound  in  battle,  being  now  in  Seattle, 
Washington;  Velma,  wife  of  J.  J.  Martin,  of  Seattle, 
Washington;  Vernon,  who  was  in  France  eighteen 
months  as  a private  in  Field  Remount  Company 
No.  312;  Audelra,  who  died  in  infancy;  and  Dana, 
at  home. 

Harry  J.  Curtis.  While  he  was  born  in  London, 
England,  Harry  J.  Curtis  has  no  memories  of  the 
great  metropolis  which  surrounded  him  in  infancy, 
practically  all  his  life  having  been  spent  in  La- 
Grange County.  He  started  his  independent  career 
with  a small  fund  of  experience  and  less  capital, 
worked  as  a farm  hand,  and  has  since  steadily  ac- 
cumulated interests,  property  and  many  other  assets 
that  make  him  one  of  the  substantial  and  influential 
citizens  of  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  London,  December  18,  1869,  a son 
of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Curtis,  the  former  a native 
of  North  Hampshire,  England,  and  the  latter  of 
South  Hampshire,  England.  In  1871  they  brought 
their  family  to  America  and  came  direct  to  La- 
Grange County.  Henry  Curtis  in  England  was  a 
flower  gardener.  For  a time  after  coming  to  La- 
Grange County  he  worked  for  S.  P.  Williams,  of 
Howe.  Later  he  engaged  in  farming  near  that  city, 
and  still  owns  a farm  there,  but  lives  in  Howe.  He 
and  his  wife  had  a family  of  ten  children : One  died 
in  infancy  and  the  others,  are  all  living  today,  their 
names  being  Harry  J.,  Thomas,  Nellie,  George, 
Jennie,  Edward,  Earl,  Samuel  and  Leonard. 

Harry  J.  Curtis  attended  the  common  schools  for 
his  education.  He  went  to  work  as  a farm  hand 
and  for  eighteen  years  he  conducted  a draying  busi- 
ness at  Howe.  Since  1909  he  has  been  engaged  in 
farming  and  stock  raising  on  an  extensive  scale.  In 
that  year  he  bought  a large  acreage,  ninety-six  in 
Greenfield  and  202  in  Bloomfield  Township,  and 
uses  this  farm  for  cattle  and  hog  feeding.  While 
a resident  of  Lima  Township  Mr.  Curtis  served  as 
road  supervisor  and  member  of  the  county  council. 
He  also  helped  organize  the  Lima  Elevator  Com- 
pany and  is  now  its  president.  He  is  affiliated  with 
the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe. 

July  4,  1895,  Mr.  Curtis  married  Miss  Nellie 
Squires,  of  Lima  Township,  a daughter  of  Miles  B. 
and  Mary  Squires.  They  were  married  nearly 
twenty  years.  Mrs.  Curtis  died  February  12,  1915, 
the  mother  of  three  children : Elizabeth,  Clarence 

and  Helen. 

The  only  son,  Clarence  Curtis,  served  with  the 
colors  in  the  World  war.  He  entered  Camp  Taylor 
at  Louisville,  May  23,  1918,  in  the  infantry  service. 
Later  he  was  sent  to  Camp  Beauregard,  Louisiana, 
and  became  a member  of  the  Thirty-Ninth  Division 
and  subsequently  was  put  in  a Machine  Gun  Battal- 
ion with  the  Fifth  Infantry.  He  was  returned  to 
Camp  Taylor,  December  7,  1918,  and  was  discharged 
there  March  20,  1919.  He  did  not  have  the  fortune 
to  go  overseas  with  the  Thirty-Ninth  Division,  being 
kept  in  America  because  of  defective  feet. 

Lincoln  Brouse.  By  intermarriage  with  other 
families  the  name  Brouse  frequently  appears  in  the 
family  records  of  Steuben  County.  The  Brouses 
have  been  here  for  over  half  a century,  and  Mr. 
Lincoln  Brouse,  who  was  an  infant  when  the  family 
came  to  Steuben  County,  is  a prosperous  farmer. 

He  was  born  in  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  Decem- 
ber 16,  1864,  a son  of  Cyrus  and  Mary  (Tuttle) 
Brouse.  His  parents  came  to  Steuben  County  in 
1866.  The  parents  of  Cyrus  came  at  the  same  time, 
Frederick  and  Mary  Ann  (Pifer)  Brouse.  They 


426 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


settled  in  Clear  Lake  Township,  and  their  old  home- 
stead is  now  owned  by  Simon  Brouse,  a brother 
of  Lincoln.  Frederick  Brouse  and  wife  had  three 
children,  Cyrus,  Eliza  and  Jane.  Cyrus  Brouse  has 
bought  and  sold  a number  of  times  in  this  part  of 
Indiana  and  is  now  living  retired  in  the  Village  of 
Ray,  at  the  age  of  seventy-nine.  His  wife  passed 
away  in  1908,  aged  sixty-six.  He  was  a republican, 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  active  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church.  They  had  four  sons,  all  living, 
named,  William,  Simon,  Lincoln  and  Lucius. 

Lincoln  Brouse  grew  up  on  the  farm  in  Clear 
Lake  Township,  acquired  his  education  in  the  public 
schools  and  Hartsville  College,  and  took  a normal 
course  in  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola.  He 
was  a successful  teacher  and  followed  that  voca- 
tion for  ten  terms  in  Clear  Lake  Township,  employ- 
ing his  summer  vacations  at  farming.  Later  he 
bought  a place  of  fifty  acres  in  Clear  Lake  Town- 
ship and  traded  that  with  his  father  for  the  farm 
he  now  owns  in  Fremont  Township.  He  moved 
to  this  place  in  1903  and  has  kept  his  work  mov- 
ing ahead,  and  has  some  excellent  improvements, 
including  a fine  barn  built  in  1905  and  a home 
erected  in  1907.  He  is  a general  farmer,  a pro- 
hibitionist in  politics  and  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church. 

October  29,  1891,  Mr.  Brouse  married  Miss  Ada 
Bratten.  She  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio, 
January  18,  1867,  a daughter  of  George  and  Jane 
(McElhenie)  Bratten.  Her  parents  came  to  Steuben 
County  and  settled  in  Clear  Lake  Township  in  1882, 
and  spent  the  declining  years  of  their  lives  with  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brouse.  Her  father  died  February  6,  1915, 
and  her  mother  January  13,  1906.  In  the  Bratten 
family  were  four  children,  named  Carrie,  Clement, 
Ada  and  Jennie. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brouse  have  two  children,  Mabel 
and  Walter.  Mabel  was  born  December  25,  1892,  a 
graduate  of  the  Fremont  High  School,  and  is  the 
wife  of  Guy  Throop,  of  Clear  Lake  Township.  They 
have  two  children,  Mildred  Lorene  and  Cleon.  The 
son,  Walter,  born  November  15,  1896,  is  also  a grad- 
uate of  the  Fremont  High  School,  and  during  the 
world  war  was  for  six  months  a member  of  Com- 
pany D of  the  214th  Infantry.  Since  his  honorable 
discharge  he  has  gone  to  work  in  the  furniture  de- 
partment of  the  Wilhelms  factory  at  Sturgis,  Michi- 
gan. Walter  Brouse  married  Rachel  Sowle. 

Frank  A.  McManus,  whose  farm  is  in  Bloom- 
field Township  of  LaGrange  County,  is  related  to 
a number  of  interesting  people  in  Northeast  In- 
diana, and  his  own  life  has  been  one  of  exceptional 
effort  and  enterprise. 

Mr.  McManus  was  born  in  Clay  Township  March 
21,  1871,  a son  of  Henry  and  Mary  (Hardesty) 
McManus.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Jacob 
and  Phidelia  (Bettis)  McManus.  The  father  of 
Phidelia  Bettis  was  captain  of  a company  in  the 
Revolutionary  war.  Jacob  McManus  after  coming 
to  LaGrange  County  followed  farming  in  Lima 
Township,  where  he  died  in  1887  and  his  wife  in 
1898.  Their  children  were:  Henry,  Nelson,  Robert, 

who  remained  in  Ohio ; Orrin,  who  is  the  only  son 
now  living  and  is  past  seventy,  a resident  of  Elk- 
hart, Silas,  who  was  at  one  time  state  senator  and 
also  well  known  as  a poet,  and  Lucy,  wife  of 
Daniel  Crowel,  of  Colorado. 

Henry  McManus  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1830.  His 
wife,  Mary  Hardesty,  was  born  in  the  same  state 
in  1840,  a daughter  of  Thompson  and  Sarah  (Bobel) 
Hardesty.  Sarah  Gobel  was  related  to  the  same 
family  as  that  of  the  late  Governor  Gobel,  whose 
death  by  assassination  while  governor  of  Kentucky 
was  one  of  the  most  noted  cases  in  criminal  his- 


tory. Thompson  Hardesty  spent  a large  part  of 
his  life  as  a forgeman,  and  came  to  LaGrange 
County  in  1856  to  run  the  old  forge  in  Lima  Town- 
ship. Henry  McManus  and  wife  came  with  him. 
Thompson  "Hardesty  died  May  19,  1885,  having 
spent  his  later  life  as  a farmer.  His  children  were 
Mary  and  Silas.  After  coming  to  LaGrange 
County  Henry  McManus  worked  in  the  forge  for 
his  father-in-law  and  later  became  a farmer,  living 
in  Clay  Township  and  finally  in  Lima  Township, 
but  spent  his  last  years  on  a farm  in  Bloomfield 
Township,  where  he  died  April  28,  1898,  his  wife 
in  1902.  They  had  five  children : Charles,  of 

Howe,  Indiana ; Hattie,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
five  years;  Bracie,  who  died  when  seven  years  old; 
Frank  A. ; and  Edith,  wife  of  Alton  Merriman, 
of  Clay  Township. 

Frank  A.  McManus  was  reared  largely  in  Lima 
Township,  attended  the  Woodard  schools  and  for 
three  j'ears  the  Lima  schools,  and  since  early  man- 
hood has  been  a farmer.  In  1897  he  bought  his 
place  in  Bloomfield  Township,  two  and  a half  miles 
from  LaGrange,  and  in  twenty  years  has  done 
much  to  improve  and  increase  the  value  of  his  land 
and  equipment.  He  raises  much  stock,  and  a silo 
is  a prominent  feature  of  his  farm  equipment.  He 
is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows  at  LaGrange,  and  for  twenty-six  years  has 
been  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Howe. 

July  31,  1897,  he  married  Miss  Alma  Stoehr,  who 
was  born  in  LaGrange  December  18,  1875,  a 

daughter  of  John  and  Josephine  Goodsell  Stoehr, 
both  natives  of  Milford  Township.  The  mother  was 
a daughter  of  Mynott  Goodsell.  Mrs.  McManus’ 
paternal  grandparents  were  John  and  Mary  Eliza- 
beth (Beng)  Stoehr,  both  natives  of  Germany,  who 
came  to  the  United  States,  the  latter  at  the  age 
of  thirteen  with  her  parents.  John  Stoehr,  Sr., 
acquired  a tract  of  government  land  and  lived  un- 
der a tree  until  he  could  build  a log  house.  He 
died  on  the  old  farm  and  his  wife  died  in  La- 
Grange. Their  children  were:  Kate,  John  N., 

George,  Fred,  Frank  and  Mathias.  John  N.  Stoehr, 
father  of  Mrs.  McManus,  had  three  children: 
Edna,  wife  of  Adelbert  Mains,  of  Milford  Town- 
ship; Alma,  Mrs.  McManus;  and  Josephine,  wife 
of  Leo  D.  W.  Rowe,  of  Brestow,  Oklahoma. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  McManus  have  two  children: 
Geraldine,  born  May  8,  1898,  has  completed  her 
education  in  LaGrange  High  School.  Paul  Good- 
sell, born  July  29,  1904,  is  a student  in  the  public 
schools  of  Bloomfield  Township. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Swihart  has  spent  practic- 
ally all  of  his  mature  years  as  a farmer  in  Greenfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  on  the  land 
formerly  owned  by  his  father.  He  has  directed  his 
affairs  with  wisdom  and  good  judgment,  is  progres- 
sive in  all  community  matters,  and  is  thoroughly  well 
informed  on  local  agricultural  conditions.  For  the 
past  nineteen  years  he  has  been  reporting  crop  con- 
ditions, estimates  and  yields  in  his  township  for  the 
Department  of  Agriculture. 

Mr.  Swihart  was  born  in  Lafayette  Township, 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  January  7,  1851,  a son  of 
Daniel  and  Sarah  (Summers)  Swihart.  His  pater- 
nal grandfather  Johnothan  Swihart,  spent  most  of 
his  life  in  Ohio,  but  died  in  LaGrange  County  when 
eighty-four  years  of  age.  After  his  death  his  widow 
returned  to  Ohio  to  live.  The  maternal  grandfather, 
Jacob  Summers,  was  an  early  settler  in  Owen  County 
in  Southern  Indiana.  He  served  as  a drummer  boy 
in  the  War  of  1812.  After  his  discharge  he  walked 
three  hundred  miles  to  his  home.  His  daughter 
Sarah  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  October,  1820. 
Daniel  Swihart  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  County, 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


427 


Ohio,  in  April,  1820,  was  reared  and  educated  there, 
serving  in  the  state  militia  at  the  time  of  the  Mexi- 
can war.  In  1840  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Sarah  Summers,  and  to  this  union  were  born  eleven 
children,  as  follows : Elizabeth,  born  in  1841  and 

Johnothan,  born  in  1843,  both  dying  in  childhood  in 
Ohio;  Martha  Jane,  born  April  13,  1845,  and  died 
February  2,  1881 ; Susan,  born  March  17,  1847,  died 
January  26,  1914;  Joseph  L.,  born  March  7,  1849; 
Benjamin  Franklin,  who  was  the  sixth  child;  Nancy 
E.,  born  November  12,  1852;  William  H.,  born  Janu- 
ary 30,  1855;  Laura  E.,  born  April  3,  1858;  Clara  B., 
born  May  3,  i860;  and  Samuel  A.,  born  March  30, 
1862.  In  the  year  of  1850  Daniel  Swihart  purchased 
a homestead  of  160  acres  in  Allen  County,  Indiana, 
and  moved  onto  the  same,  and  here  he  and  his  fam- 
ily lived  for  the  next  four  years,  clearing  part  of 
the  land.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  sold  this  farm 
and  moved  to  a farm  in  LaPorte  County,  where  he 
lived  one  year  and  then  moved  onto  a farm  in  St. 
Joseph  County,  Indiana.  In  1859  he  purchased  200 
acres  now  owned  by  his  sons  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship, LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  and  on  February 
8,  i860,  he  moved  his  family  to  this  new  home.  It 
contained  some  buildings  and  the  old  house  and  barn 
are  still  in  use  for  different  purposes  on  the  portion 
of  the  land  where  Benjamin  Franklin  lives.  Daniel 
Swihart  had  a great  fund  of  energy  and  much  prac- 
tical ability  as  a business  man,  and  accumulated 
380  acres.  In  1869  he  erected  a large  bank  barn 
and  in  1873  built  a large  modern  home,  and  these 
buildings  still  stand  and  are  now  owned  and  occupied 
by  their  son  Samuel.  Daniel  Swihart  served  as  road 
supervisor  for  several  terms. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Swihart  was  nine  years  of  age 
when  his  parents  moved  to  LaGrange  County.  He 
acquired  his  education  in  this  county  and  St.  Joseph 
County  and  attended  the  LaGrange  Collegiate  In- 
stitute. During  the  past  forty-five  years  he  has  been 
a factor  in  farming  and  developing  the  old  place.  In 
1877  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  the  old  homestead 
and  built  a modern  home.  The  barn  on  the  farm 
when  bought  by  his  father  was  moved  to  this  eighty 
acres  before  this  date  and  has  been  added  to.  This 
barn  was  built  by  Mr.  Upson,  the  original  home- 
steader of  the  land,  where  the  new  buildings  were 
built  by  Daniel  Swihart.  The  original  homesteader 
of  the  land  where  Benjamin  Franklin  Swihart  now 
lives  was  Mr.  Cary.  Mr.  Swihart  bought  eighty-one 
acres  lying  just  across  the  road  north  of  his  original 
eighty  and  now  owns  141  acres  devoted  to  general 
farming.  He  served  as  a member  of  the  Township 
Advisory  Board.  In  1874  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Amy  E.  Kinney,  who  was  born  in  Lima 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  April  9,  1852,  daugh- 
ter of  J.  Calvin  Kinney,  one  of  the  early  settlers 
there.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Swihart  have  the  following 
children : Gerald  E.,  a graduate  of  the  Lima  Com- 
missioned High  School,  a graduate  of  Parsons  Busi- 
ness College  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  and  is  married 
and  lives  at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  having  acted  as  ex- 
press agent  at  that  place  for  the  past  nine  years,  is  a 
public  spirited  man  and  is  serving  his  fifth  term  as 
city  clerk.  Sarah  T.  is  a graduate  of  the  Lima  Com- 
missioned High  School,  also  a graduate  of  the  In- 
diana State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute,  later  graduated 
from  Indiana  State  University  and  taught  English  in 
the  State  Normal  for  five  years,  and  is  now  living  in 
Chicago,  the  wife  of  John  N.  Bowen.  Daniel,  a 
graduate  of  the  common  schools,  lived  in  Montana 
for  ten  years  and  now  in  the  garage  business  in 
Sturgis,  Michigan.  John  K.,  a graduate  of  the  Lima 
Commissioned  High  School,  a graduate  from  the 
law  department  of  the  University  of  Michigan  in 
his  twenty-second  year,  has  been  in  active  practice, 
since  that  time  and  is  now  a resident  of  Aberdeen, 


South  Dakota.  Lucy  L.,  a graduate  of  the  Lima 
Commissioned  High  School  took  the  teacher’s  course 
in  the  Tri  State  Normal  of  Angola,  was  a teacher 
for  several  years  and  is  now  the  wife  of  Charles 
Anderson,  a prosperous  farmer  of  Greenfield  Town- 
ship. W.  Ruth,  youngest,  also  a graduate  of  the 
Lima  Commissioned  High  School,  took  the  teacher’s 
course  in  the  Tri  State  Normal  at  Angola,  and  mar- 
ried Irvin  E.  King,  one  of  the  progressive  and  in- 
fluential men  of  the  community  and  cashier  of  the 
Mongo  State  Bank. 

Eli  Zeno  Hawk  is  one  of  a family  of  millers  who 
have  been  conspicuous  in  the  industrial  affairs  of 
LaGrange  County  for  many  years. 

Mr.  Hawk  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  April  24, 
1868,  and  in  August  of  the  year  of  his  birth  his  par- 
ents moved  to  Mongo,  where  he  has  lived  now  for 
over  half  a century.  He  had  a public  school  educa- 
tion at  Mongo,  and  as  a boy  began  working  in  his 
father’s  mill  and  also  under  his  brother  William, 
when  the  latter  was  manager.  In  1904  he  and  his 
brother  John  bought  the  mill  at  Mongo,  a business 
that  has  since  been  conducted  under  the  firm  name 
of  Hawk  Brothers.  Mr.  Hawk  was  also  one  of  the 
organizers  and  is  a director  of  the  Mongo  State 
Bank.  He  is  a republican  in  politics. 

In  June,  1906,  he  married  Miss  Lula  Sisson,  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Martha  Sisson,  of  a family  noted 
elsewhere.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hawk  have  one  child, 
Wilbur  E.,  born  March  12,  1914. 

John  L.  Hawk,  the  senior  member  of  Hawk 
Brothers,  millers,  at  Mongo,  was  born  in  DeKalb 
County,  December  20,  1864,  and  was  a small  child 
when  brought  to  Mongo.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
class  to  complete  the  work  of  the  eighth  grade  in 
the  local  schools.  For  a time  he  was  in  a mercantile 
concern  at  Mongo,  and  also  worked  in  the  grist  mill 
under  his  brother  William.  In  1904  he  and  his 
brother  Eli  bought  the  Mongo  mills.  He  also  as- 
sisted in  organizing  the  Mongo  State  Bank  and  is 
one  of  the  stockholders.  He  is  a republican  and  is 
a charter  member  of  the  Mongo  Lodge,  Knights  of 
Pythias,  which  was  instituted  February  24,  1891. 

May  19,  1908,  he  married  Miss  Moore,  of  Marion, 
Indiana.  They  have  no  children  of  their  own,  but 
adopted  Charles  E.  Allen  at  the  age  of  five  months. 
This  boy  was  born  January  2,  1912,  a grandson  of 
Charles  Allen,  who  at  one  time  was  engaged  in  the 
drug  business  in  LaGrange.  ' 

Christopher  L.  Hawk,  father  of  the  Hawk  Broth- 
ers, was  born  in  Wuertemberg,  Germany,  in  March, 
1821,  a son  of  Christopher  J.  and  Ellen  (Crawford) 
Hawk.  The  mother  died  in  1823  and  in  1825  Chris- 
topher Hawk,  Sr.,  married  Lena  Bopp.  In  1831  the 
family  came  to  America,  and  after  three  years  in 
Holmes  County  moved  to  Hancock  County,  Ohio, 
and  in  1858  settled  in  DeKalb  County,  Indiana.  In 
1868  they  established  their  home  at  Mongo,  where 
the  family  have  been  prominent  residents  for  over 
half  a century.  Christopher  Hawk,  Sr.,  died  at 
Mongo.  March  10,  1882,  at  the  age  of  ninety-two 
years,  four  months  and  five  days.  His  wife  died 
November  27,  1888,  aged  eighty-four. 

Christopher  L.  Hawk  married  Miss  Sarah  Wycoff 
on  June  3,  1847.  She  was  a daughter  of  Casper  B. 
and  Catherine  (Johnson)  Wycoff,  natives  of  New 
Jersey.  Christopher  L.  Hawk  and  wife  were  active 
members  of  the  Baptist  Church.  He  began  the  mill- 
ing business  at  the  age  of  eighteen,  and  worked  at 
wages  of  $6  a month.  Until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  of  age  he  gave  all  his  earnings  to  his  parents. 
At  his  marriage  he  had  a capital  of  only  $60.  About 
1850  he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  and  sold  this 
farm  in  Ohio  in  1858  for  $2,300.  On  coming  to 


428 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Indiana  he  bought  a flouring  mill  in  DeKalb  County 
on  the  St.  Joseph  River,  and  some  ten  years  later 
the  saw  and  grist  mill  property  at  the  Village  of 
Mongo,  where  he  conducted  a very  successful  busi- 
ness for  a number  of  years.  Christopher  L.  Hawk 
died  in  1907  and  his  wife  on  November  25,  1915,  at 
the  age  of  ninety-two.  They  were  the  parents  of 
nine  children : George  W.,  born  April  23,  1848,  and 
died  November  3,  1854;  William  C.,  born  March  9, 
1850;  Charles  Franklin,  born  January  18,  1852;  Han- 
nah Catherine,  born  June  23,  1855,  and  died  Novem- 
ber 5,  1855;  John  L.,  born  December  20,  1864;  Eli 
Zeno,  born  April  24,  1868;  Mary  E.,  born  July  24, 
1856,  wife  of  O.  G.  Long,  of  Sturgis,  Michigan; 
Anna  S.,  born  November  12,  1858,  widow  of  Charles 
E.  Dickinson,  of  White  Pigeon,  Michigan ; and 
Sarah  E.,  born  March  26,  1862,  wife  of  Alfred  A. 
Wade,  of  Howe,  Indiana. 

Christopher  Hawk,  Sr.,  by  his  second  marriage 
had  the  following  children : Hannah,  Fredericka, 

George,  Samuel,  Pauline,  William,  Amelia,  Mary  and 
Susan. 

Lynn  E.  Collins  is  a grandson  of  that  splendid 
pioneer  of  Jamestown  Township,  Barton  Collins, 
whose  record  figures  prominently  in  every  history 
of  that  portion  of  Steuben  County,  and  the  out- 
standing facts  of  which  are  contained  in  other  pages 
of  this  work.  Barton  Collins  came  to  Steuben 
County  in  1835,  and  died  in  January,  1849.  His 
widow  became  prominent  among  the  pioneer  women 
and  lived  until  July  15,  1882.  She  was  the  mother 
of  a large  family  of  children,  and  her  descendants 
are  now  widely  scattered. 

One  of  her  sons  was  Charles  H.  Collins,  who  was 
born  in  Jamestown  Township,  April  10,  1839.  He 
grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  received  his  education 
in  the  district  schools  and  the  Northeast  Indiana 
Institute  at  Orland.  His  mature  years  were  devoted 
to  farming.  He  bought  seventy-two  of  the  acres 
now  contained  in  the  farm  of  his  son  Lynn.  In 
early  life  he  was  a merchant  for  several  years  at 
Jamestown,  and  after  turning  his  attention  to  the 
farm  was  successful  in  that  line.  He  was  one  of  the 
early  breeders  of  Merino  sheep  in  Steuben  County. 
He  was  a democrat  without  any  desire  to  hold 
office.  He  died  in  1896,  and  his  widow  survived  him 
until  1916.  They  were  married  at  the  village  of 
Jamestown.  Her  maiden  name  was  Lucy  Carroll, 
and  she  was  of  the  same  ancestry  as  the  famous 
Carroll  of  Carrollton,  -the  last  surviving  signer  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence.  Lucy  Carroll 
was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  1842.  She  was  the 
mother  of  six  children,  named  Lynn,  Florence,  Alice, 
Alfred,  Walter  and  Benjamin  Franklin. 

Lynn  E.  Collins  was  born  in  the  village  of  James- 
town, April  2,  1872,  and  from  the  age  of  six  years 
lived  on  the  farm  which  he  owns  today.  He  attended 
the  public  schools  and  after  the  death  of  his  father 
remained  at  home  with  his  mother.  In  the  mean- 
time the  farm  had  been  increased  by  other  pur- 
chases to  225  acres.  Upon  the  division  of  the  estate 
Lynn  Collins'  secured  his  present  farm,  and  has  im- 
proved it  with  good  house  and  barn  and  other  build- 
ings, and  does  much  in  the  line  of  livestock.  Mr. 
Collins  is  a democrat  and  for  six  years  was  trustee 
of  his  township.  He  is  a member  of  the  Methodist 
Church. 

March  11,  1896,  he  married  Mary  B.  Tubbs,  daugh- 
ter of  Ira  and  Lucinda  Tubbs.  Her  parents  lived 
for  a number  of  years  in  Steuben  County,  and  later 
went  to  Branch  County,  Michigan,  where  her  father 
died  in  1909.  Her  mother  died  in  Steuben  County 
in  1913.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Collins  have  four  children : 
Dorothy  Fay,  born  March  8,  1907 ; Pauline  May, 


born  November  10,  1909;  June  Esther,  born  June  21, 
1910;  and  Paul,  born  March  14,  1915. 

Charles  E.  Sears.  The  Sears  family  came  to 
LaGrange  County  more  than  three-quarters  of  a 
century  ago.  At  that  time  the  great  Isaac  Sears 
was  about  thirteen  years  old.  As  a family  they 
exemplified  many  of  the  pioneer  virtues  of  thrift, 
good  citizenship  and  industry,  and  Isaac  Sears  had 
these  virtues  to  an  unusually  high  degree,  and  in  the 
course  of  a long  lifetime  became  the  largest  land 
owner  and  one  of  the  most  widely  known  stock 
raisers  and  feeders  in  Northeastern  Indiana.  Many 
of  the  abilities  of  his  honored  father  are  possessed 
by  Charles  E.  Sears,  whose  home  is  in  Bloomfield 
Township,  and  who  has  been  especially  prominent 
for  many  years  as  a sheep  feeder. 

Charles  E.  Sears  was  born  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, August  24,  1855.  His  father,  Isaac  Sears,  was 
born  in  Onondaga  County,  New  York,  November  7, 
1828,  a son  of  Eleazer  and  Sarah  Sears,  the  former 
a native  of  Saratoga  County  and  the  latter  of  Onon- 
daga County,  New  York.  In  1841  the  Sears  family 
came  to  LaGrange  County,  locating  on  Brushy 
Prairie  in  Springfield  Township,  where  Eleazer  and 
his  wife  spent  their  last  years.  Both  are  now  at  rest 
in  the  Brushy  Prairie  Cemetery.  Isaac  Sears  had  a 
common  school  education  and  lived  at  home  until 
his  marriage  on  February  13,  1853,  to  Miss  Laurinda 
Tuttle.  Her  parents,  Lemon  and  Diadamie  Tuttle, 
were  natives  of  Ohio  and  spent  their  last  days  in 
LaGrange  County.  Isaac  Sears  after  his  marriage 
moved  to  a farm  of  236  acres  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, land  that  he  had  previously  bought.  Eventually 
this  farm  under  his  ownership  was  increased  to  436 
acres.  On  May  10,  1874,  his  first  wife  died  and  on 
February  1 1 , 1875,  he  was  married  in  Onondago 
County,  New  York,  to  Sarah  Vanalstine,  daughter 
of  James  and  Sarah  Vanalstine,  natives  of  that  state, 
where  both  of  them  died.  In  October,  1880,  Isaac 
Sears  moved  from  his  farm  in  Springfield  Township 
to  a place  in  Bloomfield  near  the  city  of  LaGrange. 
The  farm  he  owned  there,  improved  with  a fine  brick 
building,  is  the  present  home  of  his  son  Charles. 
Isaac  Sears  died  December  24,  1902.  He  left  an 
estate  of  about  2,000  acres,  the  largest  amount  of 
land  owned  by  any  individual  at  that  time  in  La- 
Grange County.  All  of  this  property  except  100 
acres  and  $400  in  money  had  been  accumulated  by 
his  own  efforts  and  industry.  For  years  he  fed 
live  stock  on  a large  scale  and  was  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal shippers  to  outside  markets.  Isaac  Sears  and 
his  first  wife  had  two  sons,  Charles  E.  and  David 
A.,  the  later  now  deceased. 

Charles  E.  Sears  acquired  a public  school  educa- 
tion, supplemented  by  a period  in  the  Orland  Acad- 
emy. As  a young  man  he  bought  eighty  acres  in 
Bloomfield  Township  and  began  farming  there.  He 
has  enlarged  his  possessions  until  today  he  owns 
1, 1 10  acres,  including  the  old  homestead  in  Spring- 
field  Township  where  he  spent  the  years  of  his 
youth.  Mr.  Sears  has  been  one  of  the  men  whose 
enterprise  has  made  LaGrange  County  a great  feed- 
ing ground  for  sheep.  He  was  one  of  the  organ- 
izers of  the  LaGrange  State  Bank  and  has  been  a 
director  since  the  bank  opened  for  business.  He  is 
also  a director  and  president  of  the  Home  Grain 
Company  of  LaGrange.  Besides  sheep  feeding  he 
has  handled  a large  amount  of  beef  cattle  on  his 
lands  for  several  years. 

Politically,  Mr.  Sears  is  a republican,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  a member  of  the  county  council.  He 
and  his  wife  are  active  in  the  Methodist  Church  at 
LaGrange. 

December  22,  1875,  Mr.  Sears  married  Miss  Mar- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


429 


garet  Adalina  Vesey.  She  was  born  at  Butler  in 
DeKalb  County,  May  3,  1858.  She  was  formerly  a 
teacher  in  LaGrange  County  and  has  always  taken 
a deep  interest  in  educational  and  other  local  affairs. 
She  is  a member  of  the  Womans  Club  at  LaGrange, 
and  is  an  active  worker  in  the  Ladies’  Aid  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  have  five  children.  Rena, 
who  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township,  November 
1,  1877,  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School, 
was  a student  of  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola, 
and  was  a teacher  before  her  marriage  to  Charles 
A.  Yotter,  a well  known  citizen  of  Angola  mentioned 
elsewhere.  Helen  V.,  born  August  11,  1879,  in 
Bloomfield  Township,  is  also  a graduate  of  the  La- 
Grange High  School  and  is  the  wife  of  Lewis  Price, 
a Bloomfield  Township  farmer.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Price 
have  five  children,  named  Sears,  Irene,  Lois,  Cather- 
ine and  Margaret.  Homer  I.  Sears  was  born  July 
10,  1886,  and  died  December  30,  1888.  Audra  Mar- 
garet was  born  April  23,  1895,  is  a graduate  of  the 
LaGrange  High  School,  has  attended  Northwestern 
University  and  is  the  wife  of  Frank  J.  Bollman  and 
the  mother  of  a daughter,  Dorothy  Jean.  Olive  L., 
the  youngest  of  the  family,  was  born  May  16,  1896, 
and  was  educated  in  the  LaGrange  High  School 
and  Northwestern  University  and  is  now  at  home. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sears  also  took  into  their  home  when 
in  his  first  year  of  high  school  Harold  P.  Arends, 
who  was  born  December  15,  1892.  He  graduated 
from  the  LaGrange  High  School  in  the  same  class 
with  Audra  and  Olive  Sears  in  June,  1913.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sears  were  preparing  to  enter  him  at  Purdue 
University,  but  while  assisting  in  the  grain  threshing 
he  was  accidentally  killed  September  5,  1913. 

Mrs.  Sears  is  a daughter  of  Horace  J.  Vesey.  Mr. 
Vesey  was  born  in  Vermont,  October  19,  1834,  and  is 
still  living  at  LaGrange,  probably  being  the  most  ac- 
tive man  for  his  years  in  the  entire  county.  He  is 
a son  of  William  and  Adeline  (Copland)  Vesey, 
both  natives  of  Vermont.  In  1834  William  Vesey 
and  wife  moved  to  Geauga  County.  Ohio,  and  in 
1835  he  bought  a tract  of  land  in  Elkhart  County, 
Indiana.  In  1836  his  five  children,  accompanied  by 
an  uncle,  went  out  to  occupy  the  Elkhart  County 
land,  but  he  was  detained  in  Ohio  by  the  illness  of 
his  wife,  who  died  there.  He  then  joined  his  chil- 
dren in  Elkhart  County  and  lived  there  until  his 
death  in  1873.  Horace  J.  Vesey  when  eighteen  years 
of  age  paid  $150  to  his  father  for  his  time  until  he 
reached  his  majority.  In  1853,  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen, he  began  attending  school  at  Ontario,  and 
worked  at  various  occupations  to  pay  his  expenses. 
He  took  up  a trade  and  for  nearly  forty  years  trav- 
eled extensively  through  Canada  and  seventeen  of 
the  states.  In  1858  he  traded  land  in  Filmore  Coun- 
ty, Minnesota,  which  he  had  bought  in  1851,  for  120 
acres  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 
He  increased  this  property  to  302  acres  and  im- 
proved it  with  excellent  buildings.  In  his  time  he 
was  one  of  the  successful  sheep  feeders  of  La- 
Grange County.  On  August  6,  1857,  Mr.  Vesey 
married  Helen  Smith.  She  was  born  December  14, 
1839,  daughter  of  Joseph  H.  and  Margaret  (Robin- 
son) Smith,  both  natives  of  New  York  State, 
whence  they  removed  to  Michigan  at  an  early  day. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vesey  had  four  children,  Mrs.  Sears 
being  the  oldest.  The  next  in  age,  Lottie  E.,  is  the 
deceased  wife  of  George  McKibben,  who  is  still 
living  at  LaGrange.  Mrs.  Lydia  C.  Love  is  a resi- 
dent of  Kansas  City,  and  Sylvester  T.  is  a well 
known  farmer  and  sheep  feeder  of  LaGrange 
County,  Milford  Township.  Horace  J.  Vesey  has 
had  membership  in  the  Masonic  Order  many  years. 
His  wife  died  February  22,  1909.  He  is  the  owner 
of  property  at  LaGrange  and  also  has  some  holdings 


in  Florida,  where  for  several  years  he  has  spent  his 
winters.  Mr.  Vesey  is  a republican  in  politics. 

Grove  H.  Dudley.  The  farm  where  Grove  H. 
Dudley  was  born  September  10,  1838,  is  the  place 
where  he  looks  out  today  over  well  cultivated  fields, 
improved  buildings,  and  along  fine  highways.  It  is 
a rare  and  interesting  experience  for  a man  to  have 
a recollection  of  one  locality  for  three-quarters  of  a 
century.  Mr.  Dudley  has  practically  always  lived 
there,  and  his  name  is  associated  with  the  earliest 
pioneer  things  in  Steuben  County  as  well  as  with 
the  recent  dramatic  events  of  the  twentieth  century. 

His  homestead  farm  is  in  Millgrove  Township. 
His  parents  were  Stephen  M.  and  Lucy  S.  (Dudley) 
Dudley,  who  at  one  time  lived  in  Vermont,  later  in 
New  York  State  and  from  there  came  to  Steuben 
County  in  the  pioneer  year  1836  and  settled  in  Mill- 
grove  Township.  They  entered  160  acres  of  land,  and 
of  that  quarter  section  Grove  H.  Dudley  still  owns  120 
acres.  Stephen  Dudley  built  a good  double  log 
house,  and  that  was  his  home  when  he  died  in  1841, 
at  the  age  of  thirty-eight.  He  had  hardly  begun 
the  work  of  improvement  on  his  land  when  death 
overtook  him  in  his  labors.  His  widow  survived 
until  1863,  when  she  was  fifty-four  years  of  age. 
They  had  five  children : Myrad,  who  died  in  Cali- 

fornia; Jonathan  W.,  who  went  over  the  plains  to 
California  in  1852  and  spent  the  rest  of  his  life  in 
that  state;  George  S.,  who  is  now  eighty-five  years 
of  age  and  a resident  of  Seattle,  Washington; 
Lucinda,  who  died  in  California ; and  Grove  H.,  the 
youngest  of  the  family. 

Mr.  Dudley  as  a boy  attended  some  of  the  pioneer 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  He  was  also  educated 
at  Orland  and  in  the  Northeast  Indiana  Institute, 
and  was  a teacher  both  before  and  after  the  war. 
Among  many  other  things  he  is  honored  for  his 
service  as  a Union  soldier.  He  enlisted  in  1862  in 
Company  B of  the  100th  Indiana  Infantry,  and  was 
in  active  service  until  the  close  of  hostilities.  He 
was  in  all  the  battles  of  the  Atlanta  campaign,  was 
with  Sherman  on  the  march  to  the  sea,  went  north 
through  the  Carolinas,  was  at  Columbia  when  that 
city  was  burned,  and  was  near  Raleigh  when  John- 
ston’s armies  surrendered.  He  took  part  in  the 
Grand  Review  at  Washington  after  the  war.  After 
returning  to  Steuben  County  and  marrying  he  taught 
school  for  two  years,  and  in  the  meantime  had 
bought  the  old  homestead  of  160  acres.  He  sub- 
sequently sold  forty  acres  of  this  and  later  bought 
an  adjoining  forty  acres,  so  that  his  present  farm 
is  the  same  area  as  the  original  homestead.  He  has 
improved  this  with  good  buildings  and  for  half  a 
century  has  devoted  it  to  general  farming  and  stock 
raising.  Mr.  Dudley  also  served  as  township  as- 
sessor, is  a stanch  republican  and  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  His  wife  is  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church  and  the  family  attend 
worship  with  her. 

April  10,  1866,  more  than  half  a century  ago,  Mr. 
Dudley  married  Miss  Mary  A.  Closson.  She  was 
born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  February  19,  1842, 
a daughter  of  George  W.  and  Bertha  (Thornton) 
Closson.  Her  father  was  born  in  the  same  county 
January  8,  1816,  and  her  mother  jn  1819.  George  W. 
Closson  brought  his  family  to  Steuben  County  in 
1852,  settling  in  a log  cabin  home  which  he  had 
prepared  on  land  in  Steuben  Township.  He  sub- 
sequently acquired  a large  amount  of  land  in  the 
county  and  was  one  of  its  most  successful  farmers. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dudley  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children : George,  the  oldest,  died  in  1882,  at  the 

age  of  sixteen,  and  Schuyler  M.,  the  second,  died  in 
1868,  when  four  and  a half  months  old.  Bertha  L. 
is  the  wife  of  W.  S.  Barber  and  has  one  child. 


430 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


Emma  M.  was  married  to  C.  B.  Ora  of  Steuben 
County.  S.  Maynard,  who  lives  at  Pontiac,  Michi- 
gan, by  his  marriage  to  Nellie  Wilder  had  one  son, 
Harold,  and  his  present  wife  is  Esther  Roy,  and  they 
have  a son,  named  Roy.  Addie  L.  is  the  wife  of 
William  Barrows  and  has  a son,  Maxon  Dudley. 
Cleo,  who  died  in  1910,  was  the  wife  of  William  Gay 
and  left  two  children,  Frances  and  Georgia.  Hazel 
Bernice,  who  died  in  1910,  was  the  wife  of  Roscoe 
White. 

Mrs.  Dudley  was  carefully  educated,  attending  the 
Northeast  Indiana  Institute  and  private  school  at 
Angola,  finishing  in  Hillsdale  College,  and  was  one 
of  the  successful  teachers  of  half  a century  ago. 
She  began  teaching  when  only  fifteen  years  old,  and 
continued  the  work  for  nine  years. 

James  Sherlock  Larimer.  The  Larimer  family 
settled  in  LaGrange  County  more  than  half  a century 
ago,  and  James  Sherlock  Larimer  grew  up  here  and 
has  long  been  a factor  in  the  farming  community 
of  Greenfield  Township.  He  was  born  in  Perry 
County,  Ohio,  October  29,  1859.  His  parents  were 
James  Tobias  and  Nancy  (Sherlock)  Larimer  and 
his  grandfather  was  James  Tobias  Larimer,  Sr.,  who 
spent  his  last  years  in  Fairfield  County,  Ohio.  His 
wife  was  Diana  Larimer,  and  she  lived  to  the  age 
of  ninety-three.  James  T.  Larimer,  Jr.,  was  born  in 
Fairfield  County  in  1828,  was  married  in  Perry 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1866  came  to  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty with  his  wife  and  three  children,  Flora,  James 
and  John.  Nancy  Sherlock  was  born  in  Perry 
County,  Ohio,  in  1825,  and  her  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
James  Sherlock,  spent  their  last  years  there.  On 
coming  to  LaGrange  County  the  Larimer  family 
settled  on  what  was  known  as  the  Amos  Davis  farm 
near  Greenfield  Mills,  and  they  bought  this  place 
in  1867.  The  father  died  there  in  1877  and  his  wife 
in  December,  1886. 

James  Sherlock  Larimer  grew  up  on  the  home 
farm  and  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  and  the 
Orland  Academy.  He  bought  out  the  interests  of 
the  other  heirs  in  the  old  homestead  and  has  in- 
creased its  possessions  to  378  acres  from  which  in 
the  spring  of  1919  he  sold  to  his  son  Charles  about 
eighty-five  acres.  Mr.  Larimer  has  been  an  exten- 
sive hog  and  cattle  feeder.  He  is  independent  in 
politics  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Masonic  Lodge, 
Chapter  and  Knights  Templar  Commandery.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
Church. 

January  20,  1887,  he  married  Miss  Anna  R.  Fen- 
nell, of  LaGrange  County,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  Fennell.  They  had  seven  children.  Lola 
is  the  wife  of  Alvin-  Woods  and  has  two  children, 
Doris  and  Myron.  Flora  died  in  December,  1915, 
the  wife  of  Oscar  Hathaway.  Charles  Fremont  is  a 
farmer  and  has  one  child,  Hilda.  Weldon  J.,  who 
rents  his  father’s  farm,  responded  to  the  draft  on 
August  5,  1918,  went  in  training  and  served  for  more 
than  six  months,  coming  out  as  a first  class  private. 
He  married  Marie  Hackett.  Cyril,  the  fifth  child,  is 
also  a farmer  and  is  married  and  has  a daughter, 
Millicent  Maxine.  The  two  younger  children  are 
Elsie  and  Russell. 

Howard  L.  Parker.  For  a great  many  years  the 
name  Parker  has  been  identified  with  the  mercantile 
enterprise  of  Orland.  The  present  Parker  business 
is  owned  by  Howard  L.  Parker,  son  of  a former 
proprietor,  and  his  own  active  connection  therewith 
covers  a period  of  a quarter  of  a century. 

Mr.  Parker  was  born  in  Orland,  August  17,  1874, 
a son  of  John  G.  and  Elmira  J.  (Luce)  Parker. 
His  father  was  born  in  New  Hampshire  in  Decem- 
ber, 1838.  Elmira  J.  Luce  was  born  in  Branch 


County,  Michigan,  in  1850,  and  is  a daughter  of 
Cyrus  Luce,  one  of  the  most  widely  known  citizens 
of  Michigan,  and  at  one  time  governor  of  that  state. 
John  G.  Parker  came  to  Steuben  County  with  his 
parents,  was  well  educated,  was  a teacher  in  early 
life,  and  at  one  time  worked  on  a farm  for  Chas. 
L.  Luce.  Soon  after  the  war  he  engaged  in  business 
at  Orland  with  his  brother,  James  B.  Parker,  and 
later  bought  out  his  partner  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness alone  until  his  son  became  associated  with  him. 
This  veteran  merchant  was  active  almost  to  the  very 
end  and  passed  away  March  10,  1907.  Besides  his 
store  he  owned  at-  one  time  240  acres  known  as  the 
John  Roberts  farm,  and  used  it  for  feeding  cattle 
on  a large  scale.  In  early  life  he  was  a democrat 
and  later  a republican,  and  though  active  in  politics 
was  never  an  aspirant  for  office.  He  was  a member 
of  the  Congregational  Church.  John  G.  Parker  and 
wife  had  four  children:  Howard  L. ; Grace,  wife 

of  Frederick  J.  Werner,  of  Orland;  Bernice,  wife 
of  Harry  E.  Craddock,  of  Missoula,  Montana;  and 
Florence,  wife  of  Robert  Sanderson,  Jr.,  of  Port- 
land, Oregon. 

Howard  L.  Parker  acquired  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  Orland,  including  high  school,  and 
also  attended  the  Hillsdale  College  in  Michigan.  In 
1894,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  took  his  place  in  his 
father’s  store  as  a clerk  and  soon  became  a partner. 
When  his  father  died  he  and  his  mother  continued 
the  store  under  their  joint  ownership,  and  at  her 
death  on  June  1,  1917,  Mr.  Parker  became  sole  pro- 
prietor. He  carried  a generous  stock  of  goods  and 
his  long  experience  enables  him  to  satisfy  all  the 
most  exacting  demands  of  his  local  patronage.  The 
stock  is  handled  in  a solid  two-story  brick  and 
cement  building  50x80  feet,  and  Mr.  Parker  is  half 
owner  of  the  building. 

He  is  a republican  in  politics  and  is  affiliated  with 
Star  Lodge  No.  225,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted 
Masons,  and  Orland  Chapter  No.  100,  Royal  Arch 
Masons.  He  and  his  wife  are  Congregationalists. 
He  married,  December  26,  1901,  Mrs.  Grace  Peet, 
of  Vicksburg,  Michigan.  They  have  a son,  Harry 
H„  born  February  23,  1905,  now  a sophomore  in  the 
Orland  High  School. 

Albert  Geist.  When  Albert  Geist,  a well  known 
merchant  of  Mongo,  came  to  this  country  he  could 
not  speak  a word  of  English,  and  his  experience  and 
achievements  are  a striking  illustration  of  the  op- 
portunities open  in  America  and  the  industry  and 
enterprise  of  his  character.  He  was  born  in  Ger- 
many December  24,  1862,  and  was  seventeen  years  of 
age  when  he  came  to  this  country.  At  Fort  Wayne 
he  learned  the  baker’s  trade  and  for  fifteen  years  he 
was  in  the.  bakery,  restaurant  and  hotel  business  at 
Payne,  Ohio.  He  had  some  business  reverses  there 
early  in  his  career  through  a fire,  and  he  made  re- 
covery of  lost  ground  through  developing  several 
farms.  He  first  bought  sixty  acres,  cleared  away 
the  woods  and  brush  and  put  up  buildings  and  tiled 
the  land.  He  sold  that  and  bought  another  place  and 
followed  the  same  process  several  times  until  when 
he  sold  his  last  Ohio  property  he  received  $12,000 
for  it.  In  1906  he  came  to  Mongo  and  bought  a 
farm  of  120  acres  west  of  that  village  and  engaged 
in  the  poultry  business.  In  1913  he  built  a two-story 
brick  building,  28x70  feet  with  basement.  He  has 
since  carried  a large  stock  of  general  merchandise. 
He  is  also  an  extensive  land  owner  in  Northeastern 
Indiana.  In  politics  he  is  a republican  and  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Air.  Geist  married  Minnie  Bullan  on  August  16, 
1886.  She  was  born  in  Germany  in  1866.  They  have 
had  six  children : George,  who  is  now  postmaster 

at  Mongo  and  married  Florence  Meek  and  has  a 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


431 


son  Albert;  Louise,  who  died  in  1915,  wife  of  Otto 
Taylor;  John,  formerly  a merchant  at  Mongo,  now 
a resident  of  Mishawaka,  Indiana,  who  married 
Avis  Reel  and  has  a daughter  Juanita  ; William,  who 
is  employed  in  the  rubber  works  at  Mishawaka,  mar- 
ried Margaret  Castel;  Helen  and  Alfred  Leroy,  the 
two  younger  children,  both  at  home. 

William  F.  Alvison,  of  Jamestown  Township  in 
Steuben  County,  is  a prosperous  citizen  who  has 
raised  himself  into  the  class  of  independent  farm 
owners  though  he  began  life  with  practically,  no 
capital  and  has  shown  a degree  of  enterprise,  initia- 
tive and  judgment  that  are  sure  to  reward  any  man 
who  keeps  working  steadily  along  one  line. 

Mr.  Alvison  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township, 
March  10,  1875,  son  of  Theodore  and  Minnie  (Arm- 
strong) Alvison.  He  was  their  only  child.  Soon 
after  his  birth  his  parents  separated.  He  lived  with 
his  mother  until  her  death,  when  he  was  about  ten 
years  old.  Such,  briefly,  were  the  circumstances  that 
put  him  on  his  own  resources  at  a time  when  most 
boys  are  under  the  shelter  of  their  own  home  and 
in  school.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  started  work 
by  the  month.  He  had  several  employers,  George 
Collins  first  for  two  years,  then  Charles  Collins,  a 
brother  of  George,  and  later  Bert  Collins.  Still 
later  he  was  with  Horace  Davis,  Jr.,  and  he  also 
worked  for  J.  C.  McNett,  whose  daughter  he  mar- 
ried. He  was  on  the  McNett  farm  for  sixteen  years. 
He  bought  the  first  land  of  his  own  in  Millgrove 
Township,  comprising  eighty  acres,  and  still  owns 
that  property.  Later  he  bought  sixty  acres  where 
he  is  living  in  Jamestown  Township,  and  has  since 
acquired  forty-five  acres  additional,  giving  him  185 
acres.  All  of  this  spells  success  and  shows  that  he 
has  made  earnest  and  determined  use  of  his  op- 
portunities in  life.  . 

Mr.  Alvison  is  a republican  and  attends  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  at  Nevada  Mills.  Nov- 
ember 24,  1896,  he  married  Miss  May  McNett.  She 
was  born  in  1876,  a daughter  of  Jacob  C.  and  Louise 
(Arnold)  McNett,  of  a pioneer  Steuben  County 
family.  Her  father  was  born  on  the  west  side  of 
Lake  Gage  in  that  county  in  1848,  a son  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  McNett,  who  came  from  Ohio  in  pioneer 
times.  Jacob  McNett  did  much  of  the  clearing  of 
the  land  which  is  now  owned  by  J.  C.  McNett.  He 
became  a large  land  owner,  owning  about  200  acres, 
and  died  in  1879,  while  his  wife  passed  away  in  1907. 
Mrs.  Alvison’s  mother  was  eight  years  old  when  she 
came  to  Steuben  County.  Mrs.  Alvison  was  one  of 
two  children,  her  brother  dying  in  infancy.  She 
acquired  her  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Jamestown  Township,  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  Col- 
lege, and  for  three  terms  taught  school,  until  her 
marriage.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alvison  have  two  daugh- 
ters: Ruth,  born  February  6,  1905;  and  Joyce,  born 

February  21,  1908. 

Capt.  John  H.  Caton.  As  a veteran  soldier  and 
officer  of  the  Civil  war,  and  by  reason  of  his  exten- 
sive relations  with  the  people  and  affairs  of  La- 
Grange  County,  Capt.  John  H.  Caton  is  a figure 
whose  record  deserves  a long  memory. 

He  was  born  in  Frederick  County,  Maryland,  De- 
cember 16,  1839,  one  of  the  ten  children  of  James  A. 
and  Catharine  (Ludwick)  Caton.  In  1849  when  he 
was  ten  years  old  the  family  moved  to  Preble  Coun- 
ty, Ohio,  and  in  1850  to  Elkhart  County,  Indiana, 
where  the  parents  died.  John  H.  Caton  at  the  age  of 
seventeen  began  learning  the  blacksmith’s  trade.  He 
worked  at  this  steadily  until  1861.  Then  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  he  enlisted  and  went  to  Indianapolis 
to  join  the  Ninth  Indiana  Infantry.  The  quota  of 
that  regiment  had  been  filled,  and  no  immediate  op- 


portunity presenting  itself  to  get  into  the  army  he 
took  employment  as  a mechanic  for  the  Government 
at  Mishawaka.  In  December,  1861,  he  went  to  Mis- 
souri and  in  the  spring  of  1862  came  to  LaGrange, 
Indiana.  In  the  fall  of  1864  he  was  commissioned 
a second  lieutenant  and  ordered  to  recruit  a com- 
pany. With  his  recruits  he  reported  to  the  provost 
marshal  at  Kendallville,  and  he  and  his  men  were 
mustered  in  as  Company  G of  the  One  Hundred  and 
Fifty-Second  Indiana  Infantry.  They  were  sent  to 
camp  at  Indianapolis,  and  Mr.  Caton  was  in  the 
meantime  commissioned  captain  and  was  formally 
enrolled  in  the  army  as  captain  of  Company  F of 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-Second  Indiana.  With 
this  command  he  was  on  duty  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  then  returned  to  LaGrange  and  resumed 
his  former  trade. 

On  October  3,  1869,  Captain  Caton  married  An- 
nette Kingsley.  They  became  the  parents  of  five 
children : James  L.,  who  was  born  September  1, 

1870,  and  died  six  weeks  later  on  October  13.  Claud 
H.,  a well  known  LaGrange  County  citizen  else- 
where referred  to.  Grace,  born  August  11,  1874, 
and  died  December  2,  1875.  John  P„  whose  record 
also  appears  on  other  pages,  and  Kittie  B.,  born 
February  11,  1879,  and  died  May  21,  1891. 

Captain  Caton  was  baptized  in  the  Episcopal 
Church  and  both  he  and  his  wife  were  long  affiliated 
with  that  denomination.  He  was  an  ardent  repub- 
lican. Several  times  he  served  as  town  marshal  of 
LaGrange.  He  was  a Mason,  belonging  to  the  Royal 
Arch  and  Knights  Templar  Commandery  at  Ken- 
dallville. He  held  all  the  official  positions  in  the  Blue 
Lodge  except  that  of  secretary. 

In  1882  he  and  his  wife  removed  from  LaGrange 
to.  Milford  Township  and  bought  a farm  near  Mount 
Pisgah.  He  improved  his  farm  with  a commodious 
brick  house  in  the  following  year.  Later  he  returned 
to  LaGrange  where  he  died  honored  and  respected 
by  all  who  knew  him  March  18,  1915.  Captain  Caton 
is  remembered  as  the  chief  organizer  of  the  Soldier’s 
and  Sailor’s  Picnic  Association,  which  was  started 
in  1892  and  continued  through  a quarter  of  a cen- 
tury has  been  a means  of  bringing  together  hundreds 
of  the  old  soldiers  in  annual  reunion  at  the  grove 
at  Mount  Pisgah.  Captain  Caton  was  president  of 
the  association  until  his  death  and  he  was  succeeded 
by  William  Ross,  while  the  association  president  now 
is  John  P.  Caton,  a son  of  Captain  Caton.  Captain 
Caton  for  many  years  also  acted  as  pension  agent 
and  in  this  capacity  he  became  well  known  through- 
out Northern  Indiana. 

Mrs.  Caton,  who  is  still  living  at  LaGrange,  is  a 
daughter  of  Loren  and  Hannah  (Cronkite)  King- 
sley. Her  father  was  born  at  Pittsford,  Monroe 
County,  New  York,  May  20,  1814,  and  died  at  Ken- 
dallville, Indiana,  in  1879.  Her  mother  was  born  at 
Mendon  in  Monroe  County,  New  York,  in  1826, 
and  died  while  at  the  home  of  her  daughter,  Mrs. 
Caton,  at  Mount  Pisgah,  in  1822.  Loren  Kingsley 
and  wife  were  married  at  Rochester,  New  York, 
May  20,  1845,  and  he  was  a New  York  State  farmer. 
About  1853  he  settled  in  Springfield  Township,  La- 
Grange County,  and  bought  a part  of  the  old  Asso- 
ciation Farm.  He  and  his  family  for  a time  lived 
in  the  house  on  that  farm,  a building  about  200  feet 
long.  He  later  moved  to  Kendallville  where  he 
died.  . Mrs.  Caton’s  mother  was  a daughter  of 
Hustis  and  Eliza  Cronkite,  of  New  York,  who  spent 
their  last  days  in  Michigan.  Loren  Kingsley  and 
wife  had  seven  children : Levi,  who  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1847,  and  died  December  22,  1865 ; Annette, 
born  April  12;  1848,  in  Orleans  County,  New  York; 
Elizabeth,  who  was  born  in  Orleans  County,  De- 
cember 2,  1850,  and  is  the  widow  of  George  L.  Stohr 
living  at  Cincinnati;  Carrie,  born  February  2,  1852, 


432 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


in  Orleans  County,  wife  of  Warren  K.  Rosenberry, 
of  Kendallville ; Eya,  born  at  the  old  Association 
Farm  in  Springfield  Township,  February  13,  1857, 
widow  of  Robert  P.  Barr,  of  Kendallville;  Kate  P., 
born  May  17,  1862,  wife  of  Henry  C.  Nicholson,  of 
Perry,  Oklahoma;  and  Charles  E.,  born  January  13, 
1866,  now  living  at  Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 

Lafayette  G.  Rathbun.  While  the  Rathbuns 
have  been  honored  and  useful  citizens  of  Steuben 
County  for  over  sixty  years,  their  earliest  place  of 
settlement  in  the  west  was  in  Sandusky  County, 
Ohio.  They  located  there  before  Ohio  was  set  off 
as  a state  and  when  all  the  country  was  still  the 
Northwest  Territory,  inhabited  chiefly  by  Indians. 

The  Rathbun  ancestry  runs  back  to  the  very  early 
years  of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  Richard 
Rathbun  came  from  England.  In  the  Revolutionary 
war  there  were  thirty  Rathbun  soldiers,  while  in  the 
Civil  war  from  Ohio  alone  there  were  thirty-three 
of  the  name  in  the  service. 

The  grandfather  of  Lafayette  G.  Rathbun  of  Mill- 
grove  Township  was  Lucius  Rathbun,  who  was  born 
April  17,  1900,  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio.  He 
married  Rhoda  Gillett,  who  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  15,  1803.  She  died  in  Sandusky 
County,  while  he  passed  away  in  Cass  County, 
Michigan. 

Lafayette  G.  Rathbun  was  born  in  Sandusky 
County,  June  4,  1849,  a son  of  Wilkes  and  Naomi 
(Clark)  Rathbun.  His  father  was  born  in  Green 
Creek  Township  of  Sandusky  County,  February  20, 
1829,  while  his  mother  was  born  in  Lorain  County, 
Ohio,  in  1824.  Wilkes  Rathbun  brought  his  family 
to  Steuben  County  in  1855  and  settled  on  the  banks 
of  Lake  Gage  in  Millgrove  Township.  He  put  up  a 
small  frame  house  and  began  the  work  of  clearing 
up  his  eighty  acres,  making  it  into  a good  farm. 
After  a number  of  years  he  moved  from  the  farm 
and  died  at  Clyde,  Ohio,  in  1904.  His  wife  died  in 
1884.  They  had  four  children,  Lafayette  G.  and 
Sumner  being  the  first  and  fourth,  while  the  two 
intervening  died  in  infancy. 

Lafayette  G.  Rathbun  has  lived  from  the  age  of 
six  years  in  Steuben  County.  He  grew  up  on  the 
home  farm,  and  in  addition  to  the  public  schools 
attended  the  Northwest  Indiana  Institute  at  Orland. 
His  first  farm  was  forty  acres  in  Millgrove  Town- 
ship, which  he  sold  and  then  farmed  for  several 
years  in  Jamestown.  He  traded  for  nine  acres  near 
Lake  Gage,  and  later  lived  at  Nevada  Mills.  He 
came  to  his  present  place  in  1901,  when  he  bought 
100  acres  and  has  it  highly  improved  as  a general 
farm,  though  making  a specialty  of  small  • fruits. 
He  rents  much  of  the  cultivated  land  to  his  son. 
Mr.  Rathbun  is  a democrat  in  politics. 

In  1874  he  married  Celia  Flagler,  who  died  in 
March,  1876.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  married  Mrs. 
Laura  Abramson.  She  was  born  in  Wood  County, 
Ohio,  February  21,  1857,  a daughter  of  Dr.  Brad- 
bury and  Julia  (Harkness)  Hutchins.  The  Hutchins 
family  moved  to  Steuben  County  in  1864,  settling 
in  Fremont  Township,  where  Dr.  Hutchins  practiced 
medicine  many  years.  He  died  February  3,  1866. 
He  was  born  July  7-  1815.  His  wife,  who  was  born 
September  18,  1821,  died  in  1901,  at  the  age  of 
eighty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Rathbun  had  six  children, 
Bertha  the  oldest  dying  when  two  and  a half  years 
old.  Stella,  who  was  born  December  1,  1878,  is  the 
wife  of  A.  D.  Stewart,  and  they  have  five  children, 
named  Ina,  Alfred,  Russell,  Georgia  and  Clyde. 
Bruce,  born  January  9,  1881,  married  Myrtle  Hyatt, 
and  their  family  consists  of  Harley,  Arlene,  Glen, 
Raymond  and  Nelson.  Clyde,  born  May  8,  1883, 
died  in  July,  1901.  Kenneth  was  born  March  5, 
1889,  and  by  his  marriage  to  Zena  Fisher  has  three 


children,  named  Versel,  Harold  and  Vere.  Leon, 
the  youngest  child,  was  born  August  30,  1891,  and 
married  Emma  Edinger. 

John  W.  Holcomb  began  selling  pumps  and  wind- 
mills at  LaGrange  and  over  the  surrounding  terri- 
tory thirty  years  ago,  and  has  remained  in  that  one 
line  of  business  steadily  ever  since.  He  is  one  of 
the  successful  business  men,  a man  of  much  public 
spirit,  and  has  thoroughly  identified  himself  with  the 
best  interests  of  that  community. 

Mr.  Holcomb  was  born  in  Gallia  County  in  South- 
ern Ohio,  October  17,  i860,  a son  of  Riley  and  Mary 
Jane  (Geah)  Holcomb.  His  parents  were  also  na- 
tives of  Gallia  County,  his  father  born  in  1833  and 
his  mother  in  1832.  His  paternal  grandparents  were 
John  and  Polly  Ann  (Rowland)  Holcomb.  John 
Holcomb  died  in  Gallia  County,  while  his  widow 
moved  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  before  the 
Civil  war  and  lived  in  the  northern  part  of  Noble 
County  for  several  years  and  died  there  in  1887  at 
the  age  of  eighty-four.  The  maternal  grandfather 
of  John  W.  Holcomb  was  John  Whitmer  Geah,  who 
died  in  Gallia  County.  Riley  Holcomb  and  wife  on 
coming  to  LaGrange  County  settled  in  Milford 
Township,  but  subsequently  lived  in  Noble  County 
where  he  died  in  1882  and  his  wife  in  1869.  Their 
children  were  John  W.,  Martin  N.,  Ulysses  Grant, 
Edward  and  Rebecca,  both  deceased,  and  Seth. 

John  W.  Holcomb  attended  public  school  in  Mil- 
ford Township  and  when  a young  man  began  work- 
ing for  Isaac  Sears,  the  well  known  stock  farmer 
of  LaGrange  County.  He  spent  several  years  work- 
ing by  the  month,  and  in  1887  entered  the  employ 
of  John  L.  Hagland  in  the  pump  business.  He  was 
with  him  two  years  and  in  1889  took  the  local  agency 
at  LaGrange  for  the  Star  Windmill  manufactured  at 
Kendallville.  # He  has  been  selling  windmills  and 
similar  machinery  ever  since,  and  has  the  oldest 
established  business  of  its  kind  in  LaGrange  County. 

In  politics  Mr.  Holcomb  is  a republican.  For 
thirty  years  he  has  been  a member  of  the  Odd  Fel- 
lows and  belongs  to  the  Encampment  and  for  twenty- 
five  years  has  been  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias.  He  is  also  a member  of  the  Modern  Wood- 
men of  America  and  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees. 

October  12,  1884,  he  married  Miss  Oramanda 
Wert.  She  was  born  in  DeKalb  County,  December 
1,  1863,  a daughter  of  William  and  Lovina  (His- 
song)  Wert.  Her  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
April  5,  1833,  a brother  of  Daniel  Wert,  and  her 
mother  was  born  in  the  same  state,  January  25, 
1839.  The  Wert  family  was  established  in  DeKalb 
County  at  an  early  day.  Mrs.  Holcomb’s  father  en- 
listed in  1863  in  the  Union  army  and  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  a millwright  by  trade 
and  for  several  years  operated  the  Dorsey  mill  in 
LaGrange  County.  He  was  engaged  in  overhauling 
the  mill  of  Isaac  Werts  in  Milford  Township  when 
he  died,  March  20,  1893.  Mrs.  Holcomb’s  mother 
passed  away  April  19,  1898.  In  the  Wert  family 
were  twelve  children,  Jacob  Henry,  Elizabeth  Ann, 
Alice  Celestia,  deceased;  Mary  Oramanda,  William 
Sherman,  Marion  Elsworth,  better  known  as  Els- 
worth,  Enola  May,  Emma  Nettie,  Nancy  Jane,  Lot- 
tie L.,  deceased ; Bert  Ray  and  Minnie  T. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Holcomb  had  four  children,  the  old- 
est being  Flora  Gay,  who  was  born  February  2,  1886. 
She  was  educated  in  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Forrest  H.  Ritter,  a lawyer  at  Fort 
Wayne.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ritter  have  two  children, 
Harold  Holcomb,  born  May  14,  1909 ; and  Mary 
Virginia,  born  September  28,  1915.  Carrie  May  Hol- 
comb was  born  September  23,  1888,  and  died  April 
16,  1889.  Lulu  M.  and  Laura  M.,  twin  daughters, 
born  July  1,  1890.  Both  were  educated  in  the  La- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


433 


Grange  High  School.  Lulu  is  the  wife  of  William 
C.  Reno,  of  LaGrange,  and  has  a daughter,  Violet 
Elnore,  born  April  2,  1917.  They  now  reside  at 
Wayland,  Michigan,  where  Mr.  Reno  is  connected 
with  the  Grand  Rapids  & Indiana  Railway.  The 
daughter  Laura  is  the  wife  of  Charles  B.  Hern,  of 
LaGrange,  and  her  five  children  are : Amanda  May, 
born  January  7,  1909;  Ruth  Irene,  born  June  20, 
1910;  Willis  Whitner,  born  May  1,  1914;  John  Har- 
low, born  June  14,  1918,  and  Charles  Benedict,  born 
July  14,  1919.  Mr.  Hern  is  clerk  in  a hardware 
store  in  LaGrange. 

Frank  L.  Mallory  has  manv  relatives  in  North- 
east Indiana,  due  to  the  fact  that  his  grandfather 
settled  here  in  pioneer  times,  and  it  has  been  to  the 
credit  of  the  community  that  the  family  in  its  dif- 
ferent branches  has  remained,  grown  and  flourished 
and  is  represented  by  many  of  the  best  farmers  in 
Steuben  County  today. 

On  the  old  Mallory  homestead  in  Jamestown 
Township  Frank  L.  Mallory  saw  the  light  of  day 
for  the  first  time  November  1,  1868.  He  is  a son  of 
Asa  and  Sytheria  (Wright)  Mallory.  Asa  Mallory 
was  born  in  Rutland  County,  Vermont,  October  17, 
1824,  a son  of  David  and  Cynthia  (Collins)  Mal- 
lory. David  Mallory  entered  land  in  Steuben  County 
in  1835,  and  settled  there  the  following  year.  He 
had  a forty  acre  homestead  and  continued  to  be 
busied  with  its  cultivation  and  improvement  until 
his  death  on  October  14,  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
six.  His  wife  died  October  26,  1868,  aged  seventy- 
seven.  Their  children  were  Cordelia,  Minerva,  Clay- 
ton, Elias,  Lucy,  Asa,  Amanda  and  Emeline.  David 
Mallory  was  a democrat  in  political  faith. 

Asa  Mallory  was  about  twelve  years  old  when  his 
parents  moved  to  Steuben  County.  In  the  spring 
of  1850  he  went  overland  to  California.  While  work- 
ing in  the  mines  he  contracted  typhoid  fever  and 
under  the  orders  of  his  physician  returned  to  the 
States  by  ship,  reaching  New  York  after  a voyage 
of  fifty-five  days.  After  recovering  his  health  he 
took  charge  of  the  homestead  farm,  and  to  the  origi- 
nal forty  acres  he  added  125  acres  and  made  many 
improvements  in  the  shape  of  good  buildings  and 
other  facilities.  He  died  October  19,  1903.  In  i860 
he  married  Sytheria  Wright,  a daughter  of  Sherman 
and  Anna  (Failing)  Wright.  She  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead.  Her  parents  were  both  natives 
of  New  York.  Sherman  Wright  also  made  a trip 
to  California  in  1853,  and  died  while  in  the  West 
the  same  year.  His  widow  then  lived  with  her  par- 
ents, Thomas  and  Catherine  (Flock)  Failing,  in 
Steuben  County,  where  they  had  located  in  pioneer 
times.  Sherman  Wright  and  wife  had  the  follow- 
ing children:  Sytheria,  Elizabeth  L.  and  Jerome. 

Anna  Wright,  after  the  death  of  her  husband  in 
California,  married  Charles  E.  Benedict,  and  she 
lived  to  the  age  of  seventy-four,  passing  away  in 
1898.  By  her  second  marriage  she  had  three  chil- 
dren : Edwin,  Arthur  and  Orrie. 

The  following  is  a brief  record  of  the  family  of 
Asa  Mallory  and  wife : Florence  E.,  who  died  July 

13,  1912,  wife  of  Granville  McClue  and  the  mother 
of  Carl  C.,  Howard  L.  and  Emmett.  Cynthia  B.  be- 
came the  wife  of  Bruce  Green  and  was  the  mother 
of  Ruth  C.  and  Owen.  The  third  of  the  family  is 
Frank  L.  Herbert  C.  married  Dell  Herald.  Clarence 
A.  is  farming  a portion  of  the  old  homestead  and  is 
specially  mentioned  elsewhere.  Clyde  L.,  the  young- 
est, married  Lenora  Christian. 

Frank  L.  Mallory  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
had  a public  school  education.  He  now  owns  fifty 
acres  of  his  father’s  place  and  has  improved  it  with 
good  buildings.  The  first  buildings  on  the  Mallory 


farm  were  built  of  logs.  Mr.  Mallory  is  a general 
farmer  and  he  is  a democrat  in  political  faith. 

April  12,  1892,  he  married  Miss  Erva  L.  Shutts. 
She  was  born  in  Jamestown  February  12,  1874, 
daughter  of  Herman  and  Mary  (Collins)  Shutts. 
Something  more  is  said  of  the  Shutts  family  on 
other  pages.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mallory  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Pearl  E.  She  was  born  August  14,  1893,  is  a 
graduate  of  the  Fremont  High  School,  taught  for 
five  years  in  Jamestown  Township,  and  on  October 
10,  1918,  went  to  work  for  the  Government  in  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. 

Frederick  G.  Smeltzly.  While  his  home  for  a 
number  of  years  has  been  on  a farm  in  Greenfield 
Township,  the  services  by  which  Mr.  Smeltzley  is 
most  widely  known  in  LaGrange  County  have  been 
rendered  as  an  educator.  He  has  been  in  school 
work  continuously  for  thirty  years,  and  is  a former 
county  superintendent  of  schools. 

He  was  born  in  Lima  Township,  LaGrange  Coun- 
ty, October  8,  1867,  son  of  Christian  and  Mary 
(Lehmer)  Smeltzly.  His  parents  were  both  born  in 
Tuscarawas  County,  Ohio.  His  maternal  grand- 
parents were  Henry  and  Nancy  (Neff)  Leh- 
mer, of  old  Pennsylvania  Dutch  families.  They 
lived  in  Ohio  a number  of  years,  where  Henry 
Lehmer  died,  and  his  widow,  after  marrying  again, 
came  to  Greenfield  Township,  LaGrange  County. 
Two  of  the  Lehmer  sons,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war.  The  paternal  grandfather 
of  Frederick  Smeltzly  was  born  in  Germany,  and 
when  a boy  of  sixteen  years  served  with  the  German 
army  against  Russia.  He  and  his  people  later  sought 
refuge  in  America  to  avoid  the  incessant  warfare 
and  enforced  military  duty  of  Europe.  Christian 
Smeltzly  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Ohio, 
was  a farmer  in  that  state,  and  during  the  fifties 
came  to  LaGrange  County  and  later  moved  to 
Nebraska  in  1871,  returning  to  LaGrange  County 
in  1876.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  Ontario.  They 
were  active  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
Christian  and  Mary  Smeltzly  had  a large  family  of 
children,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  the  fifth, 
Andrew,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  and 
the  sixth,  Simon.  The  others  in  order  of  birth  are 
Celista,  Emeline,  John,  Nancy,  Frederick  G.,  Harriet, 
Ida,  Alice,  Anson,  Daisy  and  Elizabeth.  Frederick 
G.  Smeltzly  attended  the  common  schools  of  La- 
Grange County,  and  immediately  after  completing 
his  work  in  the  schools  he  became  a farmer  in  Green- 
field Township  and  afterward  in  Lima  Township, 
teaching  his  first  school  in  1887.  Later  he  attended 
the  Howe  High  School,  and  after  graduating  was 
principal  of  the  Howe  school  eight  years,  and  after- 
ward principal  of  the  Brighton  High  School.  He 
has  also  attended  the  LaGrange  County  Normal  and 
the  University  of  Indiana  and  Winona  Lake  Normal. 
Mr.  Smeltzly  while  principal  at  Brighton  was  elected 
county  superintendent  of  schools,  and  held  that  office 
for  six  years.  Then  for  one  year  he  served  as 
superintendent  of  the  Howe  city  schools,  and  that 
brings  his  record  down  to  date  as  a teacher.  Mr. 
Smeltzly  built  his  home  on  his  farm  in  Greenfield 
Township  in  1910. 

May  9,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Keim.  They 
have  two  children,  Katharine  and  Harold  K.  The 
family  are  Presbyterians,  and  Mr.  Smeltzly  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the 
Modern  Woodmen  of  America. 

Alexander  S.  Keim,  father  of  Mrs.  Smeltzly,  was 
born  in  Fayette  County,  Pennsylvania,  February  23, 
1828.  a son  of  Solomon  and  Elizabeth  Keim,  natives 
of  Somerset  County  of  that  state,  who  removed  to 
Ohio  in  October,  1832,  and  spent  the  rest  of  their 


Vol.  II— 28 


434 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


lives  there.  Alexander  Iveim  on  reaching  the  age  of 
twenty-one  became  a drover  during  the  summer 
months,  while  every  winter  he  taught  school.  In 
the  early  days  he  drove  many  heads  of  stock  from 
Holmes  County,  Ohio,  to  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland,  and  continued  that  business  until  i860. 
On  February  20,  1853,  he  married  Elizabeth  Som- 
mers, of  Holmes  County.  Eight  years  later  they 
moved  to  Owen  County,  Indiana,  where  her  parents, 
Jacob  and  Martha  Sommers,  had  located  in  1853. 
Alexander  S.  Keim  bought  a farm  of  260  acres  in 
Owen  County,  and  lived  there  until  1863,  when  he 
came  to  Greenfield  Township  and  located  on  a farm 
of  160  acres.  While  living  in  Ohio  he  filled  for  six 
years  the  offices  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  township 
clerk.  In  April,  1880,  he  was  elected  trustee  of 
Greenfield  Township,  and  filled  that  office  two  years. 
He  and  his  family  were  members  of  the  Dunkard 
Church.  In  the  Keim  family  were  thirteen  children, 
named  Barbara  E.,  Alice  J.,  John  C.,  Mary  E., 
Martha  A.,  Eliza,  Alexander  H.,  Clara,  Olive  B., 
Charles  E.,  Joseph  W.,  Susan  L.  and  Sarah. 

David  B.  Teeters  has  many  of  the  characteristics 
of  the  patriarchs  of  old.  He  has  lived  over  three- 
quarters  of  a century,  has  had  his  home  in  Steuben 
County  the  greater  part  of  his  life,  has  seen  his 
efforts  prosper  whether  as  a farmer  or  public  official, 
and  for  more  than  half  a century  he  and  his  good 
wife  have  lived  together  and  in  that  time  have  seen 
their  own  children  come  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood and  many  others  come  into  the  family,  grand- 
children and  great-grandchildren. 

Mr.  Teeters  was  born  in  Sandusky  County,  Ohio, 
February  24,  1842,  son  of  Wilson  and  Sophia  (Smith) 
Teeters.  His  father  was  born  in  Luzerne  County, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1803,  and  his  mother  in  1806.  Sophia 
Smith  was  a daughter  of  David  and  Mary  (Blank) 
Smith,  who  lived  for  many  years  in  Columbiana 
County,  Ohio,  where  David  Smith  made  himself 
useful  to  the  pioneer  settlers  as  a gunsmith.  The 
Teeters  family  became  settlers  in  Columbiana  County 
about  the  time  of  the  War  of  1812  and  later  Wilson 
Teeters  moved  to  Sandusky  County  and  had  his 
home  there  about  twenty  years.  In  the  spring  of 
1854  he  came  to  Steuben  County,  settling  in  Clear 
Lake  Township.  He  has  been  described  as  a man 
of  unlimited  energy,  and  taking  a tract  of  about 
265  acres  of  uncleared  land,  he  developed  it  into  a 
fine  farm  and  before  his  death  owned  385  acres, 
eighty  acres  of  which  were  in  Michigan.  He  served 
in  several  township  offices  and  was  well  known 
among  his  neighbors  for  his  many  admirable  qual- 
ities. When  he  went  on  a journey  he  seldom  rode 
a horse,  going  on  foot,  and  was  a celebrated  walker 
in  those  days.  He  died  in  April,  1864.  He  had  a 
large  family  of  ten  children,  named  Andrew  J., 
Elisha,  John,  David  B.,  Wilson,  Priscilla,  Harriet, 
Lavina,  Catherine  (who  died  in  childhood)  and 
Mary  W. 

David  B.  Teeters  was  twelve  years  of  age  when 
brought  to  Steuben  County.  In  the  meantime  he 
had  acquired  some  education  in  the  district  schools 
of  Sandusky  County,  and  also  attended  school  in 
Steuben  County  for  a few  terms.  He  early  learned 
the  work  of  the  home  farm,  and  after  his  father’s 
death  he  farmed  the  homestead  on  his  own  account. 
He  has  always  lived  there  and  owns  the  homestead 
of  1 12  acres,  having  adorned  it  with  substantial 
buildings  and  made  many  improvements  that  add  to 
the  comfort  and  value  of  the  farm.  In  addition 
to  farming  for  four  years  he  sold  farm  implements 
throughout  this  neighborhood.  It  was  only  natural 
that  his  fellow  citizens  should  select  him  for  public 
responsibilty.  For  four  terms  he  held  the  office  of 
township  trustee  and  was  also  assessor  of  Clear 


Lake  Township  four  terms.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  Church. 

Mr.  Teeters  married  Susan  McElhenie  on  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1864.  She  is  a daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  (Brouse)  McElhenie,  who  came  to  Steuben 
County  in  1854  from  Wayne  County,  Ohio.  She 
was  one  of  a family  of  children  as  follows : Thomas, 
Susanna,  William  J.,  Margaret  J.,  Walter  C.,  Sa- 
bina S.,  John  D.,  Maria,  Ephraim,  Arklow,  Clara 
and  Ella. 

Eight  children  were  born  to  the  marriage  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Teeters:  Annette,  wife  of  Willard  W. 

Houseman ; Rosetta,  who  was  married  to  William 
H.  Ackerman ; Orpheus,  who  married  Ada  Osburn ; 
Addie,  wife  of  A.  L.  Seely;  Edith,  who  married 
George  Foster ; Harriet,  wife  of  E.  C.  Whitlock ; 
Pearl,  wife  of  C.  E.  Chapin ; and  Damon.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Teeters  have  twenty-four  grandchildren  and 
ten  great-grandchildren.  Including  those  who  have 
married  into  the  family  they  are  head  of  a family 
clan  of  sixty-one,  all  well  and  strong,  and  with 
only  one  death  record  through  all  the  years. 

Stratton  Leonard  Appleman.  The  publishers 
deem  it  a privilege  and  a duty  to  make  special  ref- 
erence in  this  work  to  the  career  of  one  of  their  vet- 
eran representatives  and  salesmen.  Moreover,  the 
Appleman  family,  as  the  following  record  will  dis- 
close, was  one  of  the  first  in  Northeast  Indiana, 
and  its  long  residence  and  numerous  relationships 
with  other  well  known  families  justifies  all  that  is 
said  here  quite  apart  fronrthe  personal  interest  be- 
tween Stratton  Leonard  Appleman  and  the  pub- 
lishers. 

The  Applemans  were,  as  the  name  indicates,  prob- 
ably German  or  Dutch  ancestry,  though  before  com- 
ing to  this  state  the  family  had  received  such  an 
infusion  of  Scotch  and  English  blood  as  to  make  it 
typically  American.  The  name  is  not  a common  one, 
yet  there  are  Applemans  in  New  York,  Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland,  Ohio,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Missouri 
and  Texas,  as  well  as  in  Indiana.  Generally  these 
widespread  families  trace  their  descent  to  a common 
ancestor,  which  fact,  added  to  certain  physical  feat- 
ures possessed  in  common  by  many  bearing  the 
name,  indicates  that  all  had  at  some  time  a common 
ancestor.  The  name  has  been  in  -Northeast  Indiana 
for  over  eighty  years,  and  judging  from  the  number 
of  males  of  the  latest  generation  it  is  not  likely  to 
disappear  in  the  near  future.  A lake  in  Springfield 
Township,  LaGrange  County,  takes  its  name  from  a 
pioneer  of  the  family  and  a hamlet  in  the  same 
township  was  for  years  known  as  Applemanburg, 
though  Brushy  Prairie,  the  name  of  a former  post- 
office  in  the  village,  has  recently  supplanted  in  com- 
mon usage  the  earlier  name. 

The  older  generation  of  the  family  is  now  rep- 
resented in  LaGrange  County  by  such  men  as  Ira 
R.,  J.  Wesley,  William  E.  and  Stratton  L.  Appleman. 

Stratton  L.  Appleman  was  born  in  Springfield 
Township  October  10,  1857,  son  of  John  W.  and 
Mary  (Poppino)  Appleman.  His  parents  were  first 
cousins.  His  paternal  grandparents  were  Leonard 
and  Mary  (Rawles)  Appleman,  while  his  maternal 
grandparents  were  David  L.  and  Jane  (Appleman) 
Poppino.  Leonard  Appleman  was  a son  of  Jacob 
and  Jane  (Harris)  Appleman.  David  L.  Poppino, 
a son  of  William  Poppino,  married  Jane  Appleman, 
a daughter  also  of  Jacob  and  Jane  (Harris)  Apple- 
man. 

So  far  as  known  no  one  has  ever  traced  the  family 
history  beyond  Jacob  Appleman.  One  enterprising 
member  of  the  family  has  compiled  a book  entitled 
“The  Harris  Family,”  which  contains  a complete 
history  of  the  Harrises  and  a history  of  the  Apple- 
mans  from  Jacob  Appleman  down  to  about  1885. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


435 


In  this  record  it  is  found  that  James  Harris,  a 
native  of  Bristol,  England,  immigrated  to  America 
about  1725  and  settled  in  Essex  County,  New  Jer- 
sey, where  he  followed  the  tailor’s  trade  until  his 
death  some  few  years  before  the  Revolution.  He 
married  a girl  named  Boleyn,  who  bore  him  six  sons 
and  a daughter.  One  of  the  younger  sons  was  John 
Harris,  born  in  1750.  He  grew  up  in  New  Jersey, 
learned  the  mason’s  trade,  but  later  in  life  became  a 
farmer.  He  was  one  of  the  well  known  “minute 
men’’  of  New  Jersey,  ready  at  a minute’s  notice  to 
give  battle  to  the  British.  He  is  said  to  have  taken 
part  in  the  Battle  of  Monmouth,  where  his  brother- 
in-law,  John  Hamilton,  was  shot  down  by  his  side. 
About  1787  John  Harris  moved  to  Washington 
County,  Pennsylvania,  and  lived  there  until  his  death 
in  1816.  A monument  in  the  Amity  village  church- 
yard marks  his  grave.  A military  man  must  have 
been  attractive  to  the  fair  sex  during  the  Revolution 
as  well  as  in  our  own  day.  John  Harris  was  twice 
married  during  the  midst  of  that  war.  His  first 
wife  was  Sarah  Burris,  who  died  shortly  after  the 
marriage.  For  his  second  wife  he  won  an  excep- 
tional girl,  Mary  Hamilton.  In  accordance  with  the 
custom  of  the  time  they  had  a large  family,  eleven 
children,  the  oldest,  Jane,  being  born  May  8,  1778. 
This  Jane  Harris  became  the  wife  of  Jacob  Apple- 
man.  She  had  been  taken  to  Washington  County 
when  a girl  of  nine  years  and  grew  up  and  mar- 
ried there.  The  only  reference  made  to  the  ante- 
cedents of  Jacob  Appleman  in  the  Harris  family  his- 
tory is  that  he  was  “of  German  descent.’’ 

About  1818  or  1820  Jacob  and  Jane  following  the 
westward  trend  of  migration  moved  to  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  where  both  resided  until  death.  Jacob 
now  lies  buried  at  Frederickburg.  He  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  a very  enterprising  man,  but  suc- 
ceeded in  making  a living  in  a small  way  at  farm- 
ing. His  wife,  Jane,  was  much  the  stronger  char- 
acter of  the  two  and  imparted  much  of  her  person- 
ality to  her  children.  Her  eleven  sons  and  daugh- 
ters were  James,  Mary,  William,  Permenas,  Betsey, 
Leonard,  Jacob,  Jane,  John  Harris,  Samuel  and  Mar- 
garet Ann.  Of  these  Mary,  William,  Betsey  and 
Jacob  died  in  infancy.  The  other  seven  grew  to 
maturity,  married,  and  “replenished  the  earth’’  with 
their  kind.  James  and  Permenas  lived  and  died  in 
Ohio,  where  they  left  many  descendants.  These 
descendants,  now  numbering  hundreds,  have  for 
many  years  gathered  annually  at  a reunion  held  late 
in  August,  an  occasion  for  renewing  family  ties  and 
welcoming  visiting  members'  from  other  states. 

The  five  youngest  children  of  Jacob  and  Jane 
(Harris)  Appleman  removed  at  various  times  be- 
tween 1840  and  1855  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana. 
Leonard  Appleman  came  about  the  year  1832. 

John  Harris,  commonly  known  as  “Jack,”  Apple- 
man  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Fred 
Schultz  in  Springfield  Township,  and  lived  there 
for  many  years.  Late  in  life  he  removed  to  the 
Village  of  LaGrange,  the  county  seat,  where  he  died 
in  1897.  His  remains  lie  buried  in  the  Springfield 
Cemetery.  He  was  the  father  of  twelve  sons  and 
daughters,  several  of  whom  reside  in  the  county. 

Samuel  Appleman  made  his  home  for  years  on  a 
farm  near  Wolcottville,  living  first  in  LaGrange 
County  and  later  in  Noble  County,  where  he  died. 
He  had  nine  children,  of  whom  three  were  triplets 
and  two  twins.  The  triplets  died  in  infancy  but 
the  twins,  William  E.  and  Willis,  grew  to  maturity. 

Margaret  Ann,  the  youngest  of  the  eleven  chil- 
dren of  Jacob  and  Jane  Appleman,  married  Hugh 
W.  Mains  of  Richland  County,  Ohio,  and  with  him 
and  their  children  removed  to  LaGrange  County. 
She  lived  to  be  nearly  eighty-five  years  of  age.  The 
family  home  was  for  many  years  in  Milford  Town- 


ship, where  both  she  and  her  husband  died.  They 
have  many  descendants  living  in  the  township  and 
county. 

Going  back  to  Leonard  Appleman  and  his  direct 
and  immediate  family.  Leonard  was  born  May  12, 
1808,  in  Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  re- 
moved as  a boy  of  nine  or  ten  years  to  Richland 
County,  Ohio.  Jane,  his  sister,  was  also  born  in 
Washington  County,  Pennsylvania,  the  date  of  her 
birth  being  May  9,  1813.  The  brother  and  sister 
grew  to  maturity  on  a small  farm  in  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  and  both  were  married  in  that  state. 
Leonard  married  in  Ohio  Mary  Rawles,  while  Jane 
became  the  wife  of  David  L.  Poppino,  a tailor. 
David  Poppino  was  born  in  Orange  County,  New 
York,  the  son  of  William  and  Deborah  Poppino, 
of  French  descent,  and  had  come  to  Ohio  to  ply  his 
trade.  At  the  time  of  his  marriage  he  was  a wid- 
ower with  three  children. 

As  noted  above,  Leonard  Appleman  was  the  first 
of  his  family  to  remove  to  LaGrange  County. 
On  arriving  here  he  bought  a tract  of  land  con- 
sisting of  about  600  acres,  a part  of  which  is  now 
occupied  by  the  little  hamlet  which  later  bore  his 
name.  He  built  a country  store  in  this  pioneer  set- 
tlement and  for  many  years  managed  the  farm  and 
store.  He  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  town- 
ship, and  this  house,  in  a somewhat  changed  con- 
dition, is  occupied  today  by  one  of  his  descendants, 
S.  L.  Appleman.  His  second  wife  was  Margaret 
Millis.  By  his  marriage  to  Mary  Rawles  he  had 
three  sons,  John  W.,  Charles  and  Samuel.  By  his 
second  marriage  he  had  a daughter,  Sarah.  Con- 
cerning his  son  John  W.  more  is  said  in  following 
paragraphs.  Samuel  lived  and  died  on  a farm  east 
of  Mongo  in  LaGrange  County.  Charles  was  a 
farmer  and  died  in  that  county.  Sarah  became  the 
wife  of  Jewisen  Smith,  son  of  James  Smith. 

David  L.  Poppino  had  come  to  Indiana  about  1849, 
presumably  on  foot.  His  wife,  Jane,  followed  him 
in  1850,  bringing  the  children  and  all  the  family 
belongings  in  a wagon.  They  occupied  a house  near 
the  corner  in  the  village,  where  David  Poppino 
followed  his  trade  for  some  thirty-five  years.  About 
1885  they  retired  to  a farm  near  Stryker,  Ohio, 
where  both  died,  Mr.  Poppino  in  1887.  Their  re- 
mains were  brought  to  East  Springfield  Cemetery 
for  interment.  As  already  noted,  David  L.  Poppino 
was  a widower  at  the  time  of  his  marriage  to  Jane 
Appleman.  His  three  children  by  his  first  wife 
were  John,  Elizabeth  and  William.  Both  sons  were 
soldiers  in  the  Civil  war,  William  being  killed  at 
Gettysburg,  while  John  suffered  almost  complete 
blindness^  following  his  service.  David  Poppino  by 
his  marriage  to  Jane  Appleman  had  ten  children: 
Letitia,  who  died  in  Kansas,  the  wife  of  John  Lyon; 
Deborah,  who  died  in  LaGrange  County,  the  widow 
of  William  Jefferds;  Margaret,  who  became  the 
wife  of  Frank  Kniffin,  a resident  of  Stryker,  Ohio, 
and  now  deceased;  Mary  A.,  who  was  twice  wid- 
owed, an  old  resident  of  x\pplemanburg ; Harriet, 
who  was  Mrs.  Carver,  living  in  New  Mexico; 
Arminda,  who  died  in  Ohio,  the  wife  of  Albert 
Healy,  and  her  first  husband  was  Charles  Kniffin ; 
Amsi ; Mrs.  Alice  Bliss,  living  in  California ; Albert 
and  Frank,  who  died  very  young. 

This  record  now  comes  to  John  Appleman,  eldest 
son  of  Leonard  Appleman,  and  Mary  Poppino, 
daughter  of  Jane  (Appleman)  Poppino.  Both  were 
born  in  Ohio,  John  on  June  20,  1836,  and  Mary 
on  March  30,  1837.  They  were  brought  as  children 
to  LaGrange  County,  grew  up  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Applemanburg,  and  as  a youth  John  helped  his 
father  in  the  store  and  on  the  farm.  After  his  mar- 
riage he  gave  most  of  his  attention  to  the  store 
and  was  a prosperous  country  merchant  until  his 


436 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


death  in  1865.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  war  he 
offered  his  services  as  a volunteer  to  the  Union 
Army,  but  was  refused  on  account  of  physical  dis- 
ability. At  his  death  Mary  (Poppino)  Appleman 
was  left  a widow  with  three  children,  Stratton  L., 
Taylor  E.  and  Lulie  G.  She  married  for  her  second 
husband  Griffith  F.  Hall,  a widower  -with  two  sons. 
Mr.  Hall  had  bought  a farm  including  land  much 
of  which  was  formerly  a part  of  Leonard  Apple- 
man’s  tract.  On  this  farm  in  1872  he  erected  the 
first  brick  house  in  Springfield  Township.  He  lived 
there  until  his  death  on  October  5,  1906.  Mrs.  Mary 
Hall  was  left  a widow  for  a second  time,  and  as 
such  she  still  remains.  She  is  now  eighty-three 
years  of  age,  and  one  of  the  oldest  women  in  the 
community.  She  resides  in  the  old  brick  house  at 
Applemanburg,  in  the  neighborhood  where  she  has 
been  a witness  of  past  events  for  nearly  seventy 
years.  By  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Hall  she  had  two 
daughters,  Florence  and  Grace,  the  latter  dying  in 
infancy.  Her  other  four  children  are  all  living : 
Stratton  L. ; Taylor,  who  is  a farmer  and  fruit  raiser 
at  Mammoth  Springs,  Arkansas,  married  and  has  a 
large  family;  Lulie  G.,  widow  of  Augustus  Sears, 
living  with  her  mother,  her  only  daughter,  Grace, 
dying  in  1911 ; and  Florence,  wife  of  Bruce  Stead, 
a resident  of  Applemanburg,  their  son  Frank  hav- 
ing married  Dona  Parr  and  having  a son,  Basil. 

Stratton  Leonard  Appleman  grew  to  manhood  in 
the  neighborhood  of  his  birthplace.  He  was  edu- 
cated in  the  local  schools,  in  Normal  School  at 
Orland,  Kendallville  and  LaGrange,  and  subsequently 
entered  the  State  Normal  at  Terre  Haute.  After 
completing  his  education  there  he  engaged  in  teach- 
ing for  some  years  and  was  principal  of  the  Amboy 
Academy  in  Miami  County,  Indiana,  for  a time.  In 
1890  he  entered  the  county  history  business  as  a 
salesman  and  has  been  engaged  in  that  line  ever 
since.  He  is  now  one  of  the  veterans  of  the  busi- 
ness and  has  probably  helped  to  compile  more  local 
histories  than  any  other  man  in  the  United  States. 
His  work  has  at  various  times  carried  him  into 
about  half  the  states  of  the  Union.  He  was  one  of 
the  compilers  of  this  publication. 

Through  all  these  years  Mr.  Appleman  has  main- 
tained a home  at  or  near  the  place  of  his  birth. 
He  owns  lands  in  Springfield  and  Milford  townships 
and  has  been  especially  interested  in  the  breeding 
of  Duroc-Jersey  hogs,  being  one  of  the  first  to  estab- 
lish that  fine  strain  in  the  county. 

Mr.  Apnleman  first  married  Ella  Goodsell,  daugh- 
ter of  Minot  and  Nancy  (Johnson)  Goodsell,  pio- 
neers of  Milford  Township  and  elsewhere  referred 
to.  Ella  Goodsell  was  a graduate  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Terre  Haute  and  for  some  years  a 
teacher.  She  died  December  2,  1895,  leaving  two 
sons,  Earl  and  Cecil  G.  Mr.  Appleman  married 
for  his  second  wife  Mrs.  Alice  F.  (Hayley)  Thomp- 
son. She  was  a widow  with  three  children  living 
at  Columbiana,  Alabama.  Her  three  children  were 
William,  Eva  Juanita,  now  deceased,  and  Harry. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Appleman  have  one  son,  Stratton 
Leonard,  Jr. 

Of  Mr.  Appleman’s  five  sons  none  are  married. 
The  four  oldest  were  in  military  service  during 
the  recent  war  with  Germany.  Earl  was  a flyer 
at  various  American  fields.  Cecil  was  _ a motor 
mechanic,  saw  service  in  aviation  fields  in  France 
and  was  at  the  second  battle  of  the  Marne.  Wil- 
liam was  in  the  infantry  in  a southern  camp.  Harry 
was  in  the  Engineer  Corps  of  the  First  Division 
in  Company  Bj  and  spent  more  than  two  years  in 
France.  He  was  at  the  front  at  Sommerville  _ sec- 
tor, Ansanville  sector,  Montdidier  sector,  Cantigny, 
Soissons,  in  the  first  and  second  battles  of  the 
Marne,  and  at  Argonne  and  Meuse,  Sedan,  Coblenz 


and  Bridge  Head  and  after  the  armistice  was  with 
the  Army  of  Occupation  at  Coblenz,  Germany. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Greenawalt.  It  was  by 
the  exercise  of  a tremendous  amount  of  thrift,  in- 
dustry and  good  management  that  the  Greenawalt 
family  became  established  in  LaGrange  County  in 
the  early  days.  They  exemplified  all  the  best  stand- 
ards of  thrifty  industry  and  self-sufficiency  in 
former  times.  In  later  generations  they  have  been 
known  as  progressive  farmers  and  land  owners  and 
business  men,  and  Benjamin  Franklin  Greenawalt 
runs  true  to  these  traditions  and  reputation. 

He  was  born  on  Bullfrog  Prairie,  Eden  Township, 
LaGrange  County,  March  18,  1883.  He  is  a son  of 
the  late  Samuel  Y.  Greenawalt,  and  a grandson  of 
Adam  and  Catherine  (Yoder)  Greenawalt.  The 
grandparents  came  from  Ohio  in  1854  and  after  a 
long  journey  with  wagon  and  team  arrived  in  the 
Hawpath  community  of  LaGrange  County.  Adam 
Greenawalt  depended  upon  day  labor  at  50  cents  a 
day  for  nine  years,  and  in  the  meantime  had  the 
energetic  cooperation  of  his  wife  and  children,  who 
made  good  use  of  the  spinning  wheel  and  distaff  to 
supplement  his  meager  wage.  Later  Adam  Green- 
awalt acquired  a farm  of  eighty  acres,  and  was  living 
there  in  considerable  comfort  and  prosperity  at  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1885.  He  and  his  wife  had  thir- 
teen children,  John,  Joel,  Christian,  Daniel,  Adam, 
Joseph,  Emanuel,  Samuel,  Jonathan,  Mary,  Elizabeth, 
Ann  and  Catherine. 

Samuel  Y.  Greenawalt  was  born  in  Fairfield 
County,  Ohio,  June  5,  1851,  and  was  three  years  old 
when  brought  to  LaGrange  County.  On  December 
24,  1876,  he  married  Catherine  Ann  Plank.  She  was 
born  in  Wayne  County,  Ohio,  April  20,  1858,  a 
daughter  of  Christian  J.  and  Mary  (Mosier)  Plank. 
More  information  concerning  the  Plank  family  is 
found  on  other  pages.  Samuel  Y.  Greenawalt  and 
wife  had  twelve  children  : Nora  Alice,  Charles  E., 

Daniel  Earl,  Benjamin  Franklin,  Walter,  Arthur  W., 
Elva  Roy,  Lester,  who  was  drowned  in  1911  at  the 
age  of  twenty ; Herman  Guy,  Edna  Myrle,  Iva  Ruth, 
who  died  in  infancy,  and  Dennis  Christopher. 

In  1885  Samuel  Y.  Greenawalt  moved  to  Spring- 
field  Township  and  located  on  the  place  known  as 
the  Mallow  farm,  now  owned  by  his  son  Benjamin 
Franklin.  His  entire  life  was  a synonym  of  indus- 
try and  good  management.  In  1896  he  bought  190 
acres  adjoining  the  Mallow  farm  on  the  south, 
known  as  the  Joseph  Foos  farm.  In  1916  he  bought 
the  Charles  Wade  property  in  Applemanburg  and 
lived  there  Until  his  death  on  May  5,  1918.  While 
he  had  acquired  his  means  by  slow  and  thrifty  proc- 
ess he  was  liberal  in  support  of  public  enterprises, 
and  was  especially  prominent  in  the  Church  of  God, 
serving  as  deacon  for  many  years,  and  contributed 
largely  to  the  building  of  the  Valley  Bethel  Church. 
At  the  time  of  his  death  besides  his  own  children  he 
was  survived  bv  fourteen  grandchildren,  also  by 
three  brothers,  Emanuel  K.  of  Goshen,  Jonathan  of 
Charlotte,  Michigan,  and  Christian  of  Topeka,  and 
two  sisters,  Elizabeth  Plank  and  Catherine  Hooley 
on  the  old  homestead.  Mrs.  Samuel  Y.  Greenawalt 
is  still  living  at  Applemanburg. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Greenawalt  was  two  years  old 
when  taken  to  Springfield  Township,  and  as  he  grew 
up  on  the  farm  he  attended  the  local  schools  of 
Brushy  Prairie  and  in  1905  graduated  from  the  La- 
Grange High  School.  During  the  past  fifteen  years 
he  has  been  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  also 
in  the  grain  business.  In  1907  he  and  his  brother 
Daniel  Earl  bought  a part  of  the  Mallow  homestead, 
250  acres,  and  in  1917  by  purchasing  his  brother’s 
interest  he  became  sole  owner  of  this  splendid  prop- 
erty. He  has  improved  this  land  with  one  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


437 


best  barns  in  that  community,  the  main  part  being 
36x80  feet,  with  a wing  36x40  feet.  He  raises  a 
great  deal  of  good  stock.  Mr.  Greenawalt  during 
the  winter  of  1905-06  and  also  in  1906-07  was  em- 
ployed by  the  Bern  Grain  and  Hay  Company  at  La- 
Grange.  In  1908  he  took  part  in  reorganizing  this 
company  as  the  Home  Grain  Company,  and  has  been 
one  of  the  directors  of  the  company  since  it  was 
organized.  Mr.  Greenawalt  is  a republican  in  poli- 
tics. 

April  15,  1908,  he  married  Sophrona  Nickell.  She 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  January,  1889,  and  was 
about  eleven  years  of  age  when  her  parents,  James 
Oliver  and  Virginia  Nickell,  came  to  LaGrange 
County.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenawalt  have  one  daugh- 
ter, Oma,  born  September  23,  1909. 

H.  Lyle  Shank.  The  head  of  the  public  school 
system  in  Steuben  County  for  eight  years  has  been 
H.  Lyle  Shank,  a teacher  of  wide  and  varied  expe- 
rience, who  began  his  work  in  district  schools  and 
who  represents  one  of  the  old  and  prominent  families 
of  the  county. 

He  was  born  in  Jackson  Township  September  13, 
1880,  a son  of  Norman  C.  and  Emma  (Davis) 
Shank.  His  grandparents  were  Cornelius  and  Re- 
becca (Ransburg)  Shank,  both  natives  of  Maryland, 
who  moved  to  Seneca  County,  Ohio,  where  Rebecca 
died.  Cornelius  Shank  came  to  Steuben  County 
about  1848,  buying  land  in  Jackson  Township,  where 
he  was  a farmer  until  his  death  in  1884.  Politically 
he  was  a democrat  until  after  the  Civil  war  when  he 
became  a republican. 

Norman  C.  Shank  was  born  in  Seneca  County, 
Ohio,  January  29,  1845.  He  grew  up  on  his  father’s 
farm  in  Jackson  Township,  attended  the  public 
schools,  and  in  1861,  when  sixteen  years  old,  enlisted 
in  the  Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  This  was 
one  of  the  hardest  fighting  Indiana  regiments  in  the 
war,  and  probably  none  suffered  heavier  losses  or 
more  casualties.  The  regiment,  including  Norman 
Shank,  was  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
Stone  River,  Chickamauga  and  Missionary  Ridge. 
Finally,  as  a result  of  losses  at  Chickamauga  and 
Missionary  Ridge,  the  regiment  was  so  reduced  as  to 
exist  in  name  only,  the  surviving  veterans  being  as- 
signed to  guard  duty.  Norman  Shank  received  two 
wounds  at  the  battle  of  Pittsburg  Landing,  but  con- 
tinued in  the  service  until  the  end  of  the  war. 

Afterward  he  was  a farmer,  owning  a place  of 
362  acres  in  Jackson  Township.  He  died  in  1917. 
He  was  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Grand 
Army  Post.  He  was  three  times  married.  His  first 
wife  was  Caroline  Bowerman,  and  their  three  chil- 
dren were  Nellie,  Melvin  and  Norman.  For  his 
second  wife  he  married  Emma  Davis,  daughter  of 
Horace  E.  Davis.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  County 
in  1859  and  died  in  1906.  Her  children  were  Ray, 
H.  Lyle,  Floy,  wife  of  Lloyd  Van  Wagner,  Cecil, 
Grant  and  Earl.  Norman  Shank  married  for  his 
third  wife  Ella  Northrup,  and  by  that  union  there 
was  one  child,  Aden. 

H.  Lyle  Shank  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm  in 
Jackson  Township,  attended  the  district  schools 
there,  and  in  1902  graduated  from  the  Tri-State 
College  at  Angola.  In  1909-10  he  did  post-graduate 
work  in  the  Indiana  State  University.  His  first 
work  as  a teacher  was  done  in  1899  in  Jackson  Town- 
ship. He  had  charge  of  district  schools  for  five 
years,  taught  in  the  high  school  at  Oak  Grove  in 
"Bloomfield  Township,  in  the  Flint  High  School  and 
one  year  in  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School.  He 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of  Steuben 
County  in  1911,  and  has  served  continuously  in  that 
office  to  the  eminent  satisfaction  of  all  who  are  in- 
terested in  the  welfare  of  the  county  schools.  In 


I9i8-he  was  honored  by  election  as  president  of  the 
County  Superintendents  Association  of  Indiana. 

Mr.  Shank  is  a republican,  a member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Angola,  also  of  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  and  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He 
and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian  Church. 
In  1906  he  married  Miss  Lulu  Ely,  daughter  of 
Daniel  Ely  of  LaGrange  County.  They  have  three 
children,  Lawton,  Ledgar  and  Lorrayne. 

Mr.  Shank  also  has  a brief  military  record,  having 
enlisted  in  1898,  when  a boy  of  seventeen,  in  the 
Spanish-American  war.  He  was  in  the  army  for 
seven  months. 

Frank  Spaulding,  the  proprietor  of  the  Peach 
Blow  Farm,  has  played  a useful  and  worthy  part  in 
the  affairs  of  Milford  Township,  and  continues  the 
traditions  of  one  of  the  best  families  in  that  part  of 
LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  at  Brushy  Prairie,  September  1,  1857. 
The  Spaulding  family  is  of  English  origin  and  at 
one  time  had  its  seat  at  the  town  of  Spalding  in 
Lincolnshire.  One  of  the  first  ancestors  to  come  to 
this  country  was  Edward  Spaulding,  who  arrived 
about  1630  or  1633  and  was  made  a freeman  in 
Massachusetts,  May  13,  1640.  At  that  time  no  one 
could  be  made  a freeman  or  be  entitled  to  any  share 
in  the  Government  who  was  not  a member  of  some 
one  of  the  churches  established  in  Massachusetts 
Colony.  The  Spauldings  are  a long  lived  people. 
One  of  the  ancestors  attained  the  remarkable  age  of 
120  years.  Frank  Spaulding’s  grandfather,  Miles 
Spaulding,  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  while  his 
sister,  Julia  Baily,  was  101  at  her  death,  and  though 
blind  for  several  years,  enjoyed  good  health  other- 
wise. 

Dr.  A.  More  Spaulding,  a son  of  Miles  Spaulding 
and  father  of  Frank  Spaulding,  was  born  at  Crown 
Point,  New  York,  January  6,  1827.  He  was  one  of 
the  most  progressive  citizens  who  ever  lived  in 
Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County.  October 
10,  1850,  he  married  Lovina  Holtom,  who  was  born 
at  Belleville  in  Richland  County,  Ohio,  February  7, 
1830.  In  the  spring  of  1854  they  moved  to  Brushy 
Prairie  and  lived  in  that  community  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  Doctor  Spaulding  was  a practicing  physician 
whose  services  were  in  demand  by  the  locality  for 
nearly  forty  years.  He  died  at  the  home  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  J.  E.  Newnam,  in  Milford  Township, 
June  7,  1892.  He  was  a graduate  of  the  Medical 
College  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  He  was  an  active  re- 
publican, was  an  active  member  of  the  Regulators 
Society  and  was  chiefly  instrumental  in  causing  to  be 
organized  a Lodge  of  Good  Templars.  He  was  in- 
fluential in  establishing  a permanent  mail  route  in 
his  community.  His  wife  died  November  19,  1901. 
Their  three  children  were  Frank,  Fred  and  Dora, 
Fred  dying  at  the  age  of  two  and  a half  years. 

Frank  Spaulding  began  farming  in  Milford  Town- 
ship in  the  spring  of  1877.  During  1893-94  he  was 
proprietor  of  a general  store  at  Brushy  Prairie  and 
also  postmaster  of  that  village  at  the  same  time.  In 
November,  1899,  he  returned  to  South  Milford,  and 
has  since  been  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  has  been 
correspondent  for  agricultural  papers  for  a number 
of  years  and  for  the  local  press,  and  is  a student 
and  keeps  in  close  touch  with  all  matters  affecting 
the  welfare  of  his  country  district.  He  is  liberal  in 
religious  views  and  a republican  voter.  He  was 
formerly  a member  of  the  Masons,  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Pythias  and  Gleaners,  but  now  has  a 
demit  from  all  except  the  Odd  Fellows. 

June  15,  1893,  at  Goshen,  Indiana,  he  married  Ida 
M.  Bartlett,  daughter  of  John  A.  Bartlett.  Her  fa- 
ther was  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Milford  Township. 
He  was  born  in  Oneida  County,  New  York,  Jan- 


438 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


uary  21,  1815,  and  was  a carpenter  and  farmer.  In 
1838  he  came  to  Milford  Township,  engaged  in 
farming,  and  in  the  fall  of  1840  married  Salina  L. 
Andrews.  He  enjoyed  the  complete  confidence  and 
trust  of  his  fellow  citizens,  served  as  township 
trustee,  and  was  a stanch  democrat,  casting  his  first 
presidential  vote  for  Van  Buren.  He  and  his  wife 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  are  living,  Addie 
Crofoot  of  Goshen,  and  Mrs.  Ida  M.  Spaulding  of 
Milford. 

Burton  Young  has  been  a farmer  of  Steuben 
County  for  thirty  years,  and  is  widely  known  as  a 
sheep  raiser.  His  farm  is  in  Fremont  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Greencreek  Township  of  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  October  2,  1857.  His  parents  were 
Noah  and  Orlintha  (Brown)  Young,  both  natives 
of  Ohio.  His  father,  who  was  born  in  Pickaway 
County,  spent  his  active  life  as  a farmer  in  San- 
dusky County.  His  children  were:  Norman,  who 
died  in  childhood,  Emaline,  Norton,  Sidney,  Chaun- 
cey,  Olive,  Burton,  Edwin,  Nancy  Viola  and  Mary 
Villa. 

Mr.  Burton  Young  acquired  a very  good  education, 
first  in  the  district  schools  of  his  native  county  and 
later  in  high  schools  and  academies  at  Fremont,  Ada 
and  Fostoria,  Ohio.  He  had  an  early  introduction 
to  the  vocation  of  teacher,  and  followed  that  work 
off  and  on  until  he  was  past  thirty-one  years  of 
age. 

In  1889  Mr.  Young  married  Miss  Emma  Harden- 
brook,  a daughter  of  Ferdinand  Hardenbrook.  Im- 
mediately after  their  marriage  they  came  to  Fremont 
Township  of  Steuben  County  and  for  thirty  years 
have  farmed  in  section  14.  They  own  139  acres,  de- 
voted to  general  farming  and  stock  raising,  with  a 
specialty  of  sheep.  Mr.  Young  has  been  a breeder 
of  the  Polled  Delaine  sheep,  and  at  one  time  all 
his  sheep  were  thoroughbred.  With  the  exception 
of  seven  years  spent  in  Ray  he  and  his  wife  have 
lived  on  their  farm  ever  since  their  marriage. 

Frank  R.  Waterhouse  has  spent  his  active  ca- 
reer as  a general  agriculturist  and  stock  farmer  in 
Noble  County.  He  lives  in  Kendallville,  owns  part 
of  the  extensive  Waterhouse  estate,  and  for  nearly 
thirty  years  has  given  his  time  and  abilities  to  farm- 
ing on  a large  scale. 

He  was  born  in  Milford  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  Indiana,  November  25,  1866,  son  of  Chaun- 
cey  G.  R.  and  Harriet  (Vine)  Waterhouse.  His 
father  was  born  in  Fulton,  New  York,  March  28, 
1827,  while  Harriet  Vine  was  born  in  Pennsylvania 
in  1835.  In  1834  the  Waterhouse  family  came  west, 
by  pioneer  transportation  facilities,  crossing  the 
country  in  a wagon,  and  made  settlement  in  the 
wilderness  of  LaGrange  County  north  of  South 
Milford  six  miles.  Later  they  bought  another  farm 
m Milford  Township,  and  in  that  locality  Chaun- 
cey  Waterhouse  grew  to  manhood  and  married.  In 
1868  he  moved  to  Kendallville,  lived  in  the  city  four 
years,  and  then  bought  a farm  northeast  of  town, 
which  was  his  home  for  eight  years.  During  that 
time  he  built  the  large  brick  house  where  his  son 
Homer  now  resides.  Both  parents  died  in  Kendall- 
ville, the  father  on  June  29,  1917,  and  the  mother 
November  24,  1913.  Chauncey  Waterhouse  was 
widely  known  as  one  of  the  most  successful  farm- 
ers of  Noble  County.  He  accumulated  about  2,000 
acres  of  land  and  made  most  of  his  prosperity 
through  his  work  as  a stockman.  He  was  a noted 
authority  on  the  good  points  of  livestock,  was  a suc- 
cessful trader  and  traded  and  dealt  in  land  as  well 
as  livestock.  He  was  a liberal  supporter  and  trustee 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  and  as  a repub- 
lican worked  for  the  benefit  of  his  friends,  but  not 


to  forward  his  own  aspirations  for  office.  He  had 
four  children : A.  B.  Waterhouse,  who  lives  on 
North  Main  Street  in  Kendallville;  Frank  R. ; John, 
who  was  born  in  1874  and  died  at  the  age  of  nine 
years;  and  Homer,  of  Wayne  Township. 

Frank  R.  Waterhouse  grew  up  on  the  home  farm, 
attended  the  district  schools  to  the  age  of  fourteen 
and  after  that  the  Kendallville  High  School.  Farm- 
ing has  been  his  regular  vocation  since  he  attained 
his  majority. 

October  12,  1893,  he  married  Miss  Catherine  Fo- 
ley, a native  of  New  York  State  who  was  brought 
to  Noble  County  when  a girl.  She  is  a graduate  of 
the.  Kendallville  High  School.  They  have  one  son, 
Chauncey  F.,  born  June  22,  1902,  and  a graduate  of 
the  Kendallville  public  schools.  Mr.  Waterhouse  is 
affiliated  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Elks 
and  in  politics  is  a republican. 

George  W.  Blauser,  who  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  the  northeastern  counties  of  Indiana,  is  a 
comparative  newcomer  in  Steuben  County,  but  occu- 
pies a ' place  of  special  usefulness  and  honor  in 
Jamestown  Township,  being  founder  of  the  local 
mill  at  Jamestown  and  present  trustee  of  the  town- 
ship. 

Mr.  Blauser  was  born  in  Lafayette  Township  of 
Allen  County,  Indiana,  July  11,  1861,  a son  of  Noah 
and  Eliza  (Seamen)  Blauser,  the  former  a native  of 
Fairfield  County,  Ohio,  and  the  latter  of  Trumbull 
County  in  that  state.  Noah  Blauser,  who  died  at 
the  venerable  age  of  eighty-six,  spent  his  active 
life  as  a farmer  in  Lafayette  Township  of  Allen 
County.  His  memory  is  still  cherished  in  that 
locality.  He  was  a good  man,  public  spirited  as  a 
citizen,  and  took  great  pride  in  managing  his  farm 
and  other  business  affairs  with  a thoroughness  and 
method  which  did  him  credit.  He  acquired  a tract 
of  land  in  a wild  condition,  put  the  first  buildings  on 
the  land,  and  eventually  owned  a fine  farm  of  160 
acres,  known  far  and  wide  as  a model  farm.  It  was 
characteristic  of  his  general  farming  and  business 
practice  that  he  several  times  offered  a prize  to 
anyone  who  could  find  a ragweed  on  his  land.  He 
and  his  wife  had  six  children,  named  George,  Or- 
leva  L.,  Addie,  Joseph,  Mary  and  Noah  Webster. 

George  W.  Blauser  acquired  a district  school  edu- 
cation in  Allen  County,  and  when  a young  man 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter.  When  about  twenty- 
five  he  started  farming  independently  and  followed 
that  vocation  for  eleven  years  in  Allen  County  and 
afterwards  in  Wells  County.  Selling  his  property 
in  Wells  County  he  came  to  Jamestown,  Steuben 
County,  in  1911,  and  has  since  been  busied  with  the 
management  of  the  milling  business.  The  respon- 
sibility and  honor  of  the  office  of  township  trustee 
was  conferred  upon  him  by  election  in  the  fall  of 
1918,  and  he  has  been  capably  looking  after  the 
office  since  January,  1919.  He  is  affiliated  with  the 
Masonic  Lodge  at  Fremont  and  also  the  Knights  of 
Pythias. 

Mr.  Blauser  married,  January  21,  1886,  Mary  E. 
Keller,  a daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  Keller. 
She  was  one  of  their  nine  children,  named  in  order 
of  birth  Rebecca,  Fred,  Mary  E.,  John,  Elizabeth, 
William,  Andrew,  Alice  and  Ellen.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Blauser  have  five  children,  named  Vernie,  John, 
Bessie,  Evelyn  and  Esther.  Vernie  is  the  wife  of 
Charles  Smyers  and  has  one  child,  Cleo.  Bessie  is 
the  widow  of  Clarence  Semington. 

John  H.  Stallman.  A capable  farmer  owning  a 
good  farm  and  identified  with  all  the  progressive 
citizenship  and  life  of  his  community,  John  H.  Stall- 
man  was  born  in  York  Township  of  Steuben 
County,  on  the  place  where  he  now  lives,  December 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


439 


7,  1862.  His  life  has  been  a comparatively  quiet  and 
uneventful  one,  though  every  year  has  been  marked 
by  well  directed  labor  and  steadily  increasing  re- 
sources. His  parents,  Louis  Frederick  and  Cather- 
ine (Spanger)  Stallman,  were  both  natives  of  Ger- 
many, his  father  born  near  Berlin.  They  came  to 
Pennsylvania  at  the  respective  ages  of  twenty  and 
eighteen,  were  married  in  that  state,  and  in  i860 
moved  to  Steuben  County  and  settled  on  a small 
place  of  twenty-two  acres  in  the  midst  of  the  heavy 
woods.  Louis  Frederick  Stallman  proceeded  vig- 
orously to  the  task  allotted  to  him  as  an  early  set- 
tler, cleared  up  some  of  the  land,  cut  with  his  own 
hands  the  logs  with  which  he  built  his  cabin  home, 
but  his  industry  was  interrupted  when  he  was  just 
beginning  to  see  light  ahead.  He  died  in  1863,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-one.  His  widow  survived  him 
over  half  a century  and  passed  away  in  1915,  at  the 
age  of  seventy-eight.  They  had  only  two  children, 
Emma,  wife  of  Wright  Tyrrell,  and  John  H. 

John  H.  Stallman  was  an  infant  when  his  father 
died.  He  grew  up  with  his  mother  on  the  home 
farm,  afterward  succeeded  to  the  ownership,  and 
by  the  purchase  of  an  additional  forty  acres  now 
has  a good  place  of  sixty-two  acres,  and  for  many 
years  has  made  a good  living  and  put  away  some- 
thing for  the  future.  He  has  had  good  building 
and  follows  the  diversified  plan  of  farming. 

Mr.  Stallman  is  a democrat  in  politics,  and  he 
and  his  family  attend  the  Christian  church.  In 
1889  he  married  Miss  Julia  Sowle,  who  was  born 
in  Steuben  County  August  6,  1861,  a daughter  of 
Francis  and  Elizabeth  (McMahan)  Sowle.  Julia 
Sowle  was  a teacher  in  Steuben  and  DeKalb  coun- 
ties for  sixteen  years,  continuing  the  profession  for 
three  years  after  her  marriage.  The  Sowle  family 
is  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  prominent  in  Steuben 
County.  The  only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stall- 
man  is  Carl  Frederick,  who  was  born  March  27, 
1893.  He  graduated  fyom  the  eighth  grade  of  the 
public  schools  of  York  Township  and  from  the  An- 
gola High  School,  and  received  the  degrees  Bach- 
elor of  Science  and  Bachelor  of  Pedagogy  from 
the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola,  and  for  two  years 
was  a successful  teacher  in  York  Township.  July 
22,  1918,  he  joined  the  colors  and  was  in  training 
at  Camp  Taylor,  Louisville,  Kentucky,  until  receiv- 
ing his  honorable  discharge  on  December  29,  1918. 
He  married,  May  15,  1918,  Miss  Lucille  Myres,  of 
York  Township,  a daughter  of  Arthur  and  Emma 
Myres,  of  York  Township.  They  have  a son,  Carl 
F.,  born  March  22,  1919.-  While  in  training  at  Camp 
Taylor  Carl  Stallman  rose  first  to  corporal,  then  to 
sergeant,  and  when  discharged  was  morale  ser- 
geant of  Battery  B,  Fourth  Battalion,  F.  A.  R.  D. 
Mrs.  Carl  Stallman  was  a teacher  before  her  mar- 
riage. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Stallman  also  made  a home 
for  two  nieces,  Margaret  and  Luana  Blackman. 
Margaret,  born  January  5,  1895,  was  nine  years  of 
age,  when  she  came  to  their  home,  and  she  is  now 
Mrs.  Warren  Whaley,  of  Hillsdale,  Michigan.  Her 
baby  sister,  Luana,  born  April  2,  1904,  was  an  in- 
fant of  three  weeks  when  taken  by  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Stallman,  and  she  is  still  a member  of  their  family. 

Samuel  P.  Casebeer.  Counting  Mr.  Casebeer  as 
head,  there  are  four  generations  of  his  family  rep- 
resented in  the  citizenship  of  Steuben  County.  He 
was  a youthful  soldier  in  the  Civil  war,  and  during 
the  half  century  since  the  war  has  been  identified 
with  farming  in  Steuben  County.  In  that  time  he 
has  seen  his  own  children  grow  up,  leave  home  for 
homes  of  their  own,  and  two  of  his  grandchildren 
are  married  and  there  are  two  great-grandchildren. 

Mr.  Casebeer  was  born  in  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 


August  21,  1845,  a son  of  Adam  and  Susan  (Porter) 
Casebeer,  the  former  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and 
the  latter  of  Medina  County,  Ohio.  After  their 
marriage  they  settled  in  Defiance  County,  and  later 
moved  to  Williams  County,  Ohio,  where  Susan  Case- 
beer died  about  1857.  The  father  afterward  married 
a Miss  Mack  and  had  one  daughter,  Alice.  His 
first  marriage  resulted  in  ten  children:  John,  Cal- 

vin, Nathan  (who  died  in  infancy),  Martha,  Eliza- 
beth, Samuel  P.,  James  E.,  Susan,  Lee  and  Theodore. 
Adam  Casebeer  spent  his  last  days  among  his  chil- 
dren and  died  at  the  home  of  his  daughter  Martha 
in  1888. 

Samuel  P.  Casebeer  grew  up  in  Williams  County. 
When  he  was  sixteen  years  old  he  enlisted  in  Com- 
pany A of  the  One  Hundred  and  Forty-Second  In- 
diana Volunteer  Infantry,  and  served  eleven  months. 
In  September,  1864,  he  enlisted  for  a second  term, 
and  was  in  service  until  June  28,  1865.  Three  of  his 
brothers  were  also  in  the  war.  All  of  them  came 
through  without  wounds  except  Calvin,  who  was 
shot  in  the  leg.  John  and  Calvin  were  both  in  the 
Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry,  John  enlisting  in 
1861,  and  being  with  that  noted  regiment  which 
suffered  more  severely  than  almost  any  other  regi- 
ment from  Indiana. 

After  the  war  Samuel  P.  Casebeer  came  to  Steu- 
ben County.  For  four  or  five  years  he  lived  at 
Gilead,  Michigan,  but  with  that  exception  has  been 
a resident  of  Steuben  County  ever  since.  He  first 
owned  forty  acres  east  of  Nevada  Mills,  later  had 
another  forty  acres  in  the  same  vicinity,  and  sold 
that  land  to  purchase  fifty-five  acres  north  of  Nevada 
Mills.  He  built  a home  there  and  lived  on  that 
farm  until  the  death  of  his  first  wife.  In  1891  he 
moved  to  the  farm  of  forty-four  acres  where  he  is 
still  living.  When  he  settled  there  the  land  was  a 
wheat  field,  but  he  has  developed  it  with  all  its 
modern  equipment,  including  buildings,  and  also  the 
setting  out  of  a large  number  of  trees.  It  is  a 
part  of  the  old  Robert  Lucas  farm. 

Mr.  Casebeer  is  now  practically  retired  and  his 
son  Robert  handles  the  farm.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican,  and  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church. 

In  1866  Mr.  Casebeer  married  Miss  Mary  Weich- 
man.  She  died  in  1870,  leaving  no  children.  On 
December  26,  1871,  he  married  Jelania  Lucas.  She 
was  born  in  Delaware  County,  Ohio,  April  27,  1856, 
a daughter  of  Robert  and  Amy  (Cravens)  Lucas. 
Her  mother  was  born  in  Greene  County,  Pennsyl- 
vania, January  3,  1833,  and  they  were  married  June 
6,  1852.  When  Mrs.  Casebeer  was  two  years  old  her 
parents  moved  to  Kinderhook,  Michigan,  and  when 
she  was  nine  years  old  came  to  Nevada  Mills,  In- 
diana. Robert  Lucas  owned  the  Nevada  Mills,  being 
associated  in  that  enterprise  with  his  father,  Israel 
Lucas.  Israel  Lucas’  wife  was  named  Betsey  Eliza- 
beth Lucas,  and  both  died  near  Fremont.  Mrs.  Case- 
beer’s  father  finally  bought  166  acres,  on  part  of 
which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Casebeer  now  live.  The  farm 
buildings  stood  south  of  the  present  Casebeer  im- 
provements. Robert  Lucas  died  here  in  1888,  at  the 
age  of  fifty-six,  and  his  widow  survived  until  June 
18,  1911,  when  she  was  seventy-eight  years,  five 
months  and  fifteen  days  old.  Their  children  were 
Jelania,  Thomas,  who  died  at  the  age  of  two  years, 
Israel,  Joseph,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven, 
Jefferson,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four  years,  and 
Frank,  Bell  and  Jay,  the  last  also  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Casebeer  had  five  children.  Jennie 
May,  the  oldest,  is  the  wife  of  Oscar  Spade,  and 
their  eight  children  are  named  Carl,  Harvey,  Mabel, 
Ethel,  Blanche,  Duly,  Nellie  and  Florence.  Lee,  the 
second  child,  married  Jennie  Nutt,  and  their  family 
consists  of  Nola,  Edgar,  Mildred,  Walter,  Margaret, 
and  one  son,  Elmer,  who  died  at  the  age  of  four 


440 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


years.  Allie  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Van  Fossen,  and 
was  the  mother  of  two  children,  Arlene,  who  grad- 
uated from  the  Orland  High  School  in  1919,  and 
Wayne,  who  died  in  July,  1918,  at  the  age  of  twelve 
years.  Amy,  the  fourth  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Case- 
beer,  is  the  wife  of  William  Kellum  and  has  two 
children,  Coine  and  Cecil.  The  youngest  of  the 
family  is  Robert,  on  the  home  farm.  He  married 
Lucy  Havens  and  has  a daughter,  Lucile.  The  two 
married  grandchildren  of  Mr.  Casebeer  are  Edgar 
Casebeer  and  Mildred.  Edgar  married  Emma  Tyler 
and  has  a son,  Warren.  Mildred  is  the  wife  of 
Clarence  Beck,  and  her  daughter  is  named  Elnora. 

Frank  W.  Willis,  whose  honorable  career  as 
soldier,  journalist,  business  man,  and  public  official, 
is  familiar  to  the  people  of  DeKalb  County,  and 
especially  to  those  of  Waterloo,  of  which  town  he 
was  one  of  the  foremost  citizens,  was  born  in  Syra- 
cuse, New  York,  June  13,  1842,  and  died  at  his 
home  in  Waterloo,  Indiana,  May  19,  1913,  at  the 
age  of  seventy  years,  eleven  months  and  six  days. 
He  was  a son  of  Henry  and  Emerline  (Hewitt) 
Willis,  and  came  to  this  county  in  1844  when  his 
parents  located  on  a tract  of  land  in  Richland 
Township,  where  they  resided  until  1864,  at  which 
time  they  removed  to  Waterloo,  when  the  senior 
Mr.  Willis  was  elected  sheriff  of  DeKalb  County. 
Frank  W.  Willis  was  reared  on  the  farm  belonging 
to  his  father  and  attended  the  common  schools. 
In  addition  to  this  he  attended  the  schools  at  Au- 
burn and  Waterloo,  and  also  spent  some  time  at 
the  Orland  Seminary.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years 
he  offered  his  services  to  the  United  States  at  the 
time  of  the  Civil  war  outbreak  and  enlisted  as  a 
member  of  Company  K,  Forty-fourth  Indiana  Vol- 
unteer Infantry,  serving  his  country  for  over  three 
years.  During  these  years  of  service  he  spent  the 
best  part  of  his  life  for  his  country  and  engaged 
in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Chickamauga,  Stone’s 
River  and  other  important  engagements,  and  was 
wounded  three  different  times,  but  was  always 
ready  to  do  his  duty  as  a soldier. 

After  his  discharge  Mr.  Willis  was  appointed 
assistant  assessor  and  deputy  collector  of  the  tenth 
congressional  district,  by  William  Pitt  Fessender, 
secretary  of  the  treasury  under  President  Johnson. 
For  four  years  he  discharged  his  duties  in  this  ca- 
pacity with  the  full  satisfaction  of  his  superiors. 
Soon  after  the  war  he  commenced  to  practice  be- 
fore the  Department  of  the  Interior,  and  as  a claim 
agent  secured  many  pensions  for  old  soldiers  and 
their  widows.  He  was  well  known  among  the  sol- 
diers of  the  county  and  elsewhere,  and  had  many 
comrades  who  thought  of  him  during  his  illness 
and  were  kind  to  him.  After  his  return  from  the 
army  he  was  stricken  with  violent  illness  and  at 
times  suffered  greatly,  due  to  his  exposure  in  the 
service  for  his  country.  At  times  regaining  his 
health,  he  thought  that  he  would  become  stronger, 
and  for  a number  of  years  was  much  improved,  but 
after  the  fire  of  1896  he  again  lost  his  health,  and 
from  that  date  gradually  failed,  although  he  held 
on  to  life  always  with  a tenacious  grip,  and  his 
sturdy  constitution  gave  him  courage  to  live  as  long 
as  he  could,  until  he  had  passed  the  three  score 
years  and  ten.  Many  a time  he  seemed  cheerful 
when  he  was  suffering  from  severe  pain.  He  en- 
joyed his  home  and  reared  a large  family.  On  Jan- 
uary 1,  1884,  Mr.  Willis  formed  a partnership  with 
E.  P.  Dickinson,  and  the  new  firm  bought  out  the 
Waterloo  Press,  then  owned  by  C.  K.  Baxter.  For 
a number  of  years  Mr.  Willis  had  editorial  charge 
of  the  paper  and  later  bought  out  the  interests  of 
his  partner  and  continued  The  Press,  being  in  edi- 
torial charge  until  the  time  of  his  death.  In  1867 


he  purchased  the  book  store  of  H.  K.  Davis  and 
with  C.  K.  Baxter,  purchasing  that  of  T.  Y.  Dick- 
inson, the  two  then  consolidated  their  business  un- 
der the  firm  name  of  Baxter  and  Willis.  In  De- 
cember, 1868,  Henry  Willis,  father  of  the  late  de- 
ceased, purchased  the  interest  in  the  book  store  of 
Mr.  Baxter,  and  the  firm  was  then  known  as  Wil- 
lis & Company,  and  remained  so  until  1896,  when 
in  February  of  that  year  their  business  was  de- 
stroyed by  fire,  including  that  of  the  Waterloo 
Press.  It  was  at  this  time  that  Frank  W.  Willis 
and  his  son,  Herbert  C.,  formed  a partnership  and 
continued  the  publication  of  the  Waterloo  Press, 
and  also  succeeded  the  firm  of  Willis  & Company 
in  the  book  and  stationery  business,  Henry  Willis 
then  retiring  from  active  business  on  account  of 
his  age.  From  the  time  of  his  entering  the  news- 
paper business  Mr.  Willis  was  actively  identified 
with  the  general  interests  of  the  county  and  com- 
munity, and  always  conducted  an  editorial  column 
in  the  paper  up  to  the  time  of  his  last  illness. 

In  the  fall  of  1894  he  was  elected  to  the  state  leg- 
islature as  representative  from  this  county,  being 
elected  by  the  largest  majority  ever  accorded  a re- 
publican in  this  county  to  that  office.  After  serving 
for  two  years,  during  which  time  he  was  foremost 
in  the  passage  of  good  legislation,  he  retired  from 
active  politics,  but  was  always  active  in  the  inter- 
ests of  his  party  until  his  health  failed  to  such  an 
extent  that  he  could  no  longer  take  active  part  in 
the  work.  However,  he  was  very  forceful  in  his 
editorial  writings,  and  was  ardently  enthusiastic  in 
advocating  his  party  principles  as  long  as  he  be- 
lieved them  right. 

When  a young  man  Mr.  Willis  joined  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Waterloo,  and  remained  an  ac- 
tive member  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  He  was 
an  elder  in  the  church  for  nearly  forty  years  and 
never  missed  attending  services  when  he  was  at 
home  and  not  detained  by  illness.  As  a worker  in 
the  Sunday  school,  he  was  a teacher  fifty  years. 
He  also  served  as  superintendent  for  many  years, 
and  took  part  in  Sunday  school  conventions  in  the 
county,  and,  in  earlier  years,  in  the  state  conven- 
tions. 

Among  the  many  beautiful  tributes  to  the  life, 
work  and  character  of  Mr.  Willis  was  the  follow- 
ing from  John  B.  Stoll,  the  veteran  journalist  of 
South  Bend  and  life-long  friend  of  the  deceased: 
“He  was  what  I considered  the  ideal  country  news- 
paper man — discreet,  vigilant,  intelligent,  consid- 
erate, conscientious,  patriotic.  His  death  is  a dis- 
tinctive loss  to  the  newspaper  fraternity,  as  well  as 
to  the  community,  which  for  many  years  enjoyed 
the  benefit  of  his  inspiring  example  and  his  well 
directed  efforts  for  civic  righteousness  and  the 
moral  uplift.  Though  now  numbered  among  the 
dead,  his  splendid  record  as  a man,  citizen  and  pa- 
triot will  live  long  in  the  memory  of  those  who 
prize  nobility  of  purpose  as  cardinal  virtues  of 
man.” 

It  is  eminently  fitting  that  there  should  be  incor- 
porated in  this  memoir  the  splendid  tribute  paid 
the  deceased  by  his  son  and  business  associate.  “In 
the  passing  away  of  the  senior  editor  of  this  paper 
the  community  loses  one  of  its  oldest  citizens,  and 
a man  who  has  been  identified  with  public  interests 
to  a very  large  extent.  As  a man  he  lived  a life 
that  stood  for  itself.  No  comment  is  necessary  as 
to  his  character.  He  was  possessed  with  Christian 
character  that  stood  foremost  in  his  life.  Since  a 
young  man  he  was  interested  in  Sunday  school  and 
church  work  and  was  active  up  to  the  time  of  his 
last  illness.  As  a soldier,  his  active  service  stands 
as  a tribute  to  his  loyalty  to  his  country.  As  a man 
for  right  he  was  always  found  unflinching  for  all 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


441 


that  was  good  and  honorable.  As  a business  part- 
ner the  writer  has  been  actively  associated  with 
him  for  the  past  seventeen  years,  and  during  all 
that  time  has  been  in  such  close  relationship  that 
he  knew  him  better  than  anyone  else  outside  the 
immediate  family  circle.  As  a parent  for  over  two 
score  years,  the  writer  knows  that  he  has  always 
been  kind  and  loving  and  had  a desire  that  his 
children  should  be  trained  in  honorable  paths,  and 
that  they  should  live  such  lives  that  they  would  be 
as  ready  to  be  called  to  their  eternal  homes  as  he 
was.  During  the  twenty-nine  years  that  he  has 
been  at  the  editorial  head  of  this  paper  he  has  been 
honest  in  his  editorial  opinions,  and  while  there 
have  been  many  incidents  that  perhaps  have  been 
left  uncovered  in  his  editorial  writings,  his  scope 
has  been  so  general  that  it  was  made  plain  where 
he  stood  on  all  the  important  subjects  of  the  day. 
His  writings  have  been  widely  copied,  and  no  doubt 
he  will  be  missed  from  among  the  journalists  of  the 
state.  All  the  years  that  he  has  been  broken  in 
health  he  has  done  his  part  in  making  life  cheer- 
ful, not  only  to  himself,  but  others  as  well.  The 
close  association  in  business  causes  a grief  on  the 
part  of  the  writer  that  but  few  can  understand.  It 
is  hard  to  fight  life’s  battles,  and  it  is  hard  to  give 
them  up.  He  has  fought  for  his  life  and  was  ready 
to  give  up  at  the  call  of  the  Master.  He  was  a good 
man  and  no  one  can  dispute  that  he  has  been  con- 
sistent in  his  life’s  habits,  and  that  he  had  the  con- 
fidence of  his  friends,  and  those  with  whom  he  had 
done  business.  The  end  came  like  a shock,  and 
while  it  has  been  known  for  some  time  that  he 
could  not  get  well,  yet  while  there  was  life  there 
was  hope,  and  at  last  that  hope  vanished.  There 
might  be  no  more  fitting  tribute  to  be  paid  a father 
by  a son  than  to  say  he  has  been  a good  father  and 
one  who  has  done  all  he  could  in  rearing  a family 
of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  today  survive.” 

On  September  27,  1868,  Mr.  Willis  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Josephine  Dickinson,  who  was  born 
in  Auburn,  Indiana,  on  May  17,  1850,  the  daughter 
of  Timothy  R.  and  Mary  (Youngman)  Dickinson, 
her  father  having  been  at  one  time  one  of  the  most 
prominent  attorneys  in  DeKalb  County.  During 
the  Civil  war  he  was  drafting  officers  for  this  coun- 
ty, and  thus  filled  a very  difficult  position,  which 
inevitably  aroused  animosity  and  enmity  among 
many,  especially  those  southern  sympathizers  who 
then  infested  this  locality  and  who  assaulted  him 
with  stones,  eggs  and  other  missiles,  so  that  at 
times  it  was  necessary  for  him  to  be  guarded  by  his 
friends.  He  was  even  asked  by  a committee  from 
his  church  to  resign  his  membership  because  of  his 
strong  anti-slavery  views,  but  he  was  fearless  and 
upright,  stood  staunchly  for  freedom  and  the  per- 
petuity of  the  national  union.  Soon  after  the  war 
he  bought  a tract  of  land  north  of  Waterloo,  and 
laid  it  out,  naming  it  Waterloo  cemetery  and  in- 
corporating an  association  to  own  and  control  it. 
There  have  been  several  additions  to  this  cemetery, 
the  last  one  being  laid  out  by  Frank  W.  Willis. 
Probably  twice  as  many  people  have  been  buried 
there  as  comprise  the  present  population  of  Wa- 
terloo. For  awhile  Mr.  Dickinson  practiced  law  in 
Auburn,  but  eventually  moved  to  Waterloo,  where 
he  lived  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Mrs. 
Willis,  who  lived  at  home  until  her  marriage  to 
Air.  Willis,  had  attended  Oberlin  College,  and  also 
had  received  some  academic  instruction.  To  Air. 
and  Mrs.  Willis  were  born  nine  children,  six  sons 
and  three  daughters,  namely : Herbert  Clyde,  who 
was  his  father’s  business  partner  and  associate  for 
a number  of  years,  and  who  is  now  editor  and  own- 
er of  the  Waterloo  Press;  Mary  Gertrude,  wife  of 
James  P.  Hornaday,  newspaper  correspondent  at 


Washington,  D.  C. ; Fred  L,  who  is  connected  with 
the  Central  Rubber  and  Supply  Company  at  Indian- 
apolis ; Raymond  E.,  of  Angola,  Indiana,  and  part 
owner  of  the  Steuben  Republican ; Edward  D.,  also 
interested  in  the  Steuben  Republican ; Dora  E.,  wife 
of  R.  G.  Dilts,  of  Angola;  Frank  B.,  engaged  in 
the  automobile  business  in  Denver,  Colorado;  Jo- 
sephine, who  lives  in  Washington,  D.  C.,  employed 
in  the  War  Risk  Insurance  Bureau;  and  William 
H.,  a resident  of  Indianapolis.  These  children  all 
received  good  educations  and  have  been  reared  to 
honorable  manhood  and  womanhood,  a credit  alike 
to  their  community  and  an  honor  to  their  parents. 

Herbert  Clyde  Willis,  printer  and  stationer, 
editor  and  owner  of  the  Waterloo  Press,  is  in  point 
of  continuous  service  the  oldest  newspaper  man  in 
DeKalb  County.  He  is  also  the  present  representa- 
tive from  DeKalb  County  in  the  Indiana  Legisla- 
ture. 

Mr.  Willis  was  born  at  Waterloo  December  15, 
1871,  son  of  Frank  W.  and  Josephine  (Dickinson) 
Willis.  His  maternal  grandfather  the  late  Timothy 
R.  Dickinson  was  a member  of  the  Indiana  Senate 
during  the  Civil  war,  and  besides  his  legislative 
duties  he  was  also  drafting  officer  for  DeKalb 
County.  The  Frank  W.  Willis  was  a Union  soldier 
during  the  Civil  war,  and  also  sat  as  a member  of 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  General  As- 
sembly in  1895.  Thus  the  public  record  of  the  fam- 
ily is  well  established. 

The  Waterloo  Press  is  one  of  the  oldest  repub- 
lican papers  in  the  state,  having  been  established 
in  1859  by  an  uncle  of  Herbert  C.  Willis  its  present 
editor  and  owner.  For  many  years  the  late  Frank 
W.  Willis  was  editor  and  owner  of  the  Press  which 
for  sixty  years  has  been  in  the  nature  of  a family 
institution  in  the  Willis  family. 

Herbert  C.  Willis  grew  up  at  Waterloo,  secured 
a practical  education  in  the  grammar  and  high 
schools,  and  in  the  summer  of  1884  at  the  age  of 
thirteen  began  learning  the  printing  trade.  A year 
before  graduating  from  the  Waterloo  High  School 
Mr.  Willis  and  one  other  person  did  all  the  job 
work  and  all  the  mechanical  work  of  publishing  the 
Press. _ He  learned  the  printing  trade  under  old  time 
conditions,  and  early  became  a valuable  assistant 
to  his  father.  In  1891  after  finishing  his  high  school 
course  he  made  a tour  of  the  southwest.  He  then 
resumed  employment  with  his  father.  In  February, 
1896,  the  plant  was  totally  destroyed  by  fire.  Her- 
bert C.  Willis  then  joined  his  modest  savings  and 
capital  with  his  father  and  became  a partner  in  the 
ownership  of  the  Press.  Father  and  son  continued 
the  publication  until  the  death  of  Frank  W.  Willis 
in  1913.  Then  Herbert  C.  Willis  bought  and  be- 
came sole  owner  of  the  plant,  and  for  many  years 
has  conducted  his  own  editorial  page  of  the  Press. 
He  also  operates  a high  class  printing  establish- 
ment for  catalog  and  general  stationery  printing 
and  has  developed  a business  covering  many  coun- 
ties besides  DeKalb. 

Mr.  Willis  as  a boy  became  interested  in  military 
affairs  and  at  the  age  of  eighteen  was  a charter 
member  of  Company  I,  Third  Regiment,  Indiana 
Legion,  subsequently  a part  of  the  Indiana  National 
Guard.  He  served  six  years.  After  being  out  a 
year  he  enlisted  in  the  Indiana  National  Guard  and 
became  sergeant  major  on  Col.  S.  A.  Bowman’s 
battalion  staff.  He  was  on  duty  at  the  Hammond 
riot  in  1894.  He  enlisted  his  paper  and  all  his  per- 
sonal influence  in  behalf  of  the  late  war,  and  in 
August,  1917,  was  appointed  government  appeal 
agent  in  DeKalb  County.  He  served  in  that  ca- 
pacity throughout  the  conscription  of  the  army  for 
the  war  with  Germany. 


442 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


During  the  campaigns  of  1914  and  1916  Mr.  Wil- 
lis was  chairman  of  the  Republican  Central  Com- 
mittee for  DeKalb  County.  In  1916  he  spent  seven 
weeks  at  Indianapolis  as  chairman  of  the  public- 
ity bureau  under  the  direction  of  State  Chairman 
Will  H.  Hays.  He  was  nominated  for  representa- 
tive in  the  1918  primaries  after  a contest,  and  in 
November  was  elected  by  a majority  of  348  over 
his  opponent,  who  in  1916  had  been  elected  to  the 
legislature  by  a majority  of  480. 

Mr.  Willis  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Wa- 
terloo High  School  Alumni  Association.  He  is 
now  serving  his  second  term  as  school  trustee  at 
Waterloo.  Since  boyhood  Mr.  Willis  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  and  has  served 
it  as  elder  and  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school. 
He  is  affdiated  with  Lodge  No.  221  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  and  Lodge  No.  307 
of  the  Masons. 

June  24,  1896,  he  married  Miss  Martha  L.  Gon- 
ser.  She  Was  born  April  6,  1872,  on  a farm  near 
Auburn,  daughter  of  Moses  and  Louisa  (Wright) 
Gonser.  Her  father  was  a native  of  Pennsylvania, 
came  to  DeKalb  County  in  pioneer  times,  and  not 
long  after  the  birth  of  Mrs.  Willis  he  sold  his  farm 
west  of  Auburn  to  the  county  and  located  along 
the  county  line  in  the  southern  part  of  Steuben 
County.  He  was  county  commissioner  of  Steuben. 
Louisa  Wright  was  a native  of  New  York  State 
and  was  brought  to  DeKalb  County  when  a girl. 
Her  father  had  a general  store  in  Fairfield  Town- 
ship in  the  early  days,  did  much  business  with  the 
Indians,  and  conducted  an  “ashery”  for  the  man- 
ufacture of  potash  from  wood  ashes.  Mrs.  Willis 
is  a graduate  of  thfe  Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola, 
was  teacher  in  the  district  schools,  graduated  in 
1893  from  Earlham  College  at  Richmond,  and  for 
two  years  was  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Wa- 
terloo. During  that  time  she  began  her  acquain- 
tance with  Mr.  Willis,  though  their  families  had 
been  close  friends  in  an  earlier  generation.  Mrs. 
Willis  served  as  secretary  of  the  Waterloo  Public 
Library  Board  for  the  three  years  during  the  or- 
ganization and  building  of  that  institution.  She 
carried  the  county  contest  work  in  the  Woman’s 
Christian  Temperance  Union  for  several  years  and 
is  at  present  county  chairman  of  the  Franchise 
League.  Her  sympathies  have  ever  been  thrown 
deeply  in  the  home  and  public  work  for  progress 
and  loyalty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willis  have  two  chil- 
dren : Louise,  born  September  7,  1897,  and  Herbert 
G.,  born  November  21,  1904.  The  daughter  is  a 
graduate  of  the  same  school  as  her  father,  during 
1918-19  was  assistant  principal  of  the  high  school 
at  St.  Joe,  Indiana,  and  is  now  in  her  fourth  year 
at  Earlham  College.  The  son  Herbert  is  a junior 
in  the  high  school. 

John  H.  Rubley  owns  and  occupies  a farm  in 
Jamestown  Township  that  has  been  in  the  Rubley 
family  for  over  half  a century.  His  personal  man- 
agement reflects  the  sturdy  characteristics  of  his 
first  ancestors,  who  were  among  the  pioneer  home- 
makers in  Steuben  County. 

Mr.  Rubley  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township 
March  10,  1869,  a son  of  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Frick) 
Rubley.  His  mother  was  born  in  Canton,  Ohio,  in 
1841,  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Christina  (Smith) 
Frick.  She  died  December  2,  1917.  John  Rubley 
was  a son  of  John  J.  and  Margaret  (Snyder) 
Rubley,  both  natives  of  Switzerland.  Several  of 
their  children  were  born  in  that  country,  and  they 
then  came  to  America,  first  locating  in  Richland 
County,  Ohio,  and  in  1848  moving  into  the  woods 
and  prairies  of  Jamestown  Township.  They  located 
at  Nevada  Mills,  and  after  a few  years  moved  to  the 


east  bank  of  Lake  Pleasant,  where  John  J.  Rubley 
spent  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  children  were:  Susan, 
who  married  Benjamin  Nettleman;  Elizabeth,  who 
became  the  wife  of  Frank  Nettleman;  and  John, 
David  and  J.  J. 

John  Rubley  acquired  a district  school  education 
in  Jamestown  Township,  and  when  a young  man 
began  farming  the  place  now  owned  by  his  son.  He 
had  eighty  acres,  and  during  his  lifetime  cleared  up 
and  put  in  cultivation  about  sixty  acres  and  erected 
all  the  substantial  buildings.  He  and  his  wife  had 
two  children,  John  H.  and  Elizabeth. 

John  H.  Rubley  supplemented  the  advantages  of 
the  district  schools  of  his  native  township  by  a 
course  in  the  Tri-State  Normal  College  at  Angola. 
He  began  farming  with  his  father  when  a young 
man,  and  after  the  death  of  his  mother  he  bought 
the  homestead  and  has  been  quietly  and  efficiently 
increasing  and  developing  his  enterprise,  particu- 
larly as  a stock  raiser.  He  is  a breeder  of  Short- 
horn cattle. 

June  17,  1916,  he  married  Edith  Sultz,  a daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Estella  (Pothoof)  Sultz.  They  have 
one  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth. 

William  A.  Barrows  in  recent  years  has  become 
a prominent  factor  in  the  Orland  community,  own- 
ing and  operating  a splendid  farm  near  that  vil- 
lage and  acting  as  manager  for  two  of  the  leading 
organizations  of  producing  farmers  in  that  locality. 

Mr.  Barrows  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township 
of  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  November  11,  1871, 
son  of  John  and  Marinda  (Gillmore)  Barrows. 
Some  of  the  history  of  his  parents  and  other  mem- 
bers of  the  family  is  found  on  other  pages  of  this 
work. 

William  A.  Barrows  grew  up  on  the  homestead 
in  LaGrange  County,  and  lived  there  until  he  was 
thirty-three  years  of  age.  He  acquired  most  of  his 
education  in  the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Or- 
land. It  was  in  1905  that  he  bought  thirty-six  and 
two-thirds  acres  in  Millgrove  Township,  and  he 
subsequently  bought  a quarter  section,  all  of  which 
constitutes  a model  farm  with  model  improvements, 
lying  just  north  of  the  village  of  Orland.  He  does 
a big  business  handling  live  stock,  especially  hogs. 

He  is  manager  of  the  Orland  Shippers  Associa- 
tion and  the  Farmers  Supply  Company,  and  is  also 
a member  of  the  Farm  Loan  Association.  In  poli- 
tics he  is  a democrat,  and  Mrs.  Barrows  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Congregational  Church. 

In  1894  he  married  Miss  Addie  L.  Dudley,  a 
daughter  of  Grove  H.  and  Mary  (Closson)  Dudley. 
A sketch  of  her  father  appears  on  other  pages. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Barrows  had  two  children,  Rex,  who 
was  born  September  24,  1910,  and  died  September 
16,  1911,  and  Maxon  Dudley,  born  March  19,  1916. 

Orley;  Cleveland.  During  the  thirty  odd  years  of 
his  mature  life  spent  in  Jamestown  Township  Orley 
Cleveland  has  been  successfully  engaged  in  farming, 
is  a veteran  thresherman,  and  in  addition  to  his 
constructive  part  in  the  agricultural  welfare  of  the 
community  has  always  maintained  a reputation  as  a 
man  of  integrity,  public  spirit  and  prompt  to  respond 
to  movements  affecting  the  life  and  welfare  of  the 
community  at  large. 

Mr.  Cleveland  was  born  in  Jamestown  Township, 
May  7,  1867,  a son  of  William  and  Mary  C.  (Hunter) 
Cleveland.  His  mother  was  born  in  Sandusky 
County,  Ohio,  a daughter  of  John  A.  and  Eliza 
(Rathbun)  Hunter.  John  A.  Hunter  was  a native 
of  Indiana,  and  when  a small  child  his  parents, 
Robert  and  Abigail  (England)  Hunter,  moved  to 
Ohio.  He  married  Eliza  Rathbun  in  1847  and  in 
1863  came  to  Steuben  County,  Indiana,  where  he 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


443 


developed  a farm  and  gave  particular  attention  to 
stock  raising,  having  some  of  the  finest  horses  in 
the  county.  William  Cleveland  was  born  in  San- 
dusky County,  Ohio,  March  3,  1842,  a son  of  Clark 
and  Eliza  (Grover)  Cleveland.  His  parents  were 
farmers  of  Sandusky  County.  Their  children  were 
Moses,  Sally,  William,  Thomas,  Jemima,  Mary  and 
Elizabeth. 

William  Cleveland  was  married  October  2,  1863, 
and  the  same  year  moved  from  Ohio  to  Jamestown 
Township  in  Steuben  County.  He  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  in  section  18,  put  up  all  the  buildings 
and  made  other  improvements,  and  lived  there  until 
his  death  in  1910.  He  and  his  wife  had  four  chil- 
dren : Ward  C.,  Orley,  Bell  (who  became  the  wife 
of  Orson  Dickinson)  and  Clifford. 

Orley  Cleveland  attended  the  Collins  School  in 
Jamestown  Township,  and  from  early  manhood  has 
busied  himself  with  farming  and  the  operation  of 
threshing  outfits.  He  has  used  practically  all  the 
threshing  machinery  in  vogue  during  the  last  thirty 
or  forty  years.  He  is  a good  business  man,  has  a 
thorough  knowledge  of  machinery,  and  has  fur- 
nished a valuable  service  to  the  grain  growers  in 
Steuben  County.  About  1900  he  and  his  brother, 
Ward,  bought  the  place  where  he  now  lives  in  sec- 
tion 20.  Mr.  Cleveland  has  put  up  all  the  buildings 
there  and  has  a well  improved  farm.  When  he 
bought  it  only  ten  acres  had  been  cleared,  but  the 
entire  tract  is  now  under  cultivation.  He  keeps  a 
number  of  good  livestock.  Mr.  Cleveland  is  affiliated 
with  the  Masonic  Lodge  at  Orland. 

December  23,  1907,  he  married  Imo  Alta  Shipe,  a 
daughter  of  Isaiah  and  Anna  (Lock)  Shipe.  They 
have  three  children : William  L.,  born  December 

30,  1910;  Orley  M.,  born  May  6,  1913;  and  Marcelia, 
born  December  30,  1914. 

George  Tim  mis,  one  of  the  county  commission- 
ers of  LaGrange  County,  is  a veteran  retail  meat 
dealer  of  LaGrange,  having  been  in  business  con- 
tinuously for  over  thirty  years.  Many  boys  and 
girls  who  used  to  come  to  his  shop  to  buy  meat 
for  their  parents  are  now  sending  their  own  chil- 
dren to  his  market. 

Mr.  Timmis,  who  throughout  his  business  career 
has  been  one  of  the  diligently  public  spirited  citi- 
zens of  the  community,  was  born  in  Van  Buren 
Township  of  LaGrange  County,  July  3,  1864,  a son 
of  William  and  Harriet  (Timmis)  Timmis.  His 
father  was  a native  of  England.  His  parents  were 
married  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  and  on  coming  to 
LaGrange  County  settled  in  Van  Buren  Township 
and  lived  on  a farm  for  nearly  half  a century.  His 
father  died  at  White  Pigeon,  Michigan,  and  his 
mother  died  in  Van  Buren  Township  in  1872.  Their 
children  were  Henry,  now  deceased,  William,  Rich- 
ard, Frank,  John,  George,  Hannah  and  Harriet. 

George  Timmis  grew  up  on  a farm,  attended  local 
public  schools  and  was  in  the  high  school  at  White 
Pigeon.  Beginning  in  1880  he  lived  for  four  years 
in  Texas.  He  returned  to  LaGrange  in  1885  and 
on  May  19,  1886,  engaged  in  the  meat  business  with 
William  Mininger.  After  a brief  time  he  and  his 
brother  William  established  a shop  under  the  name 
Timmis  Brothers,  and  that  was  the  title  under  which 
they  did  business  until  1916,  at  which  time  the  part- 
nership was  dissolved  and  Mr.  George  Timmis  has 
since  been  alone. 

Mr.  Timmis  has  always  vigorously  supported  the 
policies  of  the  republican  party.  He  served  as  a 
member  of  the  town  council  eleven  years  and  while 
in  that  body  he  and  Mr.  Platt  were  the  men  chiefly 
instrumental  in  promoting  the  movement  for  paved 
streets  and  a sewer  system.  Mr.  Timmis  was  elected 


county  commissioner  in  1916  and  re-elected  in  1918. 
He  is  affiliated  with  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd 
Fellows,  the  Knights  of  the  Maccabees  at  LaGrange, 
and  his  wife  is  a member  of  the  Methodist  Church, 
the  family  attending  that  church  with  her. 

January  13,  1891,  Mr.  Timmis  married  Miss 
Amelia  C.  Haberstroh  of  LaGrange.  They  have 
two  children : Hilda,  the  daughter,  was  born  De- 

cember 4,  1892,  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School  and  attended  the  Tri-State  College  at  An- 
gola and  the  Western  College  for  Women  at  Oxford, 
Ohio.  She  is  now  engaged  in  mission  work  in  New 
York  City.  Vernon  V.,  the  son,  was  born  February 

27,  1895,  is  also  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High 
School,  and  for  several  years  has  been  in  business 
with  his  father.  Vernon  Timmis  was  the  first  young 
man  to  enlist  from  LaGrange  in  the  World  war.  He 
volunteered  April  4,  1917,  and  became  a private  in 
the  One  Hundred  and  Fiftieth  Field  Artillery  with 
the  Forty-Second  or  Rainbow  Division.  With  that 
famous  organization  he  went  overseas  in  November, 
1917,  and  came  into  the  zone  of  action  on  Februarj' 

28,  1918.  He  was  on  almost  constant  duty  at  the 
front  until  the  signing  of  the  armistice  more  than 
eight  months  later.  With  the  Rainbow  Division  he 
reached  the  Rhine  on  December  15,  1918,  at  Bad 
Neuenahr,  and  left  Germany  April  10,  1919.  He 
landed  in  the  United  States  April  27,  1919,  and 
was  honorably  discharged  on  the  10th  of  May.  At 
his  discharge  he  held  the  rank  of  stable  sergeant. 
June  27,  1917,  Vernon  Timmis  married  Iva  Sunday 
of  Rome  City,  Indiana. 

Dane  D.  Secrist,  who  has  an  honorable  discharge 
from  the  army  after  serving  during  a part  of  1918, 
is  cashier  of  the  Farmers’  State  Bank  at  Topeka 
and  member  of  an  old  and  well  known  family  of 
Northeast  Indiana. 

He  was  born  in  Sparta  Township  of  Noble  County 
February  9,  1884,  a son  of  Lewis  and  Esther 
(Hooper)  Secrist.  His  father  was  born  in  1850 
near  North  Webster,  Indiana,  and  his  mother  in 
Adams  County,  this  state,  in  i860.  Lewis  Secrist 
was  one  of  the  first  business  men  at  Cromwell,  In- 
diana, but  later  became  a farmer  and  died  in  1910. 
The  mother  is  still  living,  a member  of  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Indian  Village,  in  Noble  County. 
Lewis  Secrist  was  a republican.  There  were  three 
children  in  the  family:  Dane  D.,  Keith  K.,  who  is 
a graduate  of  the  Cromwell  High  School,  and  is 
an  American  soldier  with  the  Army  of  Occupation 
in  Germany;  and  Paul  H.,  who  is  a graduate  of  the 
Cromwell  High  School. 

Dane  D.  Secrist  grew  up  at  Cromwell,  graduated 
from  the  high  school  there,  and  before  he  went  into 
the  army  was  assistant  cashier  of  the  Cromwell 
Bank.  Upon  his  enlistment  in  the  service  he  was 
assigned  to  the  Quartermaster’s  Corps  but  later 
was  transferred  to  the  . artillery.  He  served  with 
the  rank  of  second  lieutenant,  and  received  his 
honorable  discharge  December  13,  1918.  Soon  after 
his  return  home  he  was  elected  cashier  of  the 
Farmers’  State  Bank  of  Topeka. 

Mr.  Secrist,  who  is  umarried,  is  affiliated  with 
Cromwell  Lodge  No.  70S,  Free  and  Accepted  Ma- 
sons, is  a thirty-second  degree  Scottish  Rite  Mason 
and  a member  of  the  Mystic  Shrine.  Politically 
he  is  a republican. 

Samuel  Weir,  former  county  treasurer  and  a 
prominent  banker  of  LaGrange,  is  member  of  a 
family  that  did  its  part  as  pioneers  and  in  all  sub- 
sequent stages  and  epochs  of  progress  and  develop- 
ment in  this  section  of  Northeast  Indiana. 


444 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


He  was  born  on  the  old  Weir  homestead  April 
16,  1859.  He  spent  his  early  life  in  the  country, 
having  a common  school  education,  and  was  a suc- 
cessful practical  farmer  before  he  became  identi- 
fied with  the  county  treasurer’s  office.  He  acquired 
105  acres  of  the  old  homestead  and  has  increased 
this  to  185  acres.  This  fine  farm  lies  in  Springfield 
and  Bloomfield  townships  and  is  now  occupied  by 
his  son  Lester. 

Samuel  Weir  since  January  1,  1919,  has  been 
assistant  secretary  of  the  LaGrange  County  Trust 
Company.  He  was  elected  county  treasurer  in  1908 
and  filled  that  office  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  con- 
cerned for  two  terms.  He  is  a republican,  has  been 
a member  of  the  township  advisory  board  of 
Bloomfield  Township,  and  is  affiliated  with  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  Knights  of  Pythias. 

In  1881  Mr.  Weir  married  Miss  Louise  B.  Brown, 
a daughter  of  Ira  W.  and  Julia  P.  Brown.  Her  fa- 
ther was  one  of  the  Brown  brothers  who  were  long 
prominent  as  constructive  factors  and  business  men 
in  the  upbuilding  of  LaGrange.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Weir 
have  two  children.  The  son,  Lester,  mentioned 
above  married  Cleopatra  Price  and  has  two  chil- 
dren, Robert  Norman  and  Lester  Samuel.  The 
daughter  Hazel  L.  lives  at  home  with  her  parents 
and  assists  in  The  LaGrange  County  Trust  Com- 
pany. 

Samuel  Weir  is  a son  of  Norman  Weir  who  was 
born  in  New  York  State  November  17,  1818,  son 
of  Samuel  Weir,  a native  of  Scoharie  County,  New 
York.  Samuel  Weir  the  elder  died  in  New  York 
State,  and  his  widow  Sarah  Weir  came  to  LaGrange 
County  in  1837.  Norman  Weir  was  at  that  time 
nineteen  years  of  age,  the  other  children  of  his 
widowed  mother  being  Elijah,  Nancy  and  Hepsie. 
The  mother  of  Norman  Weir  bought  the  land  where 
Lewis  Weir  now  lives,  comprising  120-acres.  Nor- 
man. Weir  died  on  that  farm  in  August,  1896,  hav- 
ing in  the  meantime  increased  his  holdings  to  nearly 
400  acres.  He  was  accounted  one  of  the  leading 
farmers  of  LaGrange  County.  His  widow  is  now 
living  at  LaGrange,  with  her  daughter  Mrs.  Ger- 
trude Gage.  Norman  Weir  was  a republican  in 
politics  and  his  brother  Elijah  was  at  one  time  a 
member  of  the  legislature. 

May  .4,  1851,  Norman  Weir  married  Miss  Ange- 
line  Scidmore.  She  was  born  in  Steuben  County, 
New  York,  May  15,  1827,  a daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Ruhamah  (Bowels)  Scidmore.  Her  father 
was  a native  of  Saratoga  County,  New  York,  and 
her  mother  of  Hagerstown,  Maryland.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Scidmore  were  married  in  New  York  and  in 
1835  they  were  among  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Bloom- 
field Township,  LaGrange  County,  their  home  be- 
ing at  the  present  site  of  Plato,  where  they  took 
up  a homestead  of  160  acres.  This  land  was  after- 
wards acquired  by  their  son,  a former  sheriff  of 
LaGrange  County.  Solomon  Scidmore  died  in  1859 
and  his  wife  in  1863. 

Norman  Weir  and  wife  had  six  children:  Charles 
who  died  in  1880  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight;  Mary 
who  died  in  1885  aged  thirty;  Samuel;  Tremont,  a 
farmer  at  Plato,  Indiana ; Lewis,  who  occupies  the 
old  Weir  homestead;  and  Gertrude,  wife  of  George 
Gage,  present  county  recorder  of  LaGrange  County. 

Frank  Ashley.  The  birthplace  of  Frank  Ashley 
is  Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County,  on  the 
farm  he  occupies  today.  He  was  born  May  18, 
1853.  The  increasing  strength  and  skill  of  his  boy- 
hood days  were  directed  to  cultivating  some  of 
these  fields,  and  for  sixty-six  years  or  more  he  has 
remained  there  and  has  become  a man  of  substance 
as  a farmer  and  a citizen  whose  public  spirit  is 
widely  known  and  appreciated.  When  he  was  six 


months  old  his  mother,  Helen  Elizabeth  (Jefferds) 
Ashley,  died.  She  was  a native  of  Connecticut. 
His  father,  Robert  Ashley,  was  born  in  Sheffield, 
Massachusetts,  June  19,  1809.  His  parents  were 
married  in  the  east  in  1840,  and  located  on  the 
farm  in  Springfield  Township.  Robert  Ashley,  how- 
ever, had  been  in  the  West  several  times  before  that. 
He  first  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1833,  when 
all  Northern  Indiana  was  virtually  a wilderness. 
He  had  traveled  west  by  river  and  lake  as  far  as 
Detroit,  and  came  across  the  country  to  LaGrange 
County  on  foot.  It  was  in  1837  that  he  bought 
from  the  Government  the  land  which  his  son  Frank 
now  owns.  This  was  a tract  of  eighty  acres,  cov- 
ered with  timber,  and  when  he  brought  his  wife 
there  he,  settled  in  the  midst  of  the  woods  and  put 
up  a log  house  as  their  first  home.  Later  he  built 
most  of  the  buildings  which  are  standing  today.  He 
was  a tinner  by  trade  and  also  had  a practical  knowl- 
edge of  the  gunsmith’s  trade.  In  early  days  he 
planted  an  acre  and  a half  to  grapes,  and  was  one  of 
the  pioneer  vineyardists  and  wine  makers  of  La- 
Grange County.  He  died  on  the  old  homestead.  His 
second  wife  was  Mrs.  Mary  Douglas  Long,  formerly 
of  Ohio. 

Frank  Ashley  was  the  youngest  of  five  children, 
and  he  remembers  only  two  of  them,  Charles  and 
Ralph.  Charles,  the  third  in  age,  died  in  1868.  The 
two  oldest  were  Eugene  and  Ralph.  Ralph  was  born 
in  1843,  and  died  in  1905.  A daughter,  Senitt,  died 
in  1854,  and  Asenith  died  when  young.  Frank  Ash- 
ley was  educated  in  the  local  schools,  and  as  a farm- 
er he  has  diversified  his  industry  by  breeding  spotted 
Poland  hogs. 

In  1880  he  married  Miss  Adelia  A.  Clark.  She 
was  born  in  Canada,  her  family  name  being  Brown, 
but  she  was  reared  as  the  adopted  daughter  of  Wil- 
liam Clark.  Mrs.  Ashley  was  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church.  After  thirty-seven 
years  of  married  life  and  after  her  children  were 
grown  to  maturity  she  died  August  14,  1917.  Nettie, 
their  oldest  child,  is  the  wife  of  Claud  Preston,  of 
Brushy  Prairie ; Charles  lives  in  Akron,  Ohio ; Rob- 
ert has  been  away  from  home  and  his  movements 
have  not  been  known  to  the  family  for  the  past  few 
years ; Richard  lives  on  the  home  farm,  is  a farmer, 
and  for  a number  of  years  has  been  a thresherman ; 
and  the  youngest,  Helen,  is  the  wife  of  J.  L.  Lovel, 
of  LaGrange  County. 

As  a treasured  family  heirloom  Mr.  Ashley  pos- 
sesses a set  of  knives  and  forks  that  have  been 
handed  down  from  generation  to  generation  from 
the  original  Ashley  ancestor  who  came  from  Eng- 
land to  America  several  hundred  years  ago. 

Herman  Haskins  is  prosecuting  attorney  for  the 
circuit  composed  of  Elkhart  and  LaGrange  coun- 
ties, and  his  reputation  as  a lawyer  and  public  offi- 
cial is  well  known  over  all  the  northern  counties  of 
the  state.  Mr.  Haskins  has  distinguished  himself 
as  a young  man  of  force,  courage,  and.  thorough 
ability  both  as  a lawyer  and  man  of  affairs. 

He  was  born  at  Mongo  December  26,  1880.  Con- 
cerning his  family  and  his  parents  Albert  and  Amy 
(Huss)  Haskins,  more  is  said  on  other  pages  of 
this  publication.  Herman  Haskins  was  educated  in 
the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  LaGrange,  grad- 
uating from  high  school  in  1901.  He  took  his  law 
course  in  the  State  University,  completing  it  in 
1905.  The  following  two  years  he  practiced  with 
Otis  L.  Ballou  and  since  1907  has  handled  an  in- 
dividual practice.  He  was  appointed  deputy  prose- 
cuting attorney  in  1911  and  has  also  served  several 
years  as  county  attorney.  He  was  elected  prose- 
cuting attorney  for  the  district  of  Elkhart  and  La- 
Grange counties  in  1916.  Lie  began  his  official  du- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


445 


ties  in  1918  and  was  reelected  for  a second  term  in 
1918.  During  the  period  of  the  war  Mr.  Haskins 
was  chairman  of  the  four-minute  men  of  LaGrange 
County,  and  was  also  a member  of  the  legal  ad- 
visory board  and  chief  clerk  of  the  local  exemption 
board.  These  duties  imposed  many  burdens  upon 
him  in  addition  to  the  regular  routine  of  his  pro- 
fession and  his  office  as  prosecutor. 

Mr.  Haskins  is  a member  of  the  LaGrange  County 
Bar  Association,  is  affiliated  with  the  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Masons  and  Elks,  and  in  politics  is  a re- 
publican, having  been  secretary  of  the  republican 
county  central  committee  in  1914.  October  21,  1913, 
Mr.  Haskins  married  Miss  Bessie  C.  McKinley, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Franklin  and  Flora  (Custer) 
McKinley  of  Mongo.  They  have  one  son  Gerald, 
born  August  13,  1915. 

Walter  Frank  Gravitt  is  one  of  the  young  and 
hustling  farmers  of  Springfield  Township,  and  has 
the  enterprise  and  all  the  varied  qualifications  that 
make  the  successful  agriculturist.  His  life  has 
been  almost  entirely  spent  on  the  old  Millis  home- 
stead where  he  was  born  December  29,  1887.  That 
is  one  of  the  fine  farms  of  LaGrange  County,  and 
for  several  years  it  has  been  operated  by  Mr.  Gra- 
vitt. 

He  is  a son  of  Charles  Henry  and  Marian  (Mil- 
lis) Gravitt.  His  mother  who  is  still  living  was 
born  on  the  Millis  homestead  September  14,  1863, 
a daughter  of  Edward  and  Eleanor  M.  (Griffin) 
Millis.  Concerning  this  well  known  old  family  of 
the  county  more  information  will  be  found  on  other 
pages.  Charles  Gravitt  was  born  in  Cayuga  County, 
New  York,  in  October,  1857,  and  came  to  LaGrange 
County  about  1879.  He  worked  a couple  of  years, 
spending  one  year  with  Samuel  Newnam.  On  De- 
cember 25.  1882,  he  married  and  then  rented  the 
farm  of  Edward  Millis.  Later  he  bought  eighty- 
seven  acres,  forty  acres  in  Springfield  Township 
and  forty-seven  acres  in  Steuben  County.  He  lived 
there  three  years  and  sold  out  and  returned  to  the 
Millis  farm,  which  he  occupied  and  managed  until 
his  death  on  April  23,  1909.  Mrs.  Charles  Gravitt 
is  now  living  at  LaGrange.  They  were  the  parents 
of  four  children:  Jessie,  wife  of  the  present  county 
surveyor  of  LaGrange  County  and  the  mother  of 
Wayland,  Gaylord,  Paul  and  Emily  Spears;  Walter 
Frank;  Ralph  who  married  Blanche  Stayner ; and 
Roscoe,  unmarried. 

Walter  Frank  Gravitt  as  a boy  attended  the  com- 
mon schools  and  the  Springfield  Township  High 
School,  and  steadily  since  early  manhood  has  been 
a farmer.  The  Millis  place  which  he  rents  contains 
210  acres,  and  under  his  management  is  devoted 
to  general  crops  and  livestock.  Mr.  Gravitt  is  a 
republican,  is  a member  of  the  Ancient  Order  of 
Gleaners  and  with  his  wife  is  a regular  attendant 
at  the  East  Springfield  Methodist  Church. 

March  11,  1908,  Mr.  Gravitt  married  Mary  Ann 
Coney.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township 
April  25,  1885,  a daughter  of  Robert  and  Mary  Ann 
(Rasler)  Coney.  Her  mother  was  born  in  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  March  13,  1848,  a daughter  of 
George  and  Margaret  (Neff)  Rasler.  Robert  Coney 
was  born  in  Lincolnshire,  England,  November  13, 
1841,  and  was  seventeen  years  of  age  when  he  and  his 
parents  left  England  on  April  9,  18=8,  and  six  weeks- 
later  arrived  in  St.  Joseph  County,  Michigan.  Robert 
Coney  was  a son  of  John  and  Susanna  (Pant) 
Coney.  In  the  spring  of  1868  Robert  came  to  La- 
Grange County  and  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year 
his  parents  joined  him  and  settled  on  eighty  acres 
bought  from  Valentine  Fry.  The  father  of  Robert 
Coney  died  there  in  1874  at  the  age  of  sixty  and 
the  mother  in  December,  1885,  aged  sixty-nine.  Of 


their  large  family  of  thirteen  children  five  died  in 
England.  The  six  to  come  to  the  United  States 
were  Robert,  Ann,  William,  Fannie,  Rebecca  and 
John.  Two  others  were  born  in  this  country, 
Henry  at  Constantine,  Michigan,  and  Mary  at  Men- 
don,  Michigan.  All  are  living  except  Rebecca  who 
became  the  wife  of  Henry  Neff  and  died  in  1913. 

Robert  Coney  after  coming  to  LaGrange  County 
lived  in  Milford  Township  until  1877  when  he 
moved  to  Springfield  Township  and  bought  forty 
acres.  After  eight  years  he  went  back  to  Milford, 
buying  thirty  acres  in  that  township.  The  last 
eleven  years  of  his  life  he  spent  in  Springfield 
among  his  children.  He  and  his  wife  were  married 
January  10,  1868.  by  Squire  Hoff.  Mrs.  Coney  died 
July  9,  1804.  Their  children  were  George,  John, 
Aaron  and  Susanna,  twins,  both  deceased,  William, 
Margaret,  Mary  Ann,  and  Melissa,  deceased. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gravitt  have  three  children : Flor- 
ence, born  June  29,  1910;  Charles,  born  June  25, 
1912;  and  Frank,  born  February  22,  1915. 

Tobias  C.  Esch,  who  still  lives  on  his  fine  farm 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  9 in  Eden 
Township,  has  had  a career  notable  not  because  he 
has  held  conspicuous  offices  in  the  government,  but 
for  the  self-denial,  sacrificing  efforts,  toil  and  stead- 
fast fidelity  with  which  he  has  pursued  his  private 
affairs  and  as  a result  of  which  he  has  provided 
well  for  his  family. 

He  was  born  in  Somerset  County,  Pennsylvania, 
August  11,  1847,  and  has  passed  the  age  of  three 
score  and  ten.  He  is  a son  of  Christian  and  Su- 
sanna (Sees)  Esch.  His  father  was  born  in  Somer- 
set County  January  8.  1820,  a son  of  Jacob  and 
Martha  (Layman)  Esch.  Jacob  Esch  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1797  and  came  to  the  United  States 
earlv  in  the  ninteenth  century,  locating  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  snent  the  rest  of  his  life.  His  chil- 
dren were  named  Rachel,  Christian,  Isaac  and  Mary. 
Christian  Esch  lived  out  his  life  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  died  March  16,  1854,  his  widow  surviving 
until  1863.  They  had  five  children : Daniel,  who 
died  February  10,  1906;  Martha,  widow  of  David 
Dishong;  William  C.  of  Middlebury,  Indiana;  Mary, 
widow  of  Christ  Bandley;  Tobias  C. 

Tobias  C.  Esch  was  only  five  years  old  when  his 
father  died.  The  family  were  in  uoor  circumstances 
and  for  ten  years  he  lived  in  the  home  of  John 
Petersheime.  working  at  tasks  suited  to  his  strength 
and  age  and  attending  district  schools  in  winter. 
In  1864  he  went  out  to  Iowa  with  Mr.  Petersheime 
and  remained  there  on  a farm  for  four  summers. 
Returning  East  he  located  in  Elkhart  County  where 
he  married  Saloma  Garher.  She  was  born  in 
Holmes  Countv,  Ohio,  October  5,  1848. 

Mr.  Esch  has  been  a man  of  great  enterprise, 
and  has  handled  successfully  nearly  every  undertak- 
ing with  which  he  has  been  connected.  One  of  his 
early  ventures  in  Northeast  Indiana  was  the  pur- 
chase of  a saw  mill,  the  purchase  price  being 
$2,800.  After  a year  of  operation  the  plant  was 
burned,  leaving  him  $2,400  in  debt.  He  started  in 
again,  and  for  twenty  years  cut  into  merchantable 
lumber  much  of  the  hard  wood  products  of  the 
forests  of  Northeast  Indiana.  He  also  bought  a 
farm  of  ninety  acres  and  lived  there  until  he  came 
to  his  present  place  in  1898.  Mr.  Esch  has  160  acres 
in  his  home  farm  and  has  improved  it  in  many 
ways.  At  one  time  he  owned  540  acres  and  sold 
this  fine  property  for  $46,000. 

Mr.  Esch  is  the  father  of  fifteen  children,  eleven 
of  whom  are  still  living:  Daniel,  Jonathan,  Mary, 
Fannie,  Elizabeth,  John  H.,  Noah,  Tobias,  William, 
Samuel  and  Gertrude.  The  son  John  married  Ida 
Beachey  and  has  eight  children.  Mr.  Esch  and 


446 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


family  are  members  of  the  Amish  Mennonite  Church 
and  he  was  a leader  in  the  church  singing  for  fifty 
years. 

John  Smith,  who  passed  from  earth’s  shining 
circle,  July  24,  1919,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety- 
five  years,  was  born  near  Springfield,  Clark  County, 
Ohio,  October  24,  1823.  He  was  a son  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Hurd)  Smith,  being  the  third  son 
in  a family  of  two  daughters  and  eight  sons.  In 
the  spring  of  1825  the  parents  moved  to  Marion, 
Ohio,  where  the  family  lived  until  the  fall  of  1833, 
when  they  came  to  LaGrange  County,  Indiana,  be- 
ing one  of  the  pioneer  families  of  this  community. 

Mr.  Smith  was  reared  on  the  home  farm,  receiv- 
ing only  such  an  education  as  the  common  schools 
of  his  time  afforded.  He  made  good,  as  the  modern 
saying  is,  as  a farmer  and  after  his  father’s  death 
purchased  the  homestead  and  made  it  one  of  the 
substantial  farms  of  the  county.  He  was  as  early 
as  the  seventies  and  eighties,  noted  more  especially 
hereabouts  because  of  his  success  as  a stock  grow- 
er and  breeder.  Politically,  Mr.  Smith  was  at  first 
a whig,  and  later  supported  the  republican  party 
the  remainder  of  his  days.  In  his  religious  faith  he 
was  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  for  many 
years  one  of  its  staunch  supporters. 

Concerning  his  domestic  relations  let  it  be  said 
that  he  was  united  in  marriage  in  1854,  to  Romilda 
Parker,  and  to  them  was  born  a daughter  Annabelle, 
now  Mrs.  Stephen  McKee.  Mrs.  Smith  died  in 
i860,  and  on  January  23,  1862,  Mr.  Smith  married 
Miss  Serena  Craig,  who  was  born  November  19, 
1827,  in  Columbia  County,  Pennsylvania.  She  died 
in  1909.  Of  this  union  two  children  were  born, 
Mary  Jane  and  Charles  C.,  the  daughter  dying  in 
early  childhood.  Besides  his  son  and  daughter  Mr. 
Smith  left  surviving  him,  four  grandchildren,  J. 
Russell  Smith,  Margaret  and  Katharine  Smith  and 
Mildred  McKee,  and  two  great-grandchildren. 

After  a long  and  well  spent  life  as  an  agricul- 
turist, he  of  whom  the  brief  memoir  is  written,  just 
as  the  autumn  leaves  were  turning  to  amber  and 
gold,  and  when  he  had  almost  reached  the  ninety- 
sixth  milestone,  passed  on  to  other  scenes  in  a land 
in  which  he  had  so  long  believed  as  a true  and 
obedient  Christian. 

Roscoe  L.  Coggeshall  is  well  known  in  the  busi- 
ness community  of  LaGrange  County  as  salesman 
for  the  Mt.  Pisgah  P.  of  I.  Mercantile  Association 
at  Stroh. 

Mr.  Coggeshall  was  born  in  Randolph  County, 
Indiana,  July  6,  1889,  son  of  A.  T.  and  Emma 
(Hoover)  Coggeshall.  His  parents  reside  at  Carlos, 
Indiana.  Roscoe  grew  up  on  a farm  in  his  native 
county  and  graduated  from  the  district  schools  in 
1904.  Since  then  he  has  had  a busy  career,  being 
employed  in  a grain  elevator  at  Carlos  three  years, 
for  two  years  in  the  elevator  at  Modoc,  Indiana, 
and  then  for  three  years  was  associated  with  Roy 
B.  Ford  in  the  general  mercantile  business  at  Stroh. 
On  January  1,  1919,  Mr.  Coggeshall  was  placed  in 
charge  of  the  store  of  the  Mt.  Pisgah  Mercantile 
Association,  one  of  the  oldest  organizations  of  its 
kind  in  the  Middle  West. 

Mr.  Coggeshall  married  Lola  Hutchens  in  1911. 
She  was  born  in  Randolph  County,  Indiana,  in  1890. 
They  have  three  children,  Marvin,  Rhuie  and  Venus. 
Mr.  Coggeshall  is  affiliated  with  Philo  Lodge  No. 
672,  Ancient  Free  and  Accepted  Masons,  of  which 
he  is  Past  Master,  and  in  politics  is  a republican. 

Eugene  Goodsell,  now  enjoying  the  comforts  of  a 
good  home  in  Ashley,  has  achieved  the  dignity  of 
three  score  and  ten  years,  and  most  of  those  years 


have  been  spent  in  LaGrange  County.  He  is  a native 
son  of  this  county  and  his  people  were  among  the 
very  earliest  pioneers  and  homemakers  in  Milford 
Township. 

Mr.  Goodsell  was  born  in  that  township  August 
19,  1849.  He  is  a son  of  Mynott  and  Ellen  (Dyer) 
Goodsell.  Mynott  Goodsell,  who  was  born  at  Litch- 
field, Connecticut,  was  the  only  son  of  Stiles  and 
Lucinda  (Bostwick)  Goodsell.  Soon  after  his  birth 
his  parents  moved  to  Pennsylvania,  and  in  1832  they 
started  for  the  West,  arriving  in  Lima,  Indiana, 
October  26th.  Stiles  Goodsell  was  the  second  per- 
manent settler  in  Milford  Township,  and  he  and  his 
family  lived  in  a rude  log  house  for  several  years. 
Wild  game  supplied  the  meat  for  the  table,  and  for 
groceries  and  other  supplies  he  went  to  Toledo,  a 
trip  with  ox  teams  requiring  twenty-one  days.  After 
the  canal  was  completed  supplies  were  obtained  from 
Fort  Wayne.  Stiles  Goodsell  died  February  22,  1850. 
Mynott  Goodsell  as  a youth  had  taken  charge  of  the 
home  farm,  and  was  noted  for  his  ability  as  an 
axman  and  in  other  frontier  virtues.  When  only  a 
boy  he  cleared  off  ten  acres  of  timber-land  in  twenty- 
six  days  He  was  also  fond  of  hunting  and  fishing. 
As  a hunter  the  feat  is  credited  to  him  of  killing 
three  deer  at  one  shot.  On  March  3,  1840  he  married 
Ellen  Dyer,  who  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1833. 
They  had  seven  children:  Marshall,  Josephine,  Mills, 
Eugene,  Ida,  Augusta  and  Frederick.  Of  these  only 
Marshall  and  Eugene  are  now  living.  Their  mother 
died  August  24,  1856.  On  November  22,  1857,  Mynott 
Goodsell  married  Nancy  Johnson.  She  was  born  in 
Ohio  February  15,  1840,  a daughter  of  John  and 
Eliza  Johnson.  To  the  second  marriage  were  born 
five  children : Jennie,  Ella,  George,  Imogene  and 

Theodore  M. 

Mynott  Goodsell  acquired  450  acres  of  land  and 
was  a prosperous  stock  farmer.  He  was  a man  of 
great  influence  in  his  community,  always  worked  for 
temperance,  was  a democrat  in  politics  and  for  six- 
teen years  held  the  offices  of  trustee  and  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  died  in  1882. 

Eugene  Goodsell  grew  up  on  the  home  farm  and 
supplemented  his  advantages  in  the  country  schools 
by  attending  the  LaGrange  County  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute and  the  Orland  Academy,  also  the  Kendallville 
High  School.  As  a young  man  he  took  up  farming 
as  his  definite  vocation  and  -in  1876  bought  ninety- 
seven  acres  in  Springfield  Township.  He  added  to 
this  until  he  had  120  acres,  and  he  still  owns  his 
farm  in  Springfield  Township.  For  two  years  he 
was  also  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Mount 
Pisgah  during  the  ’80s,  and  for  five  years  was  man- 
ager of  the  Mount  Pisgah  Mercantile  Association. 
He  also  spent  some  time  in  the  South  in  the  states 
of  Tennessee,  Arkansas  and  Oklahoma.  He  then 
resumed  his  place  on  the  farm  and  in  1917  turned 
over  its  management  to  his  son  Clifford  and  moved 
to  Ashley. 

Mr.  Goodsell  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
Farmers  State  Bank  of  Stroh  and  has  been  a 
director  since  the  bank  opened  for  business.  He  is 
a democrat,  but  makes  no  pretensions  to  public  of- 
fice. He  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  672  of  the 
Masons  and  also  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at 
Mongo. 

July  t,  1873,  Mr.  Goodsell  married  Miss  Emma 
Hall.  She  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  October 
2,  1834.  a daughter  of  Rufus  and  Clarissa  (Bell- 
knap)  Hall.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  New 
York  State,  her  father  born  in  1808  and  her  mother 
in  1810.  They  came  west  by  canal  and  lake,  and  on 
Lake  Erie  their  boat  was  overtaken  by  a storm  and 
they  were  two  weeks  in  crossing.  It  was  the  last  trip 
that  boat  made.  On  coming  to  LaGrange  County  the 
Flails  bought  eighty  acres  and  later  forty  acres,  and 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


447 


at  the  time  of  his  death  Rufus  Hall  had  his  120  acres 
in  the  condition  of  a highly  improved  and  efficient 
farm.  He  was  a democrat  in  early  life  and  later 
a republican,  and  for  twenty  years  held  the  office  of 
justice  of  the  peace.  In  the  Hall  family  were  four 
children:  Lucius,  deceased;  Harvey,  who  served  with 
the  rank  of  captain  in  the  Civil  war  and  died  from 
the  effects  of  wounds ; Lydia,  deceased ; and  Emma, 
Mrs.  Goodsell. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Goodsell  have  two  sons.  Fred,  the 
older,  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  in  St. 
Mary’s  Institute  at  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  also  the  Tri- 
State  College  at  Angola.  His  first  experience  was 
farming  and  later  he  spent  about  two  years  at  Kala- 
mazoo employed  by  the  Electric  Light  Company,  and 
then  became  manager  of  the  Indiana  & Southern 
Michigan  Telephone  Company  at  Ashley.  After  six 
years  he  moved  to  Fort  Wayne  and  engaged  in  the 
garage  business  four  years,  and  on  returning  to  Ash- 
ley established  a garage  which  is  now  the  most  pop- 
ular enterprise  of  its  kind  in  that  locality.  Another 
experience  of  his  younger  life  was  two  years  in 
dredge  work  employed  by  the  Harding  Brothers.  In 
1897  Fred  Goodsell  married  Anna  Joyce  of  Vin- 
cennes, Indiana.  They  have  a daughter,  Alleen  E., 
who  completed  her  education  in  the  Ashley  High 
School. 

Clifford  H.  Goodsell,  the  second  son,  had  a public 
school  education  and  for  seventeen  years  was  en- 
gaged in  dredge  work,  beginning  as  a common 
laborer  but  finally  promoted  to  dredge  manager.  In 
1917  he  returned  to  LaGrange  County  and  is  now 
renting  his  father’s  farm.  February  28,  1915,  Clifford 
Goodsell  married  Miss  Clara  Forst,  a daughter  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  (Fry)  Forst,  of  Milford  Town- 
ship. They  have  a son,  Andrew  Eugene. 

Tasso  K.  Smith,  though  now  a resident  of  the 
State  of  Washington,  is  a member  of  one  of  the  old 
and  prominent  families  of  LaGrange  County  where 
he  resided  until  1919. 

His  father  was  James  Smith.  James  Smith  was 
born  in  Clark  County,  Ohio,  June  16,  1820,  son  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Hurd)  Smith,  the  former  a 
native  of  Virginia  and  the  latter  of  Maryland.  The 
Hurd  and  Smith  families  settled  in  Clark  County, 
Ohio,  during  the  War  of  1812.  The  Smiths  are  of 
Irish  and  the  Hurds  of  German  ancestry.  David 
Smith  was  a soldier  in  the  War  of  1812  under  Gen- 
eral Harrison.  In  1833  David  Smith  brought  his 
family  to  Indiana  and  bought  360  acres  of  land  in 
Lima  Township  of  LaGrange  County.  He  lived  there 
until  his  death  and  was  not  only  a successful  farmer 
but  a very  progressive  minded  citizen.  He  worked 
heart  and  soul  for  the  abolition  movement  before 
the  Civil  war.  He  was  one  of  the  first  county  com- 
missioners and  he  was  an  advocate  and  practitioner 
of  temperance  and  frugality. 

James  Smith  was  thirteen  years  old  when  brought 
to  LaGrange  County.  He  finished  his  education  in 
Lima  Township  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  there, 
subsequently  buying  another  eighty.  On  April  4, 
1849,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Burnell.  She  was  born 
in  England,  where  her  mother  Eleanor  Burnell  died. 
Her  father  came  to  Indiana  in  1830  and  died  at  Lex- 
ington, now  Brighton,  in  Greenfield  Township. 
James  Smith  and  wife  in  1863  moved  to  Greenfield 
Township  and  bought  134J2  acres.  He  served  as 
county  commissioner  for  eighteen  years  and  for  one 
term  was  assessor,  and  also  filled  the  office  of  repre- 
sentative in  the  Legislature.  He  and  his  wife  had 
ten  children:  Jewison,  David  T.,  Frank  M.,  Burnell 
S.,  deceased;  James  C.,  Tasso  K.,  Clyde  H.,  deceased; 
Nellie  B„  Maggie  E.,  and  Joseph.  Several  of  these 
children  are  mentioned  on  other  pages  of  this  pub- 
lication. 


Tasso  K.  Smith  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township 
May  5,  i860,  and  grew  up  on  the  old  homestead, 
acquiring  a common  school  education.  In  early  man- 
hood he  moved  to  Kansas,  lived  in  that  state  four 
years,  following  the  business  of  livery  and  farming 
and  later  went  to  Seattle,  Washington,  where  he 
spent  some  time  as  a contractor.  In  1891  he  returned 
to  LaGrange  County  and  in  1895  bought  120  acres  in 
Springfield  Township.  He  increased  this  farm  by 
sixty-five  acres  more  and  lived  there  in  prosperous 
circumstances  until  1919  when  he  removed  to  Wash- 
ington, where  he  now  resides.  For  a number  of 
years  he  was  a breeder  of  Percheron  horses,  and 
some  of  his  stock  won  prizes  at  fairs  and  exhibitions. 

Mr.  Smith  is  a republican  and  served  as  assessor 
of  Springfield  Township.  He  was  also  a member  of 
the  local  Grange,  the  Gleaners  and  the  Knights  of 
Pythias  Lodge  at  Mongo.  In  1884  he  married  Miss 
Carrie  C.  Keyes.  She  was  born  at  Orland  in  Steuben 
County  in  1865,  a daughter  of  Hiram,  a Civil  war 
veteran  and  Mary  (Newton)  Keyes,  early  settlers 
of  Steuben  County,  who  subsequently  lived  at 
Mongo,  where  her  father  died  about  191L  at  the  age 
of  eighty-two  and  where  her  widowed  mother  is 
still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  In  the  Keyes 
family  were  seven  children:  Jessie,  deceased,  New- 

ton, Carrie  C.,  Matie,  Susan,  Harvey  and  a son  that 
died  in  infancy. 

Tasso  K.  Smith  and  wife  had  three  sons.  Lloyd, 
the  oldest,  born  August  20,  1885,  in  Greenfield  Town- 
ship, had  a public  school  education,  finishing  in  the 
Springfield  Township  high  school  and  also  attended 
the  Tri-State  College.  Though  a farmer  he  has  also 
been  interested  in  the  county  history  business  for  a 
short  time.  For  two  years  he  rented  land  in  Spring- 
field  Township,  then  bought  sixty-five  acres  which 
he  improved  with  good  buildings  and  sold  this  in 
1915,  and  in  1917  bought  the  old  homestead  of  120 
acres.  He  sold  this  farm  in  1919. 

Don  Smith,  the  youngest  of  the  three  sons,  was 
born  at  Seattle,  Washington,  November  3,  1891.  but 
grew  up  in  Springfield  Township  and  is  a graduate 
of  the  Springfield  Township  High  School  and  the 
LaGrange  High  School.  He  was  a teacher  in  North 
Dakota,  worked  in  a grain  elevator  in  that  state,  and 
for  about  three  years  was  a farmer  in  LaGrange 
County.  In  1916  he  married  Miss  Edna  Greenawalt, 
daughter  of  Samuel  Greenawalt.  They  have  one 
daughter  Mona  Jean. 

Carl  T.  Smith  was  born  in  Kansas  November  26, 
1886,  and  was  five  years  of  age  when  his  parents 
returned  to  LaGrange  County.  He  gained  a liberal 
education,  graduating  from  the  eighth  grade  in  the 
common  schools,  the  Springfield  Township  High 
School,  the  LaGrange  High  School,  and  in  1915  com- 
pleted his  course  in  DePauw  University  at  Green- 
castle.  He  was  a successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Springfield  Township.  He  had  been  fol- 
lowing the  business  of  solicitor  for  county  histories 
for  several  years  when  America  entered  the  war 
with  Germany.  May  12,  1917,  he  enlisted,  joined  the 
training  camp  at  Fort  Benjamin  Harrison,  and  was 
commissioned  second  lieutenant  of  Field  Artillery, 
August  15,  1917.  Shortly  after  being  commissioned 
he  was  sent  to  Camp  Shelby  at  Hattiesburg,  Mis- 
sissippi. There  he  was  assigned  to  Battery  F,  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-seventh  Field  Artillery  of  the 
Thirty-eighth  Division.  He  served  continuously  with 
that  regiment  until  it  was  mustered  out  in  January, 
1919.  On  December  22,  1917,  he  was  promoted  to 
first  lieutenant.  In  the  fall  of  1918  he  was  sent  over- 
seas to  France,  was  returned  to  America  receiving 
his  honorable  discharge  early  in  1919.  He  then  re- 
sumed his  former  work  and  is  now  a salesman  for 
the  Lewis  Publishing  Company  of  Chicago.  March 
9,  1918,  Mr.  Smith  married  Miss  Mae  Parker  of 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


448 


Mississippi  and  they  have  one  son  Carl,  Jr.  Mr. 
Smith  is  a republican  and  a member  of  the  Masonic 
Order. 

Abraham  M.  Jacobs  is  one  of  the  successful  men 
of  Noble  County.  With  a wide  range  of  culture  and 
education  acquired  both  in  this  country  and  abroad, 
he  was  well  fitted  for  the  duties  and  responsibilities 
of  mature  years  and  has  acquired  positions  in  busi- 
ness affairs  which  are  not  only  a reflection  of  his 
personal  ability,  but  also  the  judgment  of  people  in 
his  integrity  and  high  character. 

Mr.  Jacobs  is  president  of  the  Noble  County  Bank, 
an  institution  with  thirty  years  of  successful  history 
to  its  credit.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Kendall- 
ville  Trust  & Savings  Company  and  president  of  the 
Merchants  and  Farmers  Bank  at  Avilla  and  of  the 
Farmers  Bank  at  South  Milford  and  he  is  a director 
in  the  Auburn  State  Bank  of  Auburn,  Indiana. 
These  are  all  well  known  financial  institutions  in  this 
section  of  Northeast  Indiana  and  all  of  them  were 
promoted  through  his  initiative  and  co-operation.  He 
is  also  a member  of  the  firm  of  J.  Keller  & Company, 
founded  by  his  father,  Moses  Jacobs,  owners  of  a 
large  department  store  in  Kendallville.  He  is  also 
the  president  of  the  Specialty  Display  Case  Company 
of  Kendallville,  manufacturers  of  show  cases  and  is 
one  of  the  founders  and  treasurer  of  the  Kendall- 
ville Manufacturing  Company,  manufacturers  of  cot- 
ton gloves  and  mittens  with  branches  at  South  Bend 
and  LaGrange,  Indiana. 

Mr.  Jacobs  was  born  at  Kendallville  February  8, 
1864,  son  of  Moses  Jacobs,  one  of  the  pioneers  of 
Noble  County.  At  the  age  of  eight  years  A.  M. 
Jacobs,  who  had  up  to  that  time  lived  in  Kendallville, 
went  with  his  parents  to  Europe  and  he  remained 
there  to  the  age  of  eighteen,  acquiring  a thoroughly 
liberal  education  at  the  Gymnasium  in  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  and  benefiting  by  travel  and  residence 
abroad.  He  specialized  in  music  while  in  Germany 
and  returned  a pianist  of  brilliant  attainments,  pos- 
sessing the  natural  and  rare  gift  of  improvisation 
which  has  frequently  been  designated  by  the  master 
pianists  as  a lost  art.  On  returning  to  the  United 
States  he  took  a course  in  the  Bryant  and  Stratton 
Business  College  at  Chicago  from  which  he  gradu- 
ated, and  immediately  afterwards  began  his  active 
career  at  Kendallville,  with  the  firm  J.  Keller  & 
Company.  He  was  later  cashier  in  the  Keller  & 
Kann  Bank,  was  promoted  to  larger  responsibilities, 
and  when  the  Noble  County  Bank  was  organized  in 
1889,  he  became  its  first  .cashier.  For  about  twenty- 
five  years  he  held  that  position,  and  since  then  has 
been  its  president.  October  23,  1889,  he  married  Miss 
Nannette  Keller,  daughter  of  Jacob  Keller,  one  of 
the  founders  of  J.  Keller  & Company  and  first  presi- 
dent of  the  Noble  County  Bank.  She  was  born  in 
Kendallville  July  11,  1867.  They  have  two  children. 
Rosalie  M.  is  a graduate  of  Milwaukee  Downer  Col- 
lege and  is  the  wife  of  L.  S.  Levy,  vice  president  of 
the  Specialty  Display  Case  Company  of  Kendallville. 
The  only  son  Milton  Keller  is  a graduate  of  the 
Kendallville  High  School  and  the  University  of 
Michigan,  and  is  now  with  the  Radio  Intelligence 
Corps  in  the  United  States  Army. 

Mr.  Jacobs  is  affiliated  with  Lodge  No.  276  F.  & 
A.  M.,  and  has  been  its  treasurer  for  over  thirty 
years  and  is  a member  of  the  Kendallville  Rotary 
and  Golf  clubs.  He  is  a democrat  in  politics.  He 
has  served  as  a member  of  the  city  council  of  Ken- 
dallville for  several  terms'  and  has  at  all  times  taken 
the  keenest  and  most  active  interest  in  the  civic 
affairs  of  his  home  city.  He  is  president  of  the 
board  of  governors  of  the  Lakeside  Hospital  and 
vice  president  of  the  Kendallville  Public  Library.  His 
AVorld  war  activities  were  characterized  by  untiring 


devotion  to  the  interests  of  our  nation.  He  served 
as  county  chairman  for  Noble  County  during  the 
First,  Second  and  Fifth  Liberty  Loan  campaigns  in 
each  of  which  his  county  went  brilliantly  “over  the 
top.”  He  was  also  a director  of  sales  for  Noble 
County  for  the  United  States  Certificates  of  Indebt- 
edness campaign.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the  Ken- 
dallville War  Chest  Fund,  an  organization  of  citizens 
from  every  walk  of  life  who  contributed  nearly 
$30,000  to  a fund  out  of  which  every  demand  upon 
Kendallville  for  war  relief  purposes  of  every  nature 
was  promptly  met. 

A.  M.  Jacobs  is  constantly  endeavoring  to  demon- 
strate the  principle  that  a good  and  loyal  citizen  must 
unselfishly  give  many  hours  of  his  valuable  time  to 
the  solution  of  all  problems  that  make  for  the  uplift 
and  development  of  the  community  in  which  he  lives 
and  that  a man  can  not  be  called  successful  unless  he 
is  willing  to  do  this. 

Hon.  John  B.  Howe.  He  whose  name  heads  this 
article  was  among  the  foremost  men  of  Northern 
Indiana — a pioneer  of  pioneers — a man  of  intellect 
and  heart,  of  whom  the  world  has  none  too  many. 
The  village  name  was  changed  in  memory  of  his  life 
and  career  here,  it  formerly  being  called  Lima.  Mr. 
Howe  was  born  of  English  parents  in  the  City  of 
Boston,  March  3,  1813,  was  destined  by  force  of 
character,  and  by  natural  ability,  to  achieve  a great 
place  in  the  annals  of  Indiana.  His  father,  the  Rev. 
James  B.  Howe,  an  eloquent  minister  of  the  Epis- 
copal Church  and  his  beloved  mother,  whose  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  Badlam,  were  Puritans,  who  gave 
fair  education  to  their  children.  The  father  was  a 
graduate  of  Harvard  College,  and  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  education  and  morals.  Stephen  Badlam  was 
brigadier  general  of  militia,  who  joined  the  Colonial 
Army  in  1775,  and  the  following  year,  as  major  of 
artillery,  took  possession  July  4,  of  the  point  which, 
from  the  circumstances,  was  named  Mount  Inde- 
pendence. After  the  war  he  located  at  Dorchester, 
where  he  became  magistrate,  and  a deacon  of  the 
church.  At  the  age  of  sixteen,  John  B.  Howe  en- 
tered Trinity  College,  from  which  institution  he 
graduated  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  This  was  in  1832 
and  in  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  went  to  Detroit, 
thence  to  Marshall,  Michigan,  and  in  1833  he  moved 
to  Lima.  He  had  read  law  in  Michigan,  and  was 
subsequently  admitted  to  the  bar,  and  for  a number 
of  years  practiced  with  success.  In  later  years  he 
took  up  banking  for  an  occupation.  He  was  the 
author  of  numerous  books — several  volumes  on 
Political  Economy  and  Finance.  He  was  a member 
of  the  Indiana  State  Legislature  in  1840,  represent- 
ing the  counties  of  Steuben,  DeKalb,  Noble  and  La- 
Grange  ; and  in  1850,  was  a member  of  the  Indiana 
State  Constitutional  Convention,  at  which  time  he, 
as  a whig,  advocated  measures  regarding  the  slave, 
identical  with  those  afterward  adhered  to  by  the 
majority  of  justices  in  the  Dred  Scott  Decision. 

In  1846  Mr.  Howe  was  married  to  Miss  Frances 
Gidden  of  New  Hampshire,  who  was  born  in  1823. 
They  lived  a beautiful  and  happy  life  till  overtaken 
by  old  age.  It  was  Mr.  Howe  who  accomplished 
much  toward  the  many  educational  institutions  of 
Lima,  including  the  private  and  public  high  schools. 
The  present  Howe  Military  School,  of  Howe,  was 
founded  largely  by  a bequest  of  his  in  1884  and 
added  to  by  his  wife  later.  (See  history  of  this 
school  in  Educational  chapter.) 

Mr.  Howe  died  January  22,  1883,  and  his  remains, 
with  those  of  his  wife  are  deposited  beneath  the 
Chapel  of  the  Episcopal  Church  at  Howe. 

Charles  Edwin  Brant,  who  while  his  duties  keep 
him  on  the  road  traveling,  spends  little  of  his  time 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


449 


in  Northeast  Indiana,  is  member  of  an  old  and  prom- 
inent family  of  LaGrange  County  and  was  born  in 
the  City  of  LaGrange  December  18,  1879.  He  was 
educated  in  local  public  schools,  attended  the  Univer- 
sity of  Wisconsin,  and  was  in  the  drug  business,  the 
line  which  his  father  followed  for  so  many  years 
until  1907.  He  then  joined  his  half-brother,  S.  A. 
Brant,  a well  known  publisher  at  Madison,  Wiscon- 
sin. For  a time  he  was  also  with  the  S.  J.  Clark 
Publishing  Company  of  Chicago.  From  1913  to  1916 
he  lived  at  Cherokee,  Iowa,  and  was  director  of  the 
Cherokee  Concert  Band.  Since  then  he  has  been 
connected  with  the  Brant  Publishing  business.  He 
is  independent  in  politics  and  is  a member  of  the 
Delta  Gamma  Chapter  of  the  Delta  Tau  Delta  Fra- 
ternity in  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 

December  26,  1907,  he  married  Miss  Enid  E.  Duff, 
daughter  of  W.  H.  and  Harriet  (Keith)  Duff  of 
LaGrange.  She  was  born  at  Lima,  now  Howe,  In- 
diana, December  26,  1885,  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  LaGrange,  the  Terre  Haute  Normal. 

The  late  Charles  A.  Brant,  father  of  Charles  E. 
Brant,  died  December  23,  1911.  He  was  born  in 
Ashland  County,  Ohio,  January  31,  1829,  a son  of 
Jabez  and  Arminda  (Kirby)  Brant.  His  youth  was 
spent  in  various  occupations,  mostly  farming,  and  he 
had  a good  common  school  education.  In  1855  he 
married  Armina  Ensign  and  in  March  of  the  follow- 
ing year  moved  to  Decatur  County,  Iowa,  where  he 
engaged  in  farming.  In  1862  he  returned  east  to 
Michigan  and  in  1863  settled  at  LaGrange,  where  for 
eleven  years  he  made  his  headquarters  while  in 
business  as  a traveling  salesman.  In  1875  he  estab- 
lished himself  in  the  drug  business  at  LaGrange,  and 
followed  that  until  within  a few  years  of  his  death. 
He  was  succeeded  by  his  son  Charles  E.  Brant. 

His  first  wife  died  September  4,  1866,  the  mother 
of  four  children,  only  two  of  whom  reached  mature 
years,  Selwyn  A.,  the  Wisconsin  publisher,  and  Ad- 
die  M.,  deceased  (wife  of  Dr.  C.  A.  Seymoure),  of 
Wawaka,  Indiana.  On  July  1,  1873,  Charles  A. 
Brant  married  Louisa  V.  Chase,  who  is  still  living 
and  Charles  E.  Brant  is  their  only  child.  The  late 
Charles  A.  Brant  was  always  a democrat  in  politics, 
was  member  of  the  Town  Council  and  affiliated  with 
the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Brant  is 
a Presbyterian,  and  is  now  living  in  San  Jose,  Cali- 
fornia. She  was  born  in  Illinois  x\pril  3,  1846,  a 
daughter  of  Rufus  B.  Chase. 

Robert  M.  Waddell  was  born  in  Wabash  County, 
Indiana,  the  son  of  Dr.  Charles  and  Alice  (Hosmer) 
Waddell.  His  father  was  a soldier  in  the  war  for 
the  Union.  Both  of  his  parents  are  dead.  He  came 
to  LaGrange  in  1884,  attended  the  public  schools  and 
while  in  school  was  employed  in  the  newspaper  of- 
fices of  the  town.  His  newspaper  activities  include 
a year  with  the  Grand  Rapids  (Michigan)  Herald, 
a morning  daily,  and  several  years  as  the  managing 
editor  of  the  Evening  News,  a daily,  and  the  News 
and  Express,  a weekly,  at  Cadillac,  Michigan,  Hon. 
Perry  F.  Powers,  the  owner,  prominent  in  Michigan 
politics,  being  absent  from  home  much  of  the  time. 
Mr.  Waddell  returned  to  LaGrange  in  1906  and  has 
since  been  connected  with  the  Standard. 

He  is  a republican  in  politics,  a member  of  the 
LaGrange  board  of  education,  secretary  of  the  repub- 
lican county  committee  and  president  of  the  Corn 
School  Week.  He  belongs  to  the  Masonic  lodge. 

Mr.  Waddell  is  married  and  the  father  of  three 
children.  Mrs.  Waddell  is  a daughter  of  Captain  and 
Mrs.  Samuel  P.  Bradford,  the  former  a soldier  in 
the  war  for  the  Union  and  for  eight  years  clerk  of 
the  LaGrange  Circuit  Court.  Mrs.  Waddell  was 
educated  in  the  LaGrange  public  schools  and  in  St. 
Mary’s  Academy  at  Notre  Dame,  Indiana.  The  chil- 

Vol.  11—29 


dren  are  Ruth  Marian,  Rose  Marjorie  and  Robert  M. 
Waddell,  Jr.,  all  students  in  the  LaGrange  public 
schools. 

Mr.  Waddell  was  publicity  chairman  in  connection 
with  all  of  the  World  war  drives  in  LaGrange 
County,  was  chairman  of  the  first  war  organization, 
and  in  connection  with  this  work  has  spoken  in 
nearly  every  voting  precinct  in  LaGrange  County  at 
public  meetings. 

William  Kline  has  spent  his  life  in  Huntington 
and  LaGrange  counties,  was  reared  and  trained  to 
farming,  and  though  identified  with  other  pursuits 
for  a number  of  years  he  finally  answered  a call  back 
to  the  land  and  recently  moved  to  one  of  the  good 
farms  in  Springfield  Township  of  LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  in  Huntington  County  September  13, 
1858,  a son  of  Peter  M.  and  Lucetta  (Seller.s)  Kline. 
His  parents  were  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  his 
father  born  in  1822  and  his  mother  in  1828  near  Har- 
risburg. After  their  marriage  in  Pennsylvania  they 
moved  to  Perry  County,  Ohio,  and  from  there  to 
Huntington  County,  Indiana.  They  arrived  in 
Huntington  County  when  the  present  City  of  Hunt- 
ington contained  only  a few  houses.  They  were 
farmers  in  that  section  of  Indiana  the  rest  of  their 
lives.  Peter  Kline  died  in  1892  and  his  wife  in  1914. 
He  was  a republican  and  very  active  in  the  party 
and  he  and  his  wife  were  members  of  the  Christian 
Church,  formerly  identified  with  the  New  Light 
branch  of  that  church.  In  their  family  were  eleven 
children,  Rebecca,  James,  Samuel,  Sarah  Ann,  Peter, 
Lucetta,  John,  Levi,  Mary  Jane,  William  and  Amos. 

William  Kline  attended  the  public  schools  of  Hunt- 
ington County,  was  reared  on  a farm,  had  his  first 
trials  in  agriculture  in  that  county,  and  in  1896  moved 
to  LaGrange,  Here  he  followed  different  occupa- 
tions for  several  years  and  for  eight  years  was  town 
marshal.  In  the  spring  of  1919  he  bought  a farm  of 
78%  acres  in  Springfield  Township.  This  is  a part 
of  the  Prentiss  farm  and  is  land  once  owned  by 

I. eslie  Appleman.  Mr.  Kline  does  general  farming 
and  stock  raising  and  during  his  first  year  showed 
the  quality  of  his  experience  and  ability  as  a farmer 
in  the  fine  crops  he  raised.  He  has  good  buildings, 
rich  soil,  and  is  in  a position  to  enjoy  independence 
and  comfort.  Politically  he  is  a republican. 

In  1896  he  married  Mrs.  Margaret  C.  Mygrants  of 
LaGrange.  They  have  one  son  Lea  A.,  born  May 
13,  1904,  and  now  being  educated  in  the  public  schools 
of  LaGrange. 

Frederick  Jacob  Brown.  For  a great  many  years 
the  Brown  family  have  been  one  of  splendid  initi- 
ative, business  energy  and  progressive  character  in 
the  citizenship  of  LaGrange.  There  were  several 
Brown  brothers  who  did  important  things  in  the  up- 
building of  the  city.  One  of  the  present  generation 
is  Frederick  Jacob  Brown,  for  many  years  a promi- 
nent druggist  in  the  city. 

Frederick  J.  Brown  was  born  at  LaGrange  August 

II,  1871,  is  a graduate  of  the  LaGrange  High  School 
and  took  the  pharmacy  course  at  Northwestern 
University  in  Chicago.  He  entered  the  drug  busi- 
ness in  June,  1896,  and  has  continued  it  without  in- 
terruption for  twenty-three  years.  He  is  a repub- 
lican, is  interested  in  local  affairs,  is  a member  of 
the  LaGrange  School  Board,  and  is  affiliated  with  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows.  He  and  his 
family  attend  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  which  his 
wife  is  a member. 

June  29,  1899,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Catherine 
Roy.  She  was  born  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  October  3,  1873,  a daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  Catherine  (Musser)  Roy.  Her 
father  was  born  in  LaGrange  County  in  1848,  a son 


450 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


of  Charles  and  Jane  Gray  (Oliver)  Roy.  The  Roys 
were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship, where  Charles  Roy  bought  a farm  of  240  acres 
and  cleared  up  most  of  the  land  and  made  it  produc- 
tive and  valuable.  He  and  his  wife  both  died  there. 
William  Roy  also  acquired  a farm  in  Clear  Spring 
Township.  As  a youth  he  did  his  part  as  a soldier 
in  the  Civil  war  and  for  many  years  was  affiliated 
with  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic.  He  was  a 
republican,  served  as  trustee  of  Clear  Spring  Town- 
ship, and  many  other  facts  are  remembered  to  his 
credit.  He  and  his  wife  were  married  November  7, 
1867,  and  he  died  October  8,  1902,  while  Mrs.  Brown’s 
mother  passed  away  March  17,  1917.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Church.  In  the  Roy  family 
were  six  children : Irva,  deceased  wife  of  R.  L. 

Thompson;  Jennie,  unmarried;  Jessie,  wife  of  H.  S. 
Zimmerman ; Mary  Catherine,  Mrs.  Brown ; Harry 
E. ; and  Edith,  wife  of  A.  W.  Davidson. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  had  four  children  t Sarah 
Margaret,  born  September  29,  1902,  now  a senior  in 
the  LaGrange  High  School;  Jacob  S.,  born  Decem- 
ber 18,  1905,  who  is  in  the  first  year  of  his  high 
school  work;  William  Roy,  born  August  5,  1911;  and 
Barbara,  born  April  13,  1914. 

The  father  of  the  LaGrange  druggist  was  the  late 
Jacob  S.  Brown.  His  father,  Abijah  Brown,  was 
born  at  Adams,  Vermont,  May  30,  1799.  When  a 
boy  his  parents  moved  to  Herkimer  County,  New 
York,  where  the  father  and  mother  of  Abijah  died. 
Abijah  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  married  Maria 
Shoff.  In  1826  he  settled  in  Allegany  County,  New 
York,  and  in  1838  moved  to  Huron  County,  Ohio. 
He  had  bought  land  in  LaGrange  County  as  early  as 
1845.  However,  it  was  not  until  1865  that  he  dis- 
posed of  his  property  in  Ohio  and  joined  his  family 
in  LaGrange  County.  On  December  30,  1867,  his 
wife  died  in  this  county  and  he  survived  her  less 
than  five  years,  passing  away  January  8,  1872,  both 
are  buried  in  the  LaGrange  Cemetery.  Abijah 
Brown  and  wife  had  seven  children:'  Electa,  Ira 
W.,  Charlotte  L.,  Jacob  S.,  Julia  M.,  Adrian  D.  and 
one  that  died  in  infancy. 

Jacob  S.  Brown  was  born  in  New  York  State  May 
22,  1829,  and  grew  up  in  Huron  County,  Ohio.  In 
the  fall  of  1854  at  the  age  of  twenty-five  he  came  to 
Indiana  and  located  near  the  south  line  of  Bloom- 
field Township.  Here  he  established  the  first  steam 
sawmill  in  Johnson  Township.  The  following  spring 
his  brother  Ira  W.  came  out  from  Ohio,  and  they 
shared  the  responsibility  of  operating  the  mill  for 
two  years.  Jacob  then  sold  out  his  share  in  the 
property  and  went  back  to  Ohio,  where  for  three 
years  he  followed  farming.  His  younger  brother 
Adrian  who  was  born  in  Huron  County,  Ohio,  De- 
cember 17,  1840,  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1865, 
and  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year  as  noted  above 
Abijah  Brown  and  his  son  Ira  bought  the  Boyd 
property.  In  the  spring  of  1867  Adrian  and  his 
father  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  Thus  Frederick 
Jacob  Brown  as  a druggist  is  in  a measure  continu- 
ing a business  that  has  been  in  the  family  for  half  a 
century  or  more.  Adrian  and  his  father  continued 
as  druggists  until  the  winter  of  1871,  when  Jacob  S. 
succeeded  to  his  father’s  place.  About  that  time 
Jacob,  Ira  and  Adrian  Brown  began  the  erection  of 
the  Brown  Hotel  Building,  which  was  completed  in 
the  spring  of  1872.  A four-story  brick  block  48  by 
100  feet  with  basement,  it  stood  as  the  largest  and 
most  conspicuous  improvement  in  the  business  dis- 
trict of  LaGrange  for  several  years.  The  building 
was  leased,  the  lower  rooms  being  occupied  by  bus- 
iness firms.  In  one  of  them  Jacob  S.  and  Adrian 
Brown  continued  their  drug  business,  while  the  bank 
occupied  another  part  of  the  building.  This  struc- 
ture was  destroyed  by  fire  January  7,  1877,  entailing 


a loss  of  over  $18,000.  In  1878  the  ground  was 
divided  and  Jacob  S.  and  Adrian  D.  began  the  im- 
provement of  their  holdings,  constructing  what  has 
ever  since  been  known  as  the  Brown  Block.  Adrian 
D.  took  the  north  lot  22  by  xoo  feet,  while  Jacob 
acquired  the  three  lower  lots,  22  by  80  feet.  The 
second  story  of  the  Jacob  S.  Brown  building  con- 
tains Brown  Hall,  the  best  hall  in  town,  with  a seat- 
ing capacity  of  800.  This  was  one  of  many  evidences 
of  the  progressiveness  of  the  Brown  brothers  as 
business  men  and  property  improvers  in  LaGrange. 
After  Jacob  S.  Brown  left  the  drug  business  he  was 
a grocery  merchant,  and  finally  sold  out  all  his  mer- 
cantile holdings  and  lived  retired.  He  was  very 
successful  though  his  prosperity  had  come  to  him 
largely  after  he  was  fifty  years  of  age.  He  died 
October  27,  1906. 

On  May  u,  1856,  he  married  for  his  first  wife 
Elizabeth  Ingraham.  Of  their  five  children  only 
two  grew  up : Ellen  M.,  who  was  educated  in  the 

LaGrange  High  School  and  the  County  Normal 
School,  was  a successful  teacher,  later  for  some  years 
was  employed  with  the  George  P.  Bent  Piano  Com- 
pany in  Chicago,  and  is  now  living  at  Highland  Park, 
Illinois,  unmarried;  and  Catherine  E.,  who  is  the 
wife  of  Ira  White,  for  many  years  a druggist  in 
South  Bend,  and  they  have  a daughter  Jane,  wife 
of  William  Duff,  Jr.,  of  LaGrange. 

Jacob  S.  Brown  and  his  second  wife,  who  died 
January  5,  1917,  aged  seventy-two,  had  two  children: 
Frederick  J.  and  Caroline  G.,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
Dr.  H.  B.  Roberts  and  lives  at  Highland  Park, 
Illinois. 

Adrian  D.  Brown  married  Helena  C.  Chamberlain, 
a sister  of  his  brother’s  wife.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren, Guy  C.,  Harold,  Mabel,  Thaddeus  and  Char- 
lotta,  who  is  now  deceased. 

Robert  Bruce  Stead,  who  is  one  of  the  leading 
automobile  salesmen  in  Northern  Indiana,  with  home 
at  LaGrange,  was  born  in  Greenfield  Township  of 
LaGrange  County  March  11,  1863,  son  of  Jacob 
Pickett  and  Nancy  Elizabeth  (Elya)  Stead,  the  for- 
mer a native  of  England  and  the  latter  of  New  York 
State.  The  paternal  grandparents  were  William  T. 
and  Hannah  (Pickett)  Stead,  both  born  about  seven 
miles  from  Leeds,  Yorkshire,  England.  During  the 
’30s  they  came  to  America  and  from  White  Pigeon, 
Michigan,  settled  in  Greenfield  Township,  where 
William  T.  Stead  died  in  1867,  when  about  seventy- 
three  years  of  age,  his  wife  having  passed  away  in 
1863.  Their  children  were  William,  John,  Thomas, 
George,  Hannah,  Joseph,  Robert  and  Pickett.  Jacob 
Pickett  Stead  grew  up  in  LaGrange  County,  had  a 
public  school  education,  and  owned  a farm  of  eighty 
acres  in  Greenfield  Township,  now  known  as  the 
Garletts  farm.  In  1873  he  sold  that  place  and  moved 
to  Mongo,  and  his  wife  died  there  in  1877.  After 
that  he  lived  in  Greenfield  Township  until  his  death 
on  February  19,  1905.  He  was  for  about  fifteen  years 
an  extensive  stock  dealer.  Politically  he  was  a 
democrat,  member  of  Orland  Lodge  of  Masons,  and 
one  of  the  well  known  citizens  of  the.  county.  His 
wife  Nancy  Elizabeth  Elya  was  a daughter  of  David 
and  Elizabeth  (Green)  Elya,  who  came  from  New 
York  to  LaGrange  County  in  1847  and  settled  in 
Springfield  Township.  David  Elya  was  a carpenter 
by  trade,  and  he  and  his  two  brothers-in-law,  Francis 
Smith  and  Nathan  Green,  also  carpenters,  worked 
together  and  erected  many  of  the  old  houses,  barns 
and  other  buildings  in  Springfield  and  Springfield 
Township  and  also  in  Steuben  County.  Jacob  Pickett 
Stead  and  wife  had  three  children,  Willis,  the  oldest, 
born  in  1861  and  dying  in  1867;  Robert  Bruce  was 
the  second  in  age ; Matilda  was  born  December  6, 
1870,  became  the  wife  of  Harley  Anderson.  Her 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


451 


two  children  were  Charles,  a farmer  in  Greenfield 
Township,  who  married  a daughter  of  B.  F.  Swihart; 
arid  Lulu,  wife  of  C.  E.  Truby.  Mrs.  Matilda  An- 
derson died  in  1896. 

Robert  Bruce  Stead  lived  in  Greenfield  Township 
until  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  and  then  lived  at 
Mongo.  He  attended  the  public  schools  there.  Since 
October,  1884,  his  home  has  been  in  Springfield 
Township.  In  1887  he  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Brushy  Prairie  and  in  1891  rented  the 
farm  of  Griffith  F.  Hall,  his  father-in-law,  and  con- 
tinued farming  until  1904.  In  the  spring  of  that  year 
he  left  the  farm  and  became  a salesman  for  the 
Belleville  Foundry  Company  of  Belleville,  Illinois, 
and  was  on  the  road  for  that  company  for  eleven 
years.  In  1915  he  began  selling  automobiles  for  the 
LaGrange  Auto  Company.  Mr.  Stead  is  a republican 
in  politics. 

October  30,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Florence  Mabel 
Hall,  who  was  born  in  Springfield  Township  October 
10,  1870.  Her  father  Griffith  Foos  Hall  was  born 
in  Clark  County,  Ohio,  April  2,  1832,  a son  of  Will- 
iam and  Lucinda  (Hall)  Hall.  Griffith  Hall  was 
brought  to  Springfield  Township  by  his  parents  in 
1835  and  grew  up  in  the  Brushy  Prairie  community. 
As  a young  man  with  a capital  of  $1,000  he  moved 
to  Cass  County,  Michigan,  and  contracted  for  a 
$10,000  farm.  Through  misfortune  he  was  com- 
pelled to  lose  his  investment  and  returned  to 
Springfield  Township  with  only  $600.  In  i860  he 
bought  256  acres  north  of  Brushy  Prairie,  adjoining 
the  village,  built  a fine,  brick  house,  the  first  of  its 
kind  in  the  township,  and  was  always  known  as  one 
of  the  substantial  men  of  that  community.  His  first 
wife  was  Lucinda  Bradford,  daughter  of  Elder 
Bradford.  They  were  married  in  1857  and  had  three 
children,  Charles,  Franklin  and  Lucinda,  all  of  whom 
are  now  deaceased. 

On  December  31,  1865,  Mr.  Hall  married  Mrs. 
Mary  A.  Appleman,  a daughter  of  David  L.  Poppino 
and  widow  of  John  W.  Appleman.  To  their  second 
marriage  were  born  two  children,  the  second  dying 
in  infancy. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stead  had  two  children.  Frank  C., 
born  August  27,  1887,  was  educated  in  the  Spring- 
field  Township  High  School,  is  a farmer  by  occupa- 
tion but  is  now  a salesman  for  the  LaGrange  Auto 
Company.  December  25,  1905,  he  married  Miss  Dona 
Parr,  who  was  born  in  Steuben  County  May  30,  1887, 
a daughter  of  John  and  Sylvia  Parr  of  Kendallville. 
They  have  one  child,  Basil,  born  November  7,  1906. 
The  second  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stead  was  Bessie 
born  December  1,  1898,  and  died  February  8,  1900. 

Claude  L.  Carpenter.  Many  of  the  government 
officials,  especially  those  in  charge  of  the  postoffices 
of  the  country,  have  been  appointed  to  these  re- 
sponsible positions  as  an  honorable  reward  for  party 
service  rendered,  but  in  no  instance  are  they  thus 
chosen  unless  fitted  for  the  work  in  question  and 
having  the  endorsement  of  the  responsible  men  of 
their  community.  Claude  L.  Carpenter,  postmaster 
of  Pleasant  Lake,  Indiana,  is  one  of  the  most  effi- 
cient young  men  of  Steuben  County,  and  his  selec- 
tion for  this  office  met  with  almost  universal  ap- 
proval not  only  from  the  men  of  his  own  party 
but  those  of  the  opposing  forces,  who  recognized 
his  capabilities  and  sterling  integrity.  The  original 
appointment  was  secured  hy  civil  service  examina- 
tion in  competition. 

Claude  L.  Carpenter  was  born  at  Pleasant  Lake, 
Steuben  County,  Indiana,  June  26,  1883,  a son  of 
Joseph  J.  Carpenter,  grandson  of  John  Carpenter, 
great-grandson  of  Thomas  Carpenter,  and  great- 
great-grandson  of  John  Carpenter.  The  last  named 
gentleman  was  born  in  Virginia,  and  had  the  mis- 


fortune to  be  captured  by  the  Indians  about  1750. 
As  was  the  custom  in  those  days,  he  had  turned 
his  horses  loose  in  the  woods,  and  went  out  to  get 
them,  when  he  was  surprised  by  a band  of  hostile 
redskins  and  taken  prisoner.  They  bound  his  hands 
with  a leather  strap,  still  preserved  as  a trophy  by 
the  Carpenter  family,  and  led  him  away  with  his 
two  horses.  After  they  had  journeyed  about  150 
miles,  during  which  time  John  Carpenter  learned 
that  they  proposed  to  take  him  to  their  village  still 
-several  days’  journey  away,  where  he  would  be  put 
to  the  torturous  Indian  death,  and,  watching  his 
opportunity,  he  effected  his  own  escape  while  the 
vigilance  of  his  captors  was  relaxed,  and  also  of 
his  horses.  Although  the  territory  was  entirely 
strange  to  him  and  he  was  without  compass,  his 
knowledge  of  woodcraft  was  such  that  he  made 
his  way  back  over  the  150  miles,  through  dense 
forests  a portion  of  the  way,  and  crossed  the  Ohio 
River  just  one-half  mile  away  from  the  point  over 
which  the  Indians  had  taken  him.  His  son,  Thomas 
Carpenter,  was  born  in  a rail  pen,  near  Marietta, 
Ohio,  and  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  white 
child  of  the  male  sex  born  on  this  side  of  the 
Ohio  River. 

John  Carpenter,  son  of  Thomas  Carpenter  and 
grandson  of  John  Carpenter  of  Virginia,  was  born 
in  Coshocton  County,  Ohio,  and  his  wife,  who  bore 
the  maiden  name  of  Sarah  Casey,  was  born  in  Jef- 
ferson County,  Ohio.  After  his  marriage  John  Car- 
penter became  a farmer  of  Defiance  County,  Ohio, 
and  there  he  died  in  1894,  and  his  widow  in  1904. 
Their  children  were  as  follows : William,  Hannah, 

Poe,  Ellen,  John,  Donia,  Joseph  J.,  and  Susan. 

Of  the  above  named  children,  Joseph  J.  Carpen- 
ter is  the  father  of  Claude  L.  Carpenter,  postmaster 
of  Pleasant  Lake,  and  his  birth  occurred  in  De- 
fiance County,  Ohio,  December  3,  1854,  while  his 
wife,  whom  he  married  in  1882,  was  born  in  the 
same  county,  she  having  been  Nellie  J.  Barr  prior 
to  her  marriage,  a daughter  of  James  and  Lucy 
(Close)  Barr.  Their  children  were  as  follows: 
Claude  L.,  Nina  M.,  Clair  J.,  William  B.,  and  John 
W.  In  1882  Joseph  J.  Carpenter  came  to  Steuben 
County,  Indiana,  and,  locating  at  Pleasant  Lake, 
conducted  a livery  business  here  for  about  nine 
years,  but  in  1891  sold  it  and  went  back  to  Ohio.  In 
the,  early  part  of  1897  he  returned  to  Steuben  County 
and  bought  a farm  in  Salem  Township,  which  he 
conducted  until  February,  1908,  when  he  sold  this 
property  and  moved  to  Michigan,  leaving  it  in  De- 
cember, 1909,  to  go  to  Virginia  for  two  years.  Once 
more  he  returned  to  Steuben  Township,  and  is  now 
engaged  in  operating  his  farm  of  forty  acres  in 
section  22,  Steuben  Township. 

Claude  L.  Carpenter  was  reared  at  Pleasant  Lake, 
where  he  received  his  intellectual  training  for  a 
period,  supplementing  it  with  attendance  upon  the 
schools  of  Ohio  and  those  of  Salem  Township,  and 
completing  his  studies  in  the  high  school  of  Hudson. 
When  he  attained  his  majority  he  began  farming  in 
Salem  Township,  from  which  he  moved  after  two 
years  to  Steuben  Township  and  spent  two  years 
more.  In  October,  1909,  Mr.  Carpenter  went  to  a 
farm  in  the  vicinity  of  Newport  News,  Virginia,  and 
was  there  engaged  in  business  for  four  years,  but 
left  in  January,  1913,  to  locate  permanently  at  Pleas- 
ant Lake.  While  he  was  in  Virginia  he  was  a gen- 
eral salesman  for  the  Auto  Tread  Company,  his 
territory  embracing  Maryland,  Virginia  and  North 
and  South  Carolina.  For  the  first  two  years  after 
his  return  to  Pleasant  Lake  he  was  connected  with 
the  Lake  Shore  Railroad,  leaving  it  to  accept  ap- 
pointment as  postmaster  of  Pleasant  Lake  on  Oc- 
tober 16,  1914.  At  that  time  the  office  belonged  in 
the  fourth  class,  but  through  his  efforts  the  business 


452 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


was  so  increased  that  it  was  put  in  the  third  class. 
He  received  the  presidential  appointment  from 
President  Wilson  December  20,  1916,  and  has  since 
continued  in  office. 

On  July  3,  1904,  Mr.  Carpenter  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Leona  Odessie  Ransburg,  a daughter  of 
George  W.  Ransburg.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  have 
the  following  children : Ruth  V.,  who  was  born 

May  ii,  1906;  Frances  O.,  who  was  born  August  19, 
1913;  and  Robert  L.,  who  was  born  July  18,  1916. 
Mr.  Carpenter  is  a Mason.  He  has  lived  up  to  the 
best  conceptions  of  manhood,  and  has  rendered  his 
government  efficient  and  valuable  service  in  his 
present  position,  as  well  as  in  a private  capacity 
during  the  late  war.  He  and  his  family,  from  which 
three  brothers  went  into  the  army  to  fight  against 
Germany,  are  recognized  as  being  100  per  cent  loyal 
Americans. 

Edmund  Barnes,  a well  remembered  citizen  of 
LaGrange  County,  was  born  in  Bloomfield  Township 
February  28,  1853,  a son  of  Edmund  and  Susan 
(Beardsley)  Barnes.  His  parents  came  from  Ohio 
to  LaGrange  County  at  a very  early  day,  and  ac- 
quired the  land  where  their  son  Edmund  was  born, 
and  in  the  midst  of  a clearing  in  the  woods  built 
their  log  cabin  home.  They  lived  there  the  rest  of 
their  days.  Their  family  consisted  of  ten  children : 
Matilda  Maria,  Jehile,  Harriet,  John,  Elizabeth,  Jane, 
Ephraim,  William,  Alice  and  Edmund.  Of  these 
Jehile  was  killed  while  a Union  soldier.  Only  two 
are  now  living,  Matilda  and  Harriet. 

Edmund  Barnes  after  his  father’s  death  remained 
on  the  homestead  with  his  widowed  mother,  and 
when  she  died  he  went  out  to  Kansas  and  spent  two 
years.  In  1881  he  bought  forty  acres  one  mile  north 
and  one-quarter  east  of  Plato,  and  his  family  have 
lived  there  since  1882.  Later  he  added  thirty-five 
acres  and  improved  the  land  with  good  buildings  be- 
fore his  death,  which  occurred  in  1896. 

On  March  1,  1882,  he  married  Charlotte  Campbell. 
She  was  born  in  Ingham  County,  Michigan,  a 
daughter  of  Marshall  and  Maria  (Boyer)  Campbell, 
who  came  from  Pennsylvania  and  were  early  settlers 
in  the  woods  of  Ingham  County.  They  had  twelve 
children,  Boyer,  Catherine,  Sarah,  Daniel,  Mathew, 
William,  Homer  H„  Angeline,  Mrs._  Charlotte 
Barnes,  Joseph,  Marshall,  Jr.,  and  Maria.  OL  the 
twelve  children  Boyer,  Daniel,  William,  Charlotte 
and  Marshall  are  still  living. 

Mrs.  Barnes,  who  with  her  son  Walter  and  family 
live  on  the  old  homestead,  had  two  children,  Jennie 
M.,  born  May  1,  1884,  and  Walter  E.,  born  December 
24,  1885.  Jennie  is  the  wife  of  Claud  C.  Smith,  a 
Mongo  merchant  and  business  man.  Walter  E.  was 
born  on  the  old  home  farm,  and  owing  to  the  death 
of  his  father  he  has  had  the  practical  responsibilities 
of  running  the  farm  since  he  was  fifteen  years  old. 
On  May  6,  1908,  he  married  Miss  Cordelia  Horner, 
a daughter  of  Elias  M.  Horner.  They  have  two 
children:  Ralph  D„  born  September  20,  1910,  and 
Mildred  Arlene,  born  July  23,  1914. 

Claud  C.  Smith.  A great  deal  of  the  business 
history  of  the  old  Village  of  Mongo  centers  around 
members  of  the  Smith  family.  Claud  C.  Smith  has 
been  a business  man  there  for  fifteen  years  or  more, 
formerly  a hardware  merchant,  and  now  a partner 
in  the  grain  elevator. 

His  lather,  the  late  well  remembered  and  stanch 
old  character  of  Mongo,  George  Smith,  helped  make 
business  and  community  history  in  this  part  of  La- 
Grange County.  George  Smith  was  born  in  Spring- 
field  Township,  on  his  father’s  farm,  in  1843,  a son 
of  George  W.  and  Jane  (Gray)  Smith,  the  former 
a native  of  New  York  State  and  the  latter  of  Con- 


necticut. George  W.  Smith  came  at  a very  early 
date  to  Indiana  and  located  at  Mongo,  where  he  con- 
ducted what  was  probably  the  first  real  hotel  in  the 
village.  That  hotel  stood  on  the  site  now  occupied 
by  the  Dan  Garlets  residence.  This  was  in  stage 
coach  days,  and  the  stage  between  Fort  Wayne  and 
Sturgis  made  regular  stops  at  the  Smith  Inn  or 
hotel.  George  W.  Smith  was  in  the  hotel  business 
only  about  a year  and  then  moved  to  the  farm  where 
his  son  George  lived  so  long.  George  W.  Smith 
acquired  500  acres  of  land  in  Indiana  and  cleared  up 
much  of  it  and  made  the  first  improvements.  Later 
he  and  his  wife  retired  from  the  farm  and  spent 
their  last  days  in  Mongo.  Their  children  were  three, 
George,  Sophia,  wife  of  Emory  Rodgers,  and 
Charles. 

George  Smith  received  his  education  in  the  old 
Ontario  Seminary  and  attended  school  there  one 
year  after  his  marriage.  As  a young  man  he  was 
a farmer  and  teacher,  but  later  went  back  to  his 
father’s  old  farm  and  had  200  acres  which  received 
his  particular  attention.  He  put  up  good  buildings, 
but  in  1906  he  built  a home  in  Mongo  and  lived  re- 
tired there  until  his  death  December  12,  1912.  He 
was  a township  trustee  many  years  and  active  in  all 
local  matters.  He  was  also  affiliated  with  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  as  a charter  member 
of  the  Lodge  at  LaGrange,  and  as  a Knight  of 
Pythias  helped  build  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Hall  at 
Mongo.  He  married,  March  12,  1871,  Miss  Mary 
Adaline  Colwell.  She  was  born  at  Mongo,  a daughter 
of  John  and  Margaret  (Wilson)  Colwell,  both  na- 
tives of  Ohio.  The  Colwell  family  also  had  a part 
in  the  early  activities  of  Mongo.  John  Colwell  on 
coming  to  Indiana  established  a blacksmith  shop  on 
the  site  now  occupied  by  the  home  of  Alice  Garlets. 
He  was  the  village  blacksmith  for  many  years.  He 
and  his  wife  lived  in  the  home  now  occupied  by 
Doctor  Grubb,  and  died  there.  In  the  Colwell  family 
were  five  children:  Wesley,  Catherine,  Charles, 

Mary  Adaline  and  Hugh,  Mrs.  George  Smith  being 
the  only  survivor.  She  became  the  mother  of  three 
children : Harriett,  Claud  C.  and  Opal,  and  of  these 
Claud  C.  alone  remains. 

Claud  C.  Smith  was  born  at  Mongo  November 
19,  1879,  attended  the  Mongo  High  School  and  the 
Tri-State  Normal  at  Angola,  where  he  graduated  in 
1899  with  the  Bachelor  of  Science  degree.  While 
a student  at  Angola  he  enlisted  June  21,  1898,  in 
Company  H of  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-seventh 
Volunteer  Infantry.  Like  most  of  the  volunteers  of 
the  Spanish-American  war,  he  spent  his  time  in  a 
training  camp,  being  sent  to  Fort  Tampa  and  also  to 
Ferninda.  On  the  first  of  October  he  was  returned 
to  Indianapolis,  where  he  was  mustered  out.  Mr. 
Smith  taught  one  year  in  Steuben  County  and  for 
five  years  was  principal  of  the  high  school  at  Mongo. 
Another  two  years  he  farmed  his  father’s  place  and 
then  engaged  in  the'  hardware  business,  establishing 
the  first  exclusive  hardware  stock  in  the  village.  His 
stock  was  first  housed  in  an  old  frame  building  on 
the  west  side  of  Main  Street.  When  this  building 
burned  it  was  replaced  by  Mr.  Smith  by  a sub- 
stantial brick  block  which  still  stands  as  a monument 
to  his  enterprise.  He  individually  built  and  owned 
the  black,  but  for  five  years  his  business  partner  as 
a merchant  was  L.  Haskins.  He  sold  out  his  mer- 
cantile interests  in  1915.  Besides  handling  hardware 
the  firm  also  did  an  extensive  business  in  the  buying 
and  selling  of  live  stock.  For  the  past  four  years 
Mr.  Smith  has  been  a partner  with  Mr.  Wingard  in 
the  grain  elevator  at  Mongo,  which  they  bought  from 
William  Hawk. 

Mr.  Smith  is  affiliated  with  the  LaGrange  Lodge 
of  Masons,  with  the  Knights  of  Pythias  at  Mongo, 
and  with  the  Elks  Lodge  at  Kendallville.  Lie  mar- 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


453 


ried  April  19,  1905,  Jennie  M.  Barnes,  of  LaGrange 
County,  daughter  of  Edmund  Barnes.  They  have 
one  son,  Hubert  B.,  born  September  25,  1906. 

Dr.  C.  A.  Gardner.  Among  the  professional  men 
of  Kendallville,  Indiana,  is  Dr.  Cyrus  Alvin  Gard- 
ner, who  has  been  in  the  practice  of  medicine 
and  surgery  in  that  place  for  the  past  fifteen  years. 

Doctor  Gardner  was  born  in  Fairfield  Township, 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  January  10,  1875,  a son 
of  Henry  and  Sarah  (Miller)  Gardner.  His  father 
was  a native  of  Pennsylvania  and  his  mother  of 
Ohio.  His  father,  at  the  age  of  six  years,  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Holmes  County,  Ohio,  where  he 
grew  to  manhood.  In  1845  he  located  on  a farm  in 
DeKalb  County,  Indiana,  being  one  of  the  early 
pioneers  of  the  county.  He  remained  on  the  same 
farm  until  1899,  when  he  moved  to  Kendallville, 
where  he  lived  until  his  death. 

Doctor  Gardner  was  born  and  reared  on  a farm. 
He  received  his  preliminary  education  in  the  dis- 
trict school,  graduating  from  the  grades  in  1893.  In 
September  of  the  same  year  he  entered  the  academic 
department  of  Wittenberg  College  at  Springfield, 
Ohio,  graduating  from  that  department  in  the 
spring  of  1895.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  he 
entered  Wittenberg  College,  completing  the  course 
in  the  spring  of  1899  with  the  degree  of  A.  B.  He 
was  prominent  in  student  affairs  in  college.  He 
was  president  of  his  senior  class  and  was  also  espe- 
cially active  in  athletics.  He  was  a member  of  the 
college  track  team  and  of  the  varsity  football  team, 
being  captain  of  the  college  team  when  Wittenberg 
gained  the  Ohio  championship.  He  is  a member  of 
the  Greek  letter  fraternity,  Phi  Gamma  Delta. 

In  the  fall  of  1899  Doctor  Gardner  entered  Rush 
Medical  College  at  Chicago  and  completed  his 
course  there  June  18,  1902,  receiving  the  degree  of 
M.  D.  The  same  year  he  received  from  Wittenberg 
College  the  degree  of  A.  M.  Immediately  after 
graduating  from  Rush  Medical  College  Doctor 
Gardner  located  in  Kendallville,  Indiana,  where  he 
has  gained  a high  reputation  in  medical  circles.  He 
is  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Health  and  Charities  of 
Kendallville,  is  surgeon  for  the  Ft.  Wayne  and 
Northwestern  Railroad,  and  was  acting  surgeon  for 
the  New  York  Central  Lines  in  1918.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Noble  County  Medical  Society,  the 
Indiana  State  Medical  Society  and  of  the  American 
Medical  Association. 

Doctor  Gardner  was  married  in  Chicago  Novem- 
ber 12,  1901,  to  Etta  Mae  Barringer  of  Springfield, 
Ohio.  They  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  and  he  is  a Knight  Templar  Mason. 

William  H.  Duff,  who  has  been  a resident  of 
LaGrange  County  for  half  a century,  and  has  been 
prominent  as  a farmer,  teacher  and  public  official, 
was  born  at  Rochester,  New  York,  December  26, 
1852,  son  of  William  and  Eliza  (Burns)  Duff. 
William  Duff  was  born  at  Ballina,  County  Mayo. 
Ireland,  and  was  married  in  that  country  and  about 
1849  crossed  the  ocean  to  Montreal,  Canada,  and 
the  following  year  came  to  the  United  States.  He 
and  his  family  located  in  Indiana  in  1869.  The 
parents  of  Eliza  Burns  were  Edward  and  Mary 
(Wilson)  Burns,  natives  of  Ireland,  who  came  to- 
the  United  States  about  1859. 

William  H.  Duff  was  seventeen  years  old  when  he 
came  to  Indiana.  He  had  attended  common  schools 
and  finished  his  education  in  the  Collegiate  Insti- 
tute at  Ontario.  For  fourteen  years  in  the  town  of 
Lima  he  farmed  and  taught  school.  He  has  also 
served  as  justice  of  the  peace,  was  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court  from  1893  to  1901,  was  prosecuting 
attorney  two  years,  and  served  as  juvenile  judge 


in  vacation.  A prominent  republican,  he  served  as 
county  chairman  of  his  party  in  1894-96. 

Mr.  Duff  is  a charter  member  of  Lima  Lodge 
of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  a member  of  the 
Methodist  Church. 

March  30,  1876,  at  Ontario,  Indiana,  he  married 
Harriet  M.  Keith,  daughter  of  James  M.  and 
Catherine  A.  (Brown)  Keith.  She  was  born  at 
Lima,  Indiana,  in  1853.  Her  father,  James  M. 
Keith,  was  born  at  Nelson  in  Madison  County, 
New  York,  February  25,  1811,  son  of  Simeon  and 
Hannah  (Taft)  Keith.  Catherine  Abigail  Brown 
was  born  in  Columbia  County,  New  York,  Decem- 
ber 8,  1817.  She  and  James  M.  Keith  were  married 
at  Lima  in  LaGrange  County,  December  17,  1837, 
and  they  and  their  family  constituted  pioneers  in 
Northeast  Indiana. 

Judge  Duff  and  wife  have  four  children:  William 
Burns  Duff,  a native  of  Lima,  who  married  Jane 
E.  White  of  LaGrange;  James  K.  Duff,  who  mar- 
ried Bess  L.  Gilbert;  Enid  E.  Duff,  who  is  the  wife 
of  Edwin  C.  Brant  of  LaGrange;  and  Mildred  C. 
Dickinson. 

G.  A.  Brillhart.  For  over  thirty  years  G.  A. 
Brillhart  was  identified  with  the  business  affairs 
and  civic  life  of  Kendallville.  He  was  a very  able 
merchant,  but  is  also  remembered  because  of  his 
substantial  qualities  as  a citizen,  the  liberal  efforts 
he  expended  in  behalf  of  church  and  other  local  in- 
stitutions, and  he  well  earned  the  esteem  which 
followed  his  memory. 

Mr.  Brillhart,  who  died  at  his  home  in  Kendall- 
ville, February  8,  1899,  was  born  in  Summit  County, 
Ohio,  November  28,  1835.  He  acquired  a common 
school  education  and  for  a number  of  years  was 
a successful  teacher.  While  teaching  he  also  worked 
as  a bookkeeper  for  the  merchants,  doing  this  to 
pay  his  board.  He  finally  left  off  teaching  and  be- 
came a bookkeeper  for  a firm  at  Liberty,  Ohio.  In 
that  town  in  1855,  he  married  Miss  Amanda 
Spangler. 

A year  after  his  marriage  he  again  resumed 
teaching,  and  lived  for  several  years  at  Edgerton, 
Ohio.  In  1866  he  came  to  Kendallville  and  here 
for  thirty  years  was  a leading  implement  and  hard- 
ware merchant.  He  built  up  a large  business  and 
he  also  profited  by  his  keen  foresight,  and  his  ex- 
tensive knowledge  of  business  and  affairs.  He  was 
always  kind  and  sympathetic,  and  gave  liberally 
of  his  means  for  charitable  work,  especially  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
which  he  was  an  active  member.  He  was  also  a 
member  and  past  noble  grand  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  and  in  politics  was  a re- 
publican. 

He  was  survived  by  Mrs.  Brillhart,  who  died  July 
12,  1918.  She  was  one  of  the  noble  women  of  Ken- 
dallville, a sincere  worker  in  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church,  and  beloved  by  all  who  knew  her, 
especially  by  the  children,  who  had  what  amounted 
to  a veneration  for  this  good  and  kindly  woman. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brillhart  had  three  children,  but 
the  only  one  now  living  is  Ida  L.  Brillhart.  Ida 
was  reared  and  educated  at  Kendallville,  and  had 
a high  school  course.  She  married  Jehu  Miller, 
who  was  born  and  educated  in  Ohio.  Mrs.  Miller 
has  one  daughter,  Gertrude,  who  was  educated  in 
the  Indianapolis  High  School  and  attended  college 
at  Washington. 

For  the  past  nineteen  years  Mrs.  Ida  L.  Miller 
has  been  a very  successful  business  woman  and  has 
an  office  through  which  many  important  transac- 
tions in  real  estate  and  loans  have  been  made.  She 
is  a member  and  liberal  supporter  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church. 


454 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


George  M.  White.  One  of  the  prominent  mer- 
chants of  LaGrange,  George  M.  White  is  a son  of 
that  old  time  and  honored  physician  of  the  county, 
the  late  Dr.  Edward  G.  White. 

George  M.  White  was  born  at  LaGrange;  Sep- 
tember 28,  1865.  His  birthplace  was  the  house  he 
lives  in  today.  He  was  educated  in  grammar  and 
high  schools  and  on  April  1,  1887,  engaged  in  the 
grocery  business  with  his  brother,  Ira.  They  were 
associated  for  ten  years,  at  the  end  of  which  period 
George  bought  out  his  brother  and  has  conducted  an 
individual  business  now  for  over  twenty  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a republican  and  is  serving  as  a mem- 
ber of  the  Town  Board. 

In  1901  he  married  Mary  Horning,  a native  of 
Lima  Township. 

Dr.  Edward  G.  White,  father  of  George  M. 
White,  was  born  in  Wayne  County,  New  York, 
March  22,  1830,  son  of  Ira  and  Jane  G.  (Bennie) 
White,  the  former  a native  of  Vermont  and  ihe 
latter  of  New  York  City.  Doctor  White  was  an 
infant  when  his  mother  died  and  in  1836  accom- 
panied his  father  to  Maumee  City,  Ohio.  His  father 
died  there  when  Doctor  White  was  twelve  years  of 
age  and  about  a year  later  he  returned  to  the  State 
of  New  York.  In  1845  he  again  made  his  home  at 
Maumee  City,  and  began  learning  the  tiade  of 
printer.  In  1847  he  went  to  Columbus,  Ohio,  and 
for  about  four  years  worked  in  the  offices  of  the 
State  Journal  and  the  Ohio  Statesman.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  1850  he  again  visited  his  native  state  and 
the  following  winter  took  up  the  study  of  medicine 
in  the  Sterling  Medical  College  at  Columbus,  Ohio, 
and  had  some  of  the  most  eminent  physicians  and 
surgeons  of  the  time  among  his  instructors.  He 
graduated  in  February,  1854,  practiced  a few  years 
in  Licking  County,  Ohio,  and  in  July,  1857,  came 
to  LaGrange,  Indiana.  Except  for  the  period  of 
the  Civil  War  he  was  steadily  engaged  in  practice 
and  his  services  were  appreciated  over  a wide  ex- 
tent of  territory  in  and  around  LaGrange  for  more 
than  forty  years  until  his  death  in  October,  1901. 

Immediately  after  the  battle  of  Stone  River  in 
1863,  Doctor  White  received  a telegram  from  Gov- 
ernor Morton  to  gather  as  many  surgeons  as  pos- 
sible and  report  for  special  duty  at  Nashville  and 
Murfreesboro.  Having  carried  out  this  instruction 
with  his  characteristic  promptness,  Doctor  White 
contracted  as  an  acting  assistant  surgeon  in  the 
Union  Army  and  remained  engaged  in  those  duties 
until  the  close  of  the  war.  In  l%ter  years  he  was 
examining  surgeon  for  applicants  for  pensions  and 
was  also  examiner  for  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  a 
number  of  other  insurance  companies.  He  also  at 
one  time  held  the  office  of  trustee  of  Bloomfield 
Township. 

In  1856  Doctor  White  married  Agnes  R.  Murch, 
of  Licking  County,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1909.  Their 
two  sons  to  reach  manhood  are  Ira  R.  and  George 
M.  Ira  R.  White  was  born  at  LaGrange,  in  June, 
1861,  graduating  from  the  LaGrange  High  School 
in  1878,  with  the  first  class  that  had  a formal  com- 
mencement. He  was  in  the  drug  business  with 
Charles  Allen,  later  with  Seth  McDonald,  and 
finally  sold  out  his  interest  in  that  partnership  and 
bought  a local  grocery  business  and  for  ten  years 
he  and  his  brother  George  were  partners.  About 
1897  Ira  White  moved  to  South  Bend,  Indiana, 
where  for  over  twenty  years  he  has  been  in  the  drug 
business.  He  married  Kittie  Brown  and  has  a 
daughter,  Jean,  now  the  wife  of  William  B.  Duff, 
Jr.,  of  LaGrange. 

Robert  William  McClaskey  was  born  at  La- 
Grange, Indiana,  on  July  4,  1886.  He  is  the  son  of 
John  Edgar  and  Alta  lone  (Crampton)  McClaskey, 


The  McClaskey  family  originated  in  Scotland.  The 
traditional  ancestor  married  one  of  the  daughters 
of  the  famous  Robert  Bruce,  King  of  Scotland. 
The  McClaskey  clan  were  loyal  supporters  'of  the 
House  of  Stewart,  which  for  years  was  the  ruling- 
dynasty  of  Scotland.  A large  majority  of  the  male 
members  of  the  family  lost  their  lives  at  the  battle 
of  Flodden  Field,  where  they  vainly  died  in  the 
cause  of  “Bonnie  Prince  Charlie’'  Stewart.  The 
family  were  strict  Presbyterians,  and  to  gain 
greater  freedom,  most  of  the  McClaskey  family 
name  moved  to  counties  Antrim  and  Down,  in  Ire- 
land. 

In  the  eighteenth  century  several  of  this  family 
immigrated  from  Ireland  to  America  and  settled  in 
New  Jersey,  Maryland,  and  Virginia,  and  records 
show  that  those  of  this  name  participated  on  the 
side  of  the  colonists  in  the  American  Revolution. 

Jacob  McClaskey,  paternal  great-grandfather  of 
Robert  William,  was  born  on  the  Juniata  River,  in 
Perry  County,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  the  only  child 
of  his  parents.  His  father  died,  the  mother  re- 
marrying a Mr.  Dean  and  having  two  children, 
Samuel  and  a girl  who  married  John  Straus.  Jacob 
McClaskey  grew  up  along  the  Juniata  River  in 
Pennsylvania  and  moved  to  Beaver  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  he  married  Margaret  Lowry.  Mar- 
garet (Lowry)  McClaskey  was  the  daughter  of 
Robert  Lowry,  who  had  nine  children:  John,  Frank, 
Robert  (father  of  the  late  Judge  Robert  Lowry  of 
Fort  Wayne,  Indiana),  James,  Alexander,  one  other 
son,  Jane,  who  married  a Beatty;  Mary,  who  died 
unmarried;  and  Margaret,  who  married  great- 
grandfather Jacob  McClaskey. 

In  1819  Jacob  McClaskey  moved  to  near  Mans- 
field, Ohio,  and  then  moved  to  Leesville,  Crawford 
County,  Ohio,  where  he  was  elder  in  the  Presby- 
terian Church  and  a strict  abolitionist.  He  here 
conducted  a station  on  the  “Underground  Rail- 
road,” freeing  runaway  slaves.  In  his  old  age  he 
lived  with  children  in  Steuben  County,  Indiana.  He 
died  January  6,  1871,  aged  eighty  years,  two  months, 
ten  days.  His  wife,  Margaret  (Lowry)  McClaskey, 
died  January  2,  1861,  aged  sixty-nine  years,  five 
months,  twenty-five  days. 

Jacob  McClaskey’s  children  were:  Jane,  who 

married  John  Clements;  Robert  (paternal  grand- 
father); Rebecca,  who  married  Dr.  John  McKean; 
Lydia,  who  married  Peter  West;  Mary  Ann,  who 
married  Abram  Hemery;  Nancy,  who  married 
Thomas  Parsons;  and  Julia  Ann,  who  married 
Joseph  Thomas. 

The  paternal  grandfather,  Robert  McClaskey,  was 
born  January  15,  1815,  in  a log  house  which  stood 
on  what  was  then  the  spot  where  three  counties  in 
Pennsylvania  joined,  namely:  Beaver,  Butler  and 

Mercer  counties.  When  he  was  four  years  old  his 
parents  moved  to  near  Mansfield,  Ohio,  and  later  to 
Leesburg,  in  Crawford  County.  There,  in  1836,  he 
married  Hannah  Dwinnell.  In  1844  he  traded  his 
farm  in  Ohio  for  100  acres  adjoining  LaGrange,  in 
LaGrange  County,  Indiana.  He  and  his  family,  with 
their  goods,  came  with  teams  and  wagons  to  La- 
Grange, Indiana,  in  October,  1844,  passing  through 
the  Black  Swamp,  near  Van  Wert,  Ohio.  The  first 
court  to  be  assembled  in  LaGrange  was  in  session 
in  the  frame  courthouse  when  they  arrived.  Robert 
McClaskey’s  house  was  located  where  Hotel  Ruick 
now  stands.  He  had  a shoe  shop  where  the  Platts 
Marble  Works  is  now  located.  There  he  employed 
several  men  and  made  most  of  the  boots  and  shoes 
for  the  town.  He  gradually  added  to  his  farm 
until  he  had  200  acres  adjoining  the  town  on  the 
east.  He  bought  and  laid  out  several  subdivisions 
in  the  town.  He  was  not  forward  in  disposition 
but  was  a leader,  very  erect  in  bearing,  being  6 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


455 


feet  i inch  tall.  He  with  Doctor  Butler,  Joe  Wade, 
Zoph  Scidmore  and  a few  others  started  the  first 
organization  of  the  republican  party  in  LaGrange 
County  in  1856.  In  later  life  he  built  a large  house 
on  his  farm  on  the  hill  to  the  east  of  LaGrange  and 
resided  there  until  his  death,  October  18,  1900. 
Robert  McClaskey’s  first  wife  died  at  LaGrange 
and  he  was  married  in  1851  to  Hannah  (Humiston) 
Durand,  the  widow  of  Amasi  Durand,  a farmer 
who  owned  land  adjoining  LaGrange.  The  widow 
had  two  sons,  George  and  Ira  Durand,  who  lived 
with  the  McClaskey’s  after  their  mother’s  second 
marriage.  Robert  McClaskev’s  second  wife  died  in 
1885. 

Robert  McClaskey's  children  by  his  first  wife 
were : Rachel,  deceased,  aged  sixteen,  in  1854 ; 

Julia,  unmarried,  now  living  in  LaGrange;  Margaret, 
who  married  Charles  R.  Moon  and  is  living  in  St. 
Joseph,  Michigan,  a widow;  Rebecca,  who  mar- 
ried Norman  Sessions,  both  living  at  Hawks  Park, 
Florida ; Nancy  Adeline,  who  married  E.  G.  Machan, 
both  living  in  Elkhart,  Indiana.  Bv  his  second  wife 
Robert  McClaskev  had  two  sons : Miles  Robert, 

who  died  in  1898,  aged  forty-six;  he  was  a lawyer 
in  LaGrange,  Indiana;  John  Edgar,  the  youngest  of 
the  family  and  father  of  our  subject. 

John  Edgar  McClaskey  was  born  at  LaGrange 
October  23,  1854,  and  died  there  April  25,  1905.  He 
grew  up  at  LaGrange.  taught  school  at  Shipshe- 
wana  one  year,  then  attended  Indiana  University  at 
Bloomington,  and  was  graduated  there  in  1879.  He 
belonged  to  the  Phi  Delta  Theta  fraternity.  After 
graduation  he  returned  to  LaGrange  and  studied 

law  in  the  office  of  Glascoe,  was  admitted 

to  the  bar  and  in  1884  opened  a law  office  for  him- 
self ; 1886-1888  he  served  as  prosecuting  attorney 
of  LaGrange  and  Elkhart  counties.  He  was  elected 
a member  of  the  LaGrange  school  board  and  served 
eight  years.  He  always  took  an  active  part  in  re- 
publican politics,  starting  when  he  was  a boy  as 
captain  of  the  “Grant  Sprouts,’’  a local  campaign 
organization  of  note.  For  several  years  he  served 
as  republican  county  chairman,  and  was  a factor  in 
district  and  state  politics.  As  a young  man  he  sang 
in  a local  campaign  organization  called  the  “Hungry 
Six.”  He  was  a lawyer  of  unusual  ability,  a ready 
speaker  before  a jury,  and  an  exacting  and  pro- 
found reasoner.  In  1900  he  formed  a law  partner- 
ship with  Frank  J.  Dunten  under  the  firm  name  of 
McClaskey  and  Dunten. 

Mr.  McClaskey  was  married  March  24,  1885,  to 
Alta  lone  Crampton.  She  still  resides  in  LaGrange, 
Indiana.  She  was  born  on  the  home  farm  of  her 
parents,  in  Van  Buren  Township,  LaGrange  County, 
ter  of  William  and  Emily  (Cook)  Crampton.  The 
former  served  as  county  commissioner  of  LaGrange 
County  and  was  a leading  farmer.  Extended  men- 
tion of  the  Crampton  family  is  given  elsewhere  in 
this  history  under  heading  of  G.  E.  Crampton.  The 
children  of  John  Edgar  and  Alta  I.  (Crampton) 
McClaskey  were : Robert  William,  Lura  Emily, 

who  resides  with  her  mother  in  LaGrange ; and 
Charles  Edgar,  who  is  engaged  in  the  life  insur- 
ance business  at  LaGrange,  Indiana. 

Robert  William  McClaskey  grew  up  in  LaGrange 
and  was  graduated  from  LaGrange  High  School  in 
1904.  While  in  high  school  he  took  an  active  part- 
in  debating  and  public  speaking  and  was  editor  of 
the  high  school  magazine.  He  taught  school  sev- 
eral years  in  the  county,  at  Mongo,  Plato,  Wood- 
ruff, and  as  an  instructor  in  LaGrange  High  School. 
In  the  summers  he  worked  for  different  concerns 
engaged  in  the  publication  of  county  histories  and 
at  one  time  is  very  proud  to  say  that  he  worked  for 
the  Lewis  Publishing  Company,  who  are  publishing 
this  edition.  Thus  he  saved  enough  money  to  put 


himself  through  college.  He  was  graduated  from 
Indiana  University  Law  School  in  June,  1913,  one 
of  the  honor  men  of  his  class.  While  in  college  he 
belonged  to  the  Delta  Tau  Delta  fraternity  and  also 
to  the  honorary  law  fraternity,  Phi  Delta  Phi.  On 
January  18,  1911,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at 
Bloomington,  Indiana,  and  practiced  law  one  year 
there  as  a partner  of  Elmer  Williams  under  the  firm 
name  of  Williams  and  McClaskey.  Subsequently 
he  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Indiana  Supreme 
Court  and  the  United  States  District  Court. 

Robert  William  McClaskey  naturally  developed 
an  interest  in  republican  politics.  In  1914  he  was 
elected  as  representative  from  the  LaGrange- 
Steuben  district  to  the  1915  session,  of  the  Indiana 
State  Legislature,  and  served  on  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee which  drafted  the  Indiana  Workmen’s  Com- 
pensation Law.  In  1916  he  was  re-elected  to  the 
1917  session  of  the  Legislature,  where  he  served  as 
chairman  of  the  Insurance  Committee  and  the 
“Plunder”  Committee  and  acted  as  republican 
“whip”  on  the  majority  side  of  the  house.  He  then 
engaged  in  the  investment  security  business  in  In- 
dianapolis and  promoted,  among  other  concerns,  the 
Indiana  Motor  Company,  of  which  he  is  president. 
This  concern  is  one  of  the  largest  state  distributors 
of  automobiles  and  trucks  in  Indiana.  In  1919  he 
became  a member  of  the  legal  staff  of  the  Indian- 
apolis branch  of  the  Travelers’  Insurance  Company. 

Mr.  McClaskey  was  married  on  June  1,  1914,  to 
Louise  Hite  Ferrell.  She  is  a native  of  Louisville, 
Kentucky,  and  a daughter  of  Louis  H.  and  Dorsey 
(Weatherford)  Ferrell,  both  from  old  Kentucky 
families.  Robert  William  and  Louise  (Ferrell)  Mc- 
Claskey have  one  son,  Robert  Bruce  McClaskey, 
born  at  Hutchinson,  Kansas,  on  September  30,  1915 
The  McClaskeys  live  at  3510  North  Meridan  Street, 
Indianapolis. 

John  A.  Spero  was  born  at  Applemanburg,  in  La- 
Grange County,  September  28,  1854.  In  the  course 
of  a busy  lifetime  he  has  spent  many'  y'ears  away 
from  the  scenes  of  his  childhood,  and  there  is  prob- 
ably not  a resident  of  LaGrange  Countv  who  is 
more  widely  traveled  and  has  seen  more  of  the  many 
sided  culture  and  activities  of  this  country  than 
Mr.  Spero.  Again  and  again,  however,  he  has  re- 
turned to  what  he  regards  as  the  garden  spot  of 
Indiana,  and  to-day  he  is  enjoying  a quiet  routine 
of  activities  on  the  land  where  he  was  born. 

Mr.  Spero  prefers  the  simplified  spelling  of  his 
family  name,  though  many  of  them  spell  it  Spearow. 
His  father,  John  Spearow,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
County,  Pennsylvania,  January  12,  1821,  son  of  James 
and  Susanna  (Stauffer)  Spearow.  He  came  to 
Springfield  Township,  LaGrange  County',  with  his 
parents  in  1846,  and  in  1854  rented  land  from  Ben- 
jamin Jones,  and  two  years  later  went  out  to  Polk 
County,  Iowa,  where  he  lived  for  many  years.  Then 
after  a brief  visit  to  LaGrange  County'  he  and  his 
brother  James  set  out  over  the  western  trail  for 
Pike’s  Peak.  He  was  gone  less  than  a year.  John 
Spearow  in  the  fall  of  1861  enlisted  in  Company  H, 
Forty-Fourth  Indiana  Infantry.  He  was  in  service 
until  honorably'  discharged  at  Nashville  on  account 
of  disability  on  January  20,  1863.  In  the  meantime 
he  did  a soldier’s  part  in  the  battles  of  Fort  Don- 
elson,  Shiloh  and  Perrysville.  On  returning  home 
he  worked  four  years  for  Peter  McKinley  and  then 
bought  a farm  in  Springfield  Township.  For  a num- 
ber of  years  he  carried  mail  from  Brushy  Prairie 
to  Kendallville  and  from  Brushy'  Prairie  to  Lima, 
Indiana. 

On  October  24,  1853,  John  Spearow  married 
Louisa  J.  Curtiss.  She  was  born  in  Monroe  County, 
New  York,  a daughter  of  Alanson  and  Paulina 


456 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


(Hall)  Curtiss,  formerly  of  New  York.  She  died 
March  I,  1879,  the  mother  of  three  children,  John 
A.  and  James  H.,  residents  of  Springfield  Town- 
ship; and  Schuyler  C.,  of  California.  On  June  13, 
1880,  John  Spearow  married  Anna  G.  Maybee,  a 
daughter  of  Cornelius  Maybee,  of  New  Jersey.  John 
Spearow  after  leaving  his  farm  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship lived  for  some  time  at  Applemanburg,  also 
at  Wright’s  Corners,  now  Woodruff,  and  also  had 
his  home  in  Springfield  Township,  near  the  present 
site  of  Valley  Bethel  Church.  For  a number  of 
years  he  was  a resident  of  Kendallville,  and  while 
there  was  employed  by  Kriwvitz  Brothers,  mil- 
lers. He  died  very  suddenly  while  on  a visit  to 
the  old  Rogers  homestead  in  Springfield  Township. 
Alanson  Curtiss  was  a brilliant  subject,  his  father 
being  a prominent  lawyer  in  Ireland.  Alanson  was 
an  old-time  school  teacher,  attorney  at  law,  justice 
of  the  peace,  postmaster,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  public  debates.  He  was  an  ardent  believer  in 
the  pure  democratic  principles.  His  wife,  Paulina 
(Hill)  Curtiss,  wa&.  born  in  Vermont.  Their  son 
John  was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh  by  the  side 
of  John  Spearow,  father  of  John  A.  John  A. 
Spero  grew  up  in  LaGrange  County,  and  during  his 
boyhood  days  worked  at  farming.  He  attended  the 
old  Red  Eagle  schoolhouse  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship, later  the  Mongo  schools,  and  his  last  term 
of  instruction  was  under  the  late  Samuel  Brad- 
ford, one  of  the  best  teachers  LaGrange  County 
ever  had. 

Mr.  Spero  was  endowed  with  the  gift  of  music, 
and  that  gift  he  improved  by  long  study  under 
some  of  the  best  masters,  and  for  years  he  exercised 
his  talents  to  cheer  and  entertain.  As  a boy  he 
attended  the  old-time  singing  schools.  During  1874-5 
he  was  a student  in  the  Fort  Wayne  Conservatory 
of  Music.  Later  he  took  private  lessons  under 
Dr.  Luther  Orland  Emerson  of  Boston,  a cousin  of 
Ralph  Waldo  Emerson,  under  Dr.  H.  R.  Palmer  of 
New  York  City,  and  still  later  was  a student  of 
D.  C.  McAlister,  who  prepared  him  to  sing  at  the 
Columbian  Exposition  at  Chicago  in  1893.  At  in- 
tervals through  all  these  years  he  was  a teacher  of 
music  in  Indiana,  Michigan,  Nebraska  and  Kansas. 
For  two  years  he  was  associated  with  Mason  Long- 
in  touring  the  states  of  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  Illi- 
nois, Indiana  and  Iowa.  Mr.  Spero  organized  the 
male  quartet  known  as  the  “Hoosier  Hummers,” 
which  sang  at  the  Michigan  State  Prohibition  Con- 
vention. Mr.  Spero  has  composed  the  music  for 
a number  of  song  books  in  general  use.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Orpheus  Club  of  Oakland,  Cali- 
fornia, composed  of  100  selected  voices,  the  greatest 
male  chorus  on  the  Pacific  Coast. 

Mr.  Spero  left  San  Francisco  just  ninety  days 
before  the  earthquake  of  1906.  He  then  went  to 
Montana  and  participated  in  drawing  for  the  Flat 
Head  Reservation.  His  ticket  bore  the  number  992 
and  entitled  him  to  160  acres,  but  he  never  filed  on 
the  homestead.  He  came  back  by  way  of  Pike’s 
Peak,  climbing  the  old  mountain  over  the  same 
trail  that  his  father  and  Uncle  James  had  gone  in 
the  early  ’60s.  Mr.  Spero  has  spent  much  time 
in  New  Mexico,  and  in  Florida  looking  after  lands 
of  his  brother  Schuyler. 

In  early  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  painter,  and 
followed  it  as  a means  of  livelihood  for  forty- 
four  years.  He  has  done  work  on  the  finest  resi- 
dences and  public  buildings  in  LaGrange  County. 
In  his  happy  environment  in  the  country  in  Spring- 
field  Township  he  has  applied  his  energies  suc- 
cessfully to  the  specialty  of  breeding  fancy  poultry, 
and  his  stock  has  won  many  prizes  at  the  midwinter 
poultry  shows.  In  politics  Mr.  Spero  was  for  many 
years  an  active  prohibitionist,  but  is  now  affiliated 


as  a republican.  He  is  a member  of  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd  Fellows  at  LaGrange. 

On  January  T,  1878,  he  married  Miss  Alice  Eliza- 
beth Deal,  who  was  born  in  Springfield  Township 
November  29,  1857.  Mr.  Spero  built  the  house  now 
owned  by  Howard  Perkins  at  Applemanburg.  He 
traded  that  to  Doctor  Sherrow  for  a drug  busi- 
ness at  Helmer,  and  after  being  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness for  a time  traded  for  the  Levi  Deal  farm  in 
Springfield  Township.  Seven  years  later  he  traded 
that  property  for  eighty  acres,  including  the  south 
half  of  the  old  Greenfield  farm,  and  then  traded 
with  Dr.  A.  K.  Hammond  for  property  in  Fort 
Wayne.  On  selling  his  Fort  Wayne  interests  he 
bought  the  Brushy  Prairie  property,  where  he  now 
resides,  and  which  was  his  birthplace. 

Mr.  Spero  and  wife  have  two  daughters : B. 

Inez,  who  was  born  February  2,  1881,  at  Appleman- 
burg, was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  that  vil- 
lage and  Helmer,  and  is  the  wife  of  Clyde  E.  Ham- 
mond, who  is  in  the  automobile  business  at  Howe. 
Daisy  Nevada,  the  second  daughter,  was  born  De- 
cember 8,  1886,  was  educated  at  Applemanburg  and 
Helmer,  and  is  the  wife  of  Roy  Vail,  proprietor  of 
the  Omaha  Tapestry  Paint  Company,  a thriving 
local  industry  of  LaGrange.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Vail 
have  a son,  Ralph  Spero  Vail,  born  January  10, 
1911. 

Mrs.  Spero  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  the  Orland  Seminary,  taught  several  terms  of 
district  schools  and  has  shared  her  husband’s  tastes 
in  music.  She  was  of  much  assistance  to  him  in 
his  musical  career  and  accompanied  him  on  concert 
tours.  She  is  a daughter  of  Henry  and  Helen 
(Wade)  Deal.  Her  mother  was  a daughter  of 
Robert  Wade.  Henry  Deal  was  born  in  Marion 
County,  Ohio,  February  22,  1832,  while  his  wife 
was  born  in  LaGrange  County  May  1,  1838.  They 
were  married  January  1,  1855.  Their  two  children 
were  Alice  E.  and  Willis  H.,  the  latter  a prominent 
real  estate  man  of  Paulding  County,  Ohio. 

Henry  Deal  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1854 
with  his  parents,  Conrad  and  Elizabeth  Deal.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  learning  the  car- 
penter’s trade  and  followed  it  until  1857,  when  he 
bought  a farm  of  120  acres  in  Springfield  Town- 
ship. He  improved  this  land,  and  he  later  moved 
to  Applemanburg  and  built  a fine  residence  and 
subsequently  sold  his  farm.  He  and  his  son  Willis 
attended  the  Centennial  Exposition  at  Philadelphia 
in  1876.  He  held  the  office  of  township  assessor 
for  several  years  and  was  a trustee  of  Springfield 
Township.  Henry  Deal  died  at  the  Village  of 
Applemanburg  December  28,  1913,  and  his  widow 
is  still  living  in  that  village. 

Benjamin  J.  Norris.  There  are  several  branches 
of  the  Norris  family  in  Northeast  Indiana,  including 
the  well-known  Clay  Township  farmer  and  land 
owner,  Benjamin  J.  Norris,  and  these  different  fam- 
ilies trace  their  origin  to  Huntingdon  County,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  Norrises  have  been  prominent 
as  land  owners  and  farmers  since  prior  to  the  Revo- 
lutionary war. 

Benjamin  J.  Norris  was  born  in  Penn  Township, 
Huntingdon  County,  July  10 , 1854.  His  great- 
grandfather was  Joseph  Norris,  who  married  Eliza- 
beth Enyert.  Their  son,  Joseph  Norris,  Jr.,  born 
in  Huntingdon  County,  married  Rachel  Mason,  a 
native  of  Bedford  County,  Pennsylvania.  Joseph. 
Jr.,  also  spent  his  life  as  a Huntingdon  County 
farmer,  and  his  children  were  Allison,  Mary  Ann, 
Jackson  and  Washington. 

Allison  Norris,  who  was  born  in  Penn  Town- 
ship, married  Elizabeth  Hoover,  a native  of  the 
same  township  and  county,  daughter  of  Ludwig 


d-<-l 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


457 


and  Catherine  (Grove)  Hoover.  Ludwig  Hoover 
was  a life-long  farmer  in  Huntingdon  County.  By 
his  marriage  to  Catherine  Grove  he  had  children 
named  Elizabeth,  Benjamin,  Jacob,  and  Catherine, 
and  for  his  second  wife  he  married  Mary  Nicke- 
demus,  and  had  three  children,  David,  John  and 
Sophia.  From  Pennsylvania  Allison  Norris  came 
to  Clay  Township  of  LaGrange  County  during  the 
spring  of  1876,  locating  on  a farm  in  section  28. 
He  lived  there  until  his  death  on  August  22,  1902, 
and  his  wife  passed  away  December  11,  1902.  Their 
family  were  Susanna,  Benjamin  J.,  Joseph,  Martha, 
Horatius,  deceased,  and  Harry  and  Anna,  twins,  the 
latter  deceased.  Allison  Norris  was  a member  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  while  his  wife  belonged  to 
the  German  Reformed  denomination. 

Benjamin  J.  Norris  acquired  his  education  in  his 
native  township  and  county  and  was  about  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  when  in  November,  1875,  he  came 
to  LaGrange  County.  In  the  following  spring  he 
went  on  the  farm  with  his  father  in  section  28,  and 
he  lived  there  continuously  and  operated  the  land 
as  a practical  farmer  until  the  spring  of  1918,  when 
he  rented  his  land  and  moved  to  section  25  of  Clay 
Township,  just  outside  the  corporation  limits  of 
LaGrange.  He  has  a pleasant  home  for  his  de- 
clining years,  and  his  prosperity  is  well  deserved. 
He  still  owns  a 160-acre  farm  in  section  28.  Mr. 
Norris  has  been  honored  with  official  position,  hav- 
ing served  nine  years  in  the  board  of  supervisors 
in  Clay  Township. 

He  married  Anna  Fink,  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Antha  (Hall)  Fink.  Mrs.  Norris  died  February 
21,  1918,  the  mother  of  three  children:  Jacob  Earl, 

who  married  Alta  Mehl ; David  Clem,  who  mar- 
ried Della  Johnson;  while  the  youngest  is  Belva 
May,  still  at  home  with  her  father. 

Charles  Eugene  Talmage  lived  a life  of  quiet 
and  effective  purpose  and  for  many  years  was  one 
of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Springfield  Township, 
LaGrange  County. 

He  was  born  on  the  homestead  of  his  father. 
Elisha  Talmage,  April  18,  1856,  and  died  on  the 
same  farm  June  24,  1910.  Other  pages  contain 
reference  to  his  kindred  and  ancestry.  All  his  life 
he  was  a farmer,  owned  the  old  homestead  in 
Springfield  Township,  and  found  his  chief  interest 
in  his  home  and  farm.  He  was  a republican  voter. 

March  30,  1876,  he  married  Emma  Jane  Joyce. 
She  was  born  at  Burr  Oak,  Michigan,  a daughter 
of  Dr.  James  William  and  Abbie  Jane  (Sherwood) 
Joyce.  Her  maternal  grandfather  was  Isaac  Sher- 
wood, a pioneer  of  LaGrange  County.  Mrs.  Tal- 
mage had  a brother,  Charles  Elliott,  who  is  now  liv- 
ing in  Cass  County,  Nebraska.  Charles  E.  Joyce 
married  Grace  Clizbee,  by  whom  he  had  one  son, 
James  W.,  and  for  his  second  wife  married  Viola 
Calkins  and  their  four  children  are  Charles,  James, 
Charlotte  and  Marjorie. 

The  old  Talmage  hometsead  is  now  owned  by 
Mrs.  Talmage  and  her  daughter  Lura,  who  is  their 
only  child.  Lura  was  born  January  27,  1877,  and 
is  the  wife  of  Dr.  Robert  Wade  of  Fremont.  Mrs. 
Talmage  makes  her  home  in  Fremont.  She  was 
educated  in  public  schools  and  the  Orland  Academy. 

Millard  F.  Owen  became  the  first  freight  and 
ticket  agent  at  Rome  City,  and  for  forty  years  held 
that  position,  and  during  that  time  his  personal 
energies  and  influence  have  had  as  much  to  do  with 
the  upbuilding  and  broadening  of  Rome  City  as 
could  be  credited  to  any  other  one  man. 

Mr.  Owen  spent  his  early  life  in  Michigan  and  is 
a native  of  Canada.  He  has  an  interesting  ancestry. 
On  his  own  account  he  has  done  much  to  add  in- 


terest to  the  early  history  of  the  family.  A Cana- 
dian kinsman  of  Mr.  Owen  in  a published  work 
has  had  this  to  say:  “This  branch  of  the  Owen 

family  are  noted  for  originality  in  devising  methods, 
for  love  of  variety  in  industrial  pursuits,  and  a 
tendency  to  roam.”  Many  of  them  have  been  in- 
clined to  mechanical  pursuits  and  there  were  a 
number  of  millers  among  the  Owens.  A few  of 
them  have  taken  kindly  to  the  soil,  a rural  environ- 
ment not  being  in  harmony  with  their  tastes. 

The  original  stock  was  an  old  and  influential 
Welsh  clan.  Some  of  the  more  famous  of  the 
descendants  were  Dr.  John  Owen,  the  Non-con- 
formist divine ; Richard  Owen,  the  great  naturalist ; 
Robert  Owen,  the  distinguished  organizer  and  social 
theorist;  his  sons  Robert  Dale  Owen  and  Richard 
Dale  Owen.  About  1400  occurred  the  Owen  Glen- 
ower’s  Rebellion,  practically  the  last  rebellion  of 
the  Welsh  in  the  British  Isles.  This  involved  sev- 
eral members  of  the  Owen  family.  Two  and  a half 
centuries  later  some  of  the  Owens  proved  doughty 
Royalists,  and  held  out  to  the  last  against  Cromwell 
and  his  army. 

It  was  as  a result  of  the  English  revolution  of 
that  period  that  Ludlow  Owen  and  his  two  sons 
Richard  and  George,  came  to  America.  Later  gen- 
erations were  divided  in  allegiance,  some  of  them 
being  staunch  Tories  while  others  were  identified 
with  the  Colonies  in  their  struggle  for  independence. 
There  were  two  brothers  of  the  family,  Jesse  and 
Abner  Owen,  who  were  on  opposite  sides  at  the 
battle  of  Lundy’s  Lane  in  the  War  of  1812. 

The  younger  of  these  brothers  was  Rev.  Jesse 
Owen,  whose  father  Epenetus  moved  from  New 
York  to  Canada  about  1825,  and  was  connected  with 
a firm  which  erected  mills  near  Simcoe,  Canada. 
Epenetus  was  soon  afterwards  killed  in  an  acci- 
dent in  the  mill.  Rev.  Jesse  Owen  was  born  at 
Chemung,  New  York,  September  29,  1787.  In  1807 
he  married  Anna  Winter.  He  moved  to  Canada  in 
1830.  He  was  ordained  a minister  and  was  active 
in  work  until  superannuated  in  1852.  He  died  in 
1878  at  the  age  of  ninety-one.  He  and  his  wife  had 
a large  family  of  children,  including  Joel  Winter 
Owen.  Joel  Winter  Owen  was  born  at  the  foot  of 
Genesee  Lake  in  New  York  state  March  28,  1817, 
and  died  at  Otsego  in  Allegan  County,  Michigan, 
March  3,  1902.  He  married  Cynthia  Kitchen  of 
Province  of  Ontario,  April  5,  1843,  and  she  died  in 
August,  1844.  Their  only  son,  Egbert  A.,  who  was 
born  July  12,  1844,  and  died  May  1,  1908,  became 
a prominent  business  man  and  always  remained  a 
subject  of  the  Queen. 

August  14,  1850,  Joel  Owen  married  Mary  Wood- 
beck.  She  was  born  in  New  York  state,  "daughter 
of  John  and  Jane  Woodbeck,  and  died  at  her  home 
at  Otsego,  Michigan,  May  2,  1914.  Joel  W.  Owen 
was  first  a cloth  dresser  by  trade,  but  after  his 
second  marriage  owned  and  operated  a combina- 
tion of  milling  interests  including  saw  mill,  grist 
mill,  carding  mill,  fulling  mill,  and  spinning  looms. 
For  many  years  he  lived  and  was  in  business  at 
Nanticoke  Falls,  Townsend,  Norfolk  County,  On- 
tario. He  was  appointed  a crown  official,  but  later 
became  involved  in  some  way  in  the  Canadian  rebel- 
lion. and  in  1857  he  sought  a new  home  at  Plain- 
well,  Michigan,  where  he  established  the  first 
mill.  He  was  both  in  the  lumber  and  flour  mill 
business  in  Allegan  County.  In  later  years  he  was 
a member  of  the  Congregational  Church,  in  politics 
was  a republican,  served  as  a member  of  the  Town 
Council  on  the  prohibition  ticket  and  was  elected 
a justice  of  the  peace.  Joel  and  Mary  Owen  had 
the  following  children : Millard  F. ; Cynthia  J.,  now 
living  at  Otsego,  Michigan,  wife  of  Eber  W.  Sher- 
wood; Jesse,  born  in  1858  and  never  married,  has 


458 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


had  a varied  and  successful  business  career  as  a 
flour  manufacturing  expert  and  in  the  course  of  his 
business  and  for  pleasure  has  visited  almost  every 
section- of  the  globe;  Cora,  wife  of  William  Jones, 
living  at  Otsego,  Michigan. 

Mr.  Millard  F.  Owen  of  Rome  City  was  the  first 
son  of  Joel  and  Mary  Woodbeck  Owen.  He  was 
born  at  Nanticoke  Falls,  Townsend,  Norfolk 
County,  Ontario,  July  4,  1851,  and  was  six  vears  old 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Allegan  County,  Mich- 
igan. He  lived  in  that  county,  in  Kalamazoo 
County  and  Barry  County  during  his  youth,  and 
received  a common  school  education.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  he  had  a responsible  place  in  the  flour 
mills  and  warehouse  business  of  his  father.  He 
learned  telegraphy  at  Otsego  in  the  office  of  the  old 
Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  Southern  Railway,  and 
began  his  practical  career  with  the  Grand  Rapids 
and  Indiana  Railroad,  then  known  as  the  Conti- 
nental Improvement  Company.  He  worked  up  and 
down  the  road  while  it  was  in  process  of  construc- 
tion as  an  extra  operator  and  agent  until  Septem- 
ber 26,  1874.  He  was  an  operator  and  ticket  clerk 
at  Sturgis,  Michigan,  until  December  16,  1874,  at 
which  date  he.  was  appointed  the  first  freight  and 
ticket  agent  at  Rome  City,  Indiana. 

During  the  long  period  of  his  service  at  this 
work  Mr.  Owen  has  given  his  best  energies  to 
building  up  and  conducting  the  Sylvan  Lake  Resort. 
For  years  his  official  title  during  the  summer 
months  was  superintendent  of  grounds.  For  many 
years  he  has  been  secretary-manager  of  the  Rome 
City  Row  Boat  Company.  He  was  president  and 
manager  of  the  Rome  City  Steam  Packet  Company 
during  its  life,  and  also  auditor  of  the  old  J.  H. 
House  Boat  Manufacturing  Company.  He  was 
auditor  of  the  first  telephone  company  at  Rome 
City.  He  was  first  assistant  secretary,  then  auditor, 
and  then  auditor  and  president  of  the  Island  Park 
Assembly  Association.  He  has  also  been  financially 
interested  in  the  Rome  City  Ice  Company  and  the 
Owen  & Cobbs  Ice  Cream  factory,  and  operated  the 
Island  Hotel  and  Restaurant  from  1896  to  1916.  He 
was  interested  in  opening  up  and  conducting  the 
Spring  Beach  Hotel  during  its  first  years  and  was 
owner  of  the  Sylvan  Lake  Hotel  from  1901  to 
1904.  He  was  associated  in  the  ownership  of  South 
Bluffs  and  Pleasant  Point  Cottage  Plats,  and  for 
the  last  four  years  owned  the  Lakeside  House. 

While  an  active  democrat,  Mr.  Owen  has  not  been 
a seeker  for  official  honors.  However,  he  was 
honored  with  a place  on  the  County  Council  four 
years  and  for  one  term  was  on  the  Orange  Town- 
ship Advisory  Board. 

Apart  from  his  material  achievements  and  ex- 
perience Mr.  Owen  is  a no, table  man  for  the 
diversity  of  lfis  interests  and  avocations.  He  has 
accumulated  a library  of  400  volumes,  mostly  his- 
tory, travels  and  scientific  works.  Of  especial  in- 
terest in  his  home  locality  is  his  compilation  of 
forty  volumes  of  “Rome  City  Scraps,”  including 
much  valuable  information  concerning  all  this  part 
of  Indiana.  In  fact  he  probably  has  more  infor- 
mation, the  result  of  years  of  collecting,  on  that 
vicinity  than  can  be  found  in  any  other  connec- 
tion in  existence.  For  a number  of  years  he  has 
been  compiling  in  manuscript  form  a continuous 
narrative  gathered  from  these  volumes  covering  a 
period  of  forty-four  years.  Mr.  Owen  possesses 
some  very  old  publications,  and  books  issued  xoo 
years  ago,  and  some  nearly  300  years  ago.  He 
has  also  collected  many  implements  and  curios  of 
the  past,  including  wool  and  flax  spinners,  bronze 
lard  lamps,  tin  lanterns,  candle  molds,  forceps,  pis- 
tols and  other  “painful  instruments.” 


June  26,  1876,  Mr-.  Owen  married  Mrs.  Mary 
Houghton,  daughter  of  William  R.  and  Amanda 
Truesdale.  She  was  born  in  December,  1850,  at 
Norfolk,  Ohio,  and  died  at  Rome  City  July  4,  1898. 
There  are  three  living  children  of  this  marriage. 
Lura  De,  born  April  11,  1877,  at  Rome  City,  mar- 
ried October  2,  1895,  to  Clement  G.  Routsong.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Routsong  were  railway  agents  and  tele- 
graph operators  for  the  Baltimore  & Ohio  until 
four  years  ago,  and  are  now  merchants  at  Wolcott- 
ville,  Indiana.  They  have  two  daughters,  Pauline 
De,  born  September  30,  1896,  at  Rome  City,  Indiana, 
and  Maxine,  born  December  6,  1901,  at  Albion, 
Indiana.  Jessie  M.,  the  second  child  of  Mr. 
Owen,  was  born  April  19,  1880,  and  is  the  wife  of 
James  W.  Isley,  manager  of  Isley  lumber  busi- 
ness at  Dodge  City,  Kansas.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isley 
have  one  daughter  and  two  sons,  Philip  Henry, 
Mary  B.,  and  Gene  Walter.  Vera  T.  Owen,  third 
child  of  Mr.  Owen,  is  a graduate  trained  nurse  of 
Sioux  City,  Iowa,  was  assistant  matron  in  a hos- 
pital at  Seattle,  Washington,  until  her  health  failed, 
and  is  now  a bookkeeper  with  the  Isley  Company 
at  Dodge  City,  Kansas. 

May  24,  1903,  Mr.  Owen  married  Mrs.  Roma  J. 
Coates  at  Rome  City.  By  her  first  marriage  to 
Lintsford  B.  Coates,  of  Frederick,  South  Dakota, 
November  30,  1886,  she  has  two  sons,  Glenn  N., 
born  in  South  Dakota,  September  20,  1887,  now 
train  dispatcher  at  Fort  Wayne  for  the  Grand 
Rapids  and  Indiana  and  Boyd  C.  Coates,  born  August 
31,  1899,  at  Frederick,  South  Dakota.  Their  father, 
Lintsford  B.  Coates,  is  buried  at  Otsego,  Michigan. 
Glenn  Coates  was  married  April  6,  1910,  to  Bertha 
Gilbert  and  they  have  three  daughters,  Roma,  born 
February  16,  1912,  Helen  M.,  born  October 
15,  1914,  and  Mildred  Janet,  born  April  20,  1917. 
Boyd  Coates  married  at  Rome  City  May  19,  1909, 
Dell  Sunday,  and  is  now  one  of  the  firm  of 
Burke,  Coates  & Burke,  of  Kalamazoo,  Michigan. 

The  only  son  and  child  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Owen  was  Meredith  F.,  who  died  October  3,  1905. 

Mrs.  Owen  is  the  oldest  daughter  of  Hon.  Samuel 
and  Sarah  (Coates)  Johnston.  Her  father,  a vet- 
eran of  the  Civil  war,  was  born  in  Scotland,  was 
a former  representative  on  the  South  Dakota  Legis- 
lature. Her  mother  was  of  a Kentucky  family.  Her 
father  died  at  Houghton,  South  Dakota,  August  12, 
1908,  and  her  mother  at  the  same  place  October  20, 
1901. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Owen  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  Church.  He  is  a past  master  of 
Rome  City  Lodge  No.  451  of  Masons,  of  Kendall- 
ville  Chapter  No.  64,  Royal  Arch  Masons,  and  he 
and  his  wife  are  active  in  the  Eastern  Star,  and 
Mrs.  Owen  is  a member  of  the  Pythian  Sisters. 

Through  her  ancestor  Asa  Branch  of  Revolu- 
tionary fame,,  of  Pittsfield,  Massachusetts,  she  has 
established  a valid  claim  to  the  society  of  the 
Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  and  is  a 
member  of  Mary  Penrose  Wayne  Chapter,  Fort 
Wayne,  Indiana.  Her  national  number  is  148,086. 

Mr.  Owen  is  also  working  on  his  side  of  the 
house  which  will  result  in  his  daughters  receiving 
these  high  honors  as  well,  through  Lieutenant  Epe- 
netus  Owen,  his  Revolutionary  ancestor. 

As  Mr.  Owen  looks  back  upon  his  own  history  and 
that  of  his  family  he  is  reminded  .that  the  “great 
whirligig  of  human  events  brings  about  a wonder- 
ful variety  of  combinations  and  conditions  in  the 
affairs  of  families  and  men.”  Thus  while  he  is 
descended  from  a family  that  has  had  a recorded 
history  for  centuries,  there  is  now  not  a single  male 
descendant  of  the  name  of  Owen  in  his  particular 
branch  of  the  family. 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


459 


Frank  P.  Sanders,  in  association  with  his  father 
and  other  members  of  the  family  has  played  a 
varied,  a long  and  prominent  part  in  the  business 
affairs  of  Wolcotville.  He  is  president  of  the 
State  Bank  of  Wolcottville,  having  been  one  of  its 
organizers,  and  was  elected  president  by  the  first 
board  of  directors. 

The  Sanders  family  was  well  known  in  DeKalb 
County  before  they  moved  to  LaGrange  County. 
Frank  P.  Sanders  was  born  at  Auburn,  in  DeKalb 
County,  September  5,  1854,  son  of  Samuel  P.  and 
Susan  (Parnell)  Sanders.  His  parents  were  both 
natives  of  England.  His  mother  came  to  the  United 
States  with  her  parents,  who  settled  in  DeKalb 
County,  where  she  grew'  up.  Samuel  P.  Sanders 
came  to  the  United  States  when  a boy  of  thirteen, 
also  lived  in  DeKalb  County,  was  educated  in  pri- ' 
vate  schools,  and  after  his  marriage  settled  on  a 
farm  near  Corunna.  A few  years  later  he  left  the 
farm  and  engaged  in  the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  Auburn,  and  the  greater  part  of  his  life 
was  spent  in  merchandising.  From  Auburn  he 
moved  to  Wolcottville  in  1870,  and  was  the  leading 
hardware  merchant  of  that  village  until  his  death 
in  1885.  He  and  his  wife  were  very  active  mem- 
bers of  the  Baptist  Church,  and  he  was  a repub- 
lican voter  without  aspirations  to  hold  office.  Samuel 
Sanders  and  wife  had  twelve  children,  only  three 
of  whom  are  still  living:  George  W.,  a business 

man  of  Wolcottville;  Mary,  wife  of  George  Tem- 
ple of  Stroh,  Indiana ; and  Frank  P. 

Frank  P.  Sanders  wras  reared  in  Auburn,  attended 
common  schools  there  and  at  Wolcottville,  and  as  a 
boy  became  associated  with  his  father  in  business. 
He  was  made  a partner  under  the  name  S.  P.  San- 
ders & Son,  and  after  his  father’s  death  in  1885  he 
took  over  the  personal  management  of  the  busi- 
ness. About  that  time  he  became  associated  with 
his  father-in-law,  Hon.  John  J.  Gillette,  though 
the  business  was  still  continued  under  the  Sanders 
name. 

The  hardware  implement  and  automobile  busi- 
ness is  still  carried  on  under  the  firm  name  of  F. 
P.  Sanders  & Sons,  Harry  and  Russell  being  the 
active  members. 

Mr.  Sanders  married  for  his  first  wife  Ida  Ben- 
der of  Akron,  Ohio.  She  died  in  1880,  the  mother 
of  one  son,  Harry  A.  In  1884  Mr.  Sanders  mar- 
ried Grace  L.  Gillette.  They  have  a son,  Russell 
G.,  a graduate  of  Wabash  College.  Air.  Sanders 
also  has  two  grandchildren.  His  wife  is  a member 
of  the  Baptist  Church  and  he  is  affiliated  with  the 
Blue  Lodge,  Chapter.  Council  and  Commandery  of 
Masonry,  and  is  Past  Master  of  Ionic  Lodge  No. 
380,  Free  and  Accepted  Masons.  Politically  he  acts 
as  a republican. 

Eugene  O.  Fisher.  It  would  be  appropriate  to 
refer  to  Eugene  O.  Fisher  as  a champion  farmer  of 
LaGrange  County.  His  products  have  served  to 
make  LaGrange  County  known  all  over  the  country 
and  even  abroad.  His  field  crops  have  been  ex- 
hibited in  county  fairs,  in  exhibitions  at  large  cities 
and  in  some  of  the  world’s  fairs,  and  scores  of 
premiums  and  other  awards  have  spoken  convinc- 
ingly of  the  quality  of  LaGrange  County  agricul- 
tural production  and  of  his  individual  ability  and ' 
success  in  co-operating  with  nature’s  forces. 

Mr.  Fisher,  whose  farming  interests  are  in  Clay 
Township,  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of  LaGrange 
County,  June  27,  i860,  a son  of  William  T.  and 
Catherine  (Nelson)  Fisher.  His  father  was  born 
in  Brown  Countv,  Ohio,  in  1834.  His  mother  was 
born  in  Eden  Township  of  LaGrange  County  in 
1839.  daughter  of  Anthony  Nelson,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  in  this  part  of  Northeast  Indiana.  Anthony 


Nelson,  when  all  this  country  was  an  unkempt  land- 
scape of  forest  and  prairie,  blazed  a trail  from 
Elkhart  Prairie  to  Emma  Lake,  which  he  named 
North  Lake.  Anthony  Nelson  married  Sophia  Sum- 
mev.  who  came  to  LaGrange  County  in  1828 
Anthony  Nelson  and  wife  lived  for  many  years  on 
the  line  between  Eden  and  Clear  Spring  townships 
in  LaGrange  County,  and  both  of  them  died  in  that 
locality. 

William  T.  Fisher  came  to  LaGrange  County  as 
a child  with  his  father,  Thomas  Fisher,  who  located 
in  Eden  Township.  The  wife  of  Thomas  Fisher 
died  there  in  1844  and  he  afterwards  went  to 
Arkansas  and  spent  his  last  years.  The  children  of 
Thomas  and  his  first  wife  were : William,  James, 

Van,  John,  Moses  and  Isaac.  By  a second  mar- 
riage he  had  children  named  Joseph,  George, 
Frances,  Kansas,  Evaline  and  Adaline.  William  T. 
Fisher  grew  up  in  Eden  Township  and  had  a public 
school  education  and  spent  his  active  life  as  a 
farmer.  He  owned  the  farm  north  of  Walnut  Cor- 
ners in  Clear  Spring  Township,  but  for  about  three 
years  lived  retired  in  LaGrange,  where  he  died  in 
August,  1910.  His  widow  is  still  living  at  La- 
Grange at  the  age  of  eighty.  William  T.  Fisher  was 
very  active  in  republican  politics  and  he  and  his 
wife  members  of  the  United  Brethren  Church. 
Their  children  were  three  in  number : Eugene, 

Bertha,  deceased,  and  Orpha,  wife  of  Allen  Lepiard, 
a son  of  the  LaGrange  County  pioneer,  Robert 
Lepiard. 

Eugene  O.  Fisher  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm 
in  Clear  Spring  Township,  and  was  educated  in  the 
schools  of  Sycamore  and  Walnut  Corners.  One  of 
his  teachers  was  Ira  Ford.  He  also  attended 
the  LaGrange  High  School.  For  over  thirty  years 
he  has  been  successfully  identified  with  farming, 
and  the  scene  of  his  operations  is  in  Clay  Town- 
ship. For  five  different  years  Mr.  Fisher’s  agri- 
cultural display  was  awarded  premiums  at  the 
Indiana  State  Fair.  He  sent  an  exhibit  of  wheat, 
oats,  timothy  seed  and  tobacco,  and  maple  syrup 
to  the  San  Francisco  Exposition  in  1914.  Alto- 
gether he  had  nineteen  entries  in  that  great  fair, 
and  was  awarded  twenty-one  prizes.  An  exhibit  of 
grains  made  by  him  at  the  International  Stock 
Show  in  Chicago  was  awarded  a .premium  for  the 
best  display.  Many  prizes  have  come  to  him  on  his 
farm  products  in  LaGrange  County  fairs  and  corn 
school  shows. 

Mr.  Fisher  is  a republican  in  politics  but  has  been 
too  busy  with  his  farming  to  take  an  interest  in 
politics  as  an  office  seeker.  On  March  4,  1885,  he 
married  Miss  Clara  Ford.  She  was  born  in  Bloom- 
field Township  of  LaGrange  Countj',  a daughter  of 
John  R.  and  Louise  (Price)  Ford.  Her  parents 
settled  in  Clay  Township  in  1856  and  later  moved 
across  the  road  to  Bloomfield  Township,  where 
her  father  lived  until  his  death  on  July  16,  1893, 
and  her  mother  passed  away  March  28,  1907.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Fisher  are  the  parents  of  four  children 
and  have  a number  of  grandchildren.  Their  chil- 
dren in  order  of  birth  are : Percy,  Lyle,  Dale  and 
Roy  Fern.  Percy  is  the  wife  of  Chauncey  Hughes 
of  Chicago  and  has  two  children,  Evelyn  and  Cath- 
erine. Lyle,  who  lives  at  Eagle  Grove,  Iowa,  mar- 
ried Gertrude  Larson  and  their  family  consists  of 
Jeanette,  Dorothy  and  Robert.  Dale  is  a resident 
of  Steele,  North  Dakota,  unmarried,  and  was 
drafted  and  served  as  a soldier  in  Camp  Custer 
five  months.  The  military  hero  of  the  family  is 
the  youngest  son  Roy  Fern.  In  December,  1917. 
he  enlisted  at  South  Bend  as  a private,  and  received 
his  training  in  this  country  at  Camp  Benjamin 
Harrison, . Jefferson  Barracks,  Camp  Custer  and  at 
Fort  Worth,  Texas.  From  Long  Island  he  was 


460 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


sent  overseas  to  France  in  June,  1918,  and  remained 
abroad  until  his  return  to  this  country  on  June  27, 
>919.  He  was  a private  in  the  141st  Infantry,  with 
the  famous  Thirty-Sixth  Division.  The  record  of 
that  division  is  one  of  the  most  brilliant  of  all  the 
units  composing  the  American  Expeditionary 
Forces.  He  was  ready  for  practically  every  duty 
call  with  the  141st  Infantry,  was  in  several  phases 
of  the  battle  of  the  Meuse,  was  at  Belleau  Wood, 
Chateau  Thierry  and  the  Argonne  Forest.  He  was 
over  the  top  three  times  in  one  day,  and  several 
prisoners  were  captured  by  him,  and  he  was  an 
expert  at  picking  off  snipers.  Though  never 
wounded  he  was  gassed. 

Frank  G.  Gilbert,  banker  and  one  of  the  most 
widely  known  citizens  of  Pleasant  Lake,  was  born 
in  that  town  March  15,  1871,  son  of  David  S.  and 
Millie  (Grant)  Gilbert. 

His  father  was  born  in  Lorain  County,  Ohio,  in 
1827,  and  his  mother  was  a native  of  Urbana,  Ohio. 
David  S.  Gilbert  came  to  Steuben  County  with  his 
parents  and  in  1849  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  went 
overland  to  California.  On  returning  to  Steuben 
County  he  settled  on  Pleasant  Lake,  having  a farm 
adjoining  that  body  of  water.  He  had  much  to  do 
with  the  development  of  the  town,  laying  out  two 
additions,  while  his  son  Frank  has  also  made  an- 
other addition  to  the  town.  David  S.  Gilbert  served 
as  township  trustee  several  times,  also  held  the  of- 
fice of  Justice  of  the  Peace,  and  was  an  active  re- 
publican, a member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  a 
Baptist.  He  died  in  1891  and  his  widow  in  1913. 
Their  two  children  were  Frank  G-  and  Grace,  the 
latter  the  wife  of  Clyde  Jackson. 

Frank  G.  Gilbert  attended  public  schools  in  Pleas- 
ant Lake,  also  the  Tri-State  College,  and  mixed  in 
with  his  commercial  pursuits  has  had  considerable 
experience  in  farming.  At  Angola  he  spent  one 
year  as  bookkeeper  with  the  Steuben  County  Bank 
now  the  Steuben  County  State  Bank.  He  was  in 
the  railway  mail  service  four  years,  also  did  cler- 
ical work  for  the  Lake  Shore  and  Michigan  South- 
ern at  Pleasant  Lake  and  for  eight  years  was  assis- 
tant cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Angola. 
In  1914  he  became  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
First  State  Bank  of  Pleasant  Lake  and  since  that 
day  has  held  the  office  of  cashier.  He  also  owns  a 
farm  in  Steuben  Township. 

Mr.  Gilbert  is  a republican,  a member  of  the 
Royal  Arch  Chapter  of  Masons  at  Angola,  and  is 
active  in  the  Baptist  Church,  being  superintendent 
of  the  Sunday  School  at  Pleasant  Lake. 

In  1899  he  married  Miss  Iva  Diller,  daughter  of 
John  and  Lucy  D.iller  of  Steuben  County.  They 
have  one  daughter  Ruth,  born  in  September,  1900, 
graduated  from  the  Pleasant  Lake  High  School  in 
1918,  and  is  now  a student  in  the  Tri-State  College. 

William  H.  Short,  M.  D.  in  addition  to  his  pro- 
fessional prominence  is  president  of  the  LaGrange 
State  Bank.  He  was  born  in  Eden  Township  of 
LaGrange  County. 

His  father  Thomas  Short  was  born  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, April  8,  1820,  son  of  James  and  Frances  (Gil- 
bert) Short,  natives  of  Ireland.  The  family  moved 
to  Ohio  when  Thomas  Short  was  a boy  and  the 
father  died  there.  In  1841  Thomas  Short  came 'on 
foot  to  Indiana  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  wild 
land  in  Eden  Township.  He  made  a permanent 
settlement  there  the  same  year  and  on  January  13, 
1842,  married  Margaret  Larimer.  She  died  Sep- 
tember 28,  1877,  the  mother  of  eleven  children.  In 
1880  Thomas  Short  married  Mrs.  Mary  Murray. 
He  was  a democrat  in  politics,  and  a member  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church. 


Doctor  Short  grew  up  on  his  father’s  farm,  at- 
tended the  Collegiate  Institute  at  Ontario  two  years, 
spent  one  year  in  college  at  Adrian,  Michigan,  and 
read  medicine  with  Doctor  Larimer,  his  uncle.  He 
attended  his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Ann  Arbor, 
Michigan,  in  the  winter  of  1866-67,  and  finished  his 
course  in  1869.  For  half  a century  he  has  been  a 
member  of  his  profession  in  LaGrange  and  for  a 
number  of  years  practiced  with  his  brother  Dr. 
John  L.  Short. 

Doctor  Short  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the 
LaGrange  State  Bank  in  1903,  and  has  been  presi- 
dent of  the  institution  from  the  beginning. 

William  Watters,  who  made  an  honorable  rec- 
ord as  a soldier  in  the  Union  army  during  the  Civil 
war,  has  been  a resident  of  LaGrange  County  for 
over  half  a century,  and  is  one  of  the  prominent 
farmers  and  a former  county  treasurer.  His  home 
is  in  Clear  Spring  Township. 

He  was  born  in  Mifflin  County,  Pennsylvania,  No- 
vember 20,  1839,  and  paid  his  first  visit  to  Indiana 
in  1859.  He  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  and  from 
that  state  enlisted  for  service  in  the  Union  army. 
He  was  all  through  the  war  and  yet  never  had  a 
sick  day  all  the  time.  During  1866  he  was  engaged 
in  railroading,  and  then  came  to  LaGrange  County. 
On  February  18,  1886,  he  married  Miss  Catherine 
Yoder.  They  settled  in  Clear  Spring  Township,  and 
since  1881  Mr.  Watters  has  lived  on  his  present 
farm,  comprising  223  acres.  Beginning  with  small 
means,  successive  years  brought  him  abundant  pros- 
perity and  also  a high  place  of  achievement  in  his 
community.  He  was  elected  and  served  five  years 
as  assessor  of  Clear  Spring  Township,  and  as  county 
treasurer  he  served  from  1902  to  December  31,  1906. 
While  county  treasurer  he  lived  at  the  county  seat, 
but  with  that  exception  has  lived  on  his  farm.  He 
is  a stockholder  in  the  Farmers  State  Bank  at  To- 
peka. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watters  have  four  living  children : 
Samuel,  trustee  of  Clear  Spring  Township;  Myron 
F.,  a graduate  of  the  common  schools  and  a farmer ; 
Albert,  now  a farmer,  is  a graduate  of  high  school 
and  the  Tri-State  College  at  Angola;  and  Nora,  un- 
married. Mr.  Watters  is  a charter  member  of  the 
Lodge  of  Odd  Fellows  at  Topeka,  a member  of  the 
Grand  Army  Post,  and  a republican. 

John  R.  Doll  has  spent  his  career  chiefly  as  an 
agriculturist,  has  had  experience  as  a farmer  in 
Ohio,  Michigan  and  Indiana,  and  for  a number  of 
years  has  had  a pleasant  home  and  fine  farm  of  128 
acres  in  Spencer  Township  of  DeKalb  County. 

Mr.  Doll  was  born  at  East  Greenville  in  Stark 
County,  Ohio,  June  18,  1864,  a son  of  Ignatius  and 
Catherine  (Rudy)  Doll.  His  father  was  born  in 
Stark  County  and  his  mother  in  Pennsylvania.  The 
grandfather,  Joseph  Doll,  was  for  many  years  a 
justice  of  the  peace  in  Stark  County.  Joseph  Doll 
married  Polly  Kitt,  who  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio.  Her 
father,  Jacob  Kitt,  settled  in  that  part  of  Eastern 
Ohio  in  1805.  Mr.  Doll’s  mother,  Catherine  Rudy, 
was  reared  from  early  girlhood  in  Stark  County, 
and  after  she  and  her  husband  married  they  settled 
on  a farm  and  in  1867  moved  to  Canton,  the  county 
seat,  where  she  is  still  living.  Ignatius  Doll  died 
at  Canton.  Both  parents  were  active  members  of 
the  Lutheran  Church,  and  Ignatius  was  a republican. 
There  were  five  children,  four  still  living:  George 
W.,  of  Massillon,  Ohio ; Charles  W.,  of  Gibson, 
Colorado;  John  R. ; and  Jennie  M.,  wife  of  Charles 
Hammer,  of  Canton,  Ohio. 

John  R.  Doll  from  the  age  of  three  years  lived_  at 
Canton,  Ohio,  until  1882,  and  acquired  his  education 


WILLIAM  WATTERS 


HI  STORY. OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


461 


in  the  public  schools  there.  On  leaving  Ohio  he  fol- 
lowed farming  in  Kent  County,  Michigan,  until 
1894,  and  in  that  year  located  at  Spencerville,  In- 
diana. 

December  24,  1895,  Mr.  Doll  married  Vienna  Shil- 
ling, daughter  of  Solomon  and  Esther  (Bliler) 
Shilling.  This  is  one  of  the  old  and  prominent 
names  of  DeKalb  County.  Mrs.  Doll  was  born  on 
the  old  Shilling  homestead  in  Spencer  Township 
and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Doll  have  three  children : Esther  K.,  George 

R.  and  Alice  J.  These  children  have  received  good 
school  advantages,  Alice  being  still  a student  in 
high  school.  The  family  are  members  of  the  Luth- 
eran Church  and  Mr.  Doll  has  been  a liberal  sup- 
porter of  the  church  and  its  allied  causes.  He  is  a 
democrat  in  politics  and  is  a stockholder  in  the 
Farmers  and  Merchants  Bank  at  Spencerville. 

Charles  F.  Holsinger  of  Wolcottville  has  been 
one  of  the  busiest  farmers  in  that  section  of  North- 
east Indiana  for  many  years,  and  yet  has  found  time 
to  cultivate  and  exercise  many  interests  outside  of  his 
money  earning  business.  He  has  given  due  time  to 
the  best  interests  of  his  community,  is  active  socially, 
is  proud  of  his  home  and  family  and  thoroughly 
believes  that  he  lives  in  the  garden  spot  of  America. 
He  is  a great  lover  of  the  lakes  of  Northern  Indiana, 
and  has  a summer  cottage  at  Rome  City,  convenient 
to  the  sporting  haunts  of  the  region.  Mr.  Holsinger 
is  widely  known  as  a trap  shooter  and  fisherman. 

He  was  born  in  Noble  County,  February  17,  1853, 
son  of  John  and  Mary  A.  (Stroman)  Holsinger. 
His  father  was  born  in  Stark  County,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 9,  1817,  and  died  July  21,  1885,  after  a very  suc- 
cessful career  in  Northeast  Indiana,  though  he  came 
here  a poor  man.  Charles  F.  Holsinger  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools,  attended  the  Wol- 
cottville High  School,  and  lived  at  home  to  the  age 
of  twenty-one.  During  the  years  1871-72-73  he 
taught  school  in  Noble  County.  He  then  rented  his 
father’s  farm  in  Orange  Township  for  two  years, 
having  his  brother  as  a partner.  In  1876  he  bought 
a farm  in  Johnson  Township  of  LaGrange  County 
and  lived  on  it  until  1883.  In  that  year  he  returned 
to  the  old  homestead  and  in  1885  upon  his  father’s 
death  acquired  230  acres  of  the  old  farm.  For 
over  thirty  years  that  was  the  scefie  of  his  activ- 
ities as  a farmer  he  made  the  place  pay  by 
his  progressive  management.  Mr.  Holsinger  for 
many  years  was  a breeder  of  Holstein  cattle  and  his 
stock  won  many  premiums  at  the  fairs  of  Northern 
Indiana  and  Ohio.  On  December  12,  1918,  he  moved 
to  his  town  home  in  Wolcottville  and  has  sold  his 
farm  to  his  sons. 

November  20,  1873,  Mr.  Holsinger  married  Eliz- 
abeth A.  Garmire.  To  this  union  four  children 
were  born:  Jesse  G.,  Ray  C.,  Grace  Barbara,  and 
Fred  W.  The  mother  of  these  children  died  May 
29,  1889.  September  28,  1890,  Mr.  Holsinger  married 
Mary  Lenora  Myers,  who  was  born  September  1, 
1865,  a daughter  of  Benjamin  F.,  and  Savilla 
(Myers)  Myers.  Her  father  was  born  in  Noble 
County,  Indiana,  September  19,  1843,  and  her 
mother  in  Ohio.  Mrs.  Holsinger  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  in  the  Methodist  College 
at  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  She  is  the  mother  of  three 
children,  Rhua  May,  Niel  F.,  and  Waldo  F.,  the  last 
named  being  deceased, 

Mrs.  Holsinger  is  an  active  member  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church  and  its  Sunday  School.  Mr.  Hol- 
singer is  a member  of  the  Independent  Order  of 
Odd  Fellows  and  he  and  his  wife  are  members  of 
the  Rebekahs.  He  is  also  affiliated  with  Rome  City 
Lodge  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  his  wife  is 
active  in  the  Pythian  Sisters,  of  which  she  is  past 


chief  , and  member  of  the  Grand  Lodge.  In  politics 
Mr.  Holsinger  has  been  a stalwart  republican  and 
has  served  as  delegate  to  both  the  county  and  state 
convention  and  as  a member  of  the  County  Central 
Committee. 

Jesse  G.  Holsinger,  son  of  Charles  F.  Holsinger 
and  Elizabeth  A.  Garmire,  was  born  November  8, 
1876.  He  attended  the  public  schools  of  Orange 
Township,  completed  the  course  in  the  Southwest- 
ern School  of  Telegraphy  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri, 
and  was  afterward  employed  as  train  dispatcher  for 
the  Wabash  Railroad  at  Montpelier,  Ohio,  for  twelve 
years.  He  married  Orra  M.  Marshall,  of  Rome  City, 
Indiana,  November  25,  1897.  Orra  M.  Marshall  was 
born  September  6,  1877.  One  son  was  born  of  this 
union  in  August,  1898,  hut  died  in  infancy.  A daugh- 
ter, Elizabeth  J.,  was  born  March  23,  1902. 

Ray  C.  Holsinger  was  born  July  28,  1881.  He  was 
educated  in  the  Orange  Township  public  schools, 
completed  the  commercial  course  at  Angola,  Indiana, 
and  attended  college  at  Marion,  Indiana.  He  has 
been  employed  on  the  Wabash  Railway  since  March, 
1902,  as  agent  at  various  stations,  last  five  years 
having  been  located  at  Aetna,  Indiana,  where  muni- 
tions for  the  allied  countries  were  manufactured. 
He  married  Elsie  Henning,  of  Hudson,  Indiana,  on 
November  9,  1903.  To  this  union  one  daughter  was 
born,  Frances  Lenore,  on  April  29,  1908.  She  died 
in  infancy.  There  are  also  two  sons,  Richard,  born 
March  20,  1912,  and  Carl,  November  12,  1913.  Elsie 
Henning  Holsinger  was  born  at  Hudson,  Indiana, 
January  5,  1882,  and  educated  in  public  schools  in 
Hudson,  Indiana,  and  also  attended  college  at  An- 
gola, Indiana.  She  is  a member  of  the  United  Breth- 
ren Church  and  has  also  been  taking  an  active  part 
in  Red  Cross  work  and  various  charitable  institu- 
tions w'hile  at  Aetna,  Indiana. 

Grace  Barbara  Holsinger,  third  child  of  Charles 
F.  Holsinger,  was  born  at  Rome  City,  Indiana,  No- 
vember 4,  1884.  After  graduating  from  the  Rome 
City  High  School  she  took  a special  cburse  in  the  To- 
ledo (Ohio)  Manual  Training  High  School,  and  later 
graduated  from  the  Thomas  Normal  Training  School 
of  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  then  took  additional  work 
in  domestic  science  and  home  economics  in  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago.  She  taught  at  the  Clarkston 
(Mississippi)  Academy  and  at  the  Asheville  (North 
Carolina)  Normal  and  Collegiate  School  for  Girls. 
On  November  9,  1909,  she  married  Harry  G.  Hedden, 
then  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  son  of  the  late  Stephen 
Douglas  Hedden,  of  Kendallville  and  Fort  Wayne, 
Indiana.  The  husband  was  born  in  Delaware  County, 
Ohio,  November  23,  1882.  Left  motherless  in  in- 
fancy, he  lived  with  the  late  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Finch  until  about  twelve  years  old.  Then  he  wrent 
to  live  with  his  father,  who  had  married  again  and 
located  in  Kendallville,  Indiana.  He  attended  the 
Kendallville  High  School  and  also  the  Drake  Uni- 
versity Academy  and  College  of  Liberal  Arts,  Des 
Moines,  Iowa.  He  is  now  an  advertising  writer 
(with  Conner  Advertising  Agency)  in  Denver,  Colo- 
rado. Virginia  Lenore  Hedden,  first  child  of  this 
couple,  was  born  in  Denver,  Colorado,  August  8, 
1913.  She  died  in  infancy.  Barbara  Eudora  Hedden 
was  born  February  15,  1917,  also  in  Denver,  Colo- 
rado. Robert  Ray  Hedden  was  born  at  Denver, 
Colorado,  July  19,  1919. 

Fred  W.  Holsinger,  son  of  Charles  F.  Holsinger, 
was  born  at  Rome  City,  Indiana,  May  28,  1889.  He 
attended  the  Orange  Township  public  schools.  After 
completing  the  high  school  course  at  Rome  City  he 
attended  college  at  the  Ohio  Northern  University  at 
Ada,  Ohio.  He  has  been  employed  for  the  last  nine 


462 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


years  in  the  railway  mail  service  on  the  New  York 
Central  Lines.  He  married  on  February  19,  1911, 
Eva  Grace  Ressler.  She  was  born  at  Brimfield,  In- 
diana, July  18,  1885,  and  educated  in  Orange  Town- 
ship public  schools  and  attended  college  at  the  Val- 
paraiso University  at  Valparaiso,  Indiana.  She 
taught  school  in  the  Rome  City  public  school  for 
eight  years.  To  this  couple  one  son  was  born,  Max 
Frederic  Holsinger,  born  March  21,  1915.  They  re- 
side at  Kendallville,  Indiana. 

Rhua  May  Holsinger  was  born  November  1,  1892. 
She  was  educated  in  the  Orange  Township  public 
schools  and  graduated  from  the  Rome  City,  Indiana, 
High  School.  On  September  25,  1913,  she  mar- 
ried Ernest  Dale  Osborn,  of  Brimfield,  Indiana. 
They  were  married  by  Rev.  John  W.  Miller  at  Al- 
bion, Indiana.  Ernest  Dale  Osborn  was  born  at 
Wawaka,  Indiana,  May  16,  1892,  graduated  from  the 
Rome  City  High  School  and  is  now  employed  at 
Detroit,  Michigan,  in  the  manufacture  of  automo- 
biles. To  this  couple  one  son  and  one  daughter  were 
born.  Ernest  Holsinger  Osborn  was  born  April  21, 
1914.  Their  daughter,  Roberta  Lenore  Osborn,  was 
born  March  10,  1916. 

Neil  F.  Holsinger  was  born  at  Rome  City,  In- 
diana, May  27,  1894.  He  was  educated  in  the  Orange 
Township  public  schools  and  graduated  from  the 
Rome  City  Commissioned  High  School.  He  was 
married  to  Georgia  E.  Brown,  of  Fort  Wayne,  In- 
diana, January  13,  1916,  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Reese. 

Georgia  E.  Brown  was  born  at  Payne,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 10,  1898.  She  was  also  educated  in  the  public 
schools.  To  this  union  one  daughter  and  one  son 
were  born.  Mary  Frances  Holsinger,  their  daughter, 
was  born  December  23,  1917,  and  Donald  Harry 
Holsinger,  their  son,  was  born  June  23,  1919.  They 
reside  at  Rome  City,  Indiana,  but  for  the  last  five 
years  have  been  actively  engaged  in  farming. 

Schuyler  Colfax  Spero.  Loyalty  to  home  land 
is  taken  pretty  much  for  granted,  and  a more  dis- 
criminating test  as  to  the  claims  a certain  district 
has  upon  the  affections  of  men  is  a continued  in- 
terest on  their  part  after  they  have  cast  their  lot 
with  other  communities.  A former  resident  of  La- 
Grange  County  whose  experience  has  made  him  al- 
most a cosmopolitan,  and  who  retains  a sincere  and 
loving  interest  in  Northeast  Indiana  is  Schuyler 
Colfax  Spero,  for  many  years  an  active  newspaper 
man  and  for  a quarter  of  a century  a resident  of  the 
Pacific  Coast. 

Mr.  Spero  was  born  in  Springfield  Township,  La- 
Grange  County,  September  28,  1870,  son  of  John 
and  Louisa  J.  (Curtis)  Spero,  the  former  a native 
of  Lancaster  County,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  latter 
of  Monroe  County,  New  York.  Both  families  are 
widely  known  in  Northeast  Indiana.  In  the  paternal 
line  Mr.  Spero  represents  old  Pennsylvania  stock, 
possibly  of  Holland  origin,  while  through  his  mother 
he  is  of  New  England  ancestry.  The  first  schools 
he  attended  were  the  White  Eagle  and  Appleman- 
burg  district  schools.  Later  he  was  a student  in 
the  grammar  and  high  schools  of  Kendallville,  and 
also  for  two  terms  benefited  by  attendance  at  the 
Teachers’  Normal  and  by  a course  in  a business  col- 
lege. He  was  a teacher  in  both  LaGrange  and  Noble 
counties.  For  several  years  he  was  a clerk  with  the 
Lake  Shore  & Michigan  Southern  Railway  Company 
at  Kendallville  and  at  Byron,  Ohio.  He  then  took  up 
agency  work,  and  traveled  through  several  portions 
of  Indiana,  Ohio  and  Michigan.  Through  the  in- 
fluence of  a friend  he  accepted  an  offer  to  take  up 
newspaper  work  in  San  Jose,  California,  and  thus 
in  the  fall  of  1893  severed  his  associations  with 
Northeast  Indiana.  In  1897  he  joined  the  forces  of 


the  Morning  Call  at  San  Francisco  and  was  with 
that  paper  for  thirteen  years.  Beginning  with  1911 
he  spent  more  than  two  years  with  the  Los  Angeles 
Times,  then  for  five  years  was  on  the  Oakland 
Tribune,  and  at  present  is  connected  with  the  San 
Francisco  Daily  Bulletin.  His  duties  as  a news- 
paper man  have  given  him  a broad  knowledge  of 
personal  contact  with  California,  New  Mexico,. 
Arizona,  Nevada,  Oregon  and  Washington.  He 
made  an  excursion  to  the  Grand  Canyon  of  the 
Colorado  in  Arizona  and  an  article  concerning  same 
appeared  in  the  Santa  Fe  Railway  Employees’ 
Magazine.  He  is  gifted  with  a ready  pen,  and  fre- 
quently has  pleased  his  old  friends  back  home  by 
the  contribution  of  a poerrl  or  article  for  Indiana 
papers.  His  memory  of  and  interest  in  the  good  old 
country  of  Northeast  Indiana  improves  with  age. 
He  is  an  untiring  worker  in  whatever  he  does,  and 
his  boyhood  industry  enabled  him  to  acquire  a good 
education  and  has  stood  by  him  in  all  the  successive 
tests  of  his  progress. 

Mr.  Spero  is  a republican  without  radical  partisan- 
ship, and  is  more  particularly  interested  in  all  the 
sound  principles  of  Americanism.  He  joined  the 
Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows  in  1891,  is  still  in 
good  standing  in  that  order,  and  before  leaving  Ken- 
dallville reached  the  position  of  high  priest  of  the 
Encampment.  In  religion  his  essential  faith  is  com- 
prehended in  the  Golden  Rule  and  the  gospel  of 
Good  Cheer. 

At  Salinas,  California,  September  16,  1896,  Mr. 
Spero  married  Anna  F.  Kalfus,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Henry  and  Elizabeth  (Birkhead)  Kalfus  of  Louis- 
ville, Kentucky.  Her  ancestry  includes  some  of  the 
old  time  and  prominent  families  of  Virginia.  Her 
parental  grandfather  was  Henry  F.  Kalfus,  Sr.,  who 
married  Matilda  Harrison,  sister  of  Dr.  Burr  Harri- 
son and  daughter  of  Cuthbert  Harrison  of  Bards- 
town.  The  Harrisons  and  Henry  Kalfus,  Sr.,  served 
many  terms  in  the  Kentucky  Legislature.  Mrs. 
Spero’s  mother  was  an  only  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph 
F.  Birkhead.  Mrs.  Spero  graduated  from  some  of 
the  best  schools  of  her  native  state  and  soon  after 
her  father’s  death  she,  her  mother  and  brother,  went 
to  California.  She  was  one  of  the  first  suffragists 
south  of  the  Mason  and  Dixon  line.  She  was  a 
member  of  the  faculty  of  the  Louisville  Girls’  High 
School  and  one  of  the  organizers  of  its  Alumnae 
Association,  also  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Cas- 
talian  Literary  Club  of  Frankfort,  which  still  exists 
under  another  name.  She  has  done  much  club  work 
as  member  and  president  and  was  a delegate  to  the 
Biennial  Federation  of  Clubs  at  a Denver  meeting. 
She  published  and  edited  Report,  a society  and  lit- 
erary journal  in  San  Jose,  California,  for  five  years 
She  has  always  been  a student.  She  graduated  from 
the ' University  of  California  in  1912  with  her  two 
children,  majoring  in  law.  The  children  were  both 
admitted  to  the  bar,  but  the  son  died  soon  after- 
ward. The  daughter,  Italia  de  Jarnette,  is  the  wife 
of  Dr.  W.  W.  Hollingsworth,  professor  of  political 
science  in  Washington  University,  at  St.  Louis. 
Mrs.  Spero  devotes  much  time  to  study  and  writing 
and  has  published  stories  and  poems. 

Hon.  Edward  R.  May  graduated  at  Yale  College 
in  1838,  and  although  one  of  the  youngest  of  his 
class,  he  had  acquired  a reputation  which  gave 
promise  of  future  distinction.  After  leaving  col- 
lege, he  was  for  two  years  engaged  in  teaching 
school  in  the  East.  Having  at  the  same  time,  en- 
tered upon  the  study  of  law,  he  was  in  due  time 
admitted  to  the  New  London  County  bar,  in  Con- 
necticut. Influenced  by  the  hope  of  benefit  to  his 
health,  he  removed  to  Angola,  Steuben  County,  In- 
diana, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1843.  By 


HISTORY  OF  NORTHEAST  INDIANA 


463 


skill  in  his  profession,  and  by  heartily  identifying 
himself  with  the  public  interests,  sustaining  and 
promoting  the  cause  of  education,  of  temperance, 
and  the  institutions  of  religion,  he  rapidly  acquired 
position  and  influence.  He  was  a member  of  our 
State  Legislature.  He  was  also  a member  of  the 
State  Constitutional  Convention.  He  went  from 
Angola  to  California  in  the  year  1852,  and  returned 
the  same  year,  when  his  forecasting  mind  fixed 
upon  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  as  a point  of  command- 
ing importance  in  the  future  Northwest.  He  had 
hardly  located  there  when,  August  2,  1852,  after 
only  a few  hours  illness  he  died  of  cholera. 

Littleton  M.  Sniff,  college  president.  Born  in 
Hocking  County,  Ohio,  November  30,  1849.  Son  of 
Isaiah  and  Elizabeth  Moore.  A.  B.  Ohio  Northern 
University,- Ada,  Ohio.  A.  M.  1881.  Married  to  El- 
vira M.  Vandervort  of  Waldron,  Michigan,  August 
25,  1872. 

President  Tri-State  College,  Angola,  Indiana,  1885, 
until  present  time.  Prohibitionist  in  politics.  Member 
Christian  (Disciples)  Church.  Odd  Fellow.  Home, 
Angola,  Indiana.  (Copied  from  “Who’s  Who,” 
1918-1919.) 

Will  H.  McEwen,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the 
Albion  Democrat,  is  a native  of  Noble  County,  In- 
diana, born  on  a farm  in  the  Township  of  Jeffer- 
son, December  26,  1865.  His  parents,  Hannibal  F. 
and  Minerva  (Bowman)  McEwen,  were  brought  to 
Noble  County  in  their  childhood,  the  former  dying 
when  Will  H.  was  a lad  ten  years  of  age.  Deprived 
of  a father’s  counsel  and  care,  young  McEwen  was 
reared  by  his  mother,  who  instilled  into  his  youth- 
ful mind  many  valuable  lessons,  which  have  had 
a decided  influence  in  moulding  and  directing  the 
subsequent  course  of  his  life.  After  completing  the 
common  school  course,  he  entered  the  Northern 
Indiana  Normal  School  at  Valparaiso,  from  the 
penmanship  department  of  which  he  was  graduated 
in  1884,  and  the  following  winter  was  employed  as 
instructor  in  all  kinds  of  writing  and  fine  pen  work. 
Animated  by  a desire  to  increase  his  scholastic 
knowledge  with  the  object  in  view  of  preparing 
himself  for  the  teacher’s  profession,  he  spent  the 
next  year  in  the  above  mentioned  institution,  and 
the  following  autumn  began  his  pedagogical  labors 
in  Noble  County.  Mr.  McEwen  alternated  teaching 
with  attending  the  Valparaiso  School  and  the  State 
Normal  School  at  Terre  Haute,  and  while  a student 
made  rapid  and  substantial  progress,  becoming  one 
of  the  most  thorough  and  competent  teachers  in  the 
County  of  Noble.  Not  caring  to  devote  his  life  to 
educational  work,  he  discontinued  teaching  in  1888 
and  turned  his  attention  to  merchandising,  purchas- 
ing a stock  of  groceries  in  Albion  and  continuing 
in  that  line  of  trade  for  a limited  period  only.  Dis- 
posing of  his  business,  he  next  opened  an  insurance 
office  at  the  county  seat,  and  to  this  he  devoted  his 
time  and  attention  until  1894,  when  he  was  appointed 
postmaster  at  Albion  by  President  Cleveland. 

Mr.  McEwen  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his 
duties  in  the  spring  of  that  year  and  served  until  May 
1,  1898,  proving  a most  faithful,  efficient  and  popular 


official.  In  January,  1897,  he  entered  into  partner- 
ship with  Henry  C.  Pressler,  and  purchased  of  O. 
H.  Downey  the  Noble  County  Democrat,  of  which 
he  assumed  editorial  management,  his  associate 
looking  after  the  business  interests  of  the  plant. 
Under  the  joint  control  of  Pressler  and  McEwen, 
the  Democrat  continued  to  make  periodical  visits 
until  May  i,  1898,  at  which  time  the  latter  purchased 
his  partner’s  interest  and  became  sole  proprietor. 
He  soon  changed  the  name  to  the  Albion  Democrat, 
and  supplying  the  office  with  new  material,  greatly 
improved  the  paper  in  its  mechanical  make-up  and 
the  quality  of  its  literary  matter,  making  it  not  only 
the  recognized  official  organ  of  the  local  democracy, 
but  also  one  of  the  brightest  and  most  newsy  sheets 
published  in  the  northern  part  of  the  state.  Since 
taking  charge  of  the  Democrat,  Mr.  McEwen  has 
demonstrated  decided  ability  as  a newspaper  man, 
both  as  a clear,  keen,  incisive  writer  and  business 
manager.  The  circulation  has  continually  increased, 
liberal  advertising  patronage  has  been  secured,  and 
with  many  new  and  approved  appliances,  the  paper 
visits  its  numerous  patrons,  a model  of  typographic 
art  and  an  exponent  of  orthodox  democracy  of  the 
Jefferson  school.  Editorially  it  lost  nothing  when 
compared  with  the  majority  of  local  papers  pub- 
lished in  the  state,  and  in  the  hands  of  the  present 
proprietor  it  certainly  will  continue  what  it  has  been 
in  the  past — a clean,  dignified  model  family  news- 
paper, filled  with  the  latest  general  news  and  all  the 
interesting  local  happenings  of  Noble  County. 

Mr.  McEwen  has  a laudable  ambition  to  make  the 
Democrat  worthy  of  popular  favor,  and  to  this  end 
he  spares  no  reasonable  efforts  to  procure  for  its 
columns  the  best  reading  matter  obtainable.  While 
democratic  in  its  political  aspect,  it  is  also  designed 
to  vibrate  with  the  public  pulse  and  to  be  a reflex 
of  the  current  thought  of  the  age.  With  a large  and 
increasing  circulation  and  a lucrative  advertising- 
patronage,  the  Democrat,  under  the  editorship  of 
Mr.  McEwen,  is  destined  to  play  an  important  part 
in  the  political  affairs  of  Noble  County. 

Mr.  McEwen  was  married  December  23,  1889,  to 
Florence  B.  Franks,  for  some  years  one  of  Noble 
County’s  most  popular  and  efficient  teachers,  and 
daughter  of  Abram  and  Maria  Franks,  the  marriage 
ceremony  taking  place  at  her  parents’  home  in  Elk- 
hart Township. 

For  two  years  Mr.  McEwen  served  as  town  clerk 
of  Albion,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  position 
in  an  able  and  praiseworthy  manner.  He  is  a mem- 
ber of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  Lodge  in  Albion,  and 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church.  With  the  exception 
of  a few  months  in  Chicago,  he  has  spent  his  life 
within  the  geographic  limits  of  Noble  County,  and 
for  the  past  thirty-two  years  has  been  an  honored 
citizen  of  Albion.  To  the  best  of  his  ability  he  has 
aided  the  progress  and  advancement  of  the  city, 
faithfully  performing  his  duties  of  citizenship,  and 
discharging  with  commendable  fidelity  every  trust 
reposed  in  him  by  his  fellowmen.  His  position  in 
the  esteem  and  friendship  of  the  community  has  been 
long  assured,  and  he  does  honor  to  the  county,  which 
is  proud  to  claim  him  as  a native  son,  and  in  which 
his  life  work  thus  far  has  been  accomplished. 


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